--- loncom/xml/lonxml.pm	2004/03/02 22:45:56	1.307
+++ loncom/xml/lonxml.pm	2004/03/04 23:01:31	1.308
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # The LearningOnline Network with CAPA
 # XML Parser Module 
 #
-# $Id: lonxml.pm,v 1.307 2004/03/02 22:45:56 albertel Exp $
+# $Id: lonxml.pm,v 1.308 2004/03/04 23:01:31 albertel Exp $
 #
 # Copyright Michigan State University Board of Trustees
 #
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ sub latex_special_symbols {
 	$string=~s/\~/\\char126 /g;
 	#fixup & if it doesn't look like
         # { or α
-	$string=~s/(&(?!((\#[0-9]+)|([a-z]+));))/\\$1/gi;
+	$string=~s/(&(?!((\#[0-9]+)|([a-z][a-z0-9]*));))/\\$1/gi;
         $string=~s/([^&\\])\#/$1\\#/g;
 	$string=~s/\#\#/\#\\#/g;
 	$string=~s/(\$|_|{|})/\\$1/g;