FAQ > > \spacefactor complaints

\spacefactor complaints

The errors 

! You can't use `\spacefactor' in vertical mode.
\@->\spacefactor 
                 \@m
or 
! You can't use `\spacefactor' in math mode.
\@->\spacefactor 
                 \@m
or simply 
! Improper \spacefactor.
...
bite the LaTeX programmer who uses an internal command without taking “precautions”. An internal-style command such as \@foo has been defined or used in a private macro, and it is interpreted as \@, followed by the ‘text’ foo. (\@ is used, for real, to set up end-of-sentence space in some circumstances; it uses \spacefactor to do that.)

The problem is discussed in detail in “@ in macro names”, together with solutions.

This question on the Web: http://www.tex.ac.uk/cgi-bin/texfaq2html?label=atvert