The Prime Symbol
Assorted ways of entering and rendering the troublesome prime symbol.
One issue is in math mode. A typesetter has to account for how different fonts position their prime symbols.
Another problem crops up in text where quotes marks get used for things like feet and inch units in lengths or minute and second units in latitude and longitude coordinates. It should be possible to not trigger smart quotes in these cases.
typst
Input document
#set page(
paper: "a7",
margin: 4mm,
)
#set text(
font: "Libertinus Serif",
size: 12pt,
)
#show par: set block(spacing: 1em)
#show math.equation: set block(spacing: .8em)
#show math.equation: set par(leading: .4em)
Math mode manners:
#[
#show math.equation: set text(font: "STIX Two Math", size: 16pt)
$
f(x) &= a' + b'' + c''' \
f'(x) &= x^2 + 1
$
]
#[
#show math.equation: set text(font: "Libertinus Math", size: 16pt)
$
f(x) &= a' + b'' + c''' \
f'(x) &= x^2 + 1
$
]
Prose poses problems:
60*10'16"N 24*55'52"E (plain)\
60°10′16″N 24°55′52″E (unicode)\
60#[#sym.degree]10#[#sym.prime]16#[#sym.prime.double]N 24#[#sym.degree]55#[#sym.prime]52#[#sym.prime.double]E (idiomatic)\
Render command
typst compile prime-symbol-typst.typ prime-symbol-typst.pdf
sile
Input document
\begin[papersize=a7]{document}
\nofolios
\neverindent
\font[family=Libertinus Serif,size=12pt]
\use[module=packages.math]
\set[parameter=math.font.size,value=16]
Math mode manners:
\set[parameter=math.font.family,value=STIX Two Math]
\begin[mode=display]{math}
\table[columnalign=right left]{
f(x) &= a\prime + b\dprime + c\trprime \\
f\prime(x) &= x^2 + 1
}
\end{math}
\set[parameter=math.font.family,value=Libertinus Math]
\begin[mode=display]{math}
\table[columnalign=right left]{
f(x) &= a\prime + b\dprime + c\trprime \\
f\prime(x) &= x^2 + 1
}
\end{math}
Prose poses problems:
\medskip
\begin{raggedright}
60*10'16"N 24*55'52"E (plain)\break
60°10′16″N 24°55′52″E (unicode)\break
60°10′16″N 24°55′52″E (idiomatic)
\end{raggedright}
\end{document}
Render command
sile -o prime-symbol-sile.pdf prime-symbol-sile.sil
xelatex
Input document
\documentclass{article}
\usepackage[paperheight=105mm,paperwidth=74mm,margin=4mm]{geometry}
\pagenumbering{gobble}
\setlength{\parindent}{0pt}
\usepackage{libertinus}
\usepackage{fontspec}
\usepackage{relsize}
\usepackage{unicode-math}
\usepackage{siunitx}
\begin{document}
\fontsize{12}{16}
\selectfont
Math mode manners:
\setmathfont{STIX Two Math}
\[\mathlarger{\begin{aligned}
f(x) & = a\prime + b\dprime + c\trprime \\
f\prime(x) & = x^{2} + 1
\end{aligned}}\]
\setmathfont{Libertinus Math}
\[\mathlarger{\begin{aligned}
f(x) & = a\prime + b\dprime + c\trprime \\
f\prime(x) & = x^{2} + 1
\end{aligned}}\]
Prose poses problems:
\smallskip
\raggedright{
60*10'16"N 24*55'52"E (plain)\break
60°10′16″N 24°55′52″E (unicode)\break
\ang{60;10;16}N \ang{24;55;52}E (idiomatic)
}
\end{document}
Render command
xelatex -interaction=batchmode -halt-on-error -jobname data/prime-symbol-xelatex prime-symbol-xelatex.tex
groff
Input document
.nr HM .4cm .nr PO .4cm .nr LL 6.2cm .nr PI 0 .nr PS 12p .nr VS 18p \# TODO convert OpenType fonts to something groff can use .fam P .LP Math mode manners: .LG .LG .EQ C f(x) mark = a' + b'' + c''' .EN .LG .LG .EQ C f'(x) lineup = x sup 2 + 1 .EN \# TODO complete prime input test with two fonts .LP Prose poses problems: .LP 60*10'16"N 24*55'52"E (plain) .br 60°10′16″N 24°55′52″E (unicode) .br 60\[de]10\[fm]16\[sd]N 24\[de]55\[fm]52\[sd]E (idiomatic)
Render command
groff -ms -e -P-pA7 -T pdf prime-symbol-groff.ms > prime-symbol-groff.pdf