On Wed, Apr 29, 2009 at 9:06 PM, Roger Hui <[email protected]> wrote:
>> (or at the beginning of a fret or
>> after a closing apostrophe but that too seems like a bad idea as
>> 'foo': could have a meaning once)
>
> Nope:
>
>   ;:'''foo'':'
> +-----+-+
> |'foo'|:|
> +-----+-+

I said

    For this reason, a token starting with a dot or colon is
    recognized only after a whitespace ([...] or
    after a closing apostrophe
[^ apparent rule]

    but that too seems like a bad idea as
    'foo': could have a meaning once).
[^ just my opinion]

Let's see what the dictionary says.

    The alphabet is standard ASCII, comprising digits, letters (of the
    English alphabet), the underline (used in names and numbers), the
    (single) quote, and others (which include the space) to be referred
    to as graphics.

    A primitive or primary may be denoted by a single graphic (such
    as + for plus) or by a graphic modified by one or more following
    inflections (a period or colon), as in +. and +: for or and nor.
    [...]

This makes it quite clear that ). can later be used as a new
primitive, but I think it isn't so clear about when a primitive
starting with dot or colon is recognized.

Ambrus
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