\newcommand{\ifbold}{% \edef\bolda{\the\font} {\bf\xdef\boldb{\the\font}}\ifx\bolda\boldb } \newcommand{\ifit}{% \edef\ita{\the\font} {\it\xdef\itb{\the\font}}\ifx\ita\itb } %%trouble now: \def\n{\ifbold {\ifit\boldmath{$\itpi$}\else\boldmath{$\uppi$}\fi}\else{\ifit $\itpi$\else $\uppi$\fi}\fi} %%End of latex code $pdflatex new.tex Chapter 1. (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/MinionPro/OMLMinionPro-TOsF.fd (/usr/share/texmf/tex/latex/MinionPro/MinionPro-FontDef.sty)) ! Extra \else. \n ...itpi $}\else \boldmath {$\uppi $}\fi }\else {\ifit $\itpi $\else $\upp... l.110 {Testi\n \N\textit{\N ga\n}\emph{\N ga\n}\textsl{\N ga\n}}\textbf{\N ga\n} ? $ line 110 is: {Testi\n\N\textit{\N ga\n}\emph{\N ga\n}\textsl{\N ga\n}}\textbf{\N ga\n}