Vim: How to reformat a set of lines into a single line (if the line is a single sentence)?

Question

Not a dup of In Vim, what is the simplest way to join all lines in a file into a single line?, as I specifically mean to use the gq reformatting functionality.

I used to write latex in vim using 80 character textwidth. However, I've now switched to an infinite textwidth, so my lines go on forever.

Vim's reformatting (gqap for example), combines a few lines into a paragraph, wrapping them at 80 characters. I'd like it to instead combine them into a single line.

ie

Without a \clang{goto} statement in the HIR, we must instead use conditional
statements to check the iteration number.

should reformat into

Without a \clang{goto} statement in the HIR, we must instead use conditional statements to check the iteration number.

when it is highlighted and gq is pressed.

Answer 1

If you don't like "J" as depesz suggested then do

:set tw=9999

Then do 'gq'. Adjust tw to your needs.

Answer 2

Why don't you just "J" the lines after you select them?