non-math superscripts in LaTeX export

[Ken Mankoff <mankoff@gmail.com>]

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Hi,

This file:

Math mode: a\(^{b}\)
Non-math mode: a^{b}
What I'd like: a\textsuperscript{b}

Is exported to this LaTeX code:

Math mode: a\(^{b}\)
Non-math mode: a\(^{\text{b}}\)
What I'd like: a\textsuperscript{b}


When viewing a PDF from that LaTeX source, the first (Math mode) appears correct. The second (non-math) appears correct in the PDF, but I'm not sure it is in the LaTeX source. The third looks correct.


A more severe end-product appearance issue comes downstream. I find Pandoc generates better ODT and DOCX files than Org when the inputs are complicated. When viewing a DOCX generated from the above LaTeX with:

$ pandoc -f LaTeX -i foo.tex -t DOCX -o foo.docx foo.tex

there is a more serious issue: The b power is not attached to the a, so there is an empty box and it looks like this (where ^b is actually raised as a superscript):  a[]^b. Or see attached screenshot.

I've tried toggling #+OPTIONS ^:{} and ^:nil but it doesn't solve this. It seems to me like a^b should export as a\textsuperscript{b}. Do others agree? Or is this a pandoc bug I should be raising in that project?

Thanks,

  -k.



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