# Formatting for script letters to match latex

In the Wolfram Documentation page for \ℓ, there are two formats for the script letter shown. How can I select the first format, which looks more like "\ell" symbol in latex? For instance, I have the following input:

Graphics[{Text[Style[Subscript[ℓ, 2], FontSize -> 20], {1/6, 1/30}]}]


the output appears as

I get the same output if I use:

Graphics[{Text[
Style[ToExpression["\\ell_{2}", TeXForm], FontSize -> 20], {1/6, 1/30}]}]


I've been playing around with various formatting options but haven't figured it out. How can I get Mathematica to output the curlier version of ℓ?

• I see this on my machine (OS X): i.stack.imgur.com/GLKwl.png This is also the second format shown on my machine on the doc page. – Szabolcs Feb 3 '17 at 15:06
• Instead of ToExpression["\ell", TeXForm] you should use ToExpression["\\ell", TeXForm]. It is important to double the , even though it works in this case. Of course this makes absolutely no difference to your question. – Szabolcs Feb 3 '17 at 15:07
• You can use TraditionalForm to select the first form ... TraditionalForm@Style[\[ScriptL], FontSize -> 64] – Szabolcs Feb 3 '17 at 15:09
• @Szabolcs Thanks. I do see the correct formatting if I Input Subscript[[ScriptL], 2] by itself. Perhaps the issue may be what happens within Graphics. In my ToExpression, I do have the extra backslash, however, it looks like it ran away during copy/paste. – Jeremy Brazas Feb 3 '17 at 15:15

In v10.1.0 under Windows 7 x64:

Graphics[{Text @ Style[Subscript[\[ScriptL], 2], FontSize -> 30, FontFamily -> #]},
ImageSize -> 50] & /@ {"Times", "Arial", "Mathematica1"}


Terser and possibly safer code using styles from the core stylesheet:

Graphics[{Text @ Style[Subscript[\[ScriptL], 2], 30, #]},
ImageSize -> 50] & /@ {"TR", "SR", "MR", "MB"}


• Perfect. The "TR" font is exactly what I'm looking for. Thanks! – Jeremy Brazas Feb 3 '17 at 15:59