[texhax] Characters out of margin

[Eric Weir]

On Feb 23, 2012, at 12:44 AM, Donald Arseneau wrote:

> Eric Weir <eeweir at bellsouth.net> writes:
> 
>> \tolerance 1414
>> \hbadness 1414
>> \emergencystretch 1.5em
>> \hfuzz 0.3pt
> 
> Yes, these parameters can be tweaked individually, but if you are a beginner
> or intermediate use I recommend simply "\sloppy", which is LaTeX's encapsulation
> of settings to prevent "overfull hbox in paragraph" errors.  You don't mention
> your language settings for hyphenation of words, and that may be the critical 
> problem.  Both the tolerances and the hyphenation are subjects in the UKtug 
> TeX FAQ:
> 
> http://www.tex.ac.uk/cgi-bin/texfaq2html?label=overfull
> 
> http://www.tex.ac.uk/cgi-bin/texfaq2html?label=nohyph

Thanks for the references, Don. Unfortunately, my newbieness is so new the implications are a bit hazy.

A FAQ on how hyphenation works linked to from the second link above has this: "The ordinary LaTeX user need not worry about \language, since it is very thoroughly managed by the babelpackage; use of \hyphenation is discussed in the context of hyphenation failure." 

The page on hyphenation failure alludes to a possible need to install new hyphenation patterns. I have the MacTeX version of TeX Live. If American English is my language, is it likely that I need to be concerned about having the wrong hyphenation rules specified?

It also says this: "The \hyphenation command allows you to give explicit instructions." I'm taking it this would be to a specific instance of hyphenation failure?

Finally, would I use "\sloppy" in place of the commands listed above or in addition to them.   

Thanks again,
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eric Weir
Decatur, GA
eeweir at bellsouth.net

"Style is truth." 

- Ray Bradbury