"HA" == Hans Aberg writes: HA> Let me illustrate the problem: I use to write HA> \newcommand\foo{...} but the LaTeX syntax is (I think) HA> \newcommand{\foo}{...} A spellchecker I use would expect the HA> latter, and stop spellchecking entirely if it encounters the HA> former. Now, if the syntax is official, this is correct behavior, HA> but if it is unofficial (that is, something just used internally HA> by the LaTeX design team), it is incorrect. HA> In other words, the problem shows up in the interface between HA> LaTeX and other programs. There is a possibility to make TeX itself to `force' the users to insert `{' before the first argument of a macro: if the macro definition contains a `#' sign as a last character of parameter list, then TeX will insert `{' after a substitution list. E.g., the following (simplified) definition of \newcommand: \def\newcommand#{\@tempnewcommand} \def\@tempnewcommand#1{\def#1} will force to use the following syntax: \newcommand{\foo}{...} and will generate an error message if one writes \newcommand\foo{...} It should be possible to control the presence of {} brackets for other macro arguments as well (not only for the first one). -- With best regards, Vladimir.