diff --git a/extras/jsx_ex.erl b/extras/jsx_ex.erl
index 8a317a3..3247487 100644
--- a/extras/jsx_ex.erl
+++ b/extras/jsx_ex.erl
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ simple_decode(JSON) when is_binary(JSON) ->
     P = jsx:decoder(),
     decode(P(JSON), []).
 
-decode({event, end_json, _Next}, Acc) -> 
+decode({jsx, end_json, _Next}, Acc) -> 
     lists:reverse(Acc);    
-decode({event, Event, Next}, Acc) -> 
+decode({jsx, Event, Next}, Acc) -> 
     decode(Next(), [Event] ++ Acc).
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/jsx.app.src b/src/jsx.app.src
index 9f69ff4..41a170b 100644
--- a/src/jsx.app.src
+++ b/src/jsx.app.src
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {application, jsx,
 [
     {description, "a streaming, evented json parsing toolkit"},
-    {vsn, "0.9.0"},
+    {vsn, "0.10.0"},
     {modules, [
         jsx,
         jsx_encoder,
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
         jsx_utf16le,
         jsx_utf32,
         jsx_utf32le,
-		jsx_eep0018,
+		jsx_terms,
 		jsx_format,
 		jsx_verify,
 		jsx_utils
diff --git a/src/jsx.erl b/src/jsx.erl
index 708a5d9..79c831c 100644
--- a/src/jsx.erl
+++ b/src/jsx.erl
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ encoder() -> encoder([]).
 encoder(Opts) -> jsx_encoder:encoder(Opts).
 
 
--spec json_to_term(JSON::binary()) -> eep0018().
+-spec json_to_term(JSON::binary()) -> jsx_term().
 
 json_to_term(JSON) ->
     try json_to_term(JSON, [])
@@ -91,13 +91,13 @@ json_to_term(JSON) ->
     end.
     
 
--spec json_to_term(JSON::binary(), Opts::decoder_opts()) -> eep0018(). 
+-spec json_to_term(JSON::binary(), Opts::decoder_opts()) -> jsx_term(). 
     
 json_to_term(JSON, Opts) ->
-    jsx_eep0018:json_to_term(JSON, Opts).
+    jsx_terms:json_to_term(JSON, Opts).
 
 
--spec term_to_json(JSON::eep0018()) -> binary().
+-spec term_to_json(JSON::jsx_term()) -> binary().
 
 term_to_json(JSON) ->
     try term_to_json(JSON, [])
@@ -106,10 +106,10 @@ term_to_json(JSON) ->
     end.
 
 
--spec term_to_json(JSON::eep0018(), Opts::encoder_opts()) -> binary().        
+-spec term_to_json(JSON::jsx_term(), Opts::encoder_opts()) -> binary().        
 
 term_to_json(JSON, Opts) ->
-    try jsx_eep0018:term_to_json(JSON, Opts)
+    try jsx_terms:term_to_json(JSON, Opts)
     %% rethrow exception so internals aren't confusingly exposed to users
     catch error:badarg -> erlang:error(badarg, [JSON, Opts])
     end.
@@ -227,11 +227,11 @@ decode(JSON, Flags) ->
     P = jsx:decoder(Flags),
     decode_loop(P(JSON), []).
 
-decode_loop({event, end_json, _Next}, Acc) ->
+decode_loop({jsx, end_json, _Next}, Acc) ->
     lists:reverse([end_json] ++ Acc);
-decode_loop({incomplete, More}, Acc) ->
+decode_loop({jsx, incomplete, More}, Acc) ->
     decode_loop(More(end_stream), Acc);
-decode_loop({event, E, Next}, Acc) ->
+decode_loop({jsx, E, Next}, Acc) ->
     decode_loop(Next(), [E] ++ Acc).
 
     
@@ -239,13 +239,13 @@ incremental_decode(<<C:1/binary, Rest/binary>>, Flags) ->
 	P = jsx:decoder(Flags),
 	incremental_decode_loop(P(C), Rest, []).
 
-incremental_decode_loop({incomplete, Next}, <<>>, Acc) ->
+incremental_decode_loop({jsx, incomplete, Next}, <<>>, Acc) ->
     incremental_decode_loop(Next(end_stream), <<>>, Acc);	
-incremental_decode_loop({incomplete, Next}, <<C:1/binary, Rest/binary>>, Acc) ->
+incremental_decode_loop({jsx, incomplete, Next}, <<C:1/binary, Rest/binary>>, Acc) ->
 	incremental_decode_loop(Next(C), Rest, Acc);	
-incremental_decode_loop({event, end_json, _Next}, _Rest, Acc) ->
+incremental_decode_loop({jsx, end_json, _Next}, _Rest, Acc) ->
     lists:reverse([end_json] ++ Acc);
-incremental_decode_loop({event, Event, Next}, Rest, Acc) ->
+incremental_decode_loop({jsx, Event, Next}, Rest, Acc) ->
 	incremental_decode_loop(Next(), Rest, [Event] ++ Acc).
 
 
@@ -261,11 +261,11 @@ multi_decode(JSON, Flags) ->
     P = jsx:decoder(Flags ++ [{multi_term, true}]),
     multi_decode_loop(P(JSON), [[]]).
 
-multi_decode_loop({incomplete, _Next}, [[]|Acc]) ->
+multi_decode_loop({jsx, incomplete, _Next}, [[]|Acc]) ->
     lists:reverse(Acc);
-multi_decode_loop({event, end_json, Next}, [S|Acc]) ->
+multi_decode_loop({jsx, end_json, Next}, [S|Acc]) ->
     multi_decode_loop(Next(), [[]|[lists:reverse(S)] ++ Acc]);
-multi_decode_loop({event, E, Next}, [S|Acc]) ->
+multi_decode_loop({jsx, E, Next}, [S|Acc]) ->
     multi_decode_loop(Next(), [[E] ++ S] ++ Acc).
 	
 	
@@ -283,10 +283,10 @@ multi_test_result() ->
         [{literal, false}],
         [{literal, null}],
         [start_object, end_object],
-        [start_object, {key, "key"}, {string, "value"}, end_object],
+        [start_object, {key, <<"key">>}, {string, <<"value">>}, end_object],
         [start_array, end_array],
         [start_array, {integer, 1}, {integer, 2}, {integer, 3}, end_array],
-        [{string, "hope this works"}]
+        [{string, <<"hope this works">>}]
     ].
 
 
diff --git a/src/jsx_common.hrl b/src/jsx_common.hrl
index 09c758c..242f94d 100644
--- a/src/jsx_common.hrl
+++ b/src/jsx_common.hrl
@@ -33,8 +33,7 @@
 
 
 -type jsx_opts() :: [jsx_opt()].
--type jsx_opt() :: {escaped_unicode, ascii | codepoint | replace | none}
-    | {multi_term, true | false}
+-type jsx_opt() :: {multi_term, true | false}
     | {encoding, auto 
         | utf8
         | utf16
@@ -44,19 +43,15 @@
     }.
 
 
-%% events emitted by the parser and component types
--type unicode_codepoint() :: 0..16#10ffff.
--type unicode_string() :: [unicode_codepoint()].
-
 -type jsx_event() :: start_object
     | end_object
     | start_array
     | end_array
     | end_json
-    | {key, unicode_string()}
-    | {string, unicode_string()}
-    | {integer, unicode_string()}
-    | {float, unicode_string()}
+    | {key, binary()}
+    | {string, binary()}
+    | {integer, integer()}
+    | {float, float()}
     | {literal, true}
     | {literal, false}
     | {literal, null}.
@@ -76,16 +71,12 @@
 -type jsx_encoder() :: fun((jsx_encodeable()) -> jsx_iterator_result()).
 
 -type jsx_iterator_result() :: 
-    {event, jsx_event(), fun(() -> jsx_iterator_result())}
-    | {incomplete, jsx_iterator()}
+    {jsx, jsx_event(), fun(() -> jsx_iterator_result())}
+    | {jsx, incomplete, jsx_iterator()}
     | {error, {badjson, any()}}.
 
 
 
-    
-
-
-
 -type supported_utf() :: utf8 
     | utf16 
     | {utf16, little} 
@@ -93,23 +84,22 @@
     | {utf32, little}.
 
 
-%% eep0018 json specification
--type eep0018() :: eep0018_object() | eep0018_array().
 
--type eep0018_array() :: [eep0018_term()].
--type eep0018_object() :: [{eep0018_key(), eep0018_term()}].
+%% json specification
+-type jsx_array() :: [jsx_term()] | [].
+-type jsx_object() :: [{jsx_key(), jsx_term()}] | [{}].
 
--type eep0018_key() :: binary() | atom().
+-type jsx_key() :: binary().
 
--type eep0018_term() :: eep0018_array() 
-    | eep0018_object() 
-    | eep0018_string() 
-    | eep0018_number() 
+-type jsx_term() :: jsx_array() 
+    | jsx_object() 
+    | jsx_string() 
+    | jsx_number() 
     | true | false | null.
 
--type eep0018_string() :: binary().
+-type jsx_string() :: binary().
 
--type eep0018_number() :: float() | integer().
+-type jsx_number() :: float() | integer().
 
 
 -type encoder_opts() :: [encoder_opt()].
@@ -123,10 +113,7 @@
 
 -type decoder_opts() :: [decoder_opt()].
 -type decoder_opt() :: {strict, true | false}
-    | {encoding, supported_utf()}
-    | {label, atom | binary | existing_atom}
-    | {float, true | false}.
-
+    | {encoding, supported_utf()}.
 
 -type verify_opts() :: [verify_opt()].
 -type verify_opt() :: {encoding, auto | supported_utf()}
diff --git a/src/jsx_decoder.hrl b/src/jsx_decoder.hrl
index 19983df..0a893fa 100644
--- a/src/jsx_decoder.hrl
+++ b/src/jsx_decoder.hrl
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 
 %% opts record for decoder
 -record(opts, {
-    escaped_unicode = codepoint,
     multi_term = false,
     encoding = auto
 }).
@@ -134,9 +133,6 @@ parse_opts(Opts) ->
 
 parse_opts([], Opts) ->
     Opts;
-parse_opts([{escaped_unicode, Value}|Rest], Opts) ->
-    true = lists:member(Value, [ascii, codepoint, replace, none]),
-    parse_opts(Rest, Opts#opts{escaped_unicode=Value});
 parse_opts([{multi_term, Value}|Rest], Opts) ->
     true = lists:member(Value, [true, false]),
     parse_opts(Rest, Opts#opts{multi_term=Value});
@@ -152,11 +148,11 @@ parse_opts(_, _) ->
 start(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) when ?is_whitespace(S) -> 
     start(Rest, Stack, Opts);
 start(<<?start_object/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
-    {event, start_object, fun() -> object(Rest, [key|Stack], Opts) end};
+    {jsx, start_object, fun() -> object(Rest, [key|Stack], Opts) end};
 start(<<?start_array/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
-    {event, start_array, fun() -> array(Rest, [array|Stack], Opts) end};
+    {jsx, start_array, fun() -> array(Rest, [array|Stack], Opts) end};
 start(<<?quote/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
-    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, []);
+    string(Rest, Stack, Opts);
 start(<<$t/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
     tr(Rest, Stack, Opts);
 start(<<$f/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
@@ -172,7 +168,7 @@ start(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) when ?is_nonzero(S) ->
 start(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     start(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts) 
@@ -184,21 +180,21 @@ start(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
 maybe_done(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) when ?is_whitespace(S) ->
     maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts);
 maybe_done(<<?end_object/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [object|Stack], Opts) ->
-    {event, end_object, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, end_object, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end};
 maybe_done(<<?end_array/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [array|Stack], Opts) ->
-    {event, end_array, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, end_array, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end};
 maybe_done(<<?comma/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [object|Stack], Opts) ->
     key(Rest, [key|Stack], Opts);
 maybe_done(<<?comma/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [array|_] = Stack, Opts) ->
     value(Rest, Stack, Opts);
 maybe_done(Rest, [], #opts{multi_term=true}=Opts) ->
-    {event, end_json, fun() -> start(Rest, [], Opts) end};
+    {jsx, end_json, fun() -> start(Rest, [], Opts) end};
 maybe_done(Rest, [], Opts) ->
     done(Rest, Opts);
 maybe_done(Bin, Stack, Opts) -> 
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     maybe_done(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts) 
@@ -210,8 +206,8 @@ maybe_done(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
 done(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Opts) when ?is_whitespace(S) ->
     done(Rest, Opts);
 done(<<>>, Opts) ->
-    {event, end_json, fun() -> 
-        {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+    {jsx, end_json, fun() -> 
+        {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                 {error, {badjson, <<>>}}
             ; (Stream) -> 
                 done(Stream, Opts) 
@@ -220,7 +216,7 @@ done(<<>>, Opts) ->
 done(Bin, Opts) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     done(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Opts)
@@ -232,13 +228,13 @@ done(Bin, Opts) ->
 object(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) when ?is_whitespace(S) ->
     object(Rest, Stack, Opts);
 object(<<?quote/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
-    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, []);
+    string(Rest, Stack, Opts);
 object(<<?end_object/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [key|Stack], Opts) ->
-    {event, end_object, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, end_object, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end};
 object(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     object(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts)
@@ -250,7 +246,7 @@ object(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
 array(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) when ?is_whitespace(S) -> 
     array(Rest, Stack, Opts);       
 array(<<?quote/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
-    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, []);
+    string(Rest, Stack, Opts);
 array(<<$t/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
     tr(Rest, Stack, Opts);
 array(<<$f/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
@@ -264,15 +260,15 @@ array(<<?zero/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
 array(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) when ?is_nonzero(S) ->
     integer(Rest, Stack, Opts, [S]);
 array(<<?start_object/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
-    {event, start_object, fun() -> object(Rest, [key|Stack], Opts) end};
+    {jsx, start_object, fun() -> object(Rest, [key|Stack], Opts) end};
 array(<<?start_array/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
-    {event, start_array, fun() -> array(Rest, [array|Stack], Opts) end};
+    {jsx, start_array, fun() -> array(Rest, [array|Stack], Opts) end};
 array(<<?end_array/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [array|Stack], Opts) ->
-    {event, end_array, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, end_array, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end};
 array(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     array(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts)
@@ -284,7 +280,7 @@ array(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
 value(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) when ?is_whitespace(S) -> 
     value(Rest, Stack, Opts);
 value(<<?quote/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
-    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, []);
+    string(Rest, Stack, Opts);
 value(<<$t/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
     tr(Rest, Stack, Opts);
 value(<<$f/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
@@ -298,13 +294,13 @@ value(<<?zero/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
 value(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) when ?is_nonzero(S) ->
     integer(Rest, Stack, Opts, [S]);
 value(<<?start_object/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
-    {event, start_object, fun() -> object(Rest, [key|Stack], Opts) end};
+    {jsx, start_object, fun() -> object(Rest, [key|Stack], Opts) end};
 value(<<?start_array/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
-    {event, start_array, fun() -> array(Rest, [array|Stack], Opts) end};
+    {jsx, start_array, fun() -> array(Rest, [array|Stack], Opts) end};
 value(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     value(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts)
@@ -320,7 +316,7 @@ colon(<<?colon/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [key|Stack], Opts) ->
 colon(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     colon(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts)
@@ -332,11 +328,11 @@ colon(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
 key(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) when ?is_whitespace(S) ->
     key(Rest, Stack, Opts);        
 key(<<?quote/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
-    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, []);
+    string(Rest, Stack, Opts);
 key(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     key(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts)
@@ -352,20 +348,23 @@ key(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
 %% string uses partial_utf/1 to cease parsing when invalid encodings are 
 %%   encountered rather than just checking remaining binary size like other 
 %%   states
+string(Bin, Stack, Opts) -> string(Bin, Stack, Opts, <<>>).
+
+
 string(<<?quote/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [key|_] = Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, {key, lists:reverse(Acc)}, fun() -> colon(Rest, Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, {key, Acc}, fun() -> colon(Rest, Stack, Opts) end};
 string(<<?quote/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, {string, lists:reverse(Acc)}, fun() -> 
+    {jsx, {string, Acc}, fun() -> 
         maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts)
     end};
 string(<<?rsolidus/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
     escape(Rest, Stack, Opts, Acc);   
 string(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) when ?is_noncontrol(S) ->
-    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, [S] ++ Acc);
+    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, <<Acc/binary, S/utf8>>);
 string(Bin, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
     case partial_utf(Bin) of 
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     string(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc)
@@ -431,24 +430,24 @@ partial_utf(_) -> true.
 %%   escaped_unicode used to hold the codepoint sequence. unescessary, but nicer 
 %%   than using the string accumulator
 escape(<<$b/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
-    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, "\b" ++ Acc);
+    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, <<Acc/binary, "\b">>);
 escape(<<$f/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
-    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, "\f" ++ Acc);
+    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, <<Acc/binary, "\f">>);
 escape(<<$n/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
-    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, "\n" ++ Acc);
+    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, <<Acc/binary, "\n">>);
 escape(<<$r/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
-    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, "\r" ++ Acc);
+    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, <<Acc/binary, "\r">>);
 escape(<<$t/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
-    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, "\t" ++ Acc);
+    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, <<Acc/binary, "\t">>);
 escape(<<$u/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
     escaped_unicode(Rest, Stack, Opts, Acc, []);      
 escape(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) 
         when S =:= ?quote; S =:= ?solidus; S =:= ?rsolidus ->
-    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, [S] ++ Acc);
+    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, <<Acc/binary, S/utf8>>);
 escape(Bin, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     escape(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc)
@@ -459,92 +458,27 @@ escape(Bin, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
 
 %% this code is ugly and unfortunate, but so is json's handling of escaped 
 %%   unicode codepoint sequences.
-%% if the ascii option is present, the sequence is converted to a codepoint 
-%%   and inserted into the string if it represents an ascii value. 
-%% if the codepoint option is present the sequence is converted and inserted 
-%%   as long as it represents a valid unicode codepoint. this means 
-%%   non-characters representable in 16 bits are not converted (the utf16 
-%%   surrogates and the two special non-characters). 
-%% if the replace option is present sequences are converted as in codepoint
-%%   with the exception that the non-characters are replaced with u+fffd, the
-%%   unicode replacement character
-%% any other option and no conversion is done
-escaped_unicode(<<D/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, 
-        Stack, 
-        #opts{escaped_unicode=ascii}=Opts, 
-        String, 
-        [C, B, A]) 
-    when ?is_hex(D) ->
-    case erlang:list_to_integer([A, B, C, D], 16) of
-        X when X < 128 ->
-            string(Rest, Stack, Opts, [X] ++ String)
-        ; _ ->
-            string(Rest, Stack, Opts, [D, C, B, A, $u, ?rsolidus] ++ String)
-    end;
-escaped_unicode(<<D/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, 
-        Stack, 
-        #opts{escaped_unicode=codepoint}=Opts, 
-        String, 
-        [C, B, A]) 
-    when ?is_hex(D) ->
-    case erlang:list_to_integer([A, B, C, D], 16) of
-        X when X >= 16#dc00, X =< 16#dfff ->
-            case check_acc_for_surrogate(String) of
-                false ->
-                    string(Rest, 
-                        Stack, 
-                        Opts, 
-                        [D, C, B, A, $u, ?rsolidus] ++ String
-                    )
-                ; {Y, NewString} ->
-                    string(Rest, 
-                        Stack, 
-                        Opts, 
-                        [surrogate_to_codepoint(Y, X)] ++ NewString
-                    )
-            end
-        ; X when X < 16#d800; X > 16#dfff, X < 16#fffe ->
-            string(Rest, Stack, Opts, [X] ++ String) 
-        ; _ ->
-            string(Rest, Stack, Opts, [D, C, B, A, $u, ?rsolidus] ++ String)
-    end;
-escaped_unicode(<<D/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, 
-        Stack, 
-        #opts{escaped_unicode=replace}=Opts, 
-        String, 
-        [C, B, A]) 
-    when ?is_hex(D) ->
-    case erlang:list_to_integer([A, B, C, D], 16) of
-        X when X >= 16#dc00, X =< 16#dfff ->
-            case check_acc_for_surrogate(String) of
-                false ->
-                    string(Rest, 
-                        Stack, 
-                        Opts, 
-                        [16#fffd] ++ String
-                    )
-                ; {Y, NewString} ->
-                    string(Rest, 
-                        Stack, 
-                        Opts, 
-                        [surrogate_to_codepoint(Y, X)] ++ NewString
-                    )
-            end
-        ; X when X < 16#d800; X > 16#dfff, X < 16#fffe ->
-            string(Rest, Stack, Opts, [X] ++ String) 
-        ; _ ->
-            string(Rest, Stack, Opts, [16#fffd] ++ String)
-    end;
+%% fuck json escaping. new rule: if it's not a valid codepoint, it's an error
 escaped_unicode(<<D/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, String, [C, B, A]) 
-    when ?is_hex(D) ->
-    string(Rest, Stack, Opts, [D, C, B, A, $u, ?rsolidus] ++ String);
+        when ?is_hex(D) ->
+    case erlang:list_to_integer([A, B, C, D], 16) of
+        %% high surrogate, we need a low surrogate next
+        X when X >= 16#d800, X =< 16#dbff ->
+            low_surrogate(Rest, Stack, Opts, String, X)
+        %% non-characters, you're not allowed to exchange these
+        ; X when X == 16#fffe; X == 16#ffff ->
+            {error, {badjson, <<D/?utfx, Rest/binary>>}}
+        %% anything else
+        ; X ->
+            string(Rest, Stack, Opts, <<String/binary, X/utf8>>)
+    end;
 escaped_unicode(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, String, Acc) 
-    when ?is_hex(S) ->
+        when ?is_hex(S) ->
     escaped_unicode(Rest, Stack, Opts, String, [S] ++ Acc);
 escaped_unicode(Bin, Stack, Opts, String, Acc) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     escaped_unicode(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, 
@@ -558,22 +492,83 @@ escaped_unicode(Bin, Stack, Opts, String, Acc) ->
     end.
 
 
-%% upon encountering a low pair json/hex encoded value, check to see if there's 
-%%   a high value already in the accumulator
-check_acc_for_surrogate([D, C, B, A, $u, ?rsolidus|Rest])
-        when ?is_hex(D), ?is_hex(C), ?is_hex(B), ?is_hex(A) ->
+low_surrogate(<<?rsolidus/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, String, High) ->
+    low_surrogate_u(Rest, Stack, Opts, String, High);
+low_surrogate(Bin, Stack, Opts, String, High) ->
+    case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
+        true -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+                    {error, {badjson, Bin}}
+                ; (Stream) -> 
+                    low_surrogate(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, 
+                        Stack, 
+                        Opts, 
+                        String,
+                        High
+                    ) 
+            end}
+        ; false -> {error, {badjson, Bin}}
+    end.
+
+    
+    
+low_surrogate_u(<<$u/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, String, High) ->
+    low_surrogate(Rest, Stack, Opts, String, [], High);
+low_surrogate_u(Bin, Stack, Opts, String, High) ->
+    case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
+        true -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+                    {error, {badjson, Bin}}
+                ; (Stream) -> 
+                    low_surrogate_u(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, 
+                        Stack, 
+                        Opts, 
+                        String,
+                        High
+                    ) 
+            end}
+        ; false -> {error, {badjson, Bin}}
+    end.
+
+
+
+low_surrogate(<<D/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, String, [C, B, A], High) 
+        when ?is_hex(D) ->
     case erlang:list_to_integer([A, B, C, D], 16) of
-        X when X >=16#d800, X =< 16#dbff ->
-            {X, Rest};
-        _ ->
-            false
+        X when X >= 16#dc00, X =< 16#dfff ->
+            string(Rest,
+                Stack,
+                Opts,
+                <<String/binary, (surrogate_to_codepoint(High, X))/utf8>>
+            )
+        %% not a low surrogate, bad bad bad
+        ; X ->
+            {error, {badjson, <<X/?utfx, Rest/binary>>}}
     end;
-check_acc_for_surrogate(_) ->
-    false.
+low_surrogate(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, String, Acc, High) 
+        when ?is_hex(S) ->
+    low_surrogate(Rest, Stack, Opts, String, [S] ++ Acc, High);
+low_surrogate(Bin, Stack, Opts, String, Acc, High) ->
+    case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
+        true -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+                    {error, {badjson, Bin}}
+                ; (Stream) -> 
+                    low_surrogate(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, 
+                        Stack, 
+                        Opts, 
+                        String, 
+                        Acc,
+                        High
+                    ) 
+            end}
+        ; false -> {error, {badjson, Bin}}
+    end.
 
 
 %% stole this from the unicode spec    
 surrogate_to_codepoint(High, Low) ->
+    io:format("~p ~p~n", [High, Low]),
     (High - 16#d800) * 16#400 + (Low - 16#dc00) + 16#10000.
 
 
@@ -586,7 +581,7 @@ negative(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) when ?is_nonzero(S) ->
 negative(Bin, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->  
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     negative(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc)
@@ -596,38 +591,38 @@ negative(Bin, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
 
 
 zero(<<?end_object/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [object|Stack], Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
-        {event, end_object, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end}
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
+        {jsx, end_object, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end}
     end};
 zero(<<?end_array/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [array|Stack], Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
-        {event, end_array, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end}
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
+        {jsx, end_array, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end}
     end};
 zero(<<?comma/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [object|Stack], Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
         key(Rest, [key|Stack], Opts)
     end};
 zero(<<?comma/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [array|_] = Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
         value(Rest, Stack, Opts)
     end};
 zero(<<?decimalpoint/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
     initial_decimal(Rest, Stack, Opts, {Acc, []});
 zero(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) when ?is_whitespace(S) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
         maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts)
     end};
 zero(<<>>, [], Opts, Acc) ->
-    {incomplete, fun(end_stream) ->
-            {event, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
-                {event, end_json, fun() -> zero(<<>>, [], Opts, Acc) end}
+    {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) ->
+            {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
+                {jsx, end_json, fun() -> zero(<<>>, [], Opts, Acc) end}
             end}
         ; (Stream) -> zero(Stream, [], Opts, Acc)
     end};
 zero(Bin, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     zero(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc)
@@ -639,19 +634,19 @@ zero(Bin, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
 integer(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) when ?is_nonzero(S) ->
     integer(Rest, Stack, Opts, [S] ++ Acc);
 integer(<<?end_object/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [object|Stack], Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
-        {event, end_object, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end}
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
+        {jsx, end_object, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end}
     end};
 integer(<<?end_array/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [array|Stack], Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
-        {event, end_array, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end}
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
+        {jsx, end_array, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end}
     end};
 integer(<<?comma/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [object|Stack], Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
         key(Rest, [key|Stack], Opts)
     end};
 integer(<<?comma/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [array|_] = Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
         value(Rest, Stack, Opts)
     end};
 integer(<<?decimalpoint/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
@@ -661,20 +656,20 @@ integer(<<?zero/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
 integer(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) when S =:= $e; S =:= $E ->
     e(Rest, Stack, Opts, {lists:reverse(Acc), [], []});
 integer(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) when ?is_whitespace(S) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
         maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts)
     end};
 integer(<<>>, [], Opts, Acc) ->
-    {incomplete, fun(end_stream) ->
-            {event, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
-                {event, end_json, fun() -> integer(<<>>, [], Opts, Acc) end}
+    {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) ->
+            {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
+                {jsx, end_json, fun() -> integer(<<>>, [], Opts, Acc) end}
             end}
         ; (Stream) -> integer(Stream, [], Opts, Acc)
     end};
 integer(Bin, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->  
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true ->
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     integer(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc)
@@ -689,7 +684,7 @@ initial_decimal(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, {Int, Frac})
 initial_decimal(Bin, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true ->
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) ->
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) ->
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) ->
                     initial_decimal(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>,
@@ -706,39 +701,39 @@ decimal(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, {Int, Frac})
         when S=:= ?zero; ?is_nonzero(S) ->
     decimal(Rest, Stack, Opts, {Int, [S] ++ Frac});
 decimal(<<?end_object/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [object|Stack], Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
-        {event, end_object, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end}
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
+        {jsx, end_object, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end}
     end};
 decimal(<<?end_array/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [array|Stack], Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
-        {event, end_array, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end}
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
+        {jsx, end_array, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end}
     end};
 decimal(<<?comma/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [object|Stack], Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
         key(Rest, [key|Stack], Opts)
     end};
 decimal(<<?comma/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [array|_] = Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
         value(Rest, Stack, Opts)
     end};
 decimal(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, {Int, Frac})
         when S =:= $e; S =:= $E ->
     e(Rest, Stack, Opts, {Int, Frac, []});
 decimal(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) when ?is_whitespace(S) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
         maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts)
     end};
 decimal(<<>>, [], Opts, Acc) ->
-    {incomplete, fun(end_stream) ->
-            {event, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
-                {event, end_json, fun() -> decimal(<<>>, [], Opts, Acc) end}
+    {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) ->
+            {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
+                {jsx, end_json, fun() -> decimal(<<>>, [], Opts, Acc) end}
             end}
         ; (Stream) -> decimal(Stream, [], Opts, Acc)
     end};
 decimal(Bin, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->  
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     decimal(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc)
@@ -756,7 +751,7 @@ e(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, {Int, Frac, Exp})
 e(Bin, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->  
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) ->
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) ->
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) ->
                     e(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc)
@@ -771,7 +766,7 @@ ex(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, {Int, Frac, Exp})
 ex(Bin, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->  
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) ->
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) ->
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     ex(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc)
@@ -784,36 +779,36 @@ exp(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, {Int, Frac, Exp})
         when S =:= ?zero; ?is_nonzero(S) ->
     exp(Rest, Stack, Opts, {Int, Frac, [S] ++ Exp});
 exp(<<?end_object/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [object|Stack], Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
-        {event, end_object, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end}
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
+        {jsx, end_object, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end}
     end};
 exp(<<?end_array/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [array|Stack], Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
-        {event, end_array, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end}
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() -> 
+        {jsx, end_array, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end}
     end};
 exp(<<?comma/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [object|Stack], Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
         key(Rest, [key|Stack], Opts)
     end};
 exp(<<?comma/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, [array|_] = Stack, Opts, Acc) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
         value(Rest, Stack, Opts)
     end};
 exp(<<S/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc) when ?is_whitespace(S) ->
-    {event, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
+    {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
         maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts)
     end};
 exp(<<>>, [], Opts, Acc) ->
-    {incomplete, fun(end_stream) ->
-            {event, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
-                {event, end_json, fun() -> exp(<<>>, [], Opts, Acc) end}
+    {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) ->
+            {jsx, format_number(Acc), fun() ->
+                {jsx, end_json, fun() -> exp(<<>>, [], Opts, Acc) end}
             end}
         ; (Stream) -> exp(Stream, [], Opts, Acc)
     end};
 exp(Bin, Stack, Opts, Acc) ->  
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true ->
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) -> 
                     exp(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts, Acc)
@@ -839,7 +834,7 @@ tr(<<$r/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
 tr(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->  
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) ->
                     tr(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts)
@@ -853,7 +848,7 @@ tru(<<$u/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
 tru(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->  
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) ->
                     tru(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts)
@@ -863,11 +858,11 @@ tru(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
 
 
 true(<<$e/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
-    {event, {literal, true}, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, {literal, true}, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end};
 true(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) ->
                     true(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts)
@@ -881,7 +876,7 @@ fa(<<$a/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
 fa(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) ->
                     fa(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts)
@@ -895,7 +890,7 @@ fal(<<$l/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
 fal(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) ->
                     fal(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts)
@@ -909,7 +904,7 @@ fals(<<$s/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
 fals(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) ->
                     fals(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts)
@@ -919,11 +914,11 @@ fals(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
     
 
 false(<<$e/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
-    {event, {literal, false}, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, {literal, false}, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end};
 false(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) ->
                     false(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts)
@@ -937,7 +932,7 @@ nu(<<$u/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
 nu(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) ->
                     nu(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts)
@@ -951,7 +946,7 @@ nul(<<$l/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
 nul(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) ->
                     nul(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts)
@@ -961,11 +956,11 @@ nul(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
 
 
 null(<<$l/?utfx, Rest/binary>>, Stack, Opts) ->
-    {event, {literal, null}, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, {literal, null}, fun() -> maybe_done(Rest, Stack, Opts) end};
 null(Bin, Stack, Opts) ->
     case ?partial_codepoint(Bin) of
         true -> 
-            {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+            {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
                     {error, {badjson, Bin}}
                 ; (Stream) ->
                     null(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Stack, Opts)
diff --git a/src/jsx_encoder.erl b/src/jsx_encoder.erl
index 9c494c9..3b3fae8 100644
--- a/src/jsx_encoder.erl
+++ b/src/jsx_encoder.erl
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@
 
 
 -record(opts, {
-    escaped_unicode = codepoint,
     multi_term = false,
     encoding = auto
 }).
@@ -43,30 +42,30 @@ encoder(Opts) -> fun(Forms) -> start(Forms, Opts) end.
     
 
 -define(ENDJSON,
-    {event, end_json, fun() -> 
-        {incomplete, fun(Forms) -> {error, {badjson, Forms}} end} 
+    {jsx, end_json, fun() -> 
+        {jsx, incomplete, fun(Forms) -> {error, {badjson, Forms}} end} 
     end}
 ).
 
     
-start({string, String}, _Opts) when is_list(String) ->
-    {event, {string, json_escape(String)}, fun() -> ?ENDJSON end};
-start({float, Float}, _Opts) when is_list(Float) ->
-    {event, {float, Float}, fun() -> ?ENDJSON end};
-start({integer, Int}, _Opts) when is_list(Int) ->
-    {event, {integer, Int}, fun() -> ?ENDJSON end};
+start({string, String}, _Opts) when is_binary(String) ->
+    {jsx, {string, json_escape(String)}, fun() -> ?ENDJSON end};
+start({float, Float}, _Opts) when is_float(Float) ->
+    {jsx, {float, Float}, fun() -> ?ENDJSON end};
+start({integer, Int}, _Opts) when is_integer(Int) ->
+    {jsx, {integer, Int}, fun() -> ?ENDJSON end};
 start({literal, Atom}, _Opts) when Atom == true; Atom == false; Atom == null ->
-    {event, {literal, Atom}, fun() -> ?ENDJSON end};
+    {jsx, {literal, Atom}, fun() -> ?ENDJSON end};
 %% second parameter is a stack to match end_foos to start_foos
 start(Forms, Opts) -> list_or_object(Forms, [], Opts).
 
 
 list_or_object([start_object|Forms], Stack, Opts) ->
-    {event, start_object, fun() -> key(Forms, [object] ++ Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, start_object, fun() -> key(Forms, [object] ++ Stack, Opts) end};
 list_or_object([start_array|Forms], Stack, Opts) ->
-    {event, start_array, fun() -> value(Forms, [array] ++ Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, start_array, fun() -> value(Forms, [array] ++ Stack, Opts) end};
 list_or_object([], Stack, Opts) ->
-    {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+    {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
             {error, {badjson, []}}
         ; (Stream) -> 
             list_or_object(Stream, Stack, Opts) 
@@ -74,12 +73,12 @@ list_or_object([], Stack, Opts) ->
 list_or_object(Forms, _, _) -> {error, {badjson, Forms}}.
 
  
-key([{key, Key}|Forms], Stack, Opts) when is_list(Key) ->
-    {event, {key, json_escape(Key)}, fun() -> value(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
+key([{key, Key}|Forms], Stack, Opts) when is_binary(Key) ->
+    {jsx, {key, json_escape(Key)}, fun() -> value(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
 key([end_object|Forms], [object|Stack], Opts) ->
-    {event, end_object, fun() -> maybe_done(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, end_object, fun() -> maybe_done(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
 key([], Stack, Opts) ->
-    {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+    {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
             {error, {badjson, []}}
         ; (Stream) -> 
             key(Stream, Stack, Opts) 
@@ -87,23 +86,23 @@ key([], Stack, Opts) ->
 key(Forms, _, _) -> {error, {badjson, Forms}}.
 
 
-value([{string, S}|Forms], Stack, Opts) when is_list(S) ->
-    {event, {string, json_escape(S)}, fun() -> maybe_done(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
-value([{float, F}|Forms],  Stack, Opts) when is_list(F) ->
-    {event, {float, F}, fun() -> maybe_done(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
-value([{integer, I}|Forms], Stack, Opts) when is_list(I) ->
-    {event, {integer, I}, fun() -> maybe_done(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
+value([{string, S}|Forms], Stack, Opts) when is_binary(S) ->
+    {jsx, {string, json_escape(S)}, fun() -> maybe_done(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
+value([{float, F}|Forms],  Stack, Opts) when is_float(F) ->
+    {jsx, {float, F}, fun() -> maybe_done(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
+value([{integer, I}|Forms], Stack, Opts) when is_integer(I) ->
+    {jsx, {integer, I}, fun() -> maybe_done(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
 value([{literal, L}|Forms], Stack, Opts)
         when L == true; L == false; L == null ->
-    {event, {literal, L}, fun() -> maybe_done(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, {literal, L}, fun() -> maybe_done(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
 value([start_object|Forms], Stack, Opts) ->
-    {event, start_object, fun() -> key(Forms, [object] ++ Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, start_object, fun() -> key(Forms, [object] ++ Stack, Opts) end};
 value([start_array|Forms], Stack, Opts) ->
-    {event, start_array, fun() -> value(Forms, [array] ++ Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, start_array, fun() -> value(Forms, [array] ++ Stack, Opts) end};
 value([end_array|Forms], [array|Stack], Opts) ->
-    {event, end_array, fun() -> maybe_done(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, end_array, fun() -> maybe_done(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
 value([], Stack, Opts) ->
-    {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+    {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
             {error, {badjson, []}}
         ; (Stream) -> 
             value(Stream, Stack, Opts) 
@@ -114,15 +113,15 @@ value(Forms, _, _) -> {error, {badjson, Forms}}.
 maybe_done([], [], _) -> ?ENDJSON;
 maybe_done([end_json], [], _) -> ?ENDJSON;
 maybe_done([end_json|Forms], [], #opts{multi_term=true}=Opts) ->
-    {event, end_json, fun() -> start(Forms, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, end_json, fun() -> start(Forms, Opts) end};
 maybe_done([end_object|Forms], [object|Stack], Opts) ->
-    {event, end_object, fun() -> maybe_done(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, end_object, fun() -> maybe_done(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
 maybe_done([end_array|Forms], [array|Stack], Opts) ->
-    {event, end_array, fun() -> maybe_done(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
+    {jsx, end_array, fun() -> maybe_done(Forms, Stack, Opts) end};
 maybe_done(Forms, [object|_] = Stack, Opts) -> key(Forms, Stack, Opts);
 maybe_done(Forms, [array|_] = Stack, Opts) -> value(Forms, Stack, Opts);
 maybe_done([], Stack, Opts) ->
-    {incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
+    {jsx, incomplete, fun(end_stream) -> 
             {error, {badjson, []}}
         ; (Stream) -> 
             maybe_done(Stream, Stack, Opts) 
@@ -130,41 +129,42 @@ maybe_done([], Stack, Opts) ->
 maybe_done(Forms, _, _) -> {error, {badjson, Forms}}.
 
 
-%% json string escaping. escape the json control sequences to 
+
+%% json string escaping, for utf8 binaries. escape the json control sequences to 
 %%  their json equivalent, escape other control characters to \uXXXX sequences, 
 %%  everything else should be a legal json string component
 json_escape(String) ->
-    json_escape(String, []).
+    json_escape(String, <<>>).
 
 %% double quote    
-json_escape([$\"|Rest], Acc) -> 
-    json_escape(Rest, [$\", $\\] ++ Acc);
+json_escape(<<$\", Rest/binary>>, Acc) -> 
+    json_escape(Rest, <<Acc/binary, $\\, $\">>);
 %% backslash \ reverse solidus
-json_escape([$\\|Rest], Acc) -> 
-    json_escape(Rest, [$\\, $\\] ++ Acc);
+json_escape(<<$\\, Rest/binary>>, Acc) -> 
+    json_escape(Rest, <<Acc/binary, $\\, $\\>>);
 %% backspace
-json_escape([$\b|Rest], Acc) -> 
-    json_escape(Rest, [$b, $\\] ++ Acc);
+json_escape(<<$\b, Rest/binary>>, Acc) -> 
+    json_escape(Rest, <<Acc/binary, $\\, $b>>);
 %% form feed
-json_escape([$\f|Rest], Acc) -> 
-    json_escape(Rest, [$f, $\\] ++ Acc);
+json_escape(<<$\f, Rest/binary>>, Acc) -> 
+    json_escape(Rest, <<Acc/binary, $\\, $f>>);
 %% newline
-json_escape([$\n|Rest], Acc) -> 
-    json_escape(Rest, [$n, $\\] ++ Acc);
+json_escape(<<$\n, Rest/binary>>, Acc) -> 
+    json_escape(Rest, <<Acc/binary, $\\, $n>>);
 %% cr
-json_escape([$\r|Rest], Acc) -> 
-    json_escape(Rest, [$r, $\\] ++ Acc);
+json_escape(<<$\r, Rest/binary>>, Acc) -> 
+    json_escape(Rest, <<Acc/binary, $\\, $r>>);
 %% tab
-json_escape([$\t|Rest], Acc) -> 
-    json_escape(Rest, [$t, $\\] ++ Acc);
+json_escape(<<$\t, Rest/binary>>, Acc) -> 
+    json_escape(Rest, <<Acc/binary, $\\, $t>>);
 %% other control characters
-json_escape([C|Rest], Acc) when C >= 0, C < $\s -> 
-    json_escape(Rest, json_escape_sequence(C) ++ Acc);
+json_escape(<<C/utf8, Rest/binary>>, Acc) when C >= 0, C < $\s -> 
+    json_escape(Rest, <<Acc/binary, (json_escape_sequence(C))/binary>>);
 %% any other legal codepoint
-json_escape([C|Rest], Acc) ->
-    json_escape(Rest, [C] ++ Acc);
-json_escape([], Acc) ->
-    lists:reverse(Acc);
+json_escape(<<C/utf8, Rest/binary>>, Acc) ->
+    json_escape(Rest, <<Acc/binary, C/utf8>>);
+json_escape(<<>>, Acc) ->
+    Acc;
 json_escape(_, _) ->
     erlang:error(badarg).
 
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ json_escape(_, _) ->
 %%   codepoints this module might escape, ie, control characters
 json_escape_sequence(C) when C < 16#20 ->
     <<_:8, A:4, B:4>> = <<C:16>>,   % first two hex digits are always zero
-    [(to_hex(B)), (to_hex(A)), $0, $0, $u, $\\].
+    <<$\\, $u, $0, $0, (to_hex(A)), (to_hex(B))>>.
 
 
 to_hex(15) -> $f;
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@ to_hex(X) -> X + $0.
 
 
 
+
 -ifdef(TEST).
 -include_lib("eunit/include/eunit.hrl").
 
@@ -216,7 +217,7 @@ encode_incremental([Term], F, Expected, Acc) ->
     end;
 encode_incremental([Term|Terms], F, Expected, Acc) ->
     case loop(F([Term]), []) of
-        {incomplete, Next, R} ->
+        {jsx, incomplete, Next, R} ->
             encode_incremental(Terms, Next, Expected, Acc ++ R)
         ; _ ->
             false
@@ -224,12 +225,12 @@ encode_incremental([Term|Terms], F, Expected, Acc) ->
 
 
 loop({error, _}, _) -> error;
-loop({incomplete, Next}, Acc) -> {incomplete, Next, lists:reverse(Acc)};
-loop({event, end_json, Next}, Acc) ->
-    {incomplete, F} = Next(),
+loop({jsx, incomplete, Next}, Acc) -> {jsx, incomplete, Next, lists:reverse(Acc)};
+loop({jsx, end_json, Next}, Acc) ->
+    {jsx, incomplete, F} = Next(),
     {error, {badjson, []}} = F([]),
     {ok, lists:reverse(Acc)};
-loop({event, Event, Next}, Acc) -> loop(Next(), [Event] ++ Acc).
+loop({jsx, Event, Next}, Acc) -> loop(Next(), [Event] ++ Acc).
 
 
 encode_test_() ->    
@@ -237,9 +238,9 @@ encode_test_() ->
         {"empty object", ?_assert(encode([start_object, end_object]))},
         {"empty array", ?_assert(encode([start_array, end_array]) =:= true)},
         {"nested empty objects", ?_assert(encode([start_object,
-            {key, "empty object"},
+            {key, <<"empty object">>},
             start_object,
-            {key, "empty object"},
+            {key, <<"empty object">>},
             start_object,
             end_object,
             end_object,
@@ -253,20 +254,20 @@ encode_test_() ->
             end_array
         ]))},
         {"simple object", ?_assert(encode([start_object, 
-            {key, "a"},
-            {string, "hello"},
-            {key, "b"},
-            {integer, "1"},
-            {key, "c"},
-            {float, "1.0"},
-            {key, "d"},
+            {key, <<"a">>},
+            {string, <<"hello">>},
+            {key, <<"b">>},
+            {integer, 1},
+            {key, <<"c">>},
+            {float, 1.0},
+            {key, <<"d">>},
             {literal, true},
             end_object
         ]))},
         {"simple array", ?_assert(encode([start_array,
-            {string, "hello"},
-            {integer, "1"},
-            {float, "1.0"},
+            {string, <<"hello">>},
+            {integer, 1},
+            {float, 1.0},
             {literal, true},
             end_array
         ]))},
@@ -274,10 +275,10 @@ encode_test_() ->
             end_array,
             end_array
         ]))},
-        {"naked string", ?_assert(encode({string, "hello"}))},
+        {"naked string", ?_assert(encode({string, <<"hello">>}))},
         {"naked literal", ?_assert(encode({literal, true}))},
-        {"naked integer", ?_assert(encode({integer, "1"}))},
-        {"naked float", ?_assert(encode({float, "1.0"}))}
+        {"naked integer", ?_assert(encode({integer, 1}))},
+        {"naked float", ?_assert(encode({float, 1.0}))}
     ].
 
 
@@ -285,14 +286,14 @@ escape_test_() ->
     [
         {"json string escaping", 
             ?_assert(json_escape(
-                    "\"\\\b\f\n\r\t"
-                ) =:= "\\\"\\\\\\b\\f\\n\\r\\t"
+                    <<"\"\\\b\f\n\r\t">>
+                ) =:= <<"\\\"\\\\\\b\\f\\n\\r\\t">>
             )
         },
         {"json string hex escape", 
             ?_assert(json_escape(
-                    [1, 2, 3, 11, 26, 30, 31]
-                ) =:= "\\u0001\\u0002\\u0003\\u000b\\u001a\\u001e\\u001f"
+                    <<1, 2, 3, 11, 26, 30, 31>>
+                ) =:= <<"\\u0001\\u0002\\u0003\\u000b\\u001a\\u001e\\u001f">>
             )
         }
     ].
diff --git a/src/jsx_format.erl b/src/jsx_format.erl
index ac23034..a00f845 100644
--- a/src/jsx_format.erl
+++ b/src/jsx_format.erl
@@ -43,14 +43,14 @@
 format(JSON, OptsList) when is_binary(JSON) ->
     P = jsx:decoder(extract_parser_opts(OptsList)),
     format(fun() -> P(JSON) end, OptsList);
-format(Terms, OptsList) when is_list(Terms) ->
+format(Terms, OptsList) when is_list(Terms); is_tuple(Terms) ->
     P = jsx:encoder(),
     format(fun() -> P(Terms) end, OptsList);
 format(F, OptsList) when is_function(F) ->
     Opts = parse_opts(OptsList, #format_opts{}),
     {Continue, String} = format_something(F(), Opts, 0),
     case Continue() of
-        {event, end_json, _} -> encode(String, Opts)
+        {jsx, end_json, _} -> encode(String, Opts)
         ; _ -> {error, badarg}
     end.
 
@@ -87,9 +87,9 @@ extract_parser_opts([K|Rest], Acc) ->
     end.
     
 
-format_something({event, start_object, Next}, Opts, Level) ->
+format_something({jsx, start_object, Next}, Opts, Level) ->
     case Next() of
-        {event, end_object, Continue} ->
+        {jsx, end_object, Continue} ->
             {Continue, [?start_object, ?end_object]}
         ; Event ->
             {Continue, Object} = format_object(Event, [], Opts, Level + 1),
@@ -99,24 +99,24 @@ format_something({event, start_object, Next}, Opts, Level) ->
                 ?end_object
             ]}
     end;
-format_something({event, start_array, Next}, Opts, Level) ->
+format_something({jsx, start_array, Next}, Opts, Level) ->
     case Next() of
-        {event, end_array, Continue} ->
+        {jsx, end_array, Continue} ->
             {Continue, [?start_array, ?end_array]}
         ; Event ->
             {Continue, Object} = format_array(Event, [], Opts, Level + 1),
             {Continue, [?start_array, Object, indent(Opts, Level), ?end_array]}
     end;
-format_something({event, {Type, Value}, Next}, _Opts, _Level) ->
+format_something({jsx, {Type, Value}, Next}, _Opts, _Level) ->
     {Next, [encode(Type, Value)]}.
     
     
-format_object({event, end_object, Next}, Acc, _Opts, _Level) ->
+format_object({jsx, end_object, Next}, Acc, _Opts, _Level) ->
     {Next, Acc};
-format_object({event, {key, Key}, Next}, Acc, Opts, Level) ->
+format_object({jsx, {key, Key}, Next}, Acc, Opts, Level) ->
     {Continue, Value} = format_something(Next(), Opts, Level),
     case Continue() of
-        {event, end_object, NextNext} -> 
+        {jsx, end_object, NextNext} -> 
             {NextNext, [Acc, 
                 indent(Opts, Level), 
                 encode(string, Key), 
@@ -141,12 +141,12 @@ format_object({event, {key, Key}, Next}, Acc, Opts, Level) ->
     end.
 
 
-format_array({event, end_array, Next}, Acc, _Opts, _Level) ->
+format_array({jsx, end_array, Next}, Acc, _Opts, _Level) ->
     {Next, Acc};
 format_array(Event, Acc, Opts, Level) ->
     {Continue, Value} = format_something(Event, Opts, Level),
     case Continue() of
-        {event, end_array, NextNext} ->
+        {jsx, end_array, NextNext} ->
             {NextNext, [Acc, indent(Opts, Level), Value]}
         ; Else ->
             format_array(Else, 
@@ -265,8 +265,8 @@ terms_test_() ->
     [
         {"terms",
             ?_assert(format([start_object,
-                {key, "key"},
-                {string, "value"},
+                {key, <<"key">>},
+                {string, <<"value">>},
                 end_object
             ], []) =:= <<"{\"key\":\"value\"}">>
         )}
diff --git a/src/jsx_eep0018.erl b/src/jsx_terms.erl
similarity index 68%
rename from src/jsx_eep0018.erl
rename to src/jsx_terms.erl
index 25a603a..ecd947a 100644
--- a/src/jsx_eep0018.erl
+++ b/src/jsx_terms.erl
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 
 
 
--module(jsx_eep0018).
+-module(jsx_terms).
 
 
 -export([json_to_term/2, term_to_json/2]).
@@ -35,8 +35,8 @@
 -endif.
 
 
-
--spec json_to_term(JSON::binary(), Opts::decoder_opts()) -> eep0018().
+-spec json_to_term(JSON::binary(), Opts::decoder_opts()) ->
+    jsx_term() | {jsx, incomplete, fun()}.
 
 json_to_term(JSON, Opts) ->
     P = jsx:decoder(extract_parser_opts(Opts)),
@@ -47,11 +47,10 @@ json_to_term(JSON, Opts) ->
     
 
 %% the jsx formatter (pretty printer) can do most of the heavy lifting in 
-%%   converting erlang terms to json strings, but it expects a jsx event 
-%%   iterator. luckily, the mapping from erlang terms to jsx events is 
-%%   straightforward and the iterator can be faked with an anonymous function
+%%   converting erlang terms to json strings
 
--spec term_to_json(JSON::eep0018(), Opts::encoder_opts()) -> binary().
+-spec term_to_json(JSON::jsx_term(), Opts::encoder_opts()) ->
+    binary() | {jsx, incomplete, fun()}.
 
 term_to_json(List, Opts) ->
     case proplists:get_value(strict, Opts, false) of
@@ -60,21 +59,12 @@ term_to_json(List, Opts) ->
         ; false -> continue
     end,
     Encoding = proplists:get_value(encoding, Opts, utf8),
-    jsx:format(eventify(lists:reverse([end_json] ++ term_to_events(List))), 
-        [{output_encoding, Encoding}] ++ Opts
-    ).
-
-
-eventify([]) ->
-    fun() -> 
-        {incomplete, fun(List) when is_list(List) -> 
-                eventify(List)
-            ; (_) ->
-                erlang:error(badarg) 
-        end}
-    end;    
-eventify([Next|Rest]) ->
-    fun() -> {event, Next, eventify(Rest)} end.  
+    FOpts = [{output_encoding, Encoding}] ++ Opts,
+    case term_to_events(List) of
+        L when is_tuple(L) -> jsx:format(L, FOpts)
+        ; L when is_list(L) -> jsx:format(lists:reverse(L), FOpts)
+    end.
+ 
 
 
 extract_parser_opts(Opts) ->
@@ -85,113 +75,90 @@ extract_parser_opts([{K,V}|Rest], Acc) ->
     case lists:member(K, [encoding]) of
         true -> [{K,V}] ++ Acc
         ; false -> extract_parser_opts(Rest, Acc)
-    end;
-extract_parser_opts([K|Rest], Acc) ->
-    case lists:member(K, [encoding]) of
-        true -> [K] ++ Acc
-        ; false -> extract_parser_opts(Rest, Acc)
     end.
 
+
+
 %% ensure the first jsx event we get is start_object or start_array when running
 %%  in strict mode
-collect_strict({event, Start, Next}, Acc, Opts) 
-    when Start =:= start_object; Start =:= start_array ->
+collect_strict({jsx, Start, Next}, Acc, Opts) 
+        when Start =:= start_object; Start =:= start_array ->
     collect(Next(), [[]|Acc], Opts);
-collect_strict({incomplete, More}, Acc, Opts) ->
+collect_strict({jsx, incomplete, More}, Acc, Opts) ->
     case proplists:get_value(stream, Opts, false) of
-        true ->  {incomplete, fun(JSON) -> collect(More(JSON), Acc, Opts) end}
+        true -> {jsx, incomplete, fun(JSON) ->
+                collect_strict(More(JSON), Acc, Opts)
+            end}
         ; false -> erlang:error(badarg)
     end;
 collect_strict(_, _, _) -> erlang:error(badarg).
     
     
 %% collect decoder events and convert to eep0018 format     
-collect({event, Start, Next}, Acc, Opts) 
-    when Start =:= start_object; Start =:= start_array ->
+collect({jsx, Start, Next}, Acc, Opts) 
+        when Start =:= start_object; Start =:= start_array ->
     collect(Next(), [[]|Acc], Opts);
 %% special case for empty object
-collect({event, end_object, Next}, [[], Parent|Rest], Opts) 
-    when is_list(Parent) ->
+collect({jsx, end_object, Next}, [[], Parent|Rest], Opts) 
+        when is_list(Parent) ->
     collect(Next(), [[[{}]] ++ Parent] ++ Rest, Opts);
 %% reverse the array/object accumulator before prepending it to it's parent
-collect({event, end_object, Next}, [Current, Parent|Rest], Opts) 
-    when is_list(Parent) ->
+collect({jsx, end_object, Next}, [Current, Parent|Rest], Opts) 
+        when is_list(Parent) ->
     collect(Next(), [[lists:reverse(Current)] ++ Parent] ++ Rest, Opts);
-collect({event, end_array, Next}, [Current, Parent|Rest], Opts) 
-    when is_list(Parent) ->
+collect({jsx, end_array, Next}, [Current, Parent|Rest], Opts) 
+        when is_list(Parent) ->
     collect(Next(), [[lists:reverse(Current)] ++ Parent] ++ Rest, Opts);
 %% special case for empty object
-collect({event, end_object, Next}, [[], Key, Parent|Rest], Opts) ->
+collect({jsx, end_object, Next}, [[], Key, Parent|Rest], Opts) ->
     collect(Next(), [[{Key, [{}]}] ++ Parent] ++ Rest, Opts);
-collect({event, End, Next}, [Current, Key, Parent|Rest], Opts)
-    when End =:= end_object; End =:= end_array ->
+collect({jsx, End, Next}, [Current, Key, Parent|Rest], Opts)
+        when End =:= end_object; End =:= end_array ->
     collect(Next(), [[{Key, lists:reverse(Current)}] ++ Parent] ++ Rest, Opts);      
-collect({event, end_json, _Next}, [[Acc]], _Opts) ->
+collect({jsx, end_json, _Next}, [[Acc]], _Opts) ->
     Acc;  
 %% key can only be emitted inside of a json object, so just insert it directly 
 %%   into the head of the accumulator and deal with it when we receive it's 
 %%   paired value    
-collect({event, {key, _} = PreKey, Next}, [Current|_] = Acc, Opts) ->
+collect({jsx, {key, _} = PreKey, Next}, Acc, Opts) ->
     Key = event(PreKey, Opts),
-    case decode_key_repeats(Key, Current) of
-        true -> erlang:error(badarg)
-        ; false -> collect(Next(), [Key] ++ Acc, Opts)
-    end;
-%% check acc to see if we're inside an object or an array. because inside an 
-%%   object context the events that fall this far are always preceded by a key 
-%%   (which are binaries or atoms), if Current is a list, we're inside an array, 
-%%   else, an object
-collect({event, Event, Next}, [Current|Rest], Opts) when is_list(Current) ->
-    collect(Next(), [[event(Event, Opts)] ++ Current] ++ Rest, Opts);
-collect({event, Event, Next}, [Key, Current|Rest], Opts) ->
-    collect(Next(), [[{Key, event(Event, Opts)}] ++ Current] ++ Rest, Opts);
-%% if our returned event is {incomplete, ...} try to force end and return 
+    collect(Next(), [Key] ++ Acc, Opts);
+%% if our returned event is {jsx, incomplete, ...} try to force end and return 
 %%   the Event if one is returned    
-collect({incomplete, More}, Acc, Opts) ->
+collect({jsx, incomplete, More}, Acc, Opts) ->
     case More(end_stream) of
-        {event, Event, _Next} -> event(Event, Opts)
+        {jsx, Event, _Next} -> event(Event, Opts)
         ; _ ->
             case proplists:get_value(stream, Opts, false) of
                 true -> 
-                    {incomplete, 
+                    {jsx, incomplete, 
                         fun(JSON) -> collect(More(JSON), Acc, Opts) end
                     }
                 ; false -> erlang:error(badarg)
             end
     end;
+%% check acc to see if we're inside an object or an array. because inside an 
+%%   object context the events that fall this far are always preceded by a key 
+%%   (which are binaries or atoms), if Current is a list, we're inside an array, 
+%%   else, an object
+collect({jsx, Event, Next}, [Current|Rest], Opts) when is_list(Current) ->
+    collect(Next(), [[event(Event, Opts)] ++ Current] ++ Rest, Opts);
+collect({jsx, Event, Next}, [Key, Current|Rest], Opts) ->
+    collect(Next(), [[{Key, event(Event, Opts)}] ++ Current] ++ Rest, Opts);
 %% any other event is an error
 collect(_, _, _) -> erlang:error(badarg).
     
 
-%% helper functions for converting jsx events to eep0018 formats 
-event({string, String}, _Opts) ->
-    unicode:characters_to_binary(String);
-event({key, Key}, Opts) ->
-    case proplists:get_value(label, Opts, binary) of
-        binary -> unicode:characters_to_binary(Key)
-        ; atom -> 
-            try list_to_atom(Key) 
-            catch error:badarg -> unicode:characters_to_binary(Key) end
-        ; existing_atom -> 
-            try list_to_existing_atom(Key) 
-            catch error:badarg -> unicode:characters_to_binary(Key) end
-    end;
-event({integer, Integer}, Opts) ->
-    case proplists:get_value(float, Opts, false) of
-        true -> erlang:float(Integer)
-        ; false -> Integer
-    end;
+%% helper functions for converting jsx events to term format 
+event({string, String}, _Opts) -> String;
+event({key, Key}, _Opts) -> Key;
+event({integer, Integer}, _Opts) -> Integer;
 event({float, Float}, _Opts) -> Float;
 event({literal, Literal}, _Opts) -> Literal.
-    
-
-decode_key_repeats(Key, [{Key, _Value}|_Rest]) -> true;
-decode_key_repeats(Key, [_|Rest]) -> decode_key_repeats(Key, Rest);
-decode_key_repeats(_Key, []) -> false.
 
     
     
-%% convert eep0018 representation to jsx events. note special casing for the 
+%% convert term format representation to jsx events. note special casing for the 
 %%   empty object
 term_to_events([{}]) ->
     [end_object, start_object];
@@ -200,16 +167,14 @@ term_to_events([First|_] = List) when is_tuple(First) ->
 term_to_events(List) when is_list(List) ->
     list_to_events(List, [start_array]);
 term_to_events(Term) ->
-    term_to_event(Term). 
+    [Res] = term_to_event(Term),
+    Res. 
        
     
 proplist_to_events([{Key, Term}|Rest], Acc) ->
     Event = term_to_event(Term),
     EncodedKey = key_to_event(Key),
-    case encode_key_repeats(EncodedKey, Acc) of
-        false -> proplist_to_events(Rest, Event ++ EncodedKey ++ Acc)
-        ; true -> erlang:error(badarg)
-    end;
+    proplist_to_events(Rest, Event ++ EncodedKey ++ Acc);
 proplist_to_events([], Acc) ->
     [end_object] ++ Acc;
 proplist_to_events(_, _) ->
@@ -236,27 +201,10 @@ term_to_event(null) -> [{literal, null}];
 term_to_event(_) -> erlang:error(badarg).
 
 
-key_to_event(Key) when is_atom(Key) ->
-    [{key, json_escape(erlang:atom_to_binary(Key, utf8))}];
 key_to_event(Key) when is_binary(Key) ->
     [{key, json_escape(Key)}].
 
 
-encode_key_repeats([Key], SoFar) -> encode_key_repeats(Key, SoFar, 0).
-
-encode_key_repeats(Key, [Key|_], 0) -> 
-    true;
-encode_key_repeats(Key, [end_object|Rest], Level) -> 
-    encode_key_repeats(Key, Rest, Level + 1);
-encode_key_repeats(_, [start_object|_], 0) -> 
-    false;
-encode_key_repeats(Key, [start_object|Rest], Level) -> 
-    encode_key_repeats(Key, Rest, Level - 1);
-encode_key_repeats(Key, [_|Rest], Level) -> 
-    encode_key_repeats(Key, Rest, Level);
-encode_key_repeats(_, [], 0) -> 
-    false.
-
 
 %% json string escaping, for utf8 binaries. escape the json control sequences to 
 %%  their json equivalent, escape other control characters to \uXXXX sequences, 
@@ -322,9 +270,8 @@ decode_test_() ->
         {"empty array", ?_assert(json_to_term(<<"[]">>, []) =:= [])},
         {"simple object", 
             ?_assert(json_to_term(
-                    <<"{\"a\": true, \"b\": true, \"c\": true}">>, 
-                    [{label, atom}]
-                ) =:= [{a, true}, {b, true}, {c, true}]
+                <<"{\"a\": true, \"b\": true, \"c\": true}">>, []
+                ) =:= [{<<"a">>, true}, {<<"b">>, true}, {<<"c">>, true}]
             )
         },
         {"simple array", 
@@ -335,9 +282,11 @@ decode_test_() ->
         },
         {"nested structures", 
             ?_assert(json_to_term(
-                    <<"{\"x\":[{\"x\":[{}, {}],\"y\":{}}, []],\"y\":{}}">>, 
-                    [{label, atom}]
-                ) =:= [{x, [[{x, [[{}], [{}]]}, {y, [{}]}],[]]}, {y, [{}]}]
+                    <<"{\"x\":[{\"x\":[{}, {}],\"y\":{}}, []],\"y\":{}}">>, []
+                ) =:= [{<<"x">>, 
+                            [[{<<"x">>, [[{}], [{}]]}, {<<"y">>, [{}]}],[]]},
+                        {<<"y">>, [{}]}
+                ]
             )
         },
         {"numbers", 
@@ -347,13 +296,6 @@ decode_test_() ->
                 ) =:= [-100000000.0, -1, 0.0, 0, 1, 100000000, 10000000.0]
             )
         },
-        {"numbers (all floats)", 
-            ?_assert(json_to_term(
-                    <<"[-100000000.0, -1, 0.0, 0, 1, 1000, 10000000.0]">>, 
-                    [{float, true}]
-                ) =:= [-100000000.0, -1.0, 0.0, 0.0, 1.0, 1000.0, 10000000.0]
-            )
-        },
         {"strings", 
             ?_assert(json_to_term(<<"[\"a string\"]">>, 
                 []
@@ -389,9 +331,9 @@ encode_test_() ->
         {"empty object", ?_assert(term_to_json([{}], []) =:= <<"{}">>)},
         {"empty array", ?_assert(term_to_json([], []) =:= <<"[]">>)},
         {"simple object", 
-            ?_assert(term_to_json([{a, true}, {b, true}, {c, true}], 
+            ?_assert(term_to_json([{<<"a">>, true}, {<<"b">>, true}], 
                     []
-                ) =:= <<"{\"a\":true,\"b\":true,\"c\":true}">>
+                ) =:= <<"{\"a\":true,\"b\":true}">>
             )
         },
         {"simple array", 
@@ -402,7 +344,9 @@ encode_test_() ->
         },
         {"nested structures", 
             ?_assert(term_to_json(
-                    [{x, [[{x, [[{}], [{}]]}, {y, [{}]}],[]]}, {y, [{}]}], 
+                    [{<<"x">>, 
+                            [[{<<"x">>, [[{}], [{}]]}, {<<"y">>, [{}]}],[]]},
+                        {<<"y">>, [{}]}], 
                     []
                 ) =:= <<"{\"x\":[{\"x\":[{},{}],\"y\":{}},[]],\"y\":{}}">>
             )
@@ -444,20 +388,6 @@ encode_test_() ->
             )
         )}
     ].
-    
-repeated_keys_test_() ->
-    [
-        {"encode", 
-            ?_assertError(badarg, term_to_json([{k, true}, {k, false}], []))
-        },
-        {"decode", 
-            ?_assertError(badarg, json_to_term(
-                    <<"{\"k\": true, \"k\": false}">>, 
-                    []
-                )
-            )
-        }
-    ].
 
 escape_test_() ->
     [
@@ -479,7 +409,7 @@ stream_test_() ->
     [
         {"streaming mode",
             ?_assert(begin
-                    {incomplete, F} = json_to_term(<<"{">>, [{stream, true}]),
+                    {jsx, incomplete, F} = json_to_term(<<"{">>, [{stream, true}]),
                     F(<<"}">>)
                 end =:= [{}])
         }
diff --git a/src/jsx_utils.erl b/src/jsx_utils.erl
index 7407a69..3a9ec1f 100644
--- a/src/jsx_utils.erl
+++ b/src/jsx_utils.erl
@@ -217,10 +217,10 @@ detect_encoding(<<X, Y, _Rest/binary>> = JSON, Opts) when X =/= 0, Y =/= 0 ->
 %%   data to conclusively determine the encoding correctly. below is an attempt 
 %%   to solve the problem
 detect_encoding(<<X>>, Opts) when X =/= 0 ->
-    {incomplete,
+    {jsx, incomplete,
         fun(end_stream) ->
                 try
-                    {incomplete, Next} = (jsx_utf8:decoder(Opts))(<<X>>),
+                    {jsx, incomplete, Next} = (jsx_utf8:decoder(Opts))(<<X>>),
                     Next(end_stream)
                 catch
                     error:function_clause -> {error, {badjson, <<X>>}}
@@ -230,10 +230,10 @@ detect_encoding(<<X>>, Opts) when X =/= 0 ->
         end
     };
 detect_encoding(<<0, X>>, Opts) when X =/= 0 ->
-    {incomplete,
+    {jsx, incomplete,
         fun(end_stream) ->
                 try
-                    {incomplete, Next} = (jsx_utf16:decoder(Opts))(<<0, X>>),
+                    {jsx, incomplete, Next} = (jsx_utf16:decoder(Opts))(<<0, X>>),
                     Next(end_stream)
                 catch
                     error:function_clause -> {error, {badjson, <<0, X>>}}
@@ -243,10 +243,10 @@ detect_encoding(<<0, X>>, Opts) when X =/= 0 ->
         end
     };
 detect_encoding(<<X, 0>>, Opts) when X =/= 0 ->
-    {incomplete,
+    {jsx, incomplete,
         fun(end_stream) ->
                 try
-                    {incomplete, Next} = (jsx_utf16le:decoder(Opts))(<<X, 0>>),
+                    {jsx, incomplete, Next} = (jsx_utf16le:decoder(Opts))(<<X, 0>>),
                     Next(end_stream)
                 catch
                     error:function_clause -> {error, {badjson, <<X, 0>>}}
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ detect_encoding(<<X, 0>>, Opts) when X =/= 0 ->
     
 %% not enough input, request more
 detect_encoding(Bin, Opts) ->
-    {incomplete,
+    {jsx, incomplete,
         fun(end_stream) -> {error, {badjson, Bin}}
             ; (Stream) -> detect_encoding(<<Bin/binary, Stream/binary>>, Opts) 
         end
diff --git a/src/jsx_verify.erl b/src/jsx_verify.erl
index bff3636..0f463d2 100644
--- a/src/jsx_verify.erl
+++ b/src/jsx_verify.erl
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ is_json(F, OptsList) when is_function(F) ->
         true -> collect(F(), Opts, [[]])
         ; false ->
             case F() of
-                {event, start_object, Next} -> collect(Next(), Opts, [[]])
-                ; {event, start_array, Next} -> collect(Next(), Opts, [[]])
+                {jsx, start_object, Next} -> collect(Next(), Opts, [[]])
+                ; {jsx, start_array, Next} -> collect(Next(), Opts, [[]])
                 ; _ -> false
             end
     end.
@@ -87,16 +87,16 @@ parse_opts([], Opts) ->
 
 
 
-collect({event, end_json, _Next}, _Opts, _Keys) ->
+collect({jsx, end_json, _Next}, _Opts, _Keys) ->
     true;
 
 
 %% allocate new key accumulator at start_object, discard it at end_object    
-collect({event, start_object, Next},
+collect({jsx, start_object, Next},
         Opts = #verify_opts{repeated_keys = false},
         Keys) ->
     collect(Next(), Opts, [[]|Keys]);
-collect({event, end_object, Next},
+collect({jsx, end_object, Next},
         Opts = #verify_opts{repeated_keys = false},
         [_|Keys]) ->
     collect(Next(), Opts, [Keys]);
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ collect({event, end_object, Next},
 
 %% check to see if key has already been encountered, if not add it to the key 
 %%   accumulator and continue, else return false 
-collect({event, {key, Key}, Next},
+collect({jsx, {key, Key}, Next},
         Opts = #verify_opts{repeated_keys = false},
         [Current|Keys]) ->
     case lists:member(Key, Current) of
@@ -112,16 +112,16 @@ collect({event, {key, Key}, Next},
         ; false -> collect(Next(), Opts, [[Key] ++ Current] ++ Keys)
     end;
 
-                
-collect({event, _, Next}, Opts, Keys) ->
-    collect(Next(), Opts, Keys);
-
 
 %% needed to parse numbers that don't have trailing whitespace in less strict 
 %%   mode    
-collect({incomplete, More}, Opts, Keys) ->
+collect({jsx, incomplete, More}, Opts, Keys) ->
     collect(More(end_stream), Opts, Keys);
 
+                
+collect({jsx, _, Next}, Opts, Keys) ->
+    collect(Next(), Opts, Keys);
+
     
 collect(_, _, _) ->
     false.
@@ -232,8 +232,8 @@ terms_test_() ->
     [
         {"terms",
             ?_assert(is_json([start_object,
-                {key, "key"},
-                {string, "value"},
+                {key, <<"key">>},
+                {string, <<"value">>},
                 end_object
             ], []) =:= true
         )}
diff --git a/test/cases/array.test b/test/cases/array.test
index f1c235f..7150207 100644
--- a/test/cases/array.test
+++ b/test/cases/array.test
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 {name, "array"}.
 {jsx, [start_array,
- {string,"foo"},
- {string,"bar"},
- {string,"baz"},
+ {string,<<"foo">>},
+ {string,<<"bar">>},
+ {string,<<"baz">>},
  start_array,
  {literal,true},
  end_array,start_array,
@@ -15,14 +15,14 @@
  {literal,null},
  {float,0.7},
  start_object,
- {key,"key"},
- {string,"value"},
+ {key,<<"key">>},
+ {string,<<"value">>},
  end_object,start_array,start_object,end_object,
  {literal,null},
  {literal,null},
  {literal,null},
  start_array,end_array,end_array,
- {string,"\n\r\\"},
+ {string,<<"\n\r\\">>},
  start_array,
  {integer,-1},
  end_array,end_array,end_json]}.
diff --git a/test/cases/encoded_surrogates.test b/test/cases/encoded_surrogates.test
index 0e938ed..aa5d317 100644
--- a/test/cases/encoded_surrogates.test
+++ b/test/cases/encoded_surrogates.test
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
 {name, "encoded_surrogates"}.
-{jsx, [start_array,{string,[66560]},end_array,end_json]}.
+{jsx, [start_array,{string,<<66560/utf8>>},end_array,end_json]}.
 {json, "encoded_surrogates.json"}.
-{jsx_flags, [{escaped_unicode,codepoint}]}.
diff --git a/test/cases/exp.test b/test/cases/exp.test
index 02d4416..c4b9bd4 100644
--- a/test/cases/exp.test
+++ b/test/cases/exp.test
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
  end_array,
  {float,2.0e7},
  start_object,
- {key,"key"},
+ {key,<<"key">>},
  {float,2.0e7},
- {key,"another key"},
+ {key,<<"another key">>},
  {float,2.0e7},
  end_object,
  {float,4.2e70},
diff --git a/test/cases/fraction.test b/test/cases/fraction.test
index a0dbd2d..c36f2c9 100644
--- a/test/cases/fraction.test
+++ b/test/cases/fraction.test
@@ -4,14 +4,14 @@
  end_array,
  {float,2.0},
  start_object,
- {key,"key"},
+ {key,<<"key">>},
  {float,2.0e7},
- {key,"another key"},
+ {key,<<"another key">>},
  {float,2.0e7},
  end_object,start_object,
- {key,"key"},
+ {key,<<"key">>},
  {float,2.0},
- {key,"another key"},
+ {key,<<"another key">>},
  {float,2.0},
  end_object,
  {float,4.2},
diff --git a/test/cases/integer.test b/test/cases/integer.test
index 2f2eee9..0883c33 100644
--- a/test/cases/integer.test
+++ b/test/cases/integer.test
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
  end_array,
  {integer,20},
  start_object,
- {key,"key"},
+ {key,<<"key">>},
  {integer,20},
- {key,"another key"},
+ {key,<<"another key">>},
  {integer,20},
  end_object,
  {integer,42},
diff --git a/test/cases/multibyte_utf.test b/test/cases/multibyte_utf.test
index 6a9217e..cb8be9c 100644
--- a/test/cases/multibyte_utf.test
+++ b/test/cases/multibyte_utf.test
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {name, "multibyte_utf"}.
-{jsx, [start_array,{string,[32,119070,32]},end_array,end_json]}.
+{jsx, [start_array,{string,<<32,119070/utf8,32>>},end_array,end_json]}.
 {json, "multibyte_utf.json"}.
diff --git a/test/cases/naked_string.test b/test/cases/naked_string.test
index 3ce5c36..68fe34b 100644
--- a/test/cases/naked_string.test
+++ b/test/cases/naked_string.test
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 {name, "naked_string"}.
-{jsx, [{string,"this is a naked string"},end_json]}.
+{jsx, [{string,<<"this is a naked string">>},end_json]}.
 {json, "naked_string.json"}.
diff --git a/test/cases/negative_zero.test b/test/cases/negative_zero.test
index 0ef4f1a..0bc734a 100644
--- a/test/cases/negative_zero.test
+++ b/test/cases/negative_zero.test
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
  end_array,
  {integer,0},
  start_object,
- {key,"key"},
+ {key,<<"key">>},
  {integer,0},
- {key,"another key"},
+ {key,<<"another key">>},
  {integer,0},
  end_object,
  {integer,0},
diff --git a/test/cases/object.test b/test/cases/object.test
index b9b50d4..4877fc8 100644
--- a/test/cases/object.test
+++ b/test/cases/object.test
@@ -1,22 +1,22 @@
 {name, "object"}.
 {jsx, [start_object,
- {key,"foo"},
- {string,"bar"},
- {key,"baz"},
+ {key,<<"foo">>},
+ {string,<<"bar">>},
+ {key,<<"baz">>},
  {literal,true},
- {key,"false"},
+ {key,<<"false">>},
  {literal,null},
- {key,"object"},
+ {key,<<"object">>},
  start_object,
- {key,"key"},
- {string,"value"},
+ {key,<<"key">>},
+ {string,<<"value">>},
  end_object,
- {key,"list"},
+ {key,<<"list">>},
  start_array,
  {literal,null},
  {literal,null},
  {literal,null},
  start_array,end_array,
- {string,"\n\r\\"},
+ {string,<<"\n\r\\">>},
  end_array,end_object,end_json]}.
 {json, "object.json"}.
diff --git a/test/cases/string.test b/test/cases/string.test
index 8df9aa5..e1334d3 100644
--- a/test/cases/string.test
+++ b/test/cases/string.test
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {name, "string"}.
 {jsx, [start_array,
- {string,"this is a random string with \n embedded escapes in it"},
+ {string,<<"this is a random string with \n embedded escapes in it">>},
  end_array,end_json]}.
 {json, "string.json"}.
diff --git a/test/cases/string_escapes.test b/test/cases/string_escapes.test
index e33a903..7cd460c 100644
--- a/test/cases/string_escapes.test
+++ b/test/cases/string_escapes.test
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {name, "string_escapes"}.
 {jsx, [start_array,
- {string,"\""},
- {string,"\\"},
- {string,"/"},
- {string,"\b"},
- {string,"\f"},
- {string,"\n"},
- {string,"\r"},
- {string,"\t"},
+ {string,<<"\"">>},
+ {string,<<"\\">>},
+ {string,<<"/">>},
+ {string,<<"\b">>},
+ {string,<<"\f">>},
+ {string,<<"\n">>},
+ {string,<<"\r">>},
+ {string,<<"\t">>},
  end_array,end_json]}.
 {json, "string_escapes.json"}.
diff --git a/test/cases/unicode_replaced.json b/test/cases/unicode_replaced.json
deleted file mode 100644
index c8a71c9..0000000
--- a/test/cases/unicode_replaced.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-[ "non-character: ", "\uffff" ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/cases/unicode_replaced.test b/test/cases/unicode_replaced.test
deleted file mode 100644
index 5cfe64b..0000000
--- a/test/cases/unicode_replaced.test
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-{name, "unicode_replaced"}.
-{jsx, [start_array,
- {string,"non-character: "},
- {string,[16#fffd]},
- end_array,end_json]}.
-{json, "unicode_replaced.json"}.
-{jsx_flags, [{escaped_unicode,replace}]}.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/cases/unicode_to_codepoint.test b/test/cases/unicode_to_codepoint.test
index 649ecd5..71f47fd 100644
--- a/test/cases/unicode_to_codepoint.test
+++ b/test/cases/unicode_to_codepoint.test
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 {name, "unicode_to_codepoint"}.
 {jsx, [start_array,
- {string,"arabic letter alef: "},
- {string,[1575]},
+ {string,<<"arabic letter alef: ">>},
+ {string,<<1575/utf8>>},
  end_array,end_json]}.
 {json, "unicode_to_codepoint.json"}.
-{jsx_flags, [{escaped_unicode,codepoint}]}.
diff --git a/test/cases/unicode_to_codepoint_noncharacter.json b/test/cases/unicode_to_codepoint_noncharacter.json
deleted file mode 100644
index c8a71c9..0000000
--- a/test/cases/unicode_to_codepoint_noncharacter.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-[ "non-character: ", "\uffff" ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/cases/unicode_to_codepoint_noncharacter.test b/test/cases/unicode_to_codepoint_noncharacter.test
deleted file mode 100644
index 63558db..0000000
--- a/test/cases/unicode_to_codepoint_noncharacter.test
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-{name, "unicode_to_codepoint_noncharacter"}.
-{jsx, [start_array,
- {string,"non-character: "},
- {string,"\\uffff"},
- end_array,end_json]}.
-{json, "unicode_to_codepoint_noncharacter.json"}.
-{jsx_flags, [{escaped_unicode,codepoint}]}.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/cases/unicode_unconverted.json b/test/cases/unicode_unconverted.json
deleted file mode 100644
index 7984511..0000000
--- a/test/cases/unicode_unconverted.json
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1 +0,0 @@
-[ "arabic letter alef: ", "\u0627" ]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/cases/unicode_unconverted.test b/test/cases/unicode_unconverted.test
deleted file mode 100644
index 9713a0f..0000000
--- a/test/cases/unicode_unconverted.test
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-{name, "unicode_unconverted"}.
-{jsx, [start_array,
- {string,"arabic letter alef: "},
- {string,"\\u0627"},
- end_array,end_json]}.
-{json, "unicode_unconverted.json"}.
-{jsx_flags, [{escaped_unicode,ascii}]}.
diff --git a/test/cases/zero.test b/test/cases/zero.test
index cd072a1..9515a85 100644
--- a/test/cases/zero.test
+++ b/test/cases/zero.test
@@ -4,9 +4,9 @@
  end_array,
  {integer,0},
  start_object,
- {key,"key"},
+ {key,<<"key">>},
  {integer,0},
- {key,"another key"},
+ {key,<<"another key">>},
  {integer,0},
  end_object,
  {integer,0},