this is a test defining a macro: $$ \def\testa#1{okay #1?} $$ \def\testb#1{maybe #1?} $$ \testa{foo} $$ \testb{bar} apparently not: $$ \def\baz{right}\baz\baz $$ right, see [[nlab:FAQ#my_latex_produces_gobbledygook_in_itex_and_vice_versa|this FAQ]]