Escape Sequences (UNIX in a Nutshell: System V Edition)

12.7. Escape Sequences

Sequence	Effect
`\\`	Prevent or delay the interpretation of \.
`\e`	Printable version of the current escape character (usually `\`).
`\'`	`´` (acute accent); equivalent to `\(aa`.
`\‘`	`‘` (grave accent); equivalent to `\(ga`.
`\-`	– (minus sign in the current font).
`\.`	Period (dot).
`\``space`	Unpaddable space-size space character.
`\``newline`	Concealed (ignored) newline.
`\0`	Digit-width space.
`\\|`	1/6-em narrow space character (zero width in `nroff`).
`\^`	1/12-em half-narrow space character (zero width in `nroff`).
`\&`	Nonprinting, zero-width character.
`\!`	Transparent line indicator.
`\"`	Beginning of comment.
`\$``n`	Interpolate macro argument 1 n 9.
`\%`	Default optional hyphenation character.
`\(``xx`	Character named xx. See Section 12.9
`\``x`* `or \*(xx`	Interpolate string x or xx.
`\a`	Noninterpreted leader character.
`\b'``abc`...`'`	Bracket-building function.
`\c`	Make next line continuous with current.
`\C'``abcd``'`	Character named abcd (`ditroff` only).
`\d`	Forward (down) 1/2-em vertical motion (1/2 line in `nroff`).
`\D'l` `x``,y'`	Draw a line from current position by deltas x,y (`ditroff` only).
`\D'c` `d``'`	Draw circle of diameter d with left edge at current position (`ditroff` only).
`\D'e` `d1 d2``'`	Draw ellipse with horizontal diameter d1 and vertical diameter d2, with left edge at current position (`ditroff` only).
`\D'a` `x1 y1 x2 y2``'`	Draw arc counterclockwise from current position, with center at x1,y1 and endpoint at x1+x2,y1+y2 (`ditroff` only).
`\D'~` `x1 y1 x2 y2`...`'`	Draw spline from current position through the specified coordinates (`ditroff` only).
`\f``x` `or \f(xx or \fn`	Change to font named x or xx or to position n. If x is `P`, return to the previous font.
`\g``x` `or \g(xx`	Format of number register x or xx, suitable for use with `.af`
`\h'``n``'`	Local horizontal motion; move right n or, if n is negative, move left.
`\H'``n'`	Set character height to n points, without changing width (`ditroff` only).
`\k``x`	Mark horizontal input place in register x.
`\l'``nc``'`	Draw horizontal line of length n (optionally with c).
`\L'``nc``'`	Draw vertical line of length n (optionally with c).
`\n``x``, \n(xx`	Interpolate number register x or xx.
`\n+``x``, \n+(xx`	Interpolate number register x or xx, applying auto-increment.
`\n-``x``, \n-(xx`	Interpolate number register x or xx, applying auto-decrement.
`\N'``n``'`	Character number n in the current font (`ditroff` only).
`\o'``abc``...'`	Overstrike characters a, b, c ...
`\p`	Break and spread output line.
`\r`	Reverse 1-em vertical motion (reverse line in `nroff`).
`\s``n``, \s±n`	Change point size to n or increment by n. For example, `\s0` returns to previous point size.
`\s(``nn``, \s±(nn`	Just like `\s`, but allow unambiguous two-character point sizes (recent `ditroff` only).
`\S'``n``'`	Slant output n degrees to the right. Negative values slant to the left. A value of zero turns off slanting (`ditroff` only).
`\t`	Noninterpreted horizontal tab.
`\u`	Reverse (up) 1/2-em vertical motion (1/2 line in `nroff`).
`\v'``n``'`	Local vertical motion; move down n, or, if n is negative, move up.
`\w'``string``'`	Interpolate width of string.
`\x'``n``'`	Extra line-space function (n negative provides space before, n positive provides after).
`\X'``text``'`	Output text as a device control function (`ditroff` only).
`\z``c`	Print c with zero width (without spacing).
`\{`	Begin multiline conditional input.
`\}`	End multiline conditional input.
`\``x`	x, any character not listed above.