PDF Export from MS Word Needs Updated to the Latest PDF Specifications

Word documents exported to PDF by Word do not support navigable math content as specified in the latest specifications: [ISO 14289-2 (PDF/UA-2)](https://pdfa.org/iso-14289-2-pdfua-2/) and [Well-Tagged PDF (WTPDF) 1.0](https://pdfa.org/wtpdf/). The specification defines how MathML content can be embedded within the PDF structure tree, allowing screen readers and other assistive technologies to properly interpret mathematical content. This is a significant improvement over previous PDF versions, where mathematical expressions were often just treated as images or a series of glyphs without semantic information.

Examination of the tagging structure for a Formula tag in a PDF made from Word reveals that the MathML is included as the value of an MS Office specific attribute on the Formula tag instead of as MathML elements that directly tag the marked content:

```xml
fx=a0+∑n=1∞ancos⁡n𝜋xL+bnsin⁡n𝜋xL" >
𝑓(𝑥)=𝑎0+∑(𝑎𝑛cos𝑛𝜋𝑥𝐿+𝑏𝑛sin𝑛𝜋𝑥𝐿)∞𝑛=1

```

ISO 32000-2:2020 section 14.8.6.3 and WTPDF 1.0 Section 8.2.5.29 cover using presentation MathML structure elements (tags) as a child of a Formula structure element (tag). It is possible to tag the PDF’s marked content with MathML elements such that synchronized highlighting of speech is enabled. For example:

```xml




```

Use the "Generate Tagged PDF” button in the [MathML Structure Element Tagging section on Using the LaTeX prototype for accessible PDF (as of 2025/02)](https://latex3.github.io/tagging-project/documentation/prototype-usage-instructions#mathml-structure-element-tagging) to make a sample PDF that contains MathML elements as direct children of the formula structure element (tag). Once it has finished generating you can download the PDF and/or use the “Show structure tree in new tab” feature to view an XML version of the PDF’s structure which reveals how the MathML elements are made.

It may also be useful to read through the [foxitsoftware/PDF_UA-2 GitHub repository](https://github.com/foxitsoftware/PDF_UA-2).