diff --git a/modules/ve-cite/tests/ve.dm.citeExample.js b/modules/ve-cite/tests/ve.dm.citeExample.js
index c326e1f50..3d822a8de 100644
--- a/modules/ve-cite/tests/ve.dm.citeExample.js
+++ b/modules/ve-cite/tests/ve.dm.citeExample.js
@@ -18,113 +18,113 @@ ve.dm.citeExample.domToDataCases = {
 		// <references group="g1"><ref group="g1" name="foo">Ref in refs</ref></references>
 		body:
 			'<p>Foo' +
-				'<span about="#mwt1" class="reference" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;bar&quot;}}" id="cite_ref-bar-1-0" rel="dc:references" typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-parsoid="{}">' +
+				'<sup about="#mwt1" class="reference" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;bar&quot;}}" id="cite_ref-bar-1-0" rel="dc:references" typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-parsoid="{}">' +
 					'<a href="#cite_note-bar-1">[1]</a>' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'</sup>' +
 				' Baz' +
-				'<span about="#mwt2" class="reference" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Quux&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;:0&quot;}}" id="cite_ref-quux-2-0" rel="dc:references" typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-parsoid="{}">' +
+				'<sup about="#mwt2" class="reference" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Quux&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;:0&quot;}}" id="cite_ref-quux-2-0" rel="dc:references" typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-parsoid="{}">' +
 					'<a href="#cite_note-.3A0-2">[g1 1]</a>' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'</sup>' +
 				' Whee' +
-				'<span about="#mwt3" class="reference" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;' +
+				'<sup about="#mwt3" class="reference" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;' +
 				'<a rel=\\&quot;mw:WikiLink\\&quot; href=\\&quot;./Bar\\&quot;>Bar' +
 				'</a>&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;bar&quot;}}" id="cite_ref-bar-1-1" rel="dc:references" typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-parsoid="{}">' +
 					'<a href="#cite_note-bar-1">[1]</a>' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'</sup>' +
 				' Yay' +
 				// This reference has .body.id instead of .body.html
-				'<span about="#mwt4" class="reference" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;mw-cite-3&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;}}" id="cite_ref-1-0" rel="dc:references" typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-parsoid="{}">' +
+				'<sup about="#mwt4" class="reference" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;mw-cite-3&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;}}" id="cite_ref-1-0" rel="dc:references" typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-parsoid="{}">' +
 					'<a href="#cite_note-3">[g1 2]</a>' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'</sup>' +
 				' Quux' +
-				'<span about="#mwt5" class="reference" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Different content&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;bar&quot;}}" id="cite_ref-bar-1-2" rel="dc:references" typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-parsoid="{}">' +
+				'<sup about="#mwt5" class="reference" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Different content&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;bar&quot;}}" id="cite_ref-bar-1-2" rel="dc:references" typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-parsoid="{}">' +
 					'<a href="#cite_note-bar-1">[1]</a>' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'</sup>' +
 				' Foo' +
-				'<span about="#mwt6" class="reference" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;foo&quot;}}" ' +
+				'<sup about="#mwt6" class="reference" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;foo&quot;}}" ' +
 					'id="cite_ref-foo-4" rel="dc:references" typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-parsoid="{}">' +
 					'<a href="#cite_ref-foo-4">[g1 3]</a>' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'</sup>' +
 			'</p>' +
 			// The HTML below is enriched to wrap reference contents in <span id="mw-cite-[...]">
 			// which Parsoid doesn't do yet, but T88290 asks for
 			'<ol class="references" typeof="mw:Extension/references" about="#mwt7" data-parsoid="{}"' +
 				'data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;references&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{' +
-				'&quot;html&quot;:&quot;<span about=\\&quot;#mwt8\\&quot; class=\\&quot;reference\\&quot; ' +
+				'&quot;html&quot;:&quot;<sup about=\\&quot;#mwt8\\&quot; class=\\&quot;reference\\&quot; ' +
 				'data-mw=\\&quot;{&amp;quot;name&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;ref&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;body&amp;quot;:{&amp;quot;html&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;Ref in refs&amp;quot;},' +
 				'&amp;quot;attrs&amp;quot;:{&amp;quot;group&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;g1&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;name&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;foo&amp;quot;}}\\&quot; ' +
 				'rel=\\&quot;dc:references\\&quot; typeof=\\&quot;mw:Extension/ref\\&quot;>' +
-				'<a href=\\&quot;#cite_note-foo-3\\&quot;>[3]</a></span>&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;}}">' +
+				'<a href=\\&quot;#cite_note-foo-3\\&quot;>[3]</a></sup>&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;}}">' +
 				'<li about="#cite_note-.3A0-2" id="cite_note-.3A0-2"><span rel="mw:referencedBy"><a href="#cite_ref-.3A0_2-0">↑</a></span> <span id="mw-cite-:0">Quux</span></li>' +
 				'<li about="#cite_note-3" id="cite_note-3"><span rel="mw:referencedBy"><a href="#cite_ref-3">↑</a></span> <span id="mw-cite-3">No name</span></li>' +
 				'<li about="#cite_note-foo-4" id="cite_note-foo-4"><span rel="mw:referencedBy"><a href="#cite_ref-foo_4-0">↑</a></span> <span id="mw-cite-foo">Ref in refs</span></li>' +
 			'</ol>',
 		fromDataBody:
 			'<p>Foo' +
-				'<span data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;bar&quot;}}" typeof="mw:Extension/ref">' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'<sup data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;bar&quot;}}" typeof="mw:Extension/ref">' +
+				'</sup>' +
 				' Baz' +
-				'<span data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Quux&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;:0&quot;}}" typeof="mw:Extension/ref">' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'<sup data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Quux&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;:0&quot;}}" typeof="mw:Extension/ref">' +
+				'</sup>' +
 				' Whee' +
-				'<span data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;' +
+				'<sup data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;' +
 				'<a rel=\\&quot;mw:WikiLink\\&quot; href=\\&quot;./Bar\\&quot;>Bar' +
 				'</a>&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;bar&quot;}}" typeof="mw:Extension/ref">' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'</sup>' +
 				' Yay' +
-				'<span data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;mw-cite-3&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;}}" typeof="mw:Extension/ref">' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'<sup data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;mw-cite-3&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;}}" typeof="mw:Extension/ref">' +
+				'</sup>' +
 				' Quux' +
-				'<span data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Different content&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;bar&quot;}}" typeof="mw:Extension/ref">' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'<sup data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Different content&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;bar&quot;}}" typeof="mw:Extension/ref">' +
+				'</sup>' +
 				' Foo' +
-				'<span data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;foo&quot;}}" ' +
+				'<sup data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;foo&quot;}}" ' +
 					'typeof="mw:Extension/ref">' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'</sup>' +
 			'</p>' +
 			'<div typeof="mw:Extension/references" ' +
 				'data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;references&quot;,&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;},&quot;body&quot;:{' +
-				'&quot;html&quot;:&quot;<span typeof=\\&quot;mw:Extension/ref\\&quot; ' +
+				'&quot;html&quot;:&quot;<sup typeof=\\&quot;mw:Extension/ref\\&quot; ' +
 				'data-mw=\\&quot;{&amp;quot;name&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;ref&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;body&amp;quot;:{&amp;quot;html&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;Ref in refs&amp;quot;},' +
 				'&amp;quot;attrs&amp;quot;:{&amp;quot;group&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;g1&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;name&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;foo&amp;quot;}}\\&quot;>' +
-				'</span>&quot;}}">' +
+				'</sup>&quot;}}">' +
 			'</div>',
 		clipboardBody:
 			'<p>Foo' +
-				'<span typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;bar&quot;}}" class="mw-ref">' +
+				'<sup typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;bar&quot;}}" class="mw-ref">' +
 					'<a style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 1;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[1]</span></a>' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'</sup>' +
 				' Baz' +
-				'<span typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Quux&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;:0&quot;}}" class="mw-ref">' +
+				'<sup typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Quux&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;:0&quot;}}" class="mw-ref">' +
 					'<a data-mw-group="g1" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 1;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[g1 1]</span></a>' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'</sup>' +
 				' Whee' +
-				'<span typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;' +
+				'<sup typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;' +
 				'<a href=\\&quot;./Bar\\&quot; rel=\\&quot;mw:WikiLink\\&quot;>Bar' +
 				'</a>&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;bar&quot;}}" class="mw-ref">' +
 					'<a style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 1;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[1]</span></a>' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'</sup>' +
 				' Yay' +
 				// This reference has .body.id instead of .body.html
-				'<span typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;mw-cite-3&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;No name&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;}}" class="mw-ref">' +
+				'<sup typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;id&quot;:&quot;mw-cite-3&quot;,&quot;html&quot;:&quot;No name&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;}}" class="mw-ref">' +
 					'<a data-mw-group="g1" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 2;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[g1 2]</span></a>' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'</sup>' +
 				' Quux' +
-				'<span typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Different content&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;bar&quot;}}" class="mw-ref">' +
+				'<sup typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Different content&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;bar&quot;}}" class="mw-ref">' +
 					'<a style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 1;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[1]</span></a>' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'</sup>' +
 				' Foo' +
-				'<span typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;foo&quot;}}" class="mw-ref">' +
+				'<sup typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;foo&quot;}}" class="mw-ref">' +
 					'<a data-mw-group="g1" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 3;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[g1 3]</span></a>' +
-				'</span>' +
+				'</sup>' +
 			'</p>' +
 			// The HTML below is enriched to wrap reference contents in <span id="mw-cite-[...]">
 			// which Parsoid doesn't do yet, but T88290 asks for
 			'<div typeof="mw:Extension/references"' +
 				'data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;references&quot;,&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;},&quot;body&quot;:{' +
-				'&quot;html&quot;:&quot;<span typeof=\\&quot;mw:Extension/ref\\&quot; ' +
+				'&quot;html&quot;:&quot;<sup typeof=\\&quot;mw:Extension/ref\\&quot; ' +
 				'data-mw=\\&quot;{&amp;quot;name&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;ref&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;attrs&amp;quot;:{&amp;quot;group&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;g1&amp;quot;,&amp;quot;name&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;foo&amp;quot;},&amp;quot;body&amp;quot;:{&amp;quot;html&amp;quot;:&amp;quot;Ref in refs&amp;quot;}}' +
-				'\\&quot; class=\\&quot;mw-ref\\&quot;><a data-mw-group=\\&quot;g1\\&quot; style=\\&quot;counter-reset: mw-Ref 3;\\&quot;><span class=\\&quot;mw-reflink-text\\&quot;>[g1 3]</span></a></span>&quot;}}">' +
+				'\\&quot; class=\\&quot;mw-ref\\&quot;><a data-mw-group=\\&quot;g1\\&quot; style=\\&quot;counter-reset: mw-Ref 3;\\&quot;><span class=\\&quot;mw-reflink-text\\&quot;>[g1 3]</span></a></sup>&quot;}}">' +
 			'</div>',
 		head: '<base href="http://example.com" />',
 		data: [
@@ -222,10 +222,10 @@ ve.dm.citeExample.domToDataCases = {
 						name: 'references',
 						attrs: { group: 'g1' },
 						body: {
-							html: '<span about="#mwt8" class="reference" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Ref in refs&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;foo&quot;}}" rel="dc:references" typeof="mw:Extension/ref"><a href="#cite_note-foo-3">[3]</a></span>'
+							html: '<sup about="#mwt8" class="reference" data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Ref in refs&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;foo&quot;}}" rel="dc:references" typeof="mw:Extension/ref"><a href="#cite_note-foo-3">[3]</a></sup>'
 						}
 					},
-					originalMw: '{"name":"references","body":{"html":"<span about=\\"#mwt8\\" class=\\"reference\\" data-mw=\\"{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Ref in refs&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;foo&quot;}}\\" rel=\\"dc:references\\" typeof=\\"mw:Extension/ref\\"><a href=\\"#cite_note-foo-3\\">[3]</a></span>"},"attrs":{"group":"g1"}}',
+					originalMw: '{"name":"references","body":{"html":"<sup about=\\"#mwt8\\" class=\\"reference\\" data-mw=\\"{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Ref in refs&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{&quot;group&quot;:&quot;g1&quot;,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;foo&quot;}}\\" rel=\\"dc:references\\" typeof=\\"mw:Extension/ref\\"><a href=\\"#cite_note-foo-3\\">[3]</a></sup>"},"attrs":{"group":"g1"}}',
 					listGroup: 'mwReference/g1',
 					refGroup: 'g1',
 					isResponsive: true
@@ -310,20 +310,20 @@ ve.dm.citeExample.domToDataCases = {
 		]
 	},
 	'mw:Reference with metadata': {
-		body: '<p><span about="#mwt2" class="reference" ' +
+		body: '<p><sup about="#mwt2" class="reference" ' +
 			'data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:' +
 			'{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Foo<!-- bar -->&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{}}" ' +
 			'id="cite_ref-1-0" rel="dc:references" typeof="mw:Extension/ref" data-parsoid="{}">' +
-			'<a href="#cite_note-bar-1" data-parsoid="{}">[1]</a></span></p>',
-		fromDataBody: '<p><span ' +
+			'<a href="#cite_note-bar-1" data-parsoid="{}">[1]</a></sup></p>',
+		fromDataBody: '<p><sup ' +
 			'data-mw="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;,&quot;body&quot;:' +
 			'{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Foo<!-- bar -->&quot;},&quot;attrs&quot;:{}}" ' +
-			'typeof="mw:Extension/ref"></span></p>',
-		clipboardBody: '<p><span typeof="mw:Extension/ref" ' +
+			'typeof="mw:Extension/ref"></sup></p>',
+		clipboardBody: '<p><sup typeof="mw:Extension/ref" ' +
 			'data-mw="{&quot;attrs&quot;:{},&quot;body&quot;:' +
 			'{&quot;html&quot;:&quot;Foo<span rel=\\&quot;ve:Comment\\&quot; data-ve-comment=\\&quot; bar \\&quot;>&amp;nbsp;</span>&quot;},&quot;name&quot;:&quot;ref&quot;}" ' +
 			' class="mw-ref">' +
-			'<a style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 1;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[1]</span></a></span></p>',
+			'<a style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 1;"><span class="mw-reflink-text">[1]</span></a></sup></p>',
 		head: '<base href="http://example.com" />',
 		data: [
 			{ type: 'paragraph' },
diff --git a/modules/ve-cite/ve.dm.MWReferenceNode.js b/modules/ve-cite/ve.dm.MWReferenceNode.js
index fa0d6cb03..67137b4d0 100644
--- a/modules/ve-cite/ve.dm.MWReferenceNode.js
+++ b/modules/ve-cite/ve.dm.MWReferenceNode.js
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ ve.dm.MWReferenceNode.static.toDomElements = function ( dataElement, doc, conver
 	var itemNodeHtml, originalHtml, mwData, i, iLen, keyedNodes, setContents, contentsAlreadySet,
 		originalMw, listKeyParts, name, group, $link,
 		isForClipboard = converter.isForClipboard(),
-		el = doc.createElement( 'span' ),
+		el = doc.createElement( 'sup' ),
 		itemNodeWrapper = doc.createElement( 'div' ),
 		originalHtmlWrapper = doc.createElement( 'div' ),
 		itemNode = converter.internalList.getItemNode( dataElement.attributes.listIndex ),