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amssymb and amsfonts in Scissor LaTeX

The amssymb and amsfonts packages work in Scissor LaTeX with one exception: \mathbb, \mathfrak and the extra relations, arrows, circled operators and shapes work; only \Bbbk shows a red formula, so write \mathbb{k} instead.

What the packages do

amsfonts adds the blackboard bold (\mathbb) and Fraktur (\mathfrak) alphabets. amssymb loads amsfonts and adds a few hundred extra symbols: negated relations such as \nleq, shapes such as \square, arrows such as \twoheadrightarrow, and letters such as \beth.

Load one of them in the preamble: \usepackage{amssymb} is enough for both.

What works here

CommandIn Scissor LaTeXNotes
\mathbb{R}, \mathbb{k}, \mathbb{1}WorksLetters and digits.
\mathfrak{g}Works
\leqslant, \geqslant, \lesssim, \gtrsimWorks
\nleq, \ngeq, \nsubseteq, \subsetneq, \nmid, \ncongWorks
\therefore, \becauseWorks
\square, \blacksquare, \lozenge, \bigstar, \checkmarkWorks
\varnothing, \complement, \beth, \gimel, \ethWorks
\twoheadrightarrow, \rightsquigarrow, \curvearrowrightWorks
\ltimes, \rtimes, \boxplus, \boxtimesWorks
\Vdash, \vDash, \modelsWorks
\circledast, \circleddash, \circledcirc, \Cap, \sqcap, \doublecap, \mho, \hslash, \dashrightarrow, \dashleftarrowWorksThese stopped the whole document in earlier versions.
\BbbkNot supportedThe formula is shown in red and named in the Problems tab. Write \mathbb{k} instead.

Examples

Number sets in blackboard bold, and a Lie algebra in Fraktur:

\mathbb and \mathfrak

LaTeXPreamble: \usepackage{amssymb}Open in editor (opens in a new tab)
The chain $\mathbb{N} \subsetneq \mathbb{Z} \subsetneq \mathbb{Q}
\subsetneq \mathbb{R} \subsetneq \mathbb{C}$ is strict, and
$\mathfrak{sl}_2$ acts on $\mathbb{C}^2$. The expected value is
$\mathbb{E}[X] = 44$.
Rendered by Scissor LaTeX: \mathbb and \mathfrak

Relations and negated relations:

Extra relations

LaTeXPreamble: \usepackage{amssymb}Open in editor (opens in a new tab)
a \leqslant b,\quad
x \lesssim y,\quad
A \nsubseteq B,\quad
3 \nmid 44,\quad
p \Vdash q,\quad
p \vDash q,\quad
\therefore\ x \ngeq 0

Shapes, letters and arrows, for example at the end of a proof or in a diagram label:

Shapes, letters and arrows

LaTeXPreamble: \usepackage{amssymb}Open in editor (opens in a new tab)
\square \quad \blacksquare \quad \lozenge \quad \bigstar \quad \checkmark
\qquad
\varnothing \quad \complement A \quad \beth_0
\qquad
X \twoheadrightarrow Y \rightsquigarrow Z \dashrightarrow W
\qquad
\circledast \quad \sqcap \quad \hslash \quad \mho

\Bbbk is not known, so its formula turns red. \mathbb{k} gives the same letter:

\Bbbk shows a red formula

LaTeXPreamble: \usepackage{amssymb}Open in editor (opens in a new tab)
V \text{ is a vector space over } \Bbbk

Shown in red: the formula cannot be read, so its source is shown instead.

Compatibility

  • From a TeX installation to here: documents open and typeset. If a formula turns red, look for \Bbbk; the Problems tab names the formula and its line.
  • From here to a TeX installation: documents compile there unchanged. Keep \usepackage{amssymb} in the preamble; without it a TeX installation does not know \mathbb and the extra symbols, even though Scissor LaTeX does.

The full manuals are on CTAN: ctan.org/pkg/amsfonts (both packages).

Questions and answers

Do I need \usepackage{amssymb} for \mathbb in Scissor LaTeX?

No, the editor knows \mathbb anyway. Keep the line all the same, so the document also compiles in a TeX installation.

Do \circledast and \sqcap work in Scissor LaTeX?

Yes. They and the other symbols in the table stopped the whole document in earlier versions; they typeset now. The help page lists what was fixed.

Every example on this page is typeset by Scissor LaTeX when the site is built. Last updated 2026-11-06.