Dot in LaTeX

LaTeX has a different command for each kind of dot, all in math mode: \cdot for a centered dot (a·b), \ldots for three dots on the baseline (1, 2, …, n), \cdots for centered three dots (1 + 2 + ⋯ + n), \vdots and \ddots for vertical and diagonal dots, and \dot{x} for a dot over a letter.

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Dot commands

a \cdot b
$a \cdot b$
Centered dot ⋅ as an operator (multiplication, dot product).
1, 2, \ldots, n
$1, 2, \dots, n$
Three dots on the baseline, for lists separated by commas.
1 + 2 + \cdots + n
$1 + 2 + \dots + n$
Three centered dots, between operators.
\vdots
$⋮$
Vertical dots, e.g. in a matrix column.
\ddots
$⋱$
Diagonal dots, e.g. in a matrix.
x_1, \dots, x_n
$x_{1}, \dots, x_{n}$
amsmath picks low or centered dots from the context.
\dot{x}
$\dot{x}$
Dot over a letter: time derivative (Newton notation).
\ddot{x}
$\ddot{x}$
Two dots over a letter: second time derivative. \dddot gives three (amsmath).
a \bullet b
$a ∙ b$
Bullet • as an operator.
\textbullet
Text mode, no math preview
A bullet in running text (not a list; use itemize for lists).

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LaTeX

Templates

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Dots and ellipses examples

Each result below is drawn from the LaTeX under it. Copy the code, edit it on this page, or open it in the full editor.

List with ellipsis
$a_{1}, a_{2}, \dots, a_{n}$
LaTeX
```
a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n
```
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Sum with ellipsis
$1 + 2 + \dots + n = \frac{n (n + 1)}{2}$
LaTeX
```
1 + 2 + \cdots + n = \frac{n(n+1)}{2}
```
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Matrix with all three

(\begin{matrix} a_{11} & \dots & a_{1 n} \\ ⋮ & ⋱ & ⋮ \\ a_{m 1} & \dots & a_{m n} \end{matrix})

LaTeX

\begin{pmatrix} a_{11} & \cdots & a_{1n} \\ \vdots & \ddots & \vdots \\ a_{m1} & \cdots & a_{mn} \end{pmatrix}

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Newton notation
$\dot{x} = v, \ddot{x} = a, F = m \ddot{x}$
LaTeX
```
\dot{x} = v, \quad \ddot{x} = a, \quad F = m \ddot{x}
```
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Semantic amsmath dots
$x_{1}, \dots, x_{n} x_{1} + \dots + x_{n}$
LaTeX
```
x_1, \dotsc, x_n \qquad x_1 + \dotsb + x_n
```
\dotsc is for commas, \dotsb for binary operators, \dotsm for products and \dotsi for integrals.
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Product of factors
$n! = 1 \cdot 2 \cdot 3 \dots n$
LaTeX
```
n! = 1 \cdot 2 \cdot 3 \cdots n
```
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Which dot in which context

Between commas, use baseline dots: x_1, \ldots, x_n. Between operators such as + or =, use centered dots: x_1 + \cdots + x_n. With amsmath loaded, \dots chooses for you by looking at the next symbol, and \dotsc, \dotsb, \dotsm and \dotsi let you say it explicitly.

For a single dot, \cdot is the multiplication or dot-product sign. A period . is punctuation: it sits on the baseline and gets no space around it.

Dots over letters

\dot{x} and \ddot{x} are accents used for time derivatives in physics. amsmath adds \dddot and \ddddot for third and fourth derivatives. They are meant for single letters; over a group the dot is simply centered.

Dots in text

\ldots also works outside math and gives a properly spaced ellipsis … in a sentence. For a raised dot in text use \textperiodcentered, and for a bullet \textbullet; for bullet points in a list use the itemize environment instead.

Common mistakes

Three typed periods are spaced too tightly and are not treated as one ellipsis.
Instead of
```
a_1, a_2, ..., a_n
```
Write
```
a_1, a_2, \ldots, a_n
```
Between operators the dots should be centered on the math axis, level with the + signs.
Instead of
```
a_1 + a_2 + \ldots + a_n
```
Write
```
a_1 + a_2 + \cdots + a_n
```
A period is punctuation on the baseline; the product dot is \cdot.
Instead of
```
u . v
```
Write
```
u \cdot v
```
\dot puts one dot centered over the whole group, which does not mean the derivative of xy.
Instead of
```
\dot{xy}
```
Write
```
\dot{x}\dot{y}  or  \frac{d}{dt}(xy)
```

In Overleaf, MathJax and Word

Overleaf and pdfLaTeX
\cdot, \ldots, \cdots, \vdots, \ddots, \dot, \ddot and \bullet are built in; \dots, \dotsc, \dotsb, \dddot and \ddddot need amsmath.
MathJax and KaTeX
MathJax and KaTeX support all of the math-mode dots above, including the amsmath variants.
Microsoft Word
Write the formula here and use Copy for Word; ellipses and dot accents paste as part of an editable Word equation.

Dots and ellipses in LaTeX: questions

How do I type a dot in LaTeX?: For a centered multiplication dot use \cdot. For a dot over a letter use \dot{x}. A normal period is just ..
How do I write three dots?: Use \ldots between commas (1, 2, …, n) and \cdots between operators (1 + ⋯ + n). With amsmath, \dots picks one for you.
How do I put a dot over a letter?: Use \dot{x} in math mode; \ddot{x} gives two dots. In text, \.{o} gives ȯ.
How do I write a bullet point?: For a list use \begin{itemize} \item … \end{itemize}. For a single bullet symbol use \bullet in math or \textbullet in text.

Related LaTeX reference

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Dot in LaTeX

Dot commands

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Dots and ellipses examples

List with ellipsis

Sum with ellipsis

Matrix with all three

Newton notation

Semantic amsmath dots

Product of factors