diff --git a/syntax/pandoc.vim b/syntax/pandoc.vim
index 920eec5..5ce2c27 100644
--- a/syntax/pandoc.vim
+++ b/syntax/pandoc.vim
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ syn match pandocTitleBlockTitle /\%^%.*\n/ contained containedin=pandocTitleBloc
 "}}}
 " Blockquotes: {{{2
 "
-syn match pandocBlockQuote /^\s\{,3}>.*\n\(.*\n\@1<!\n\)*/ contains=@Spell,pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocPCite,pandocSuperscript,pandocSubscript,pandocStrikeout,pandocUListItem,pandocNoFormatted skipnl
+syn match pandocBlockQuote /^\s\{,3}>.*\n\(.*\n\@1<!\n\)*/ contains=@Spell,pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocPCite,pandocSuperscript,pandocSubscript,pandocStrikeout,pandocUListItem,pandocNoFormatted,pandocAmpersandEscape skipnl
 syn match pandocBlockQuoteMark /\_^\s\{,3}>/ contained containedin=pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocPCite,pandocSuperscript,pandocSubscript,pandocStrikeout,pandocUListItem,pandocNoFormatted
 
 " }}}
@@ -254,14 +254,14 @@ else
 endif
 " let's not consider "a [label] a" as a label, remove formatting - Note: breaks implicit links
 syn match pandocNoLabel /\]\@1<!\(\s\{,3}\|^\)\[[^\[\]]\{-}\]\(\s\+\|$\)[\[(]\@!/ contains=pandocPCite
-syn match pandocLinkTip /\s*".\{-}"/ contained containedin=pandocReferenceURL contains=@Spell display
+syn match pandocLinkTip /\s*".\{-}"/ contained containedin=pandocReferenceURL contains=@Spell,pandocAmpersandEscape display
 call s:WithConceal("image", 'syn match pandocImageIcon /!\[\@=/ display', 'conceal cchar='. s:cchars["image"]) 
 " }}}
 " Definitions: {{{3
 syn region pandocReferenceDefinition start=/\[.\{-}\]:/ end=/\(\n\s*".*"$\|$\)/ keepend
 syn match pandocReferenceDefinitionLabel /\[\zs.\{-}\ze\]:/ contained containedin=pandocReferenceDefinition display
 syn match pandocReferenceDefinitionAddress /:\s*\zs.*/ contained containedin=pandocReferenceDefinition
-syn match pandocReferenceDefinitionTip /\s*".\{-}"/ contained containedin=pandocReferenceDefinition,pandocReferenceDefinitionAddress contains=@Spell
+syn match pandocReferenceDefinitionTip /\s*".\{-}"/ contained containedin=pandocReferenceDefinition,pandocReferenceDefinitionAddress contains=@Spell,pandocAmpersandEscape
 "}}}
 " Automatic_links: {{{3
 syn match pandocAutomaticLink /<\(https\{0,1}.\{-}\|[A-Za-z0-9!#$%&'*+\-/=?^_`{|}~.]\{-}@[A-Za-z0-9\-]\{-}\.\w\{-}\)>/ contains=NONE
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ syn match pandocAutomaticLink /<\(https\{0,1}.\{-}\|[A-Za-z0-9!#$%&'*+\-/=?^_`{|
 "}}}
 " Citations: {{{2
 " parenthetical citations
-syn match pandocPCite /\^\@<!\[[^\[\]]\{-}-\{0,1}@[[:alnum:]_][[:alnum:]äëïöüáéíóúàèìòùłßÄËÏÖÜÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙŁß_:.#$%&\-+?<>~\/]*.\{-}\]/ contains=pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocLatex,pandocCiteKey,@Spell display
+syn match pandocPCite /\^\@<!\[[^\[\]]\{-}-\{0,1}@[[:alnum:]_][[:alnum:]äëïöüáéíóúàèìòùłßÄËÏÖÜÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙŁß_:.#$%&\-+?<>~\/]*.\{-}\]/ contains=pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocLatex,pandocCiteKey,@Spell,pandocAmpersandEscape display
 " in-text citations with location
 syn match pandocICite /@[[:alnum:]_][[:alnum:]äëïöüáéíóúàèìòùłßÄËÏÖÜÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙŁß_:.#$%&\-+?<>~\/]*\s\[.\{-1,}\]/ contains=pandocCiteKey,@Spell display
 " cite keys
@@ -281,24 +281,24 @@ syn match pandocCiteLocator /[\[\]]/ contained containedin=pandocPCite,pandocICi
 
 " Emphasis: {{{3
 "
-call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocEmphasis matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/\\\@1<!\(\_^\|\s\|[[:punct:]]\)\@<=\*\S\@=/ skip=/\(\*\*\|__\)/ end=/\*\([[:punct:]]\|\s\|\_$\)\@=/ contains=@Spell,pandocNoFormattedInEmphasis,pandocLatexInlineMath', 'concealends')
-call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocEmphasis matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/\\\@1<!\(\_^\|\s\|[[:punct:]]\)\@<=_\S\@=/ skip=/\(\*\*\|__\)/ end=/\S\@1<=_\([[:punct:]]\|\s\|\_$\)\@=/ contains=@Spell,pandocNoFormattedInEmphasis,pandocLatexInlineMath', 'concealends')
+call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocEmphasis matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/\\\@1<!\(\_^\|\s\|[[:punct:]]\)\@<=\*\S\@=/ skip=/\(\*\*\|__\)/ end=/\*\([[:punct:]]\|\s\|\_$\)\@=/ contains=@Spell,pandocNoFormattedInEmphasis,pandocLatexInlineMath,pandocAmpersandEscape', 'concealends')
+call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocEmphasis matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/\\\@1<!\(\_^\|\s\|[[:punct:]]\)\@<=_\S\@=/ skip=/\(\*\*\|__\)/ end=/\S\@1<=_\([[:punct:]]\|\s\|\_$\)\@=/ contains=@Spell,pandocNoFormattedInEmphasis,pandocLatexInlineMath,pandocAmpersandEscape', 'concealends')
 " }}}
 " Strong: {{{3
 "
-call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocStrong matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/\(\\\@<!\*\)\{2}/ end=/\(\\\@<!\*\)\{2}/ contains=@Spell,pandocNoFormattedInStrong,pandocLatexInlineMath', 'concealends')
-call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocStrong matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/__/ end=/__/ contains=@Spell,pandocNoFormattedInStrong,pandocLatexInlineMath', 'concealends')
+call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocStrong matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/\(\\\@<!\*\)\{2}/ end=/\(\\\@<!\*\)\{2}/ contains=@Spell,pandocNoFormattedInStrong,pandocLatexInlineMath,pandocAmpersandEscape', 'concealends')
+call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocStrong matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/__/ end=/__/ contains=@Spell,pandocNoFormattedInStrong,pandocLatexInlineMath,pandocAmpersandEscape', 'concealends')
 "}}}
 " Strong Emphasis: {{{3
 "
-call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocStrongEmphasis matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/\*\{3}\(\S[^*]*\(\*\S\|\n[^*]*\*\S\)\)\@=/ end=/\S\@<=\*\{3}/ contains=@Spell', 'concealends')
-call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocStrongEmphasis matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/\(___\)\S\@=/ end=/\S\@<=___/ contains=@Spell', 'concealends')
+call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocStrongEmphasis matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/\*\{3}\(\S[^*]*\(\*\S\|\n[^*]*\*\S\)\)\@=/ end=/\S\@<=\*\{3}/ contains=@Spell,pandocAmpersandEscape', 'concealends')
+call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocStrongEmphasis matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/\(___\)\S\@=/ end=/\S\@<=___/ contains=@Spell,pandocAmpersandEscape', 'concealends')
 " }}}
 " Mixed: {{{3
-call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocStrongInEmphasis matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/\*\*/ end=/\*\*/ contained containedin=pandocEmphasis contains=@Spell', 'concealends')
-call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocStrongInEmphasis matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/__/ end=/__/ contained containedin=pandocEmphasis contains=@Spell', 'concealends')
-call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocEmphasisInStrong matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/\\\@1<!\(\_^\|\s\|[[:punct:]]\)\@<=\*\S\@=/ skip=/\(\*\*\|__\)/ end=/\S\@<=\*\([[:punct:]]\|\s\|\_$\)\@=/ contained containedin=pandocStrong contains=@Spell', 'concealends')
-call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocEmphasisInStrong matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/\\\@<!\(\_^\|\s\|[[:punct:]]\)\@<=_\S\@=/ skip=/\(\*\*\|__\)/ end=/\S\@<=_\([[:punct:]]\|\s\|\_$\)\@=/ contained containedin=pandocStrong contains=@Spell', 'concealends')
+call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocStrongInEmphasis matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/\*\*/ end=/\*\*/ contained containedin=pandocEmphasis contains=@Spell,pandocAmpersandEscape', 'concealends')
+call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocStrongInEmphasis matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/__/ end=/__/ contained containedin=pandocEmphasis contains=@Spell,pandocAmpersandEscape', 'concealends')
+call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocEmphasisInStrong matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/\\\@1<!\(\_^\|\s\|[[:punct:]]\)\@<=\*\S\@=/ skip=/\(\*\*\|__\)/ end=/\S\@<=\*\([[:punct:]]\|\s\|\_$\)\@=/ contained containedin=pandocStrong contains=@Spell,pandocAmpersandEscape', 'concealends')
+call s:WithConceal("block", 'syn region pandocEmphasisInStrong matchgroup=pandocOperator start=/\\\@<!\(\_^\|\s\|[[:punct:]]\)\@<=_\S\@=/ skip=/\(\*\*\|__\)/ end=/\S\@<=_\([[:punct:]]\|\s\|\_$\)\@=/ contained containedin=pandocStrong contains=@Spell,pandocAmpersandEscape', 'concealends')
 
 " Inline Code: {{{3
 
@@ -321,17 +321,17 @@ syn region pandocSuperscript start=/\^\(\([[:graph:]]\(\\ \)\=\)\{-}\^\)\@=/ ski
 call s:WithConceal("superscript", 'syn match pandocSuperscriptMark /\^/ contained containedin=pandocSuperscript', 'conceal cchar='.s:cchars["super"])
 "}}}
 " Strikeout: {{{3
-syn region pandocStrikeout start=/\~\~/ end=/\~\~/ contains=@Spell keepend
+syn region pandocStrikeout start=/\~\~/ end=/\~\~/ contains=@Spell,pandocAmpersandEscape keepend
 call s:WithConceal("strikeout", 'syn match pandocStrikeoutMark /\~\~/ contained containedin=pandocStrikeout', 'conceal cchar='.s:cchars["strike"])
 " }}}
 " }}}
 " Headers: {{{2
 "
-syn match pandocAtxHeader /\(\%^\|<.\+>.*\n\|^\s*\n\)\@<=#\{1,6}.*\n/ contains=pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocNoFormatted,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,@Spell display
+syn match pandocAtxHeader /\(\%^\|<.\+>.*\n\|^\s*\n\)\@<=#\{1,6}.*\n/ contains=pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocNoFormatted,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,@Spell,pandocAmpersandEscape display
 syn match pandocAtxHeaderMark /\(^#\{1,6}\|\\\@<!#\+\(\s*.*$\)\@=\)/ contained containedin=pandocAtxHeader
 call s:WithConceal("atx", 'syn match pandocAtxStart /#/ contained containedin=pandocAtxHeaderMark', 'conceal cchar='.s:cchars["atx"])
-syn match pandocSetexHeader /^.\+\n[=]\+$/ contains=pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocNoFormatted,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,@Spell
-syn match pandocSetexHeader /^.\+\n[-]\+$/ contains=pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocNoFormatted,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,@Spell
+syn match pandocSetexHeader /^.\+\n[=]\+$/ contains=pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocNoFormatted,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,@Spell,pandocAmpersandEscape
+syn match pandocSetexHeader /^.\+\n[-]\+$/ contains=pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocNoFormatted,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,@Spell,pandocAmpersandEscape
 syn match pandocHeaderAttr /{.*}/ contained containedin=pandocAtxHeader,pandocSetexHeader
 syn match pandocHeaderID /#[-_:.[:alpha:]]*/ contained containedin=pandocHeaderAttr
 "}}}
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ if g:pandoc#syntax#codeblocks#embeds#use != 0
 endif
 " }}}
 " Abbreviations: {{{2
-syn region pandocAbbreviationDefinition start=/^\*\[.\{-}\]:\s*/ end="$" contains=pandocNoFormatted,@Spell
+syn region pandocAbbreviationDefinition start=/^\*\[.\{-}\]:\s*/ end="$" contains=pandocNoFormatted,@Spell,pandocAmpersandEscape
 call s:WithConceal('abbrev', 'syn match pandocAbbreviationSeparator /:/ contained containedin=pandocAbbreviationDefinition', "conceal cchar=".s:cchars["abbrev"])
 syn match pandocAbbreviation /\*\[.\{-}\]/ contained containedin=pandocAbbreviationDefinition
 call s:WithConceal('abbrev', 'syn match pandocAbbreviationHead /\*\[/ contained containedin=pandocAbbreviation', "conceal")
@@ -405,12 +405,12 @@ call s:WithConceal('abbrev', 'syn match pandocAbbreviationTail /\]/ contained co
 "
 syn match pandocFootnoteID /\[\^[^\]]\+\]/ nextgroup=pandocFootnoteDef
 "   Inline footnotes
-syn region pandocFootnoteDef start=/\^\[/ skip=/\[.\{-}]/ end=/\]/ contains=pandocReferenceLabel,pandocReferenceURL,pandocLatex,pandocPCite,pandocCiteKey,pandocStrong,pandocEmphasis,pandocStrongEmphasis,pandocNoFormatted,pandocSuperscript,pandocSubscript,pandocStrikeout,pandocEnDash,pandocEmDash,pandocEllipses,pandocBeginQuote,pandocEndQuote,@Spell skipnl keepend 
+syn region pandocFootnoteDef start=/\^\[/ skip=/\[.\{-}]/ end=/\]/ contains=pandocReferenceLabel,pandocReferenceURL,pandocLatex,pandocPCite,pandocCiteKey,pandocStrong,pandocEmphasis,pandocStrongEmphasis,pandocNoFormatted,pandocSuperscript,pandocSubscript,pandocStrikeout,pandocEnDash,pandocEmDash,pandocEllipses,pandocBeginQuote,pandocEndQuote,@Spell,pandocAmpersandEscape skipnl keepend 
 call s:WithConceal("footnote", 'syn match pandocFootnoteDefHead /\^\[/ contained containedin=pandocFootnoteDef', 'conceal cchar='.s:cchars["footnote"])
 call s:WithConceal("footnote", 'syn match pandocFootnoteDefTail /\]/ contained containedin=pandocFootnoteDef', 'conceal')
 
 " regular footnotes
-syn region pandocFootnoteBlock start=/\[\^.\{-}\]:\s*\n*/ end=/^\n^\s\@!/ contains=pandocReferenceLabel,pandocReferenceURL,pandocLatex,pandocPCite,pandocCiteKey,pandocStrong,pandocEmphasis,pandocNoFormatted,pandocSuperscript,pandocSubscript,pandocStrikeout,pandocEnDash,pandocEmDash,pandocNewLine,pandocStrongEmphasis,pandocEllipses,pandocBeginQuote,pandocEndQuote,@Spell skipnl
+syn region pandocFootnoteBlock start=/\[\^.\{-}\]:\s*\n*/ end=/^\n^\s\@!/ contains=pandocReferenceLabel,pandocReferenceURL,pandocLatex,pandocPCite,pandocCiteKey,pandocStrong,pandocEmphasis,pandocNoFormatted,pandocSuperscript,pandocSubscript,pandocStrikeout,pandocEnDash,pandocEmDash,pandocNewLine,pandocStrongEmphasis,pandocEllipses,pandocBeginQuote,pandocEndQuote,@Spell,pandocAmpersandEscape skipnl
 syn match pandocFootnoteBlockSeparator /:/ contained containedin=pandocFootnoteBlock
 syn match pandocFootnoteID /\[\^.\{-}\]/ contained containedin=pandocFootnoteBlock
 call s:WithConceal("footnote", 'syn match pandocFootnoteIDHead /\[\^/ contained containedin=pandocFootnoteID', 'conceal cchar='.s:cchars["footnote"])
@@ -419,11 +419,11 @@ call s:WithConceal("footnote", 'syn match pandocFootnoteIDTail /\]/ contained co
 " List Items: {{{2
 "
 " Unordered lists
-syn match pandocUListItem /^>\=\s*[*+-]\s\+-\@!.*$/ nextgroup=pandocUListItem,pandocLaTeXMathBlock,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,pandocDelimitedCodeBlock,pandocListItemContinuation contains=@Spell,pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocNoFormatted,pandocStrikeout,pandocSubscript,pandocSuperscript,pandocStrongEmphasis,pandocStrongEmphasis,pandocPCite,pandocICite,pandocCiteKey,pandocReferenceLabel,pandocLaTeXCommand,pandocLaTeXMathBlock,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,pandocReferenceURL,pandocAutomaticLink,pandocFootnoteDef,pandocFootnoteBlock,pandocFootnoteID skipempty display
+syn match pandocUListItem /^>\=\s*[*+-]\s\+-\@!.*$/ nextgroup=pandocUListItem,pandocLaTeXMathBlock,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,pandocDelimitedCodeBlock,pandocListItemContinuation contains=@Spell,pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocNoFormatted,pandocStrikeout,pandocSubscript,pandocSuperscript,pandocStrongEmphasis,pandocStrongEmphasis,pandocPCite,pandocICite,pandocCiteKey,pandocReferenceLabel,pandocLaTeXCommand,pandocLaTeXMathBlock,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,pandocReferenceURL,pandocAutomaticLink,pandocFootnoteDef,pandocFootnoteBlock,pandocFootnoteID,pandocAmpersandEscape skipempty display
 call s:WithConceal('list', 'syn match pandocUListItemBullet /^>\=\s*\zs[*+-]/ contained containedin=pandocUListItem', 'conceal cchar='.s:cchars['li'])
 
 " Ordered lists
-syn match pandocListItem /^\s*(\?\(\d\+\|\l\|\#\|@\)[.)].*$/ nextgroup=pandocListItem,pandocLaTeXMathBlock,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,pandocDelimitedCodeBlock,pandocListItemContinuation contains=@Spell,pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocNoFormatted,pandocStrikeout,pandocSubscript,pandocSuperscript,pandocStrongEmphasis,pandocStrongEmphasis,pandocPCite,pandocICite,pandocCiteKey,pandocReferenceLabel,pandocLaTeXCommand,pandocLaTeXMathBlock,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,pandocAutomaticLink,pandocFootnoteDef,pandocFootnoteBlock,pandocFootnoteID skipempty display 
+syn match pandocListItem /^\s*(\?\(\d\+\|\l\|\#\|@\)[.)].*$/ nextgroup=pandocListItem,pandocLaTeXMathBlock,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,pandocDelimitedCodeBlock,pandocListItemContinuation contains=@Spell,pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocNoFormatted,pandocStrikeout,pandocSubscript,pandocSuperscript,pandocStrongEmphasis,pandocStrongEmphasis,pandocPCite,pandocICite,pandocCiteKey,pandocReferenceLabel,pandocLaTeXCommand,pandocLaTeXMathBlock,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,pandocAutomaticLink,pandocFootnoteDef,pandocFootnoteBlock,pandocFootnoteID,pandocAmpersandEscape skipempty display 
 " support for roman numerals up to 'c'
 if g:pandoc#syntax#roman_lists != 0
     syn match pandocListItem /^\s*(\?x\=l\=\(i\{,3}[vx]\=\)\{,3}c\{,3}[.)].*$/ nextgroup=pandocListItem,pandocMathBlock,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,pandocDelimitedCodeBlock,pandocListItemContinuation,pandocAutomaticLink skipempty display 
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ endif
 syn match pandocListItemBullet /^(\?.\{-}[.)]/ contained containedin=pandocListItem
 syn match pandocListItemBulletId /\(\d\+\|\l\|\#\|@.\{-}\|x\=l\=\(i\{,3}[vx]\=\)\{,3}c\{,3}\)/ contained containedin=pandocListItemBullet
 
-syn match pandocListItemContinuation /^\s\+\([-+*]\s\+\|(\?.\+[).]\)\@<!\([[:alpha:]ñäëïöüáéíóúàèìòùłßÄËÏÖÜÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙŁß_"[]\|\*\S\)\@=.*$/ nextgroup=pandocLaTeXMathBlock,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,pandocDelimitedCodeBlock,pandocListItemContinuation,pandocListItem contains=@Spell,pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocNoFormatted,pandocStrikeout,pandocSubscript,pandocSuperscript,pandocStrongEmphasis,pandocStrongEmphasis,pandocPCite,pandocICite,pandocCiteKey,pandocReferenceLabel,pandocReferenceURL,pandocLaTeXCommand,pandocLaTeXMathBlock,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,pandocAutomaticLink,pandocFootnoteDef,pandocFootnoteBlock,pandocFootnoteID contained skipempty display 
+syn match pandocListItemContinuation /^\s\+\([-+*]\s\+\|(\?.\+[).]\)\@<!\([[:alpha:]ñäëïöüáéíóúàèìòùłßÄËÏÖÜÁÉÍÓÚÀÈÌÒÙŁß_"[]\|\*\S\)\@=.*$/ nextgroup=pandocLaTeXMathBlock,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,pandocDelimitedCodeBlock,pandocListItemContinuation,pandocListItem contains=@Spell,pandocEmphasis,pandocStrong,pandocNoFormatted,pandocStrikeout,pandocSubscript,pandocSuperscript,pandocStrongEmphasis,pandocStrongEmphasis,pandocPCite,pandocICite,pandocCiteKey,pandocReferenceLabel,pandocReferenceURL,pandocLaTeXCommand,pandocLaTeXMathBlock,pandocLaTeXInlineMath,pandocAutomaticLink,pandocFootnoteDef,pandocFootnoteBlock,pandocFootnoteID,pandocAmpersandEscape contained skipempty display 
 " }}}
 " Definitions: {{{2
 "
@@ -473,6 +473,8 @@ if g:pandoc#syntax#conceal#backslash == 1
     syn match pandocBackslash /\v\\@<!\\((re)?newcommand)@!/ containedin=ALLBUT,pandocCodeblock,pandocCodeBlockInsideIndent,pandocNoFormatted,pandocNoFormattedInEmphasis,pandocNoFormattedInStrong,pandocDelimitedCodeBlock,pandocLineBlock,pandocYAMLHeader conceal
 endif
 " }}}
+" &-escaped Special Characters: {{{3
+syn match pandocAmpersandEscape /\v\&(#\d+|#x\x+|[[:alnum:]]+)\;/ contains=NoSpell
 " }}}
 " YAML: {{{2
 
@@ -505,6 +507,7 @@ hi link pandocHTMLCommentStart Delimiter
 hi link pandocHTMLCommentEnd Delimiter
 hi link pandocBlockQuote Comment
 hi link pandocBlockQuoteMark Comment
+hi link pandocAmpersandEscape Special
 
 " if the user sets g:pandoc#syntax#codeblocks#ignore to contain
 " a codeblock type, don't highlight it so that it remains Normal