CSS class equivalent for LaTeX

Question

I am trying to figure out if there is a way to apply the CSS methodology to the LaTeX template I am building. What I would like to do is to have a set of classes that apply a specific style treatment to the bracketed words. For example:

If I have three paragraphs of text, I want to have all of the paragraphs have [0.5cm] of spacing after the last line without having to add \\[0.5cm] after each paragraph.

Is there a LaTeX equivalent of defining the treatment for all paragraphs in the preamble so that it cascades throughout my document? The equivalent of:

<style> p {padding-bottom:0.5cm} </style>

I want to be able to specify multiple version of these CSS-like LaTeX classes throughout my document, so I don't need a specific solution. I need help understanding how to add custom labels/names/classes to the preamble and an example of how to use them in the document itself.

Thanks!

Ryan

Answer 1

It sounds like you want to define your own environment. Below is an example from LaTeX wikibook.

Put this in your preamble:

\newenvironment{king}
{\rule{1ex}{1ex}\hspace{\stretch{1}}}
{\hspace{\stretch{1}}\rule{1ex}{1ex}}

And then use the style in the document:

\begin{king}
My humble subjects \ldots
\end{king}

Answer 2

You could adjust the value of \parskip, see here for explanation.

\addtolength{\parskip}{\baselineskip}

Alternatively, you could just use \setlength:

\setlength{\parskip}{0.5cm}

Answer 3

You could create commands that change the environment (like setting parskip), and issue the commands at different points in the document. Experiment with {bracketing} to change the scope of the changes the command makes.

Answer 4

As far as I know, it isn't possible. :(

The tutorials here may be useful though.