\textsuperscript {<text>}
In LaTeX 2.09 textual superscripts such as
footnote markers were produced by internally entering math mode and
typesetting the number as a math superscript. This normally looked
fine since the digits in math fonts are the same as those in text
fonts when Computer Modern fonts are used. But when a different
document font (such as Times) is selected, the results look rather
strange. For this reason the command \textsuperscript has been
introduced which typesets its argument in the current text font, in a
superscript position and in the correct size.