When writing vectors, how should they be formatted?

Vectors are mathematical entities that have both magnitude and direction. To clearly distinguish vectors from other types of quantities, a standard formatting method is used. The most accepted way is to represent vectors in bold or with an arrow placed over the letter symbolizing the vector.

Using bold or underlined formatting makes it immediately evident that the item in question is a vector, enabling readers to understand the context without confusion. For example, if 'v' denotes a vector, it would typically be represented as v or (\vec{v}). This clear notation helps prevent misunderstanding, particularly in complex mathematical problems where both scalars and vectors might be present.

Other formats, such as writing vectors in italics or as regular text, do not adequately communicate the vector's properties, while placing a dot over the letter, while used in some contexts, is not a standard practice for representing vectors. Thus, the format utilizing bold text or an arrow is essential for clarity in vector representation.