Overview

LaTeX is excellent at producing visually polished mathematics, but visual appearance is only half the job. Mathematical content must also be machine-readable and navigable so that assistive technologies—screen readers, braille displays, and speech engines—can reliably interpret, speak, and explore every expression.

The good news: accessible math does not require “special accessibility LaTeX.” It is mostly about conventional best-practice authoring while also prioritizing the semantic integrity of your content. When you follow these practices, your expressions remain understandable when read aloud, navigated structurally, or converted to other formats—without requiring manual fixes later.

The tips below are organized into ten areas. Each links to a dedicated page with explanations, examples, and guidance.

Notes on LaTeX delimiters:

These examples use the \(...\) and \[...\] LaTeX delimiters.
The \[...\] delimiters work in Canvas RCE content as long as at least one \(...\) exists on the page.
See Canvas + MathJax 2.7: Which LaTeX Delimiters Trigger Loading and Which Render for details on supported delimiters.

The tips:

1. Keep Expressions Intact

Treat every mathematical expression as a single math object. Don’t split it into separate LaTeX fragments.

See: Tip 1: Keep Expressions Intact for details.

2. Always Use Math Mode

Put all mathematical content in math mode—even single variables, symbols, or Greek letters.

See Tip 2: Always Use Math Mode for details.

3. Keep Punctuation Outside

Sentence punctuation (commas, periods) belongs outside the math delimiters, not inside them.

See Tip 3: Keep Surrounding Prose Punctuation Outside for details.

4. Use Text Commands Appropriately

Use \text{} for words, units, and labels; use \operatorname{} for custom functions; use \textbf{} for emphasis.

See Tip 4: Use Text Commands Appropriately for details.

5. Reserve Math Mode for Math

Don’t use math mode for text styling, page layout, or data tables. Use HTML and editor features instead.

See Tip 5: Reserve Math Mode for Math for details.

6. Use Correct Symbols and Operators

Use \operatorname{} for custom functions. Don’t fake symbols with typography tricks.

See Tip 6: Use Correct Symbols and Operators for details.

7. Group Operands with Braces

Wrap summands, integrands, and other operands in braces so converters produce correct MathML grouping.

See Tip 7: Group Operands with Braces for details.

8. Use Specialized Packages

Use mhchem for chemistry and AMScd for commutative diagrams instead of approximating them with plain LaTeX.

See Tip 8: Use Specialized Packages for details.

9. Keep Content Legible and Navigable

Prevent content from getting too small or crowded, and be aware of the accessibility limits of spatial arrangements.

See Tip 9: Keep Content Legible and Navigable for details.

10. Verify Speech Output

Test your expressions with a speech conversion tool to confirm they will be read correctly by screen readers.

See Tip 10: Verify Speech Output and Navigation for details.

LaTeX Reference Guides (Canvas currently uses MathJax 2.7)