Variable: org-use-sub-superscripts

org-use-sub-superscripts is a customizable variable defined in org.el.gz.

Value

t

Documentation

Non-nil means interpret "_" and "^" for display.

If you want to control how Org exports those characters, see org-export-with-sub-superscripts.

When this option is turned on, you can use TeX-like syntax for sub- and superscripts within the buffer. Several characters after
"_" or "^" will be considered as a single item - so grouping
with {} is normally not needed. For example, the following things will be parsed as single sub- or superscripts:

 10^24 or 10^tau several digits will be considered 1 item.
 10^-12 or 10^-tau a leading sign with digits or a word
 x^2-y^3 will be read as x^2 - y^3, because items are
terminated by almost any nonword/nondigit char.
 x_{i^2} or x^(2-i) braces or parenthesis do grouping.

Still, ambiguity is possible. So when in doubt, use {} to enclose the sub/superscript. If you set this variable to the symbol {}, the braces are *required* in order to trigger interpretations as sub/superscript. This can be helpful in documents that need "_" frequently in plain text.

This variable was added, or its default value changed, in Org version
8.0.

Source Code

;; Defined in /usr/src/emacs/lisp/org/org.el.gz
(defcustom org-use-sub-superscripts t
  "Non-nil means interpret \"_\" and \"^\" for display.

If you want to control how Org exports those characters, see
`org-export-with-sub-superscripts'.

When this option is turned on, you can use TeX-like syntax for
sub- and superscripts within the buffer.  Several characters after
\"_\" or \"^\" will be considered as a single item - so grouping
with {} is normally not needed.  For example, the following things
will be parsed as single sub- or superscripts:

 10^24   or   10^tau     several digits will be considered 1 item.
 10^-12  or   10^-tau    a leading sign with digits or a word
 x^2-y^3                 will be read as x^2 - y^3, because items are
			 terminated by almost any nonword/nondigit char.
 x_{i^2} or   x^(2-i)    braces or parenthesis do grouping.

Still, ambiguity is possible.  So when in doubt, use {} to enclose
the sub/superscript.  If you set this variable to the symbol `{}',
the braces are *required* in order to trigger interpretations as
sub/superscript.  This can be helpful in documents that need \"_\"
frequently in plain text."
  :group 'org-startup
  :version "24.4"
  :package-version '(Org . "8.0")
  :type '(choice
	  (const :tag "Always interpret" t)
	  (const :tag "Only with braces" {})
	  (const :tag "Never interpret" nil)))