Reference Guide

LaTeX to Typst Cheat Sheet

Complete syntax reference for LaTeX users switching to Typst. Side-by-side comparison of every command you need.

Document Structure
LaTeXTypst
\documentclass{article}#set page(paper: "us-letter")
\section{Title}= Title
\subsection{Title}== Title
\subsubsection{Title}=== Title
\paragraph{Title}==== Title
\tableofcontents#outline()
\title{...} \maketitle#align(center)[#text(size: 24pt)[Title]]
Text Formatting
LaTeXTypst
\textbf{bold}*bold*
\textit{italic}_italic_
\underline{text}#underline[text]
\texttt{code}`code`
\emph{emphasis}_emphasis_
\textsc{SmallCaps}#smallcaps[SmallCaps]
{\small text}#text(size: 0.8em)[text]
{\large text}#text(size: 1.2em)[text]
Math (Inline & Display)
LaTeXTypst
$x^2$$x^2$
$x_i$$x_i$
$\frac{a}{b}$$a / b$ or $frac(a, b)$
$\sqrt{x}$$sqrt(x)$
$\sum_{i=1}^{n}$$sum_(i=1)^n$
$\int_a^b$$integral_a^b$
\begin{equation}...\end{equation}$ ... $ (on own line)
$\alpha, \beta, \gamma$$alpha, beta, gamma$
$\mathbf{x}$$bold(x)$
$\mathcal{L}$$cal(L)$
Lists
LaTeXTypst
\begin{itemize}\item...\end{itemize}- Item 1\n- Item 2
\begin{enumerate}\item...\end{enumerate}+ Item 1\n+ Item 2
\begin{description}\item[Term]...\end{description}/ Term: Description
Nested lists with indentationNested with indentation
Figures & Images
LaTeXTypst
\includegraphics[width=0.8\textwidth]{img.png}#image("img.png", width: 80%)
\begin{figure}...\caption{...}\end{figure}#figure(image(...), caption: [...])
\label{fig:name}<fig-name>
\ref{fig:name}@fig-name
Tables
LaTeXTypst
\begin{tabular}{|c|c|}...\end{tabular}#table(columns: 2, ...)
\hlinetable.hline()
\multicolumn{2}{c}{...}table.cell(colspan: 2)[...]
\begin{table}...\caption{...}\end{table}#figure(table(...), caption: [...])
Citations & References
LaTeXTypst
\cite{key}@key
\cite[p.~5]{key}@key[p. 5]
\citep{key}@key
\citet{key}#cite(<key>, form: "prose")
\bibliography{refs}#bibliography("refs.bib")
\bibliographystyle{plain}#set bibliography(style: "ieee")
Cross-References
LaTeXTypst
\label{sec:intro}<sec-intro>
\ref{sec:intro}@sec-intro
\pageref{sec:intro}(not built-in)
\eqref{eq:name}@eq-name
Special Characters
LaTeXTypst
\&, \%, \$, \#&, %, $, #
------
----
``quotes''"quotes"
\ldots...
~~
\\\\
Colors & Highlighting
LaTeXTypst
\textcolor{red}{text}#text(fill: red)[text]
\colorbox{yellow}{text}#highlight[text]
\definecolor{...}#let mycolor = rgb("#ff0000")

Key Differences to Remember

No Backslashes

Typst uses # for functions instead of \ for commands

Math is Similar

Most math syntax is the same: $x^2$, subscripts, Greek letters

Simpler Sections

= for h1, == for h2, etc. No \section{} needed

Natural Markup

*bold*, _italic_ instead of \textbf{}, \textit{}

Citations are @

@key instead of \cite{key}

Content in []

Functions take content in square brackets: #text[content]

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LaTeX to Typst Cheat Sheet 2026 | Syntax Reference | TypeTeX | TypeTeX