How to write ^(caret) in latex? [duplicate]

Question

It's as the title says. How can I write ^(caret) in Latex.

If I type something like [^set], then the s in set is raised to a power. How can I display [^set] the way it is?

$\wedge$ sorta works but it gives ∧ and not ^.

Answer 1

Use \string^ that makes the argument category code 12 (other).

\documentclass{article}

\begin{document}

text mode: [\string^set]

math mode: $[\string^set]$

\end{document}

If you're using caret often enough, you can define a shorthand macro for that

\newcommand{\caret}{\string^}

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Read more about \string in this detailed answer by egreg.

Answer 2

In a simple way:

\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{amsmath}
\begin{document}

this is a caret \^{}which is over a space. % space after \^ is not mandatory


$\hat{ }x+1$

\end{document}