LaTeX error: Misplaced alignment tab character &
In LaTeX, & is not an ordinary character: it separates columns in tabular, align, and matrix. Anywhere else, TeX has no column to move to and stops.
! Misplaced alignment tab character &.
Try it: this example has the error
Press Fix it in the error box, and it compiles to a PDF. What pdfTeX printed for it:
! Misplaced alignment tab character &.
l.3 Tom &
Jerry went home.Ready. Press Compile (or Ctrl/Cmd + Enter).
Common causes
- An ampersand in normal text: company names (
AT&T), "Tom & Jerry", or a bibliography entry. - An
alignrow copied into a plainequationenvironment, which has no columns. - A table row after
\end{tabular}by mistake.
How to fix it
- In text, write
\&. TeXpad offers "Change & to \&" for the reported line. - In equations, use
align(withamsmath) if you want alignment points, or remove the&.