diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index bbfae4e..910176c 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -152,8 +152,9 @@ A `*Fakes` is **not** safe for concurrent use — create one per goroutine.
 
 The library ships a ready-to-use set under [`data/`](data): one folder per locale
 (`en_US`, `sv_SE`) plus a locale-neutral `misc` folder. Point either tool at the
-whole tree, a single folder, a copy, or your own directory — anywhere on disk; no
-naming rules.
+whole tree, a single folder, a copy, or your own directory — anywhere on disk. A
+category or folder name must not contain a dot, and dot-prefixed entries are
+skipped, so a data directory can also be a checkout.
 
 A directory is just a namespace. Each JSON file is a category named after the
 file; each subdirectory is a dot-path segment — folders nest exactly like JSON
@@ -229,6 +230,12 @@ fast instead of silently skewing output.
 This yields e.g. `bar foo baz`. `repeat` must be a positive integer and
 `separator` a string, both checked at `New`.
 
+`format`, `weight`, `repeat` and `separator` are the only options; **any other key
+is a field**. So write `seperator` and you get a field by that name while the
+option stays unset. `New` rejects an option that cannot take effect — a
+`separator` without a `repeat` above 1, a `weight` outside a choice — and a
+category or folder name containing a dot, which no dot path could reach.
+
 **Functions.** A `{name()}` token calls a built-in function instead of rendering
 a field. `{luhn()}` appends a Luhn check digit over the digits emitted **so far**
 in the current format (non-digits skipped but kept); unknown functions or wrong
diff --git a/data.go b/data.go
index 6d246c5..5415a6c 100644
--- a/data.go
+++ b/data.go
@@ -53,6 +53,9 @@ func loadDir(dir string) (*group, error) {
 	}
 	g := &group{children: map[string]node{}}
 	for _, e := range entries {
+		if strings.HasPrefix(e.Name(), ".") { // hidden: a checkout or an editor's file, never data
+			continue
+		}
 		full := filepath.Join(dir, e.Name())
 		if e.IsDir() {
 			if isRef(e.Name()) {
@@ -62,9 +65,13 @@ func loadDir(dir string) (*group, error) {
 			if err != nil {
 				return nil, err
 			}
-			if len(child.children) > 0 {
-				g.children[e.Name()] = child
+			if len(child.children) == 0 {
+				continue
 			}
+			if err := checkName(e.Name()); err != nil {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: folder %w", full, err)
+			}
+			g.children[e.Name()] = child
 			continue
 		}
 		if !strings.HasSuffix(e.Name(), ".json") {
@@ -74,6 +81,9 @@ func loadDir(dir string) (*group, error) {
 		if isRef(name) {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: category %q starts with %q, which is reserved for {..path} bindings", full, name, refPrefix)
 		}
+		if err := checkName(name); err != nil {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: category %w", full, err)
+		}
 		b, err := os.ReadFile(full)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
diff --git a/node.go b/node.go
index 59d4eec..228225b 100644
--- a/node.go
+++ b/node.go
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"math"
 	"sort"
+	"strings"
 )
 
 // node is a compiled template element: literal, choice, or template. Compiling
@@ -50,7 +51,20 @@ type template struct {
 func (*template) isNode() {}
 
 // compile converts parsed JSON into a node tree, validating structure up front.
+// Only a choice's items carry a weight, so a numeric one here would be inert.
 func compile(v any) (node, error) {
+	if m, ok := v.(map[string]any); ok {
+		if w, weighted := m["weight"]; weighted {
+			if _, isNumber := w.(float64); isNumber {
+				return nil, fmt.Errorf("weight only skews a choice's items, so it has no effect here")
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return compileItem(v)
+}
+
+// compileItem compiles one node, allowing the weight a choice item may carry.
+func compileItem(v any) (node, error) {
 	switch v := v.(type) {
 	case string:
 		return literal(v), nil
@@ -81,7 +95,7 @@ func compileChoice(items []any) (node, error) {
 		}
 		total += w
 		cum[i] = total
-		n, err := compile(raw)
+		n, err := compileItem(raw)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
@@ -115,6 +129,9 @@ func compileTemplate(m map[string]any) (node, error) {
 		if sep, ok = sv.(string); !ok {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("separator must be a string, got %T", sv)
 		}
+		if repeat == 1 {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("separator joins repeated renders, so it has no effect without a repeat above 1")
+		}
 	}
 	t := &template{format: format, fields: make(map[string]node, len(m)), repeat: repeat, separator: sep}
 	keys := make([]string, 0, len(m))
@@ -123,7 +140,7 @@ func compileTemplate(m map[string]any) (node, error) {
 	}
 	sort.Strings(keys) // so which of several bad fields is reported does not vary
 	for _, k := range keys {
-		if k == "format" || k == "weight" || k == "repeat" || k == "separator" {
+		if isOption(k) {
 			continue
 		}
 		if isRef(k) {
@@ -182,3 +199,23 @@ func weightOf(raw any) (float64, error) {
 	}
 	return w, nil
 }
+
+// checkName rejects a category or folder name no dot path can reach. A dot separates
+// path segments, so such a name is unaddressable by every route — unlike a field,
+// which its parent's format still reaches by token.
+func checkName(name string) error {
+	if strings.Contains(name, ".") {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%q contains a dot, which a dot path cannot reach", name)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+// isOption reports whether a template key configures the node instead of naming a
+// field. These four names can never be fields.
+func isOption(name string) bool {
+	switch name {
+	case "format", "repeat", "separator", "weight":
+		return true
+	}
+	return false
+}
diff --git a/template.go b/template.go
index 14e5ede..bc7b7ce 100644
--- a/template.go
+++ b/template.go
@@ -143,6 +143,9 @@ func checkTokens(format string, fields map[string]node) error {
 				continue // a root reference; its target is checked at New (see linkRefs)
 			}
 			if _, ok := fields[name]; !ok {
+				if isOption(name) {
+					return fmt.Errorf("token {%s}: %q is an option, never a field", t.body, name)
+				}
 				return fmt.Errorf("token {%s}: no field %q", t.body, name)
 			}
 		}