# alphabeta: Greek symbols in text and math

Licence

This work may be distributed and/or modified under the conditions of the LaTeX Project Public License, either version 1.3 of this license or any later version.

Identification
\NeedsTeXFormat{LaTeX2e}
\ProvidesPackage{alphabeta}
[2012/06/26 v0.1 macros for Greek letters in text and math]


This package is part of the lgrx bundle.

Abstract

Use \alpha, \beta, ... for Greek letters in text and math.

Changelog:
 2012-06-26 0.1 initial version

# Motivation

By default, the \alpha, \beta, ... macros for Greek letters are only valid in mathematical mode.

The textalpha package provides a set of macros that can be used to access Greek symbols from a font in LGR encoding (e.g. the CB fonts) without the need for an explicite font-encoding switch under the names \textalpha, \textbeta, ..., \textOmega.

With this package, the math macros are redefined to work both, text and math, so that single Greek letters or simple words can be written with the established command names.

Attention

While the macros work reasonably well for single letters, the automatic font-encoding switches behind the doors interferes with the kerning between the letters and replacement of accent+character with a pre-composed character.

Therefore, Greek text should be written with the help of babel, setting the language to either greek or polutonikogreek or wrapped in the provided \TextGreek macro.

# Implementation

This package extends the textalpha package:

\RequirePackage{textalpha}


It uses the \TextOrMath test from the fixltx2e standard LaTeX package:

\RequirePackage{fixltx2e}


## Save math macros

Provide an alias for the standard math commands:

\let\mathGamma\Gamma
\let\mathDelta\Delta
\let\mathTheta\Theta
\let\mathLambda\Lambda
\let\mathXi\Xi
\let\mathPi\Pi
\let\mathSigma\Sigma
\let\mathUpsilon\Upsilon
\let\mathPhi\Phi
\let\mathPsi\Psi
\let\mathOmega\Omega
%
\let\mathalpha\alpha
\let\mathbeta\beta
\let\mathgamma\gamma
\let\mathdelta\delta
\let\mathepsilon\epsilon
\let\mathzeta\zeta
\let\matheta\eta
\let\maththeta\theta
\let\mathiota\iota
\let\mathkappa\kappa
\let\mathlambda\lambda
\let\mathmu\mu
\let\mathnu\nu
\let\mathxi\xi
\let\mathpi\pi
\let\mathrho\rho
\let\mathsigma\sigma
\let\mathvarsigma\varsigma
\let\mathtau\tau
\let\mathupsilon\upsilon
\let\mathphi\phi
\let\mathchi\chi
\let\mathpsi\psi
\let\mathomega\omega


## Commands to access Greek letters by name

For letters defined in math mode, the commands work in both, text and math.

Some Greek letters look identic to Latin letters and can therefore not be used as variable symbols in math formulas. These letters are not defined in TeX's math mode, but we define an alias to the corrsponding \text... command.

\newcommand{\Alpha}{\textAlpha}
\newcommand{\Beta}{\textBeta}
\renewcommand{\Gamma}{\TextOrMath{\textGamma}{\mathGamma}}
\renewcommand{\Delta}{\TextOrMath{\textDelta}{\mathDelta}}
\newcommand{\Epsilon}{\textEpsilon}
\newcommand{\Zeta}{\textZeta}
\newcommand{\Eta}{\textEta}
\renewcommand{\Theta}{\TextOrMath{\textTheta}{\mathTheta}}
\newcommand{\Iota}{\textIota}
\newcommand{\Kappa}{\textKappa}
\renewcommand{\Lambda}{\TextOrMath{\textLambda}{\mathLambda}}
\newcommand{\Mu}{\textMu}
\newcommand{\Nu}{\textNu}
\renewcommand{\Xi}{\TextOrMath{\textXi}{\mathXi}}
\newcommand{\Omicron}{\textOmicron}
\renewcommand{\Pi}{\TextOrMath{\textPi}{\mathPi}}
\newcommand{\Rho}{\textRho}
\renewcommand{\Sigma}{\TextOrMath{\textSigma}{\mathSigma}}
\newcommand{\Tau}{\textTau}
\renewcommand{\Upsilon}{\TextOrMath{\textUpsilon}{\mathUpsilon}}
\renewcommand{\Phi}{\TextOrMath{\textPhi}{\mathPhi}}
\newcommand{\Chi}{\textChi}
\renewcommand{\Psi}{\TextOrMath{\textPsi}{\mathPsi}}
\renewcommand{\Omega}{\TextOrMath{\textOmega}{\mathOmega}}
%
\renewcommand{\alpha}{\TextOrMath{\textalpha}{\mathalpha}}
\renewcommand{\beta}{\TextOrMath{\textbeta}{\mathbeta}}
\renewcommand{\gamma}{\TextOrMath{\textgamma}{\mathgamma}}
\renewcommand{\delta}{\TextOrMath{\textdelta}{\mathdelta}}
\renewcommand{\epsilon}{\TextOrMath{\textepsilon}{\mathepsilon}}
\renewcommand{\zeta}{\TextOrMath{\textzeta}{\mathzeta}}
\renewcommand{\eta}{\TextOrMath{\texteta}{\matheta}}
\renewcommand{\theta}{\TextOrMath{\texttheta}{\maththeta}}
\renewcommand{\iota}{\TextOrMath{\textiota}{\mathiota}}
\renewcommand{\kappa}{\TextOrMath{\textkappa}{\mathkappa}}
\renewcommand{\lambda}{\TextOrMath{\textlambda}{\mathlambda}}
\renewcommand{\mu}{\TextOrMath{\textmu}{\mathmu}}
\renewcommand{\nu}{\TextOrMath{\textnu}{\mathnu}}
\renewcommand{\xi}{\TextOrMath{\textxi}{\mathxi}}
\newcommand{\omicron}{\textomicron}
\renewcommand{\pi}{\TextOrMath{\textpi}{\mathpi}}
\renewcommand{\rho}{\TextOrMath{\textrho}{\mathrho}}
\renewcommand{\sigma}{\TextOrMath{\textsigma}{\mathsigma}}
\renewcommand{\varsigma}{\TextOrMath{\textvarsigma}{\mathvarsigma}}
\renewcommand{\tau}{\TextOrMath{\texttau}{\mathtau}}
\renewcommand{\upsilon}{\TextOrMath{\textupsilon}{\mathupsilon}}
\renewcommand{\phi}{\TextOrMath{\textphi}{\mathphi}}
\renewcommand{\chi}{\TextOrMath{\textchi}{\mathchi}}
\renewcommand{\psi}{\TextOrMath{\textpsi}{\mathpsi}}
\renewcommand{\omega}{\TextOrMath{\textomega}{\mathomega}}


## TextCompositeCommands for the generic macros

The NFSS TextComposite mechanism looks for the next token without expanding it. In order to let compositions like \TextGreek{\'\Alpha} or \TextGreek{\>"\alpha} work as expected we define TextComposites with the letter name commands (even so composition only works if the font encoding is LGR).

\DeclareTextComposite{\Varia}{LGR}{\alpha}{128}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Dasia}{LGR}{\alpha}{129}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Psili}{LGR}{\alpha}{130}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaVaria}{LGR}{\alpha}{131}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Tonos}{LGR}{\alpha}{136}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaOxia}{LGR}{\alpha}{137}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliOxia}{LGR}{\alpha}{138}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliVaria}{LGR}{\alpha}{139}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Perispomeni}{LGR}{\alpha}{144}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaPerispomeni}{LGR}{\alpha}{145}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliPerispomeni}{LGR}{\alpha}{146}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Varia}{LGR}{\eta}{152}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Dasia}{LGR}{\eta}{153}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Psili}{LGR}{\eta}{154}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Tonos}{LGR}{\eta}{160}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaOxia}{LGR}{\eta}{161}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliOxia}{LGR}{\eta}{162}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaVaria}{LGR}{\eta}{163}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Perispomeni}{LGR}{\eta}{168}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaPerispomeni}{LGR}{\eta}{169}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliPerispomeni}{LGR}{\eta}{170}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliVaria}{LGR}{\eta}{171}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Varia}{LGR}{\omega}{176}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Dasia}{LGR}{\omega}{177}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Psili}{LGR}{\omega}{178}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaVaria}{LGR}{\omega}{179}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Tonos}{LGR}{\omega}{184}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaOxia}{LGR}{\omega}{185}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliOxia}{LGR}{\omega}{186}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliVaria}{LGR}{\omega}{187}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Perispomeni}{LGR}{\omega}{192}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaPerispomeni}{LGR}{\omega}{193}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliPerispomeni}{LGR}{\omega}{194}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Varia}{LGR}{\iota}{200}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Dasia}{LGR}{\iota}{201}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Psili}{LGR}{\iota}{202}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaVaria}{LGR}{\iota}{203}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Tonos}{LGR}{\iota}{208}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaOxia}{LGR}{\iota}{209}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliOxia}{LGR}{\iota}{210}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliVaria}{LGR}{\iota}{211}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Perispomeni}{LGR}{\iota}{216}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaPerispomeni}{LGR}{\iota}{217}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliPerispomeni}{LGR}{\iota}{218}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Dialytika}{LGR}{\iota}{240}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DialytikaVaria}{LGR}{\iota}{241}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DialytikaTonos}{LGR}{\iota}{242}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DialytikaPerispomeni}{LGR}{\iota}{243}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Varia}{LGR}{\upsilon}{204}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Dasia}{LGR}{\upsilon}{205}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Psili}{LGR}{\upsilon}{206}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaVaria}{LGR}{\upsilon}{207}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Tonos}{LGR}{\upsilon}{212}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaOxia}{LGR}{\upsilon}{213}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliOxia}{LGR}{\upsilon}{214}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliVaria}{LGR}{\upsilon}{215}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Perispomeni}{LGR}{\upsilon}{220}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaPerispomeni}{LGR}{\upsilon}{221}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliPerispomeni}{LGR}{\upsilon}{222}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Dialytika}{LGR}{\upsilon}{244}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DialytikaVaria}{LGR}{\upsilon}{245}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DialytikaTonos}{LGR}{\upsilon}{246}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DialytikaPerispomeni}{LGR}{\upsilon}{247}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Varia}{LGR}{\epsilon}{224}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Dasia}{LGR}{\epsilon}{225}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Psili}{LGR}{\epsilon}{226}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaVaria}{LGR}{\epsilon}{227}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Tonos}{LGR}{\epsilon}{232}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaOxia}{LGR}{\epsilon}{233}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliOxia}{LGR}{\epsilon}{234}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliVaria}{LGR}{\epsilon}{235}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Varia}{LGR}{\omicron}{228}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Dasia}{LGR}{\omicron}{229}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Psili}{LGR}{\omicron}{230}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaVaria}{LGR}{\omicron}{231}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Tonos}{LGR}{\omicron}{236}
\DeclareTextComposite{\DasiaOxia}{LGR}{\omicron}{237}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliOxia}{LGR}{\omicron}{238}
\DeclareTextComposite{\PsiliVaria}{LGR}{\omicron}{239}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Dasia}{LGR}{\Alpha}{<A}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaVaria}{LGR}{\Alpha}{<A}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaOxia}{LGR}{\Alpha}{<'A}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaPerispomeni}{LGR}{\Alpha}{<\char126A}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Psili}{LGR}{\Alpha}{>A}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\PsiliVaria}{LGR}{\Alpha}{>A}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\PsiliOxia}{LGR}{\Alpha}{>'A}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\PsiliPerispomeni}{LGR}{\Alpha}{>\char126A}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Tonos}{LGR}{\Alpha}{'A}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Varia}{LGR}{\Alpha}{A}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Dasia}{LGR}{\Epsilon}{<E}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaOxia}{LGR}{\Epsilon}{<'E}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaVaria}{LGR}{\Epsilon}{<E}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Psili}{LGR}{\Epsilon}{>E}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\PsiliOxia}{LGR}{\Epsilon}{>'E}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\PsiliVaria}{LGR}{\Epsilon}{>E}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Tonos}{LGR}{\Epsilon}{'E}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Varia}{LGR}{\Epsilon}{E}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Dasia}{LGR}{\Eta}{<H}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaVaria}{LGR}{\Eta}{<H}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaOxia}{LGR}{\Eta}{<'H}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaPerispomeni}{LGR}{\Eta}{<\char126H}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Psili}{LGR}{\Eta}{>H}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\PsiliVaria}{LGR}{\Eta}{>H}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\PsiliOxia}{LGR}{\Eta}{>'H}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\PsiliPerispomeni}{LGR}{\Eta}{>\char126H}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Tonos}{LGR}{\Eta}{'H}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Varia}{LGR}{\Eta}{H}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Dasia}{LGR}{\Iota}{<I}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaVaria}{LGR}{\Iota}{<I}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaOxia}{LGR}{\Iota}{<'I}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaPerispomeni}{LGR}{\Iota}{<\char126I}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Psili}{LGR}{\Iota}{>I}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\PsiliVaria}{LGR}{\Iota}{>I}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\PsiliOxia}{LGR}{\Iota}{>'I}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\PsiliPerispomeni}{LGR}{\Iota}{>\char126I}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Tonos}{LGR}{\Iota}{'I}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Varia}{LGR}{\Iota}{I}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Dasia}{LGR}{\Omicron}{<O}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaVaria}{LGR}{\Omicron}{<O}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaOxia}{LGR}{\Omicron}{<'O}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Psili}{LGR}{\Omicron}{>O}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\PsiliVaria}{LGR}{\Omicron}{>O}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\PsiliOxia}{LGR}{\Omicron}{>'O}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Tonos}{LGR}{\Omicron}{'O}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Varia}{LGR}{\Omicron}{O}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Dasia}{LGR}{\Upsilon}{<U}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaVaria}{LGR}{\Upsilon}{<U}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaOxia}{LGR}{\Upsilon}{<'U}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaPerispomeni}{LGR}{\Upsilon}{<\char126U}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Tonos}{LGR}{\Upsilon}{'U}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Varia}{LGR}{\Upsilon}{U}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Dasia}{LGR}{\Omega}{<W}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaVaria}{LGR}{\Omega}{<W}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaOxia}{LGR}{\Omega}{<'W}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\DasiaPerispomeni}{LGR}{\Omega}{<\char126W}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Psili}{LGR}{\Omega}{>W}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\PsiliVaria}{LGR}{\Omega}{>W}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\PsiliOxia}{LGR}{\Omega}{>'W}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\PsiliPerispomeni}{LGR}{\Omega}{>\char126W}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Tonos}{LGR}{\Omega}{'W}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\Varia}{LGR}{\Omega}{W}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Dialytika}{LGR}{\Iota}{219}
\DeclareTextComposite{\Dialytika}{LGR}{\Upsilon}{223}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\@hiatus}{LGR}{\Alpha}{\A@hiatus}
\DeclareTextCompositeCommand{\@hiatus}{LGR}{\Epsilon}{\E@hiatus}