[julia-users] @example a + :b

[Matt]

I thought 
@example a + :b
passed the expression  :(a + :b) to the internal body of the macro.

But it's not the case:

If I define
macro example(expr)
   @show expr
   @show dump(expr)
end

Calling @example a + :b prints

expr = :(a + :b)
Expr 

  head: Symbol call

  args: Array(Any,(3,))

    1: Symbol +

    2: Symbol a

    3: Expr 

      head: Symbol quote

      args: Array(Any,(1,))

        1: Symbol b

      typ: Any

  typ: Any


while  dump(:(a + :b)) prints

Expr 

  head: Symbol call

  args: Array(Any,(3,))

    1: Symbol +

    2: Symbol a

    3: QuoteNode 

      value: Symbol b

  typ: Any


So although the expression passed to example prints like :(a + :b), it is 
not :(a+ :b).

I'm not sure why this is the case. 

Is there a way to create, from any expression, the exact expression passed 
in a body of macro?