LaTeX error: Runaway argument (Paragraph ended before … was complete)
A command argument started with { and TeX kept reading, looking for the matching }, until it hit a blank line (a new paragraph) or the end of the file. "Runaway argument?" is followed by the text it swallowed, which starts right where the brace opened.
Runaway argument? ! File ended while scanning use of \textbf.
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:
Runaway argument?
{very important text. \par Next paragraph here. \end {document}
! File ended while scanning use of \textbf .
<inserted text>Ready. Press Compile (or Ctrl/Cmd + Enter).
Common causes
- A missing
}after a command argument:\textbf{important text. - A
}that was deleted while editing a nested group like\footnote{see \cite{key}. - A
\section{or\caption{title that runs into the next line without closing.
How to fix it
- Look at the first words after "Runaway argument?": the opening brace is just before them.
- Add the missing
}where the argument should end. - TeXpad points at the line where the brace opened and offers to close it there.