diff --git a/src/adf/document.ts b/src/adf/document.ts
index 375a36f..42da38e 100644
--- a/src/adf/document.ts
+++ b/src/adf/document.ts
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ export function attributeNestingMessage(key: string, type: string): string {
   return `the ${key} attribute of ${type} nests deeper than the ${largestNesting} levels an attribute carries`
 }
 
-export function carriesOnly(node: AdfNode, attributes: readonly string[]): boolean {
+export function holdsOnlyAttributes(node: AdfNode, attributes: readonly string[]): boolean {
   if (nodeMarks(node).length > 0 || node.text !== undefined || emptyKeys(node).length > 0) return false
   return holdsOnly(nodeAttrs(node), attributes)
 }
diff --git a/src/markdown/emit/adf-to-markdown.ts b/src/markdown/emit/adf-to-markdown.ts
index 99331ec..5ab6977 100644
--- a/src/markdown/emit/adf-to-markdown.ts
+++ b/src/markdown/emit/adf-to-markdown.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { AdfDocument, AdfNode } from '../../adf/document.ts'
 import type { BlockNodeModel } from '../../adf/block-nodes.ts'
 import type { Flavour } from '../plain/conventions.ts'
-import { adfDocumentFault, carriesOnly, isPlainText, nodeAttrs, nodeContent } from '../../adf/document.ts'
+import { adfDocumentFault, holdsOnlyAttributes, isPlainText, nodeAttrs, nodeContent } from '../../adf/document.ts'
 import { alertMarker, foldedAlertMarker, leadingMarker, readAlertMarker, readTaskMarker, taskMarker } from '../plain/conventions.ts'
 import { blockDirectiveForm, documentSpelling, listBreakSpelling } from '../block-directive.ts'
 import { blockNodeModel, blockNodes } from '../../adf/block-nodes.ts'
@@ -76,15 +76,15 @@ function joinBlocks(blocks: readonly PlacedBlock[], container: BlockContainer):
 }
 
 function separationBetween(previous: PlacedBlock, next: PlacedBlock, container: BlockContainer): string {
-  const plainPair = previous.spelling !== 'directive' && next.spelling !== 'directive'
-  if (plainPair && next.spelling === 'list') {
+  const bothCommonMark = previous.spelling !== 'directive' && next.spelling !== 'directive'
+  if (bothCommonMark && next.spelling === 'list') {
     if (previous.spelling === 'list' && previous.node.type === next.node.type) {
       const gap = container === 'directive' ? '\n' : '\n\n'
       return `${gap}${listBreakSpelling}${gap}`
     }
     if (container === 'list-item') return interruptsParagraph(next.node) ? '\n' : '\n\n'
   }
-  return container === 'directive' && !plainPair ? '\n' : '\n\n'
+  return container === 'directive' && !bothCommonMark ? '\n' : '\n\n'
 }
 
 function interruptsParagraph(node: AdfNode): boolean {
@@ -243,7 +243,7 @@ function emitDirectiveBody(node: AdfNode, model: BlockNodeModel, opener: string,
 }
 
 function tryBlockquote(node: AdfNode, path: ConvertErrorPath, depth: number, writing: Writing): Result<EmittedBlock> | undefined {
-  if (!carriesOnly(node, [])) return undefined
+  if (!holdsOnlyAttributes(node, [])) return undefined
   const inner = walkBlocks(nodeContent(node), path, depth + 1, writing)
   if (!inner.ok) return inner
   const text = joinBlocks(inner.value.blocks, 'document')
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ function tryBlockquote(node: AdfNode, path: ConvertErrorPath, depth: number, wri
 }
 
 function tryCodeBlock(node: AdfNode, path: ConvertErrorPath): Result<EmittedBlock> | undefined {
-  if (!carriesOnly(node, ['language'])) return undefined
+  if (!holdsOnlyAttributes(node, ['language'])) return undefined
   const slot = languageSlot(nodeAttrs(node)['language'])
   if (slot.kind === 'attribute') return undefined
   const texts = fencedTexts(node, path)
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ function fencedTexts(node: AdfNode, path: ConvertErrorPath): Result<string[] | u
 }
 
 function tryHeading(node: AdfNode, path: ConvertErrorPath, flavour: Flavour): Result<EmittedBlock> | undefined {
-  if (!carriesOnly(node, ['level'])) return undefined
+  if (!holdsOnlyAttributes(node, ['level'])) return undefined
   const level = nodeAttrs(node)['level']
   if (typeof level !== 'number' || !Number.isInteger(level) || level < 1 || level > 6) return undefined
   const hashes = '#'.repeat(level)
@@ -304,11 +304,11 @@ function tryHeading(node: AdfNode, path: ConvertErrorPath, flavour: Flavour): Re
 
 function tryList(node: AdfNode, path: ConvertErrorPath, depth: number, writing: Writing): Result<EmittedBlock> | undefined {
   const ordered = node.type === 'orderedList'
-  if (!carriesOnly(node, ordered ? ['order'] : [])) return undefined
+  if (!holdsOnlyAttributes(node, ordered ? ['order'] : [])) return undefined
   const items = nodeContent(node)
   const start = listStart(node, items.length)
   if (start === undefined || items.length === 0) return undefined
-  if (items.some((item) => item.type !== 'listItem' || !carriesOnly(item, []))) return undefined
+  if (items.some((item) => item.type !== 'listItem' || !holdsOnlyAttributes(item, []))) return undefined
   const walked: WalkedItem[] = []
   let headroom = Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY
   for (const [offset, item] of items.entries()) {
@@ -356,13 +356,13 @@ function tryListItemLines(inner: string, marker: string): string | undefined {
 
 function tryParagraph(node: AdfNode, path: ConvertErrorPath, flavour: Flavour): Result<EmittedBlock> | undefined {
   const content = nodeContent(node)
-  if (content.length === 0 || !carriesOnly(node, [])) return undefined
+  if (content.length === 0 || !holdsOnlyAttributes(node, [])) return undefined
   const line = emitInlineLine(content, 'paragraph', path, flavour)
   if (!line.ok) return line
   return success(commonMarkText(line.value))
 }
 
 function tryRule(node: AdfNode): string | undefined {
-  if (!carriesOnly(node, []) || nodeContent(node).length > 0) return undefined
+  if (!holdsOnlyAttributes(node, []) || nodeContent(node).length > 0) return undefined
   return '---'
 }
diff --git a/src/markdown/emit/image.ts b/src/markdown/emit/image.ts
index be6828e..e9ca734 100644
--- a/src/markdown/emit/image.ts
+++ b/src/markdown/emit/image.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import type { AdfNode } from '../../adf/document.ts'
 import type { ConvertErrorPath } from '../../result.ts'
-import { carriesOnly, nodeAttrs, nodeContent } from '../../adf/document.ts'
+import { holdsOnlyAttributes, nodeAttrs, nodeContent } from '../../adf/document.ts'
 import { serializeCanonicalJson } from '../../canonical-json.ts'
 import { tryImageLine } from './inline-line.ts'
 
@@ -16,8 +16,8 @@ export function tryImage(node: AdfNode, path: ConvertErrorPath): string | undefi
 function imageShape(node: AdfNode): { alt: string | undefined; url: string } | undefined {
   const content = nodeContent(node)
   const media = content[0]
-  if (!carriesOnly(node, ['layout']) || serializeCanonicalJson(nodeAttrs(node), 'compact') !== centeredMediaSingle) return undefined
-  if (media === undefined || content.length !== 1 || media.type !== 'media' || !carriesOnly(media, imageAttributes) || nodeContent(media).length > 0) return undefined
+  if (!holdsOnlyAttributes(node, ['layout']) || serializeCanonicalJson(nodeAttrs(node), 'compact') !== centeredMediaSingle) return undefined
+  if (media === undefined || content.length !== 1 || media.type !== 'media' || !holdsOnlyAttributes(media, imageAttributes) || nodeContent(media).length > 0) return undefined
   const attrs = nodeAttrs(media)
   const alt = attrs['alt']
   const url = attrs['url']
diff --git a/src/markdown/emit/inline-line.ts b/src/markdown/emit/inline-line.ts
index c4ce116..bcd3be4 100644
--- a/src/markdown/emit/inline-line.ts
+++ b/src/markdown/emit/inline-line.ts
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ function lineSegments(nodes: readonly AdfNode[], container: LineContainer, path:
   const emission = emitRun(nodes, 0, 0, context)
   if (!emission.ok) return emission
   if (emission.value.carry !== undefined) return emission
-  return success({ segments: carryStrippedWhitespace(emission.value.segments) })
+  return success({ segments: spellEdgeWhitespace(emission.value.segments) })
 }
 
 function attemptLine(segments: readonly InlineSegment[], container: LineContainer, path: ConvertErrorPath, flavour: Flavour): Result<LineAttempt> {
@@ -137,32 +137,32 @@ function lineVerdict(segments: readonly InlineSegment[], container: LineContaine
 }
 
 // spec/flavour.md, Inline nodes.
-function carryStrippedWhitespace(segments: readonly InlineSegment[]): InlineSegment[] {
-  const carried: InlineSegment[] = []
+function spellEdgeWhitespace(segments: readonly InlineSegment[]): InlineSegment[] {
+  const spelled: InlineSegment[] = []
   for (const [index, segment] of segments.entries()) {
     const previous = segments[index - 1]
     const next = segments[index + 1]
     const leading = previous === undefined || previous.text.includes('\n')
     const trailing = next === undefined || next.text.includes('\n')
-    carried.push(...carryEdges(segment, leading, trailing))
+    spelled.push(...edgeWhitespaceSegments(segment, leading, trailing))
   }
-  return carried
+  return spelled
 }
 
-function carryEdges(segment: InlineSegment, leading: boolean, trailing: boolean): InlineSegment[] {
+function edgeWhitespaceSegments(segment: InlineSegment, leading: boolean, trailing: boolean): InlineSegment[] {
   if (segment.escaping !== 'backslash' && segment.escaping !== 'bracketed') return [segment]
   const head = leading ? (/^[ \t]+/.exec(segment.text)?.[0] ?? '') : ''
   const body = segment.text.slice(head.length)
   const middle = trailing ? trimTrailingSpace(body) : body
   const tail = body.slice(middle.length)
   const edges: InlineSegment[] = []
-  if (head !== '') edges.push(carriedText(head))
+  if (head !== '') edges.push(textDirectiveSegment(head))
   if (middle !== '') edges.push({ escaping: segment.escaping, text: middle })
-  if (tail !== '') edges.push(carriedText(tail))
+  if (tail !== '') edges.push(textDirectiveSegment(tail))
   return edges
 }
 
-function carriedText(text: string): InlineSegment {
+function textDirectiveSegment(text: string): InlineSegment {
   return syntax(spellTextDirective(text))
 }
 
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ function emitText(node: AdfNode, context: InlineContext, index: number, path: Co
   if (holdsNullCharacter(node.text)) return failure('unspellable-character', 'a text node holds a null character CommonMark replaces', path)
   const escaping: InlineEscaping = context.bracketed ? 'bracketed' : 'backslash'
   const parts = node.text.split(/(\n+)/).filter((part) => part !== '')
-  return success({ segments: parts.map((part) => (part.startsWith('\n') ? carriedText(part) : { escaping, text: part })) })
+  return success({ segments: parts.map((part) => (part.startsWith('\n') ? textDirectiveSegment(part) : { escaping, text: part })) })
 }
 
 function emitMarkedRun(nodes: readonly AdfNode[], mark: AdfMark, depth: number, index: number, context: InlineContext): Result<Emission> {
@@ -300,11 +300,11 @@ function emitEmphasis(nodes: readonly AdfNode[], spelling: string, depth: number
   const inner = emitRun(nodes, depth + 1, range.first, context)
   if (!inner.ok) return inner
   if (inner.value.carry !== undefined) return inner
-  const carried = carryStrippedWhitespace(inner.value.segments)
+  const spelled = spellEdgeWhitespace(inner.value.segments)
   return success({
     segments: [
       { emphasis: 'open', escaping: 'none', nodes: { ...range, depth }, text: spelling },
-      ...carried,
+      ...spelled,
       { emphasis: 'close', escaping: 'none', nodes: { ...range, depth }, text: spelling },
     ],
   })
diff --git a/src/markdown/emit/pipe-table.ts b/src/markdown/emit/pipe-table.ts
index 89ab454..0998cf2 100644
--- a/src/markdown/emit/pipe-table.ts
+++ b/src/markdown/emit/pipe-table.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { AdfNode } from '../../adf/document.ts'
 import type { ConvertErrorPath } from '../../result.ts'
 import type { Flavour } from '../plain/conventions.ts'
-import { carriesOnly, nodeContent } from '../../adf/document.ts'
+import { holdsOnlyAttributes, nodeContent } from '../../adf/document.ts'
 import { spellPipeDelimiter, spellPipeRow } from '../pipe-table-syntax.ts'
 import { tryPipeCell } from './inline-line.ts'
 
@@ -26,16 +26,16 @@ export function tryPipeTable(node: AdfNode, path: ConvertErrorPath, flavour: Fla
 function pipeRows(node: AdfNode): AdfNode[][] | undefined {
   const rows = nodeContent(node)
   const columns = rows[0] === undefined ? 0 : nodeContent(rows[0]).length
-  if (!carriesOnly(node, []) || columns === 0) return undefined
+  if (!holdsOnlyAttributes(node, []) || columns === 0) return undefined
   const grid: AdfNode[][] = []
   for (const [index, row] of rows.entries()) {
     const cells = nodeContent(row)
-    if (row.type !== 'tableRow' || !carriesOnly(row, []) || cells.length !== columns) return undefined
+    if (row.type !== 'tableRow' || !holdsOnlyAttributes(row, []) || cells.length !== columns) return undefined
     const wanted = index === 0 ? 'tableHeader' : 'tableCell'
     const paragraphs: AdfNode[] = []
     for (const cell of cells) {
       const paragraph = plainParagraph(cell)
-      if (paragraph === undefined || cell.type !== wanted || !carriesOnly(cell, [])) return undefined
+      if (paragraph === undefined || cell.type !== wanted || !holdsOnlyAttributes(cell, [])) return undefined
       paragraphs.push(paragraph)
     }
     grid.push(paragraphs)
@@ -46,6 +46,6 @@ function pipeRows(node: AdfNode): AdfNode[][] | undefined {
 function plainParagraph(cell: AdfNode): AdfNode | undefined {
   const content = nodeContent(cell)
   const paragraph = content[0]
-  if (paragraph === undefined || content.length !== 1 || paragraph.type !== 'paragraph' || !carriesOnly(paragraph, [])) return undefined
+  if (paragraph === undefined || content.length !== 1 || paragraph.type !== 'paragraph' || !holdsOnlyAttributes(paragraph, [])) return undefined
   return paragraph
 }