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| Chapter 12 Nroff and Troff |

## 12.7 Escape Sequences

Sequence | Effect
--- | ---
\\ | Prevent or delay the interpretation of \.
\e | Printable version of the current \ escape character.
\' | `´` (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).
\& | Non-printing, zero width character.
\! | Transparent line indicator.
\" | Beginning of comment.
\$`n` | Interpolate argument 1`n`9.
\% | Default optional hyphenation character.
\(`xx` | Character named `xx`.
\*`x` or `\*``(``xx` | Interpolate string `x` or `xx`.
\a | Noninterpreted leader character.
\b'`abc`...`'` | Bracket building function.
\c | Make next line continuous with current.
\d | Forward (down) 1/2-em vertical motion (1/2 line in nroff).
\D'l `x`,`y`' | Draw a line from current position to coordinates `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 `\f` `n` | Change to font named `x` or `xx` or to position `n`.
\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`.
\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'`n'` | Slant output `n` degrees to the right. Negative values slant to the left. A value of zero turns off slanting (ditroff only).
\t | Non-interpreted 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).
\z`c` | Print `c` with zero width (without spacing).
\{ | Begin multi-line conditional input.
\} | End multi-line conditional input.
\`x` | `x`, any character `not` listed above.

12.6 Alphabetical Summary of Requests |  | 12.8 Predefined Number Registers