diff --git a/tex.el b/tex.el
index af57c9b..621e52f 100644
--- a/tex.el
+++ b/tex.el
@@ -5159,18 +5159,40 @@ See also `TeX-font-replace' and `TeX-font-replace-function'."
   :type 'boolean)
 
 (defcustom TeX-math-close-single-dollar nil
-  "If non-nil, when outside math mode insert opening and closing dollar
-signs for TeX inline equation and put the point between them, just by
-typing a single `$'."
+  "If non-nil, when outside math mode insert symbols for opening
+and closing inline equation and put the point between them, just
+by typing a single `$'.  You can choose between \"$...$\" and
+\"\\(...\\)\".  If nil, simply insert \"$\" at point, this is the
+default.
+
+This variable is a cons cell whose CAR is the string to insert
+before point, the CDR is the string to insert after point."
   :group 'TeX-macro
-  :type 'boolean)
+  :type '(choice (const :tag "$" nil)
+		 (const :tag "$...$" '("$" . "$"))
+		 (const :tag "\\(...\\)" '("\\(" . "\\)"))
+		 (cons :tag "Other"
+		       (string :tag "Insert before point")
+		       (string :tag "Insert after point"))))
 
 (defcustom TeX-electric-dollar nil
   "When outside math mode, if non-nil and there is an active
-region, typing `$' will put a pair of single dollar around it and
-leave point after the closing dollar."
+region, typing `$' will put around it symbols for opening and
+closing inline equation and leave point after the closing symbol.
+You can choose between \"$...$\" and \"\\(...\\)\".  If nil, the
+default, what is inserted at point is controlled by
+`TeX-math-close-single-dollar'.
+
+This variable is a cons cell whose CAR is the string to insert
+before the active region, the CDR is the string to insert after
+region."
   :group 'TeX-macro
-  :type 'boolean)
+  :type '(choice (const nil)
+		 (const :tag "$...$" '("$" . "$"))
+		 (const :tag "\\(...\\)" '("\\(" . "\\)"))
+		 (cons :tag "Other"
+		       (string :tag "Insert before region")
+		       (string :tag "Insert after region"))))
 
 (defun TeX-insert-dollar (&optional arg)
   "Insert dollar sign.
@@ -5181,6 +5203,10 @@ the TeX math mode and `blink-matching-paren' is non-nil.  Ensure
 double dollar signs match up correctly by inserting extra dollar
 signs when needed.
 
+When outside math mode, if there is an active region the behavior
+is controlled by `TeX-electric-dollar', otherwise by
+`TeX-math-close-single-dollar'.
+
 With raw \\[universal-argument] prefix, insert exactly one dollar
 sign.  With optional ARG, insert that many dollar signs."
   (interactive "P")
@@ -5225,18 +5251,20 @@ sign.  With optional ARG, insert that many dollar signs."
 	(progn
 	  (if (> (point) (mark))
 	      (exchange-point-and-mark))
-	  (insert "$")
+	  (insert (car TeX-electric-dollar))
 	  (exchange-point-and-mark)
-	  (insert "$"))
+	  (insert (cdr TeX-electric-dollar)))
       (if TeX-math-close-single-dollar
 	  (progn
-	    (insert "$$")
+	    (insert (car TeX-math-close-single-dollar)
+		    (cdr TeX-math-close-single-dollar))
 	    (if blink-matching-paren
 		(progn
-		  (backward-char 2)
+		  (backward-char
+		   (1+ (length (cdr TeX-math-close-single-dollar))))
 		  (sit-for blink-matching-delay)
 		  (forward-char))
-	      (backward-char)))
+	      (backward-char (length (cdr TeX-math-close-single-dollar)))))
 	(insert "$")))))
   (TeX-math-input-method-off))