diff --git a/pikchr/pikchr.tmLanguage.json b/pikchr/pikchr.tmLanguage.json
index 4029c4f..eea7def 100644
--- a/pikchr/pikchr.tmLanguage.json
+++ b/pikchr/pikchr.tmLanguage.json
@@ -13,7 +13,24 @@
           "include": "#comment"
         },
         {
-          "include": "#statement"
+          "begin": "(?<=^|[;:{]|\\*/|\\G)\\s*",
+          "patterns": [
+            {
+              "include": "#statement"
+            },
+            {
+              "include": "#continuation"
+            }
+          ],
+          "end": "(?:(?<!\\\\)(?:\\Z|$))|(;)|(?=]|})",
+          "endCaptures": {
+            "1": {
+              "name": "punctuation.separator.delimiter.end.pikchr"
+            }
+          }
+        },
+        {
+          "include": "#syntax-error"
         }
       ]
     },
@@ -28,29 +45,7 @@
           "include": "#statement-direction"
         },
         {
-          "begin": "\\s*(:?[A-Z]\\w*)(:)",
-          "beginCaptures": {
-            "1": {
-              "name": "variable.language.pikchr"
-            },
-            "2": {
-              "name": "punctuation.separator.pikchr"
-            }
-          },
-          "patterns": [
-            {
-              "include": "#unnamed-statement"
-            },
-            {
-              "include": "#position"
-            }
-          ],
-          "end": "(?<!\\\\)(?=\\n)|(;)",
-          "endCaptures": {
-            "1": {
-              "name": "punctuation.separator.delimiter.end.pikchr"
-            }
-          }
+          "include": "#statement-placename"
         },
         {
           "include": "#unnamed-statement"
@@ -66,7 +61,7 @@
         },
         {
           "comment": "assignment",
-          "begin": "(?<=^|;|:|\\*/)\\s*([$_@a-zA-Z]\\w*)\\s*([+-/*]?=)",
+          "begin": "\\G([$_@a-zA-Z]\\w*)\\s*([+-/*]?=)",
           "beginCaptures": {
             "1": {
               "patterns": [
@@ -85,59 +80,91 @@
             }
           ],
           "name": "meta.assignment.pickchr",
-          "end": "(?:(?<!\\\\)(?:\\Z|$))|(;)",
-          "endCaptures": {
-            "1": {
-              "name": "punctuation.separator.delimiter.end.pikchr"
-            }
-          }
+          "end": "(?:(?<!\\\\)(?:\\Z|$))|(?=;)"
         },
         {
-          "comment": "macro expansion...",
-          "begin": "([$_@a-zA-Z]\\w*)\\s*(\\()",
-          "beginCaptures": {
-            "1": {
-              "name": "entity.name.function.pikchr"
-            },
-            "2": {
-              "name": "punctuation.parenthesis.begin.pikchr"
-            }
-          },
+          "begin": "(?=[$_@a-zA-Z]\\w*)",
           "patterns": [
             {
-              "include": "#whitespace"
+              "include": "#macro-call"
             },
             {
-              "include": "#string"
+              "comment": "naked macro",
+              "match": "\\G([$_@a-zA-Z]\\w*)\\b",
+              "name": "entity.name.function.pikchr"
             },
             {
-              "include": "#expr"
+              "match": "[ \\t\\f]+"
             },
             {
-              "match": ",",
-              "name": "punctuation.separator.pikchr"
+              "include": "#attribute"
             }
           ],
-          "name": "meta.macro.call.pikchr",
-          "end": "\\)",
-          "endCaptures": {
-            "0": {
-              "name": "punctuation.parenthesis.end.pikchr"
-            }
-          }
+          "applyEndPatternLast": true,
+          "end": "(?:)"
+        }
+      ]
+    },
+    "macro-call": {
+      "comment": "macro can be anything => macto is incomplete",
+      "begin": "([$_@a-zA-Z]\\w*)\\s*(\\()",
+      "beginCaptures": {
+        "1": {
+          "name": "entity.name.function.pikchr"
         },
+        "2": {
+          "name": "punctuation.parenthesis.begin.pikchr"
+        }
+      },
+      "patterns": [
         {
-          "comment": "naked macro",
-          "match": "([$_@a-zA-Z]\\w*)\\b",
-          "name": "entity.name.function.pikchr"
+          "include": "#whitespace"
         },
         {
-          "include": "#syntax-error"
+          "include": "#string"
+        },
+        {
+          "include": "#expr"
+        },
+        {
+          "match": ",",
+          "name": "punctuation.separator.pikchr"
         }
-      ]
+      ],
+      "name": "meta.macro.call.pikchr",
+      "end": "\\)",
+      "endCaptures": {
+        "0": {
+          "name": "punctuation.parenthesis.end.pikchr"
+        }
+      }
+    },
+    "statement-placename": {
+      "begin": "\\G(:?[A-Z]\\w*|\\$[1-9])[ \\t\\f]*(:)[ \\t\\f]*",
+      "beginCaptures": {
+        "1": {
+          "name": "variable.language.place.pikchr"
+        },
+        "2": {
+          "name": "punctuation.separator.pikchr"
+        }
+      },
+      "patterns": [
+        {
+          "include": "#unnamed-statement"
+        },
+        {
+          "comment": "insert attributes, for when somebode uses a macro",
+          "include": "#attribute"
+        },
+        {
+          "include": "#position"
+        }
+      ],
+      "end": "(?<!\\\\)(?=\\n)|(?=;|})"
     },
     "define-id-codeblock": {
-      "begin": "(?<=^|[;:{]|\\*/)\\s*\\b(define)\\b",
+      "begin": "\\G(define)\\b",
       "beginCaptures": {
         "1": {
           "name": "keyword.control.directive.define.pikchr"
@@ -167,15 +194,10 @@
           }
         }
       ],
-      "end": "(?:(?<!\\\\)(?:\\Z|$))|(;)",
-      "endCaptures": {
-        "1": {
-          "name": "punctuation.separator.delimiter.end.pikchr"
-        }
-      }
+      "end": "(?:(?<!\\\\)(?:\\Z|$))|(?=;)"
     },
     "assert": {
-      "begin": "(?<=^|[;:{]|\\*/)\\s*\\b(assert)\\b\\s*(\\()",
+      "begin": "\\G(assert)\\b\\s*(\\()",
       "beginCaptures": {
         "1": {
           "name": "keyword.control.directive.assert.pikchr"
@@ -204,7 +226,7 @@
       }
     },
     "print-prlist": {
-      "begin": "(?<=^|;|:|\\*/)\\s*\\b(print)\\b",
+      "begin": "\\G(print)\\b",
       "beginCaptures": {
         "1": {
           "name": "keyword.control.directive.define.pikchr"
@@ -218,12 +240,7 @@
           "include": "#string"
         }
       ],
-      "end": "(?:(?<!\\\\)(?:\\Z|$))|(;)",
-      "endCaptures": {
-        "1": {
-          "name": "punctuation.separator.delimiter.end.pikchr"
-        }
-      }
+      "end": "(?:(?<!\\\\)(?:\\Z|$))|(?=;)"
     },
     "unnamed-statement": {
       "patterns": [
@@ -236,18 +253,13 @@
       ]
     },
     "classname-atributes": {
-      "begin": "(?<=^|[;:\"\\[{]|\\*/)\\s*(?:\\b(arc|arrow|box|circle|cylinder|diamond|dot|ellipse|file|line|move|oval|spline|text)\\b|(?=\"))",
+      "begin": "\\G(?:(arc|arrow|box|circle|cylinder|diamond|dot|ellipse|file|line|move|oval|spline|text)\\b|(?=\"))",
       "beginCaptures": {
         "1": {
           "name": "storage.type.class.pikchr"
         }
       },
-      "end": "(?<!\\\\)(?=\\n)|(;)|(?=]|})",
-      "endCaptures": {
-        "1": {
-          "name": "punctuation.separator.delimiter.end.pikchr"
-        }
-      },
+      "end": "(?<!\\\\)(?=\\n)|(?=]|}|;)",
       "patterns": [
         {
           "include": "#whitespace"
@@ -256,13 +268,16 @@
           "include": "#attribute"
         },
         {
-          "match": "\\\\$",
-          "name": "punctuation.separator.continuation.line.pikchr"
+          "include": "#continuation"
         }
       ]
     },
+    "continuation": {
+      "match": "\\\\$",
+      "name": "punctuation.separator.continuation.line.pikchr"
+    },
     "lb-rb-atributes": {
-      "begin": "(?<=^|;|:|\"|{|\\*/)\\s*(?=\\[)",
+      "begin": "\\G(?=\\[)",
       "patterns": [
         {
           "begin": "\\[",
@@ -287,12 +302,7 @@
           "include": "#attribute"
         }
       ],
-      "end": "(?:(?<!\\\\)(?:\\Z|$))|(;)",
-      "endCaptures": {
-        "1": {
-          "name": "punctuation.separator.delimiter.end.pikchr"
-        }
-      }
+      "end": "(?:(?<!\\\\)(?:\\Z|$))|(?=;|})"
     },
     "string-then-text-attributes": {
       "begin": "(?=\")",
@@ -463,7 +473,7 @@
       "patterns": [
         {
           "match": "[A-Z]\\w*",
-          "name": "variable.language.pikchr"
+          "name": "variable.language.place.pikchr"
         },
         {
           "comment": "color is a part of placename, according to pikchr.y",
@@ -472,7 +482,7 @@
       ]
     },
     "variable": {
-      "match": "^[a-z_$@][\\w$@]*",
+      "match": "^[a-z_$@][\\w]*",
       "name": "entity.name.tag.pikchr"
     },
     "attribute": {
@@ -587,12 +597,18 @@
       ]
     },
     "statement-direction": {
-      "match": "(?<=^|[;:]|{|\\*/)\\s*(down|left|right|up)\\b",
+      "begin": "\\G(?:down|left|right|up)\\b",
       "captures": {
-        "1": {
+        "0": {
           "name": "support.constant.direction.pikchr"
         }
-      }
+      },
+      "patterns": [
+        {
+          "include": "#syntax-error"
+        }
+      ],
+      "end": "(?<!\\\\)(?=\\n)|(?=]|}|;)"
     },
     "direction": {
       "match": "\\b(?:down|left|right|up)\\b",
@@ -617,8 +633,22 @@
       "end": "(?:)"
     },
     "numproperty": {
-      "match": "\\b(:?diameter|ht|height|rad|radius|thickness|width|wid)\\b",
-      "name": "support.constant.property-value.pikchr"
+      "begin": "\\b(diameter|ht|height|rad|radius|thickness|width|wid)\\b[ \\t\\f]*",
+      "beginCaptures": {
+        "1": {
+          "name": "support.constant.property-value.pikchr"
+        }
+      },
+      "patterns": [
+        {
+          "include": "#comment"
+        },
+        {
+          "include": "#expr"
+        }
+      ],
+      "applyEndPatternLast": true,
+      "end": "(?:)"
     },
     "lvalue": {
       "patterns": [
@@ -634,13 +664,8 @@
           "name": "entity.name.function.pikchr"
         },
         {
-          "comment": "didn't find the rule exactly",
-          "match": "(?!\\b(?:then)\\b)([a-zA-Z_$@][a-zA-Z0-9_]*)",
-          "captures": {
-            "1": {
-              "name": "variable.language.pikchr"
-            }
-          }
+          "match": "[a-zA-Z_$@][a-zA-Z0-9_]*",
+          "name": "variable.language.pikchr"
         }
       ]
     },
@@ -795,12 +820,12 @@
     "comment": {
       "patterns": [
         {
-          "begin": "/\\*",
+          "begin": "\\s*/\\*",
           "end": "\\*/",
           "name": "comment.block.pikchr"
         },
         {
-          "match": "(?://|#).*$",
+          "match": "\\s*(?://|#).*$",
           "name": "comment.line.pikchr"
         }
       ]
diff --git a/pikchr/syntax_tree.py b/pikchr/syntax_tree.py
index b448830..cdf5f8d 100755
--- a/pikchr/syntax_tree.py
+++ b/pikchr/syntax_tree.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ def parse(filename: str):
     "prsep",
     "rvalue",
     "savelist",
-    "unnamed_statement",
+    # "unnamed_statement",
     "withclause",
     "optrelexpr",
     # "objectname", recursion
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ def render(
         dbg_count += 1
         dot2_key = f"{orig_value}_{dot_key}_{dbg_count}"
         value = replace.get(orig_value, orig_value)
-        if value in enumerate(subgraphs):
+        if value in subgraphs:
             dot2_key = f"{value}_{dot_key}_{dbg_count}"
             with dot.subgraph(
                 name=dot2_key,
diff --git a/pikchr/test/advanced.test.pikchr b/pikchr/test/advanced.test.pikchr
index 88eea64..97fd06b 100644
--- a/pikchr/test/advanced.test.pikchr
+++ b/pikchr/test/advanced.test.pikchr
@@ -6,16 +6,15 @@ line right even with $r left of X9 then up until even with VARIABLE.n
 //         ^^^^ ^^^^                       ^^^^^ ^^^^ ^^^^ keyword.pikchr
 //                   ^^ variable.language.pikchr
 //                           ^^ keyword.control.of.pikchr
-//                              ^^ variable.language.pikchr
+//                              ^^                         ^^^^^^^^ variable.language.place.pikchr
 //                                 ^^^^ keyword.pikchr
-//                                                         ^^^^^^^^ variable.language.pikchr
 
 circle rad 0.05 at Paper + (-0.055, -0.25)
 // <------ storage.type.class.pikchr
 //     ^^^ support.constant.property-value.pikchr
 //         ^^^^ constant.numeric.pikchr
 //              ^^ keyword.pikchr
-//                 ^^^^^ variable.language.pikchr
+//                 ^^^^^ variable.language.place.pikchr
 //                       ^ keyword.operator.arithmetic.pikchr
 //                         ^ punctuation.parenthesis.begin.pikchr
 //                          ^       ^ keyword.operator.arithmetic.pikchr
@@ -38,7 +37,7 @@ line thick  right from 0.3cm below start of previous
 oval width OVAL1.height height OVAL1.width
 // <---- storage.type.class.pikchr
 //   ^^^^^              ^^^^^^ support.constant.property-value.pikchr
-//         ^^^^^ variable.language.pikchr
+//         ^^^^^               ^^^^^ variable.language.place.pikchr
 //              ^                   ^ punctuation.separator.period.pikchr
 //               ^^^^^^              ^^^^^ support.constant.property-value.pikchr
 
@@ -54,13 +53,13 @@ oval "" fit at $r*1.2 below 1/2 way between X0 and X9
 //                    ^^^^^ keyword.pikchr
 //                           ^ keyword.operator.arithmetic.pikchr
 //                              ^^^ ^^^^^^^ keyword.pikchr
-//                                          ^^     ^^ variable.language.pikchr
+//                                          ^^     ^^ variable.language.place.pikchr
 //                                             ^^^ keyword.pikchr
 
 arrow from TYPENAME.e right even with ATTR
 // <----- storage.type.class.pikchr
 //    ^^^^ keyword.pikchr
-//         ^^^^^^^^                   ^^^^ variable.language.pikchr
+//         ^^^^^^^^                   ^^^^ variable.language.place.pikchr
 //                 ^ punctuation.separator.period.pikchr
 //                  ^ constant.language.pikchr
 //                    ^^^^^ support.constant.edge.pikchr
@@ -78,7 +77,7 @@ box "expr" fit with .w at 1.75*$h below BTW.w
 //                            ^ keyword.operator.arithmetic.pikchr
 //                             ^^ variable.language.pikchr
 //                                ^^^^^ keyword.pikchr
-//                                      ^^^ variable.language.pikchr
+//                                      ^^^ variable.language.place.pikchr
 //                                         ^ punctuation.separator.period.pikchr
 //                                          ^ constant.language.pikchr
 box (thickness)
@@ -104,11 +103,12 @@ from d1+8mm heading 0 from C2
 //          ^^^^^^^ keyword.pikchr
 //                  ^ constant.numeric.pikchr
 //                    ^^^^ keyword.pikchr
-//                         ^^ variable.language.pikchr
+//                         ^^ variable.language.place.pikchr
 
 circle "C3" at dist(C2,C4) heading 30 from C2
 //             ^^^^ entity.name.function.pikchr
 //                         ^^^^^^^    ^^^^ keyword.pikchr
+//                  ^^ ^^                  ^^ variable.language.place.pikchr
 
 box height C3.y-C2.y \
 //  ^^^^^  support.constant.property-value.pikchr
@@ -133,22 +133,24 @@ text "radius" at (6/8<X4.start,X4.end>,1/2<X3,X4> /*comment*/)
 //                   ^                    ^ punctuation.bracket.angle.begin.pikchr
 //                                   ^          ^ punctuation.bracket.angle.end.pikchr
 //                                                           ^ punctuation.parenthesis.end.pikchr
-//                    ^^       ^^          ^^ ^^ variable.language.pikchr
+//                    ^^       ^^          ^^ ^^ variable.language.place.pikchr
 //                      ^        ^ punctuation.separator.period.pikchr
 //                            ^ punctuation.separator.pikchr
 //                                                ^^^^^^^^^^^ comment.block.pikchr
 
 "Pikchr source " rjust "code input " rjust at 2nd vertex /**/ of previous
-// <----------------   ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ string.quoted.double.pikchr
+// <---------------- string.quoted.double.pikchr
+//                     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ string.quoted.double.pikchr
 //               ^^^^^               ^^^^^ ^^     ^^^^^^      ^^  keyword.pikchr
 //                                            ^^ constant.language.pikchr
 //                                                       ^^^^ comment.block.pikchr
 //                                                               ^^^^^^^^ constant.language.pikchr
 
 diamond;One: [line ->] with .n at 1cm below previous
-// <-------   ^^^^ storage.type.class.pikchr
+// <------- storage.type.class.pikchr
+//            ^^^^ storage.type.class.pikchr
 //     ^ punctuation.separator.delimiter.end.pikchr
-//      ^^^ variable.language.pikchr
+//      ^^^ variable.language.place.pikchr
 //         ^ punctuation.separator.pikchr
 //           ^ punctuation.bracket.square.begin.pikchr
 //                 ^^ entity.name.tag.pikchr
diff --git a/pikchr/test/attribute.test.pikchr b/pikchr/test/attribute.test.pikchr
index 703801a..09eaeb3 100644
--- a/pikchr/test/attribute.test.pikchr
+++ b/pikchr/test/attribute.test.pikchr
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 arrow from C6 to C3P chop
 //    ^^^^    ^^ keyword.pikchr
-//         ^^    ^^^  variable.language.pikchr
+//         ^^    ^^^  variable.language.place.pikchr
 //                   ^^^^ entity.name.tag.pikchr
 arrow right then down
 //    ^^^^^      ^^^^ support.constant.edge.pikchr
@@ -57,4 +57,4 @@ cylinder "B" at 5cm heading 125 from A
 //       ^^^ string.quoted.double.pikchr
 //           ^^     ^^^^^^^     ^^^^ keyword.pikchr
 //              ^^^         ^^^ constant.numeric.pikchr
-//                                   ^ variable.language.pikchr
+//                                   ^ variable.language.place.pikchr
diff --git a/pikchr/test/comments.test.pikchr b/pikchr/test/comments.test.pikchr
index 93af4e4..504e082 100644
--- a/pikchr/test/comments.test.pikchr
+++ b/pikchr/test/comments.test.pikchr
@@ -19,3 +19,11 @@ box//test
 
 #!
 !! <-- comment.line.pikchr
+    # box
+!!  ^^^^^ comment.line.pikchr
+    // TEST:
+!!  ^^^^^^^^ comment.line.pikchr
+    /* TEST
+!!  ^^^^^^^ comment.block.pikchr
+    */
+!!  ^^ comment.block.pikchr
diff --git a/pikchr/test/macro.test.pikchr b/pikchr/test/macro.test.pikchr
index 54b73b1..08efead 100644
--- a/pikchr/test/macro.test.pikchr
+++ b/pikchr/test/macro.test.pikchr
@@ -23,9 +23,10 @@ par()
 // <--- entity.name.function.pikchr
 // ^ punctuation.parenthesis.begin.pikchr
 //  ^ punctuation.parenthesis.end.pikchr
-par par
+par() par() par par
 // <--- entity.name.function.pikchr
-//  ^^^ entity.name.function.pikchr
+//    ^^^ entity.name.function.pikchr
+//          ^^^ ^^^ variable.language.pikchr
 mymacro( /**/ "hi" /**/ )
 // <------- entity.name.function.pikchr
 //     ^ punctuation.parenthesis.begin.pikchr
@@ -62,3 +63,34 @@ mymacro("o") mymacro("o")
 // <-------  entity.name.function.pikchr
 //           ^^^^^^^ entity.name.function.pikchr
 //      ^^^          ^^^ string.quoted.double.pikchr
+E2: emo at last move.end;
+// <-- variable.language.place.pikchr
+//^ punctuation.separator.pikchr
+//  ^^^ variable.language.pikchr
+//      ^^ keyword.pikchr
+//         ^^^^ constant.language.pikchr
+//              ^^^^ entity.name.function.pikchr
+//                  ^ punctuation.separator.period.pikchr
+//                   ^^^ constant.language.pikchr
+define place_as_parameter {$1: [C1: circle radius 1;];}
+// <------ keyword.control.directive.define.pikchr
+//     ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ variable.language.pikchr
+//                        ^ punctuation.section.block.begin.bracket.curly.pikchr
+//                         ^^   ^^ variable.language.place.pikchr
+//                           ^ punctuation.separator.pikchr
+//                             ^ punctuation.bracket.square.begin.pikchr
+//                                ^ punctuation.separator.pikchr
+//                                  ^^^^^^ storage.type.class.pikchr
+//                                                 ^ ^ punctuation.separator.delimiter.end.pikchr
+//                                                  ^ punctuation.bracket.square.end.pikchr
+//                                                    ^ punctuation.section.block.end.bracket.curly.pikchr
+define place_as_parameter {$1: [C1: circle radius 1;]}
+//                                                   ^ punctuation.section.block.end.bracket.curly.pikchr
+emo at last move.end;
+// <--- entity.name.function.pikchr
+//  ^^ keyword.pikchr
+//     ^^^^ constant.language.pikchr
+//          ^^^^ entity.name.function.pikchr
+//              ^ punctuation.separator.period.pikchr
+//               ^^^ constant.language.pikchr
+//                  ^ punctuation.separator.delimiter.end.pikchr
diff --git a/pikchr/test/place.test.pikchr b/pikchr/test/place.test.pikchr
index a8aaaed..7dad2e2 100644
--- a/pikchr/test/place.test.pikchr
+++ b/pikchr/test/place.test.pikchr
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ arrow from last dot to X0
 //         ^^^^ constant.language.pikchr
 //              ^^^ entity.name.function.pikchr
 //                  ^^ keyword.pikchr
-//                     ^^ variable.language.pikchr
+//                     ^^ variable.language.place.pikchr
 circle at end of first arrow
 //     ^^ keyword.pikchr
 //        ^^^ support.constant.edge.pikchr
diff --git a/pikchr/test/statements.test.pikchr b/pikchr/test/statements.test.pikchr
index cd194a6..81f1f4f 100644
--- a/pikchr/test/statements.test.pikchr
+++ b/pikchr/test/statements.test.pikchr
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@ box
 // <--- storage.type.class.pikchr
 box
 // <--- storage.type.class.pikchr
+\
+// <- punctuation.separator.continuation.line.pikchr
 cylinder  ;
 // <--------  storage.type.class.pikchr
 //      ^  source.pikchr
@@ -34,20 +36,21 @@ diamond "hi"
 
 
 Cat: box "box"
-// <--- variable.language.pikchr
+// <--- variable.language.place.pikchr
 // ^ punctuation.separator.pikchr
 //   ^^^ storage.type.class.pikchr
 //       ^^^^^ string.quoted.double.pikchr
-   Cat: box "box"
-// ^^^ variable.language.pikchr
-//    ^ punctuation.separator.pikchr
-//      ^^^ storage.type.class.pikchr
-//          ^^^^^ string.quoted.double.pikchr
+   Cat : box "box"
+// ^^^ variable.language.place.pikchr
+//     ^ punctuation.separator.pikchr
+//       ^^^ storage.type.class.pikchr
+//           ^^^^^ string.quoted.double.pikchr
 
 box "hello, \"world\""
 //  ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ string.quoted.double.pikchr
-box "hello, \x"
+box "hello, \x";;;;
 //  ^^^^^^^^^^^ source.pikchr string.quoted.double.pikchr
+//             ^^^^ punctuation.separator.delimiter.end.pikchr
 linewid = 0.25
 // <--- variable.language.pikchr
 //      ^ keyword.operator.assignment.pikchr
@@ -76,7 +79,10 @@ boxht = .2; boxwid = .3; circlerad = .3; dx = 0.05
 //        ^            ^               ^ punctuation.separator.delimiter.end.pikchr
 
 left
-// <- support.constant.direction.pikchr
+// <---- support.constant.direction.pikchr
+down with the sickness
+// <---- support.constant.direction.pikchr
+//   ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^^^^^^ invalid.illegal.pikchr
 
 line dashed
 //   ^^^^^^ entity.name.tag.pikchr