From de8c1d13e937d3d6d3035ffa4792a7b10741545b Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Lilleman auf Larv <lilleman@larvit.se>
Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2026 12:37:21 +0200
Subject: [PATCH] Tests for one spelling per shape: no one-item choice,
 repeated item or inert object

---
 bench_test.go              |  13 ++--
 bound_test.go              | 104 ++++++++++++++-----------------
 builtins_test.go           |  54 ++++++++---------
 calc_test.go               |  36 +++++------
 edge_test.go               |  84 ++++++++++++-------------
 loading_test.go            |  32 +++++-----
 one_spelling_test.go       |  48 +++++++++++++++
 reference_test.go          |  74 +++++++++++------------
 shipped_data_test.go       |  14 ++---
 template_stability_test.go |  16 ++---
 template_test.go           | 121 +++++++++++++++++++------------------
 11 files changed, 315 insertions(+), 281 deletions(-)
 create mode 100644 one_spelling_test.go

diff --git a/bench_test.go b/bench_test.go
index 0b850ed..d3bc76f 100644
--- a/bench_test.go
+++ b/bench_test.go
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func tmpData(b *testing.B, name, body string) string {
 }
 
 func BenchmarkCalc(b *testing.B) {
-	dir := tmpData(b, "inv", `{"format":"{net} x {qty} = {calc(net * qty, 2)}","net":["19.99"],"qty":["3"]}`)
+	dir := tmpData(b, "inv", `{"format":"{net} x {qty} = {calc(net * qty, 2)}","net":"19.99","qty":"3"}`)
 	benchPath(b, dir, "inv")
 }
 
@@ -61,24 +61,19 @@ func BenchmarkRepeat(b *testing.B) {
 // what a correlated pair costs against BenchmarkUnbound, the same output drawn from
 // two independent fields.
 func BenchmarkBound(b *testing.B) {
-	dir := tmpData(b, "addr", `{"format":"{place.postal-code} {place.locality}","place":[
-		{"format":"{locality}","locality":"Stockholm","postal-code":{"format":"1{digits(2)} {digits(2)}"}},
-		{"format":"{locality}","locality":"Tranås","postal-code":{"format":"573 {digits(2)}"}}]}`)
+	dir := tmpData(b, "addr", `{"format":"{place.postal-code} {place.locality}","place":[{"format":"{locality}","locality":"Stockholm","postal-code":"1{digits(2)} {digits(2)}"},{"format":"{locality}","locality":"Tranås","postal-code":"573 {digits(2)}"}]}`)
 	benchPath(b, dir, "addr")
 }
 
 func BenchmarkUnbound(b *testing.B) {
-	dir := tmpData(b, "addr", `{"format":"{postal-code} {locality}",
-		"postal-code":[{"format":"1{digits(2)} {digits(2)}"},{"format":"573 {digits(2)}"}],
-		"locality":["Stockholm","Tranås"]}`)
+	dir := tmpData(b, "addr", `{"format":"{postal-code} {locality}","postal-code":["1{digits(2)} {digits(2)}","573 {digits(2)}"],"locality":["Stockholm","Tranås"]}`)
 	benchPath(b, dir, "addr")
 }
 
 // BenchmarkBoundDeep reads two paths through an intermediate level, the shape the
 // depth question is about.
 func BenchmarkBoundDeep(b *testing.B) {
-	dir := tmpData(b, "addr", `{"format":"{p.addr.city} {p.addr.zip}","p":[
-		{"format":"{addr}","addr":{"format":"{city}","city":["Stockholm","Tranås"],"zip":{"format":"1{digits(2)} {digits(2)}"}}}]}`)
+	dir := tmpData(b, "addr", `{"format":"{p.addr.city} {p.addr.zip}","p":{"format":"{addr}","addr":{"format":"{city}","city":["Stockholm","Tranås"],"zip":"1{digits(2)} {digits(2)}"}}}`)
 	benchPath(b, dir, "addr")
 }
 
diff --git a/bound_test.go b/bound_test.go
index a209949..a266a34 100644
--- a/bound_test.go
+++ b/bound_test.go
@@ -15,10 +15,7 @@ import (
 
 // swedishPlaces is a two-variant sibling whose variants pair a locality with the
 // postal-code prefix that really belongs to it.
-const swedishPlaces = `{"format":"%s","place":[
-	{"format":"{locality}","locality":"Stockholm","postal-code":{"format":"1{digits(2)} {digits(2)}"}},
-	{"format":"{locality}","locality":"Tranås","postal-code":{"format":"573 {digits(2)}"}}
-]}`
+const swedishPlaces = `{"format":"%s","place":[{"format":"{locality}","locality":"Stockholm","postal-code":"1{digits(2)} {digits(2)}"},{"format":"{locality}","locality":"Tranås","postal-code":"573 {digits(2)}"}]}`
 
 // agree reports whether a rendered "postcode locality" pair is a real pairing.
 var agree = regexp.MustCompile(`^(1[0-9]{2} [0-9]{2} Stockholm|573 [0-9]{2} Tranås)$`)
@@ -48,10 +45,10 @@ func TestRenderingALevelAndReadingIntoItIsRejected(t *testing.T) {
 	// other rendered — so the pair is a load error rather than a shape whose two
 	// halves can disagree.
 	rejected := map[string]string{
-		"bare head beside a path": `{"format":"{p} + {p.first}","p":[{"format":"{first}","first":["Anna","Bo"]}]}`,
-		"prefix path beside a path": `{"format":"{p.addr}|{p.addr.city}","p":[{"format":"{addr}","addr":[` +
-			`{"format":"{city}","city":["Kiruna","Boden"]},{"format":"{city}","city":["Malmö","Lund"]}]}]}`,
-		"either order": `{"format":"{p.first} + {p}","p":[{"format":"{first}","first":["Anna","Bo"]}]}`,
+		"bare head beside a path": `{"format":"{p} + {p.first}","p":{"format":"{first}","first":["Anna","Bo"]}}`,
+		"prefix path beside a path": `{"format":"{p.addr}|{p.addr.city}","p":{"format":"{addr}","addr":[` +
+			`{"format":"{city}","city":["Kiruna","Boden"]},{"format":"{city}","city":["Malmö","Lund"]}]}}`,
+		"either order": `{"format":"{p.first} + {p}","p":{"format":"{first}","first":["Anna","Bo"]}}`,
 	}
 	for name, file := range rejected {
 		_, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, map[string]string{"cat": file})))
@@ -65,7 +62,7 @@ func TestRenderingALevelAndReadingIntoItIsRejected(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	// The same path twice is one spelling, so it stays legal.
 	if _, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"cat": `{"format":"{p.first} + {p.first}","p":[{"format":"{first}","first":["Anna","Bo"]}]}`,
+		"cat": `{"format":"{p.first} + {p.first}","p":{"format":"{first}","first":["Anna","Bo"]}}`,
 	}))); err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("New = %v, want one path read twice accepted", err)
 	}
@@ -84,7 +81,7 @@ func TestCalcOperandNamingABoundLevelIsRejected(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	// Arithmetic over fields no path names is untouched.
 	if _, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"cat": `{"format":"{net} x {qty} = {calc(net * qty, 2)}","net":["19.99"],"qty":["3"]}`,
+		"cat": `{"format":"{net} x {qty} = {calc(net * qty, 2)}","net":"19.99","qty":"3"}`,
 	}))); err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("New = %v, want plain arithmetic accepted", err)
 	}
@@ -95,13 +92,13 @@ func TestReferenceNamingABoundLevelIsRejected(t *testing.T) {
 	// afresh beside the path that reads its held draw — the same overlap by
 	// another spelling.
 	rejected := map[string]string{
-		"reference names the head": `{"format":"{p.first}|{..cat.p}","p":[{"format":"{first}","first":["Anna","Bo"]}]}`,
+		"reference names the head": `{"format":"{p.first}|{..cat.p}","p":{"format":"{first}","first":["Anna","Bo"]}}`,
 		"reference names the leaf": `{"format":"{p.addr}|{..cat.p.addr}","p":{"format":"x","addr":["A","B","C","D"]}}`,
 		// The reference need not sit in the format that binds: any field it renders
 		// reaches the level just the same, however deep.
 		"reference from a sibling field": `{"format":"{p.first}|{inner}","p":[` +
 			`{"format":"{first}-{last}","first":"A","last":"1"},{"format":"{first}-{last}","first":"B","last":"2"}],` +
-			`"inner":{"format":"{..cat.p}"}}`,
+			`"inner":"{..cat.p}"}`,
 	}
 	for name, file := range rejected {
 		_, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, map[string]string{"cat": file})))
@@ -111,7 +108,7 @@ func TestReferenceNamingABoundLevelIsRejected(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	// A reference to anything this format does not bind is untouched.
 	if _, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"cat":     `{"format":"{p.first} {..surname}","p":[{"format":"{first}","first":["Anna","Bo"]}]}`,
+		"cat":     `{"format":"{p.first} {..surname}","p":{"format":"{first}","first":["Anna","Bo"]}}`,
 		"surname": `["Eriksson","Lindqvist"]`,
 	}))); err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("New = %v, want a reference outside the bound level accepted", err)
@@ -123,7 +120,7 @@ func TestCycleReachedOnlyByAPathTokenIsRejected(t *testing.T) {
 	// cycle walk has to follow it there. A head whose own format names nothing
 	// would otherwise hide the cycle until render, where it is fatal.
 	_, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"a": `{"format":"{p.x}","p":{"format":"static","x":{"format":"{..a}"}}}`,
+		"a": `{"format":"{p.x}","p":{"format":"static","x":"{..a}"}}`,
 	})))
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "reference cycle") {
 		t.Fatalf("New = %v, want the cycle through {p.x} rejected", err)
@@ -134,7 +131,7 @@ func TestALevelRenderedOnlyByAPathTokenIsHeld(t *testing.T) {
 	// {p.a} renders q, so it is a route to the level {q.x} holds — even though p's
 	// own format names nothing.
 	_, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"thing": `{"format":"{p.a} {q.x}","p":{"format":"static","a":{"format":"{..thing.q}"}},` +
+		"thing": `{"format":"{p.a} {q.x}","p":{"format":"static","a":"{..thing.q}"},` +
 			`"q":{"format":"{x}","x":["1","2"]}}`,
 	})))
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "reads a path into") {
@@ -161,7 +158,7 @@ func TestACalcOperandIsHeldAgainstEveryRoute(t *testing.T) {
 		"a reference one level down": {
 			map[string]string{
 				"cat": `{"format":"{calc(net * 2, 2)} {q}","net":["10.00","20.00"],` +
-					`"q":{"format":"{..cat.net}"}}`,
+					`"q":"{..cat.net}"}`,
 			},
 			`{q} renders "net"`,
 		},
@@ -169,8 +166,8 @@ func TestACalcOperandIsHeldAgainstEveryRoute(t *testing.T) {
 		// so wrapping the operand in one changes nothing.
 		"a reference to an operand wrapped in a choice": {
 			map[string]string{
-				"cat": `{"format":"{calc(n * 2, 2)} {q}","n":[{"format":"{v}","v":["1","2"]}],` +
-					`"q":{"format":"{..cat.n}"}}`,
+				"cat": `{"format":"{calc(n * 2, 2)} {q}","n":{"format":"{v}","v":["1","2"]},` +
+					`"q":"{..cat.n}"}`,
 			},
 			`{q} renders "n"`,
 		},
@@ -179,7 +176,7 @@ func TestACalcOperandIsHeldAgainstEveryRoute(t *testing.T) {
 		"an operand reaching another operand": {
 			map[string]string{
 				"cat": `{"format":"{calc(a + b, 0)}","a":{"format":"{x}","x":["1","2"]},` +
-					`"b":{"format":"{..cat.a}"}}`,
+					`"b":"{..cat.a}"}`,
 			},
 			`calc operand "b" renders "a"`,
 		},
@@ -196,7 +193,7 @@ func TestACalcOperandIsHeldAgainstEveryRoute(t *testing.T) {
 		"a reference into the operand one level down": {
 			map[string]string{
 				"cat": `{"format":"{calc(net * 2, 2)}|{q}","net":{"format":"{v}","v":["10.00","20.00"]},` +
-					`"q":{"format":"{..cat.net.v}"}}`,
+					`"q":"{..cat.net.v}"}`,
 			},
 			`{q} renders "net"`,
 		},
@@ -206,7 +203,7 @@ func TestACalcOperandIsHeldAgainstEveryRoute(t *testing.T) {
 		"a violation on the second of two held heads": {
 			map[string]string{
 				"cat": `{"format":"{calc(a + b, 0)} {w}","a":{"format":"{x}","x":["1","2"]},` +
-					`"b":{"format":"{y}","y":["3","4"]},"w":{"format":"{..cat.b}"}}`,
+					`"b":{"format":"{y}","y":["3","4"]},"w":"{..cat.b}"}`,
 			},
 			`{w} renders "b"`,
 		},
@@ -233,20 +230,20 @@ func TestACalcOperandIsHeldAgainstEveryRoute(t *testing.T) {
 		"a reference to a sibling the operand never renders": {
 			"cat": `{"format":"{calc(net * 2, 2)} {unit}",` +
 				`"net":{"format":"{v}","v":["1","2"],"spare":["kg","lb"]},` +
-				`"unit":{"format":"{..cat.net.spare}"}}`,
+				`"unit":"{..cat.net.spare}"}`,
 		},
 		// Two operands drawing from one source are two names, so two draws: each is
 		// held under its own name and shown once, and neither can disagree.
 		"two operands sharing one source": {
 			"die": `["1","2","3","4","5","6"]`,
-			"cat": `{"format":"{d1} + {d2} = {calc(d1 + d2, 0)}","d1":{"format":"{..die}"},` +
-				`"d2":{"format":"{..die}"}}`,
+			"cat": `{"format":"{d1} + {d2} = {calc(d1 + d2, 0)}","d1":"{..die}",` +
+				`"d2":"{..die}"}`,
 		},
 		// Likewise a reference drawing from what the operand draws from: {..common}
 		// and net are two names, not two spellings of one field.
 		"a reference to what an operand renders through": {
 			"common": `["1","2"]`,
-			"cat":    `{"format":"{calc(net * 2, 2)} {..common}","net":{"format":"{..common}"}}`,
+			"cat":    `{"format":"{calc(net * 2, 2)} {..common}","net":"{..common}"}`,
 		},
 		// A fixed string cannot disagree with itself, so it needs no fence.
 		"a literal operand named twice": {
@@ -272,11 +269,11 @@ func TestAPathReachesEveryVariantItMightDraw(t *testing.T) {
 	// to a held level disagrees silently.
 	rejected := map[string]struct{ file, want string }{
 		"a cycle in a later variant": {
-			`{"format":"{p.x}","p":[{"format":"h","x":"safe"},{"format":"h","x":{"format":"{..cat}"}}]}`,
+			`{"format":"{p.x}","p":[{"format":"h","x":"safe"},{"format":"h","x":"{..cat}"}]}`,
 			"reference cycle",
 		},
 		"a second route in a later variant": {
-			`{"format":"{p.x} {q.y}","p":[{"format":"h","x":"safe"},{"format":"h","x":{"format":"{..cat.q}"}}],` +
+			`{"format":"{p.x} {q.y}","p":[{"format":"h","x":"safe"},{"format":"h","x":"{..cat.q}"}],` +
 				`"q":{"format":"{y}","y":["1","2"]}}`,
 			"reads a path into",
 		},
@@ -309,10 +306,10 @@ func TestALevelAPathNeverRendersIsAccepted(t *testing.T) {
 func TestADeepDiamondChainLoads(t *testing.T) {
 	// A diamond chain is 2^n routes through n nodes. The search past a bound level
 	// must walk each node once, not once per route, or a deep chain never loads.
-	files := map[string]string{"l0": `["x"]`}
+	files := map[string]string{"l0": `"x"`}
 	for i := 1; i <= 30; i++ {
 		files[fmt.Sprintf("l%d", i)] = fmt.Sprintf(
-			`{"format":"{a}{b}","a":{"format":"{..l%d}"},"b":{"format":"{..l%d}"}}`, i-1, i-1)
+			`{"format":"{a}{b}","a":"{..l%d}","b":"{..l%d}"}`, i-1, i-1)
 	}
 	files["thing"] = `{"format":"{p.first} {..l30}","p":{"format":"x","first":["A","B"]}}`
 	if _, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, files))); err != nil {
@@ -325,9 +322,9 @@ func TestASharedNodeIsWalkedOnce(t *testing.T) {
 	// The search past a bound level must take that in its stride rather than walk
 	// the shared node once per route.
 	f, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"cat": `{"format":"{p.first}|{q}","p":[{"format":"{first}","first":["Anna","Bo"]}],` +
-			`"q":{"format":"{a}{b}","a":{"format":"{..shared}"},"b":{"format":"{..shared}"}}}`,
-		"shared": `["x"]`,
+		"cat": `{"format":"{p.first}|{q}","p":{"format":"{first}","first":["Anna","Bo"]},` +
+			`"q":{"format":"{a}{b}","a":"{..shared}","b":"{..shared}"}}`,
+		"shared": `"x"`,
 	})), WithSeed(1))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("New = %v, want a shared node accepted", err)
@@ -342,7 +339,7 @@ func TestTheEarlierReaderIsNamed(t *testing.T) {
 	// first is the one reported, so the error points at the same place a reader
 	// looking at the format would start.
 	_, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"cat": `{"format":"{calc(p * 1)} {p} {p.first}","p":[{"format":"{first}","first":["1","2"]}]}`,
+		"cat": `{"format":"{calc(p * 1)} {p} {p.first}","p":{"format":"{first}","first":["1","2"]}}`,
 	})))
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), `calc operand "p"`) {
 		t.Fatalf("New = %v, want the calc operand named, being written first", err)
@@ -368,7 +365,7 @@ func TestNestedChoiceDrawsOneVariant(t *testing.T) {
 	f := engine(21)
 	seen := map[string]bool{}
 	for i := 0; i < 200; i++ {
-		seen[mustRender(t, f, `{"format":"{p.x}","p":[[{"format":"{x}","x":"1"}],[{"format":"{x}","x":"2"}]]}`)] = true
+		seen[mustRender(t, f, `{"format":"{p.x}","p":[{"format":"{x}","x":"1"},{"format":"{x}","x":"2"}]}`)] = true
 	}
 	if !seen["1"] || !seen["2"] || len(seen) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("200 draws produced %v, want 1 and 2", seen)
@@ -379,7 +376,7 @@ func TestRepeatingLevelIsNamedInTheError(t *testing.T) {
 	// The level carrying the repeat is the one to fix, so the error names it
 	// rather than the head the path started from.
 	_, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"cat": `{"format":"[{p.a.b}]","p":{"format":"{a}","a":{"format":"{b}","repeat":3,"separator":",","b":["z"]}}}`,
+		"cat": `{"format":"[{p.a.b}]","p":{"format":"{a}","a":{"format":"{b}","repeat":3,"separator":",","b":"z"}}}`,
 	})))
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), `"p.a"`) {
 		t.Fatalf("New = %v, want it to name the level p.a that carries the repeat", err)
@@ -391,7 +388,7 @@ func TestPathIntoARepeatingLevelBehindAChoiceIsRejected(t *testing.T) {
 	// reach inside one — otherwise the direct spelling is a load error and the same
 	// mistake behind a choice silently drops the repeat.
 	_, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"cat": `{"format":"[{p.a}]","p":[{"format":"{a}","repeat":3,"separator":",","a":["x"]},{"format":"{a}","a":["y"]}]}`,
+		"cat": `{"format":"[{p.a}]","p":[{"format":"{a}","repeat":3,"separator":",","a":"x"},{"format":"{a}","a":"y"}]}`,
 	})))
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "repeat") {
 		t.Fatalf("New = %v, want the repeat behind a choice rejected", err)
@@ -402,7 +399,7 @@ func TestPathIntoARepeatingLevelIsRejected(t *testing.T) {
 	// A path reads one level's draw, so it can never apply that level's repeat.
 	// The engine rejects options that cannot take effect, and this is one.
 	_, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"cat": `{"format":"[{p.a}]","p":{"format":"{a}","repeat":3,"separator":",","a":["z"]}}`,
+		"cat": `{"format":"[{p.a}]","p":{"format":"{a}","repeat":3,"separator":",","a":"z"}}`,
 	})))
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "repeat") {
 		t.Fatalf("New = %v, want a path into a repeating level rejected", err)
@@ -511,7 +508,7 @@ func TestDottedTokenErrors(t *testing.T) {
 		want string
 	}{
 		"unknown head": {
-			`{"format":"{nope.x}","place":[{"format":"{v}","v":"A"}]}`,
+			`{"format":"{nope.x}","place":{"format":"{v}","v":"A"}}`,
 			`no field "nope"`,
 		},
 		"unknown tail": {
@@ -519,7 +516,7 @@ func TestDottedTokenErrors(t *testing.T) {
 			`"nope"`,
 		},
 		"tail only some variants carry": {
-			`{"format":"{place.locality}","place":[{"format":"{locality}","locality":"A"},{"format":"x"}]}`,
+			`{"format":"{place.locality}","place":[{"format":"{locality}","locality":"A"},"x"]}`,
 			`locality`,
 		},
 		"path into a literal": {
@@ -527,7 +524,7 @@ func TestDottedTokenErrors(t *testing.T) {
 			`"y"`,
 		},
 		"dotted field key": {
-			`{"format":"[{a.b}]","a.b":["V"]}`,
+			`{"format":"[{a.b}]","a.b":"V"}`,
 			`contains "."`,
 		},
 	}
@@ -548,8 +545,7 @@ func TestSamePathReadTwiceReadsOneValue(t *testing.T) {
 	// what a name shown in a display form and again in an address needs.
 	f := engine(7)
 	for i := 0; i < 300; i++ {
-		got := mustRender(t, f, `{"format":"{p.first}|{p.first}",
-			"p":[{"format":"{first}","first":["Anna","Astrid","Elin","Karin"]}]}`)
+		got := mustRender(t, f, `{"format":"{p.first}|{p.first}","p":{"format":"{first}","first":["Anna","Astrid","Elin","Karin"]}}`)
 		parts := strings.Split(got, "|")
 		if parts[0] != parts[1] {
 			t.Fatalf("draw %d = %q, want one value read twice", i, got)
@@ -571,9 +567,7 @@ func TestDifferentTailsUnderOneHeadShareTheRow(t *testing.T) {
 
 // deepPlaces nests the correlated facts a level down: the row holds an addr, and
 // the addr holds the city and the zip that belongs to it.
-const deepPlaces = `{"format":"%s","p":[{"format":"{addr}","addr":[
-	{"format":"{city}","city":"Stockholm","zip":"11111"},
-	{"format":"{city}","city":"Kiruna","zip":"98100"}]}]}`
+const deepPlaces = `{"format":"%s","p":{"format":"{addr}","addr":[{"format":"{city}","city":"Stockholm","zip":"11111"},{"format":"{city}","city":"Kiruna","zip":"98100"}]}}`
 
 func TestPathHoldsItsDrawAtEveryLevel(t *testing.T) {
 	// A choice below the head is drawn once too, so two paths sharing a prefix
@@ -595,13 +589,7 @@ func TestPathHoldsItsDrawAtEveryLevel(t *testing.T) {
 func TestPathHoldsItsDrawThreeLevelsDown(t *testing.T) {
 	// The rule does not run out at two: every level a path passes through is held.
 	f := engine(12)
-	tmpl := `{"format":"{p.geo.town.name}/{p.geo.town.zip} {p.geo.region}","p":[{"format":"{geo}","geo":[
-		{"format":"{town}","region":"Norrbotten","town":[
-			{"format":"{name}","name":"Kiruna","zip":"98100"},
-			{"format":"{name}","name":"Luleå","zip":"97200"}]},
-		{"format":"{town}","region":"Skåne","town":[
-			{"format":"{name}","name":"Malmö","zip":"21100"},
-			{"format":"{name}","name":"Lund","zip":"22100"}]}]}]}`
+	tmpl := `{"format":"{p.geo.town.name}/{p.geo.town.zip} {p.geo.region}","p":{"format":"{geo}","geo":[{"format":"{town}","region":"Norrbotten","town":[{"format":"{name}","name":"Kiruna","zip":"98100"},{"format":"{name}","name":"Luleå","zip":"97200"}]},{"format":"{town}","region":"Skåne","town":[{"format":"{name}","name":"Malmö","zip":"21100"},{"format":"{name}","name":"Lund","zip":"22100"}]}]}}`
 	want := map[string]bool{
 		"Kiruna/98100 Norrbotten": true, "Luleå/97200 Norrbotten": true,
 		"Malmö/21100 Skåne": true, "Lund/22100 Skåne": true,
@@ -641,9 +629,7 @@ func TestDeepPathsUnderOneHeadStayIndependentWhereTheyDiverge(t *testing.T) {
 	// Two paths share only what they actually share: a common prefix is one draw,
 	// and each keeps its own draw past the point they part.
 	f := engine(14)
-	tmpl := `{"format":"{p.a.v}{p.b.v}","p":[{"format":"x",
-		"a":[{"format":"{v}","v":"1"},{"format":"{v}","v":"2"}],
-		"b":[{"format":"{v}","v":"1"},{"format":"{v}","v":"2"}]}]}`
+	tmpl := `{"format":"{p.a.v}{p.b.v}","p":{"format":"x","a":[{"format":"{v}","v":"1"},{"format":"{v}","v":"2"}],"b":[{"format":"{v}","v":"1"},{"format":"{v}","v":"2"}]}}`
 	seen := map[string]bool{}
 	for i := 0; i < 400; i++ {
 		seen[mustRender(t, f, tmpl)] = true
@@ -660,9 +646,9 @@ func TestEmptyPathSegmentIsRejected(t *testing.T) {
 	// nothing is reported as that rather than as a missing field. An empty name is
 	// rejected where it is authored, so no data can make these resolve.
 	rejected := map[string]string{
-		"trailing dot": `{"format":"[{a.}]","a":{"format":"x"}}`,
-		"leading dot":  `{"format":"[{.b}]","a":{"format":"{b}","b":["V"]}}`,
-		"double dot":   `{"format":"[{a..b}]","a":{"format":"x"}}`,
+		"trailing dot": `{"format":"[{a.}]","a":"x"}`,
+		"leading dot":  `{"format":"[{.b}]","a":{"format":"{b}","b":"V"}}`,
+		"double dot":   `{"format":"[{a..b}]","a":"x"}`,
 	}
 	for name, file := range rejected {
 		_, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, map[string]string{"cat": file})))
@@ -681,7 +667,7 @@ func TestCycleThroughAPathTokenIsRejected(t *testing.T) {
 	// must be caught at New. Reaching render would be fatal: the recursion never
 	// terminates, and a stack overflow cannot be recovered.
 	_, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"a": `{"format":"{p.x}","p":{"format":"{x}","x":{"format":"{..a}"}}}`,
+		"a": `{"format":"{p.x}","p":{"format":"{x}","x":"{..a}"}}`,
 	})))
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "reference cycle") {
 		t.Fatalf("New = %v, want the cycle through {p.x} rejected", err)
diff --git a/builtins_test.go b/builtins_test.go
index 13af539..7a63509 100644
--- a/builtins_test.go
+++ b/builtins_test.go
@@ -13,10 +13,10 @@ func TestBuiltinIDGenerators(t *testing.T) {
 		tmpl string
 		re   *regexp.Regexp
 	}{
-		{"uuid v7", `{"format":"{uuid()}"}`, regexp.MustCompile(`^[0-9a-f]{8}-[0-9a-f]{4}-7[0-9a-f]{3}-[89ab][0-9a-f]{3}-[0-9a-f]{12}$`)},
-		{"ulid", `{"format":"{ulid()}"}`, regexp.MustCompile(`^[0-7][0-9A-HJKMNP-TV-Z]{25}$`)},
-		{"nanoid", `{"format":"{nanoid(21)}"}`, regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z0-9_-]{21}$`)},
-		{"hex", `{"format":"{hex(16)}"}`, regexp.MustCompile(`^[0-9a-f]{16}$`)},
+		{"uuid v7", `"{uuid()}"`, regexp.MustCompile(`^[0-9a-f]{8}-[0-9a-f]{4}-7[0-9a-f]{3}-[89ab][0-9a-f]{3}-[0-9a-f]{12}$`)},
+		{"ulid", `"{ulid()}"`, regexp.MustCompile(`^[0-7][0-9A-HJKMNP-TV-Z]{25}$`)},
+		{"nanoid", `"{nanoid(21)}"`, regexp.MustCompile(`^[A-Za-z0-9_-]{21}$`)},
+		{"hex", `"{hex(16)}"`, regexp.MustCompile(`^[0-9a-f]{16}$`)},
 	}
 	f := engine(1)
 	for _, c := range cases {
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ func TestBuiltinIDGenerators(t *testing.T) {
 // sample draws only from the seeded rng, so same seed -> same value.
 func TestBuiltinSamplesReproducible(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, tmpl := range []string{
-		`{"format":"{uuid()}"}`, `{"format":"{ulid()}"}`,
-		`{"format":"{nanoid(12)}"}`, `{"format":"{int(1,1000000)}"}`,
-		`{"format":"{float(0,1,6)}"}`, `{"format":"{base64(12)}"}`, `{"format":"{iban(SE)}"}`,
+		`"{uuid()}"`, `"{ulid()}"`,
+		`"{nanoid(12)}"`, `"{int(1,1000000)}"`,
+		`"{float(0,1,6)}"`, `"{base64(12)}"`, `"{iban(SE)}"`,
 	} {
 		if a, b := mustRender(t, engine(7), tmpl), mustRender(t, engine(7), tmpl); a != b {
 			t.Fatalf("%s not reproducible: %q != %q", tmpl, a, b)
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ func TestBuiltinIntInclusiveRange(t *testing.T) {
 	f := engine(1)
 	lo, hi := false, false
 	for i := 0; i < 1000; i++ {
-		n, err := strconv.Atoi(mustRender(t, f, `{"format":"{int(3,7)}"}`))
+		n, err := strconv.Atoi(mustRender(t, f, `"{int(3,7)}"`))
 		if err != nil || n < 3 || n > 7 {
 			t.Fatalf("int(3,7) = %d (err %v), out of range", n, err)
 		}
@@ -66,14 +66,14 @@ func TestBuiltinIntInclusiveRange(t *testing.T) {
 func TestBuiltinFloat(t *testing.T) {
 	f, re := engine(1), regexp.MustCompile(`^[12]\.\d{3}$`)
 	for i := 0; i < 200; i++ {
-		if got := mustRender(t, f, `{"format":"{float(1,2,3)}"}`); !re.MatchString(got) {
+		if got := mustRender(t, f, `"{float(1,2,3)}"`); !re.MatchString(got) {
 			t.Fatalf("float(1,2,3) = %q, want d.ddd in [1,2]", got)
 		}
 	}
 }
 
 func TestBuiltinBase64(t *testing.T) {
-	got := mustRender(t, engine(1), `{"format":"{base64(9)}"}`)
+	got := mustRender(t, engine(1), `"{base64(9)}"`)
 	if b, err := base64.StdEncoding.DecodeString(got); err != nil || len(b) != 9 {
 		t.Fatalf("base64(9) = %q decodes to %d bytes (err %v), want 9", got, len(b), err)
 	}
@@ -83,9 +83,9 @@ func TestBuiltinBase64(t *testing.T) {
 // hand-computed check, like the luhn test. mod-11 emits X when it would be 10.
 func TestBuiltinChecksums(t *testing.T) {
 	cases := map[string]string{
-		`{"format":"12345678{mod11()}"}`:   "123456785",     // weights 2..7 from the right
-		`{"format":"6{mod11()}"}`:          "6X",            // remainder 10 -> X
-		`{"format":"400638133393{ean()}"}`: "4006381333931", // EAN-13 (= ISBN-13) check digit
+		`"12345678{mod11()}"`:   "123456785",     // weights 2..7 from the right
+		`"6{mod11()}"`:          "6X",            // remainder 10 -> X
+		`"400638133393{ean()}"`: "4006381333931", // EAN-13 (= ISBN-13) check digit
 	}
 	f := engine(1)
 	for tmpl, want := range cases {
@@ -101,14 +101,14 @@ func TestBuiltinChecksums(t *testing.T) {
 func TestBuiltinSeqPerSession(t *testing.T) {
 	f := engine(1)
 	for i := 1; i <= 5; i++ {
-		if got := mustRender(t, f, `{"format":"{seq()}"}`); got != strconv.Itoa(i) {
+		if got := mustRender(t, f, `"{seq()}"`); got != strconv.Itoa(i) {
 			t.Fatalf("seq call %d = %q, want %d", i, got, i)
 		}
 	}
-	if got := mustRender(t, f, `{"format":"{seq(orders)}"}`); got != "1" {
+	if got := mustRender(t, f, `"{seq(orders)}"`); got != "1" {
 		t.Fatalf("named seq(orders) = %q, want its own count from 1", got)
 	}
-	if got := mustRender(t, f, `{"format":"{seq()}"}`); got != "6" {
+	if got := mustRender(t, f, `"{seq()}"`); got != "6" {
 		t.Fatalf("default seq after the named one = %q, want 6 (counters are independent)", got)
 	}
 	// repeat drives one counter forward across its renders...
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ func TestBuiltinSeqPerSession(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("repeat seq = %q, want 1,2,3", got)
 	}
 	// ...and a fresh session restarts from 1.
-	if got := mustRender(t, engine(2), `{"format":"{seq()}"}`); got != "1" {
+	if got := mustRender(t, engine(2), `"{seq()}"`); got != "1" {
 		t.Fatalf("new session seq = %q, want 1", got)
 	}
 }
@@ -126,14 +126,14 @@ func TestBuiltinSeqPerSession(t *testing.T) {
 // at compile, not detonate when the template is drawn.
 func TestBuiltinArgLimits(t *testing.T) {
 	bad := []string{
-		`{"format":"{int(-9223372036854775808,9223372036854775807)}"}`, // span overflows int -> IntN panic
-		`{"format":"{hex(2000000000)}"}`,                               // ~2 GB string
-		`{"format":"{nanoid(2000000000)}"}`,
-		`{"format":"{base64(2000000000)}"}`,
-		`{"format":"{float(-1e308,1e308,2)}"}`,           // span is +Inf
-		`{"format":"{float(0,1,100000)}"}`,               // decimals -> huge string
-		`{"format":"{calc(1+1,100000)}"}`,                // calc decimals -> huge string
-		`{"format":"{x}","x":["1"],"repeat":2000000000}`, // repeat -> multi-GB join
+		`"{int(-9223372036854775808,9223372036854775807)}"`, // span overflows int -> IntN panic
+		`"{hex(2000000000)}"`,                               // ~2 GB string
+		`"{nanoid(2000000000)}"`,
+		`"{base64(2000000000)}"`,
+		`"{float(-1e308,1e308,2)}"`,                    // span is +Inf
+		`"{float(0,1,100000)}"`,                        // decimals -> huge string
+		`"{calc(1+1,100000)}"`,                         // calc decimals -> huge string
+		`{"format":"{x}","x":"1","repeat":2000000000}`, // repeat -> multi-GB join
 	}
 	for _, tmpl := range bad {
 		if _, err := compile(parse(t, tmpl)); err == nil {
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ func TestBuiltinArgLimits(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 	// Ordinary values still compile.
-	if _, err := compile(parse(t, `{"format":"{hex(16)} {int(-5,5)} {float(0,1,3)} {calc(1+1,2)}"}`)); err != nil {
+	if _, err := compile(parse(t, `"{hex(16)} {int(-5,5)} {float(0,1,3)} {calc(1+1,2)}"`)); err != nil {
 		t.Errorf("compile of normal args failed: %v", err)
 	}
 }
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ func TestBuiltinIBAN(t *testing.T) {
 	wantLen := map[string]int{"SE": 24, "DE": 22, "NO": 15}
 	f := engine(1)
 	for cc, n := range wantLen {
-		tmpl := `{"format":"{iban(` + cc + `)}"}`
+		tmpl := `"{iban(` + cc + `)}"`
 		for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
 			got := mustRender(t, f, tmpl)
 			if got[:2] != cc || len(got) != n {
diff --git a/calc_test.go b/calc_test.go
index 1b9a3a2..b9d6072 100644
--- a/calc_test.go
+++ b/calc_test.go
@@ -12,14 +12,14 @@ import (
 func TestCalcArithmetic(t *testing.T) {
 	f := engine(1)
 	cases := map[string]string{
-		`{"format":"{calc(2 + 3)}"}`:       "5",
-		`{"format":"{calc(2 * 3 + 4)}"}`:   "10", // * binds tighter than +
-		`{"format":"{calc(2 + 3 * 4)}"}`:   "14",
-		`{"format":"{calc((2 + 3) * 4)}"}`: "20", // parentheses override
-		`{"format":"{calc(10 / 4)}"}`:      "2.5",
-		`{"format":"{calc(-2 + 5)}"}`:      "3", // unary minus
-		`{"format":"{calc(2 - -3)}"}`:      "5",
-		`{"format":"{calc(1.5 * 2)}"}`:     "3", // whole result drops the decimals
+		`"{calc(2 + 3)}"`:       "5",
+		`"{calc(2 * 3 + 4)}"`:   "10", // * binds tighter than +
+		`"{calc(2 + 3 * 4)}"`:   "14",
+		`"{calc((2 + 3) * 4)}"`: "20", // parentheses override
+		`"{calc(10 / 4)}"`:      "2.5",
+		`"{calc(-2 + 5)}"`:      "3", // unary minus
+		`"{calc(2 - -3)}"`:      "5",
+		`"{calc(1.5 * 2)}"`:     "3", // whole result drops the decimals
 	}
 	for tmpl, want := range cases {
 		if got := mustRender(t, f, tmpl); got != want {
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ func TestCalcArithmetic(t *testing.T) {
 func TestCalcAuto(t *testing.T) {
 	f := engine(1)
 	cases := map[string]string{
-		`{"format":"{calc(10 / 3)}"}`: "3.3333333333333335",
-		`{"format":"{calc(6 / 2)}"}`:  "3",
-		`{"format":"{calc(1 / 4)}"}`:  "0.25",
+		`"{calc(10 / 3)}"`: "3.3333333333333335",
+		`"{calc(6 / 2)}"`:  "3",
+		`"{calc(1 / 4)}"`:  "0.25",
 	}
 	for tmpl, want := range cases {
 		if got := mustRender(t, f, tmpl); got != want {
@@ -49,9 +49,9 @@ func TestCalcAuto(t *testing.T) {
 func TestCalcDecimals(t *testing.T) {
 	f := engine(1)
 	cases := map[string]string{
-		`{"format":"{calc(10 / 3, 2)}"}`: "3.33",
-		`{"format":"{calc(10 / 3, 0)}"}`: "3",
-		`{"format":"{calc(2 * 3, 2)}"}`:  "6.00",
+		`"{calc(10 / 3, 2)}"`: "3.33",
+		`"{calc(10 / 3, 0)}"`: "3",
+		`"{calc(2 * 3, 2)}"`:  "6.00",
 	}
 	for tmpl, want := range cases {
 		if got := mustRender(t, f, tmpl); got != want {
@@ -63,11 +63,11 @@ func TestCalcDecimals(t *testing.T) {
 // TestCalcFields pins that bare names resolve to sibling fields, rendered then
 // parsed as numbers.
 func TestCalcFields(t *testing.T) {
-	if got := mustRender(t, engine(1), `{"format":"{calc(price * qty, 2)}","price":["19.99"],"qty":["3"]}`); got != "59.97" {
+	if got := mustRender(t, engine(1), `{"format":"{calc(price * qty, 2)}","price":"19.99","qty":"3"}`); got != "59.97" {
 		t.Fatalf("calc over fields = %q, want 59.97", got)
 	}
 	// A field that is itself a template renders before parsing.
-	if got := mustRender(t, engine(1), `{"format":"{calc(a - b)}","a":[{"format":"{n}","n":["10"]}],"b":["3"]}`); got != "7" {
+	if got := mustRender(t, engine(1), `{"format":"{calc(a - b)}","a":{"format":"{n}","n":"10"},"b":"3"}`); got != "7" {
 		t.Fatalf("calc(a - b) = %q, want 7", got)
 	}
 }
@@ -75,14 +75,14 @@ func TestCalcFields(t *testing.T) {
 // TestCalcNonNumericIsNaN pins the never-fail rule: a field that doesn't render
 // to a number becomes NaN, which propagates and prints visibly.
 func TestCalcNonNumericIsNaN(t *testing.T) {
-	if got := mustRender(t, engine(1), `{"format":"{calc(x * 2)}","x":["abc"]}`); got != "NaN" {
+	if got := mustRender(t, engine(1), `{"format":"{calc(x * 2)}","x":"abc"}`); got != "NaN" {
 		t.Fatalf("calc over non-numeric field = %q, want NaN", got)
 	}
 }
 
 // TestCalcReproducible pins that a calc over a random operand stays seed-stable.
 func TestCalcReproducible(t *testing.T) {
-	tmpl := `{"format":"{calc(q * 2 + 1)}","q":[{"format":"{int(1,1000000)}"}]}`
+	tmpl := `{"format":"{calc(q * 2 + 1)}","q":"{int(1,1000000)}"}`
 	if a, b := mustRender(t, engine(7), tmpl), mustRender(t, engine(7), tmpl); a != b {
 		t.Fatalf("calc not reproducible: %q != %q", a, b)
 	}
diff --git a/edge_test.go b/edge_test.go
index 4103385..eee05c8 100644
--- a/edge_test.go
+++ b/edge_test.go
@@ -16,11 +16,11 @@ import (
 func TestHashIsLiteral(t *testing.T) {
 	f := engine(1)
 	cases := map[string]string{
-		`{"format":"","x":["v"]}`:         "",
-		`{"format":"#","x":["v"]}`:        "#",
-		`{"format":"##","x":["v"]}`:       "##",
-		`{"format":"#0#1#A#a","x":["v"]}`: "#0#1#A#a",
-		`{"format":"#{x}","x":["v"]}`:     "#v",
+		`{"format":"","x":"v"}`:         "",
+		`{"format":"#","x":"v"}`:        "#",
+		`{"format":"##","x":"v"}`:       "##",
+		`{"format":"#0#1#A#a","x":"v"}`: "#0#1#A#a",
+		`{"format":"#{x}","x":"v"}`:     "#v",
 	}
 	for tmpl, want := range cases {
 		if got := mustRender(t, f, tmpl); got != want {
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ func TestHashIsLiteral(t *testing.T) {
 func TestMultibyteFormat(t *testing.T) {
 	// Scanning is rune-aware: multibyte literals coexist with class chars and
 	// tokens without corrupting indices.
-	got := mustRender(t, engine(2), `{"format":"Öster{x}-{digits(1)}å","x":["väg"]}`)
+	got := mustRender(t, engine(2), `{"format":"Öster{x}-{digits(1)}å","x":"väg"}`)
 	if !regexp.MustCompile(`^Österväg-[0-9]å$`).MatchString(got) {
 		t.Fatalf("multibyte format = %q", got)
 	}
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ func TestAlternationThreeWay(t *testing.T) {
 	f := engine(4)
 	seen := map[string]bool{}
 	for i := 0; i < 200; i++ {
-		seen[mustRender(t, f, `{"format":"{a|b|c}","a":["A"],"b":["B"],"c":["C"]}`)] = true
+		seen[mustRender(t, f, `{"format":"{a|b|c}","a":"A","b":"B","c":"C"}`)] = true
 	}
 	if !seen["A"] || !seen["B"] || !seen["C"] || len(seen) != 3 {
 		t.Fatalf("3-way alternation produced %v, want A, B and C", seen)
@@ -69,11 +69,11 @@ func TestNewErrors(t *testing.T) {
 		want  string
 	}{
 		"separator without repeat": {
-			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x}","x":["1"],"separator":","}`},
+			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x}","x":"1","separator":","}`},
 			"has no effect without a repeat above 1",
 		},
 		"separator with an explicit repeat of 1": {
-			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x}","x":["1"],"repeat":1,"separator":","}`},
+			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x}","x":"1","separator":","}`},
 			"has no effect without a repeat above 1",
 		},
 		"weight outside a choice": {
@@ -85,38 +85,38 @@ func TestNewErrors(t *testing.T) {
 			"weight only skews a choice's items",
 		},
 		"weight used as a field": {
-			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{name} {weight}kg","name":["Anvil"],"weight":["7"]}`},
+			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{name} {weight}kg","name":"Anvil","weight":["7"]}`},
 			"can never be a field",
 		},
 		"an option name used as a token": {
-			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{weight}"}`},
+			map[string]string{"a": `"{weight}"`},
 			`"weight" is an option and can never be a field`,
 		},
 		"category name with a dot": {
-			map[string]string{"a.b": `["1"]`},
+			map[string]string{"a.b": `"1"`},
 			`category "a.b" contains "."`,
 		},
 		"folder name with a dot": {
-			map[string]string{"a.b/cat": `["1"]`},
+			map[string]string{"a.b/cat": `"1"`},
 			`/a.b: folder "a.b" contains "."`,
 		},
 		// The token grammar reserves three more characters. A name carrying one
 		// still resolves by dot path, but no format can name it, so it is rejected
 		// where it is authored rather than at the token that cannot reach it.
 		"field name with a pipe": {
-			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x}","x":["1"],"b|c":["2"]}`},
+			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x}","x":"1","b|c":"2"}`},
 			`field "b|c" contains "|"`,
 		},
 		"field name with a paren": {
-			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x}","x":["1"],"b(c":["2"]}`},
+			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x}","x":"1","b(c":"2"}`},
 			`field "b(c" contains "("`,
 		},
 		"field name with a closing brace": {
-			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x}","x":["1"],"b}c":["2"]}`},
+			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x}","x":"1","b}c":"2"}`},
 			`field "b}c" contains "}"`,
 		},
 		"category name with a pipe": {
-			map[string]string{"a|b": `["1"]`},
+			map[string]string{"a|b": `"1"`},
 			`category "a|b" contains "|"`,
 		},
 		// An empty name is not a path segment, so List never offered it — while a
@@ -127,42 +127,42 @@ func TestNewErrors(t *testing.T) {
 			`field "" is empty`,
 		},
 		"folder name with a paren": {
-			map[string]string{"a(b/cat": `["1"]`},
+			map[string]string{"a(b/cat": `"1"`},
 			`folder "a(b" contains "("`,
 		},
 		// A repeated arm skews an alternation, which weight is the spelling for.
 		"repeated alternation arm": {
-			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x|x}","x":["1"]}`},
+			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x|x}","x":"1"}`},
 			`arm "x" is repeated`,
 		},
 		"repeated arm among others": {
-			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x|y|x}","x":["1"],"y":["2"]}`},
+			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x|y|x}","x":"1","y":"2"}`},
 			`arm "x" is repeated`,
 		},
 		"repeated path arm": {
-			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{p.v|p.v}","p":{"format":"{v}","v":["1"]}}`},
+			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{p.v|p.v}","p":{"format":"{v}","v":"1"}}`},
 			`arm "p.v" is repeated`,
 		},
 		// A reference arm is the only kind that reaches the repeat check by passing
 		// the per-arm checks rather than falling through them.
 		"repeated reference arm": {
-			map[string]string{"a": `["x"]`, "b": `{"format":"{..a|..a}"}`},
+			map[string]string{"a": `"x"`, "b": `"{..a|..a}"`},
 			`arm "..a" is repeated`,
 		},
 		// An arm that is broken on its own terms is reported as that, not as a
 		// repeat: the repeat is a consequence of the real mistake.
 		"repeated arm with no path": {
-			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{..|..}"}`},
+			map[string]string{"a": `"{..|..}"`},
 			"reference has no path",
 		},
 		// No field can be named "", so the token is told that rather than sent to
 		// name one — the fix "no field" points at is itself a load error.
 		"repeated empty arm": {
-			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{|}"}`},
+			map[string]string{"a": `"{|}"`},
 			"a name is never empty",
 		},
 		"bare empty token": {
-			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"[{}]","x":["1"]}`},
+			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"[{}]","x":"1"}`},
 			"a name is never empty",
 		},
 	}
@@ -182,16 +182,16 @@ func TestNewErrors(t *testing.T) {
 		path  string
 		want  string
 	}{
-		"option name as a field":     {map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{name} {Weight}kg","name":["Anvil"],"Weight":["7"]}`}, "a", "Anvil 7kg"},
-		"format spelling as a field": {map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{Format}","Format":["PDF"]}`}, "a", "PDF"},
-		"hyphenated field":           {map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x-y}","x-y":["1"]}`}, "a.x-y", "1"},
-		"category named Format":      {map[string]string{"Format": `["1"]`}, "Format", "1"},
-		"folder named Repeat":        {map[string]string{"Repeat/cat": `["1"]`}, "Repeat.cat", "1"},
-		"field with a closing paren": {map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{b)c}","b)c":["2"]}`}, "a", "2"},
-		"repeat without a separator": {map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x}","repeat":3,"x":["1"]}`}, "a", "111"},
+		"option name as a field":     {map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{name} {Weight}kg","name":"Anvil","Weight":"7"}`}, "a", "Anvil 7kg"},
+		"format spelling as a field": {map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{Format}","Format":"PDF"}`}, "a", "PDF"},
+		"hyphenated field":           {map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x-y}","x-y":"1"}`}, "a.x-y", "1"},
+		"category named Format":      {map[string]string{"Format": `"1"`}, "Format", "1"},
+		"folder named Repeat":        {map[string]string{"Repeat/cat": `"1"`}, "Repeat.cat", "1"},
+		"field with a closing paren": {map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{b)c}","b)c":"2"}`}, "a", "2"},
+		"repeat without a separator": {map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x}","repeat":3,"x":"1"}`}, "a", "111"},
 		// One name in two separate tokens is two independent draws, not a repeated
 		// arm; only a repeat within one alternation is rejected.
-		"one name in two tokens": {map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x}{x}","x":["1"]}`}, "a", "11"},
+		"one name in two tokens": {map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{x}{x}","x":"1"}`}, "a", "11"},
 	}
 	for name, c := range accepted {
 		f, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, c.files)))
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ func TestDeepDottedPath(t *testing.T) {
 	// on the path are single-variant, so it resolves deterministically.
 	f := engine(1)
 	f.categories = map[string]node{
-		"deep": compiled(t, `[{"format":"{a}","a":[{"format":"{b}","b":[{"format":"{c}","c":[{"format":"{d}","d":["leaf"]}]}]}]}]`),
+		"deep": compiled(t, `{"format":"{a}","a":{"format":"{b}","b":{"format":"{c}","c":{"format":"{d}","d":"leaf"}}}}`),
 	}
 	if got, err := f.Fake("deep.a.b.c.d"); err != nil || got != "leaf" {
 		t.Fatalf("Fake(deep.a.b.c.d) = %q, %v, want leaf", got, err)
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ func TestDeepDottedPath(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestDescendIntoStringErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	f := engine(1)
-	f.categories = map[string]node{"greeting": compiled(t, `["hej"]`)}
+	f.categories = map[string]node{"greeting": compiled(t, `"hej"`)}
 	if _, err := f.Fake("greeting.extra"); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), `no field "extra"`) {
 		t.Fatalf("Fake(greeting.extra) = %v, want a no-field error", err)
 	}
@@ -235,9 +235,9 @@ func TestDescendIntoStringErrors(t *testing.T) {
 // one call and failing on the next: every variant must carry the rest of the path.
 func TestPathThroughChoice(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"every":  `[{"format":"{f}","f":["1"]},{"format":"{f}","f":["2"]}]`,
-		"notall": `[{"format":"{f}","f":["1"]},["plain"]]`,
-		"some":   `[{"format":"{f}","f":["1"]},{"format":"{f}","f":["2"],"extra":["x"]}]`,
+		"every":  `[{"format":"{f}","f":"1"},{"format":"{f}","f":"2"}]`,
+		"notall": `[{"format":"{f}","f":"1"},"plain"]`,
+		"some":   `[{"format":"{f}","f":"1"},{"format":"{f}","f":"2","extra":"x"}]`,
 	})
 	f := newGenerator(t, dir, WithSeed(1))
 	for i := 0; i < 200; i++ {
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ func TestPathThroughChoice(t *testing.T) {
 // wherever it appears.
 func TestPathKeyIsUnambiguous(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"cat": `[{"format":"{a.b}","a.b":["1"]},{"format":"{a}","a":{"format":"{b}","b":["2"]}}]`,
+		"cat": `[{"format":"{a.b}","a.b":"1"},{"format":"{a}","a":{"format":"{b}","b":"2"}}]`,
 	})
 	_, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(dir))
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), `field "a.b" contains "."`) {
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@ func TestPathKeyIsUnambiguous(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 	// The same data without the dotted key is fine, and the path resolves.
 	f := newGenerator(t, writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"cat": `{"format":"{a.b}","a":{"format":"{b}","b":["2"]}}`,
+		"cat": `{"format":"{a.b}","a":{"format":"{b}","b":"2"}}`,
 	}), WithSeed(1))
 	if !slices.Contains(f.List(), "cat.a.b") {
 		t.Error("List() omits cat.a.b, which the data carries")
@@ -302,8 +302,8 @@ func TestMissingFieldNamesItself(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestCategoryRootShapes(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"obj": `{"format":"{digits(2)}"}`, // object root
-		"lit": `"hello"`,                  // bare-string root
+		"obj": `"{digits(2)}"`, // object root
+		"lit": `"hello"`,       // bare-string root
 	})
 	f := newGenerator(t, dir, WithSeed(1))
 	if got := fake(t, f, "obj"); !regexp.MustCompile(`^\d\d$`).MatchString(got) {
diff --git a/loading_test.go b/loading_test.go
index d8890ca..f7aadfc 100644
--- a/loading_test.go
+++ b/loading_test.go
@@ -13,13 +13,13 @@ import (
 // folder segments — descending transparently through single-variant choices.
 func TestList(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"person":   `{"format":"{first} {last}","first":["A"],"last":["B"]}`,
+		"person":   `{"format":"{first} {last}","first":"A","last":"B"}`,
 		"word":     `["x", "y"]`,
-		"geo/city": `["Z"]`,
+		"geo/city": `"Z"`,
 		// A bound {..path} reference is a render edge, not an addressable field.
-		"greeting": `{"format":"hej {..person.first} and {own}","own":["x"]}`,
+		"greeting": `{"format":"hej {..person.first} and {own}","own":"x"}`,
 		// Only the fields every variant carries are addressable, so "extra" is not.
-		"coin": `[{"format":"{code}","code":["A"],"name":["Aa"]},{"format":"{code}","code":["B"],"name":["Bb"],"extra":["x"]}]`,
+		"coin": `[{"format":"{code}","code":"A","name":"Aa"},{"format":"{code}","code":"B","name":"Bb","extra":"x"}]`,
 	})
 	got := newGenerator(t, dir, WithSeed(1)).List()
 	want := []string{"coin", "coin.code", "coin.name", "geo.city", "greeting", "greeting.own", "person", "person.first", "person.last", "word"}
@@ -66,8 +66,8 @@ func TestNewEmptyDirErrors(t *testing.T) {
 // namespace, so data/<loc>/person.json is reachable as "<loc>.person".
 func TestFoldersBecomeDotPaths(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"sv_SE/greeting": `["hej"]`,
-		"en_US/greeting": `["hi"]`,
+		"sv_SE/greeting": `"hej"`,
+		"en_US/greeting": `"hi"`,
 	})
 	f := newGenerator(t, dir, WithSeed(1))
 	if got := fake(t, f, "sv_SE.greeting"); got != "hej" {
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ func TestFoldersBecomeDotPaths(t *testing.T) {
 // a/b/c, then deep JSON fields inside the file at the end of that path.
 func TestNestedFoldersAndJSON(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"a/b/c/thing": `{"format":"{x}","x":{"format":"{y}","y":{"format":"{z}","z":["leaf"]}}}`,
+		"a/b/c/thing": `{"format":"{x}","x":{"format":"{y}","y":{"format":"{z}","z":"leaf"}}}`,
 	})
 	f := newGenerator(t, dir, WithSeed(1))
 	// Folders a.b.c, file thing, then JSON fields x.y.z — one continuous path.
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func TestNestedFoldersAndJSON(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestRenderingAFolderErrors(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{"sv_SE/greeting": `["hej"]`})
+	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{"sv_SE/greeting": `"hej"`})
 	f := newGenerator(t, dir, WithSeed(1))
 	if _, err := f.Fake("sv_SE"); err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("Fake(folder) = nil error, want a not-a-value error")
@@ -106,8 +106,8 @@ func TestRenderingAFolderErrors(t *testing.T) {
 // TestMultiPathLastWins loads two dirs; on a name clash the later dir wins, and
 // non-clashing entries from both are reachable (data combines).
 func TestMultiPathLastWins(t *testing.T) {
-	a := writeData(t, map[string]string{"greeting": `["from-a"]`, "only-a": `["a"]`})
-	b := writeData(t, map[string]string{"greeting": `["from-b"]`, "only-b": `["b"]`})
+	a := writeData(t, map[string]string{"greeting": `"from-a"`, "only-a": `"a"`})
+	b := writeData(t, map[string]string{"greeting": `"from-b"`, "only-b": `"b"`})
 	f := newGeneratorN(t, []string{a, b}, WithSeed(1))
 	if got := fake(t, f, "greeting"); got != "from-b" {
 		t.Fatalf("greeting = %q, want from-b (last loaded wins)", got)
@@ -124,8 +124,8 @@ func TestMultiPathLastWins(t *testing.T) {
 // children rather than replacing wholesale: each dir adds a file to sv_SE, and
 // a per-file clash inside still resolves last-wins.
 func TestMultiPathMergesFolders(t *testing.T) {
-	a := writeData(t, map[string]string{"sv_SE/person": `["from-a"]`, "sv_SE/shared": `["a"]`})
-	b := writeData(t, map[string]string{"sv_SE/company": `["from-b"]`, "sv_SE/shared": `["b"]`})
+	a := writeData(t, map[string]string{"sv_SE/person": `"from-a"`, "sv_SE/shared": `"a"`})
+	b := writeData(t, map[string]string{"sv_SE/company": `"from-b"`, "sv_SE/shared": `"b"`})
 	f := newGeneratorN(t, []string{a, b}, WithSeed(1))
 	if got := fake(t, f, "sv_SE.person"); got != "from-a" {
 		t.Fatalf("sv_SE.person = %q, want from-a (folder merged, not replaced)", got)
@@ -163,10 +163,10 @@ func TestListedPathsAllRender(t *testing.T) {
 // carrying no JSON never contributed a namespace, so neither may fail the load.
 func TestHiddenEntriesAreSkipped(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"cat":              `["V"]`,
-		".git/HEAD":        `["ignored"]`,
-		".hidden":          `["ignored"]`,
-		"empty.folder/doc": `["ignored"]`,
+		"cat":              `"V"`,
+		".git/HEAD":        `"ignored"`,
+		".hidden":          `"ignored"`,
+		"empty.folder/doc": `"ignored"`,
 	})
 	if err := os.Rename(filepath.Join(dir, "empty.folder", "doc.json"), filepath.Join(dir, "empty.folder", "doc.txt")); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
diff --git a/one_spelling_test.go b/one_spelling_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e2d0fe1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/one_spelling_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+package fejkdata
+
+import (
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+func TestOneItemChoiceIsRejected(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, src := range []string{`["x"]`, `[{"format":"{d}","d":"x"}]`, `{"format":"{w}","w":["only"]}`} {
+		if _, err := compile(parse(t, src)); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "one-item choice") {
+			t.Errorf("compile(%s) = %v, want the one-item choice rejected", src, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestRepeatedChoiceItemIsRejected(t *testing.T) {
+	for src, want := range map[string]string{
+		`["a", "a", "b"]`: `{ "format": "a", "weight": 2 }`,
+		`[{"format":"{x}","x":"1"},{"format":"{x}","x":"1"}]`: "repeats item",
+		`{"format":"{w}","w":["", "", "x"]}`:                  `{ "format": "", "weight": 2 }`,
+	} {
+		if _, err := compile(parse(t, src)); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), want) {
+			t.Errorf("compile(%s) = %v, want an error naming %s", src, err, want)
+		}
+	}
+	if _, err := compile(parse(t, `[{"format":"a","weight":2}, "b"]`)); err != nil {
+		t.Errorf("compile(weighted a, b) = %v", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestInertObjectIsRejected(t *testing.T) {
+	for src, want := range map[string]string{
+		`{"format":"Malmö"}`:                       `write "Malmö"`,
+		`{"format":"{digits(3)}"}`:                 `write "{digits(3)}"`,
+		`[{"format":"a","weight":1},"b"]`:          "weight 1",
+		`{"format":"{x}","x":"v","repeat":1}`:      "repeat 1",
+		`{"format":"{x}","x":"v","separator":","}`: "separator",
+	} {
+		if _, err := compile(parse(t, src)); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), want) {
+			t.Errorf("compile(%s) = %v, want an error mentioning %s", src, err, want)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, ok := range []string{`[{"format":"a","weight":2},"b"]`, `{"format":"ab","repeat":2}`, `{"format":"{x}","x":"v"}`, `"{digits(3)}"`} {
+		if _, err := compile(parse(t, ok)); err != nil {
+			t.Errorf("compile(%s) = %v", ok, err)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/reference_test.go b/reference_test.go
index 3ed55ef..7ac7b52 100644
--- a/reference_test.go
+++ b/reference_test.go
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ import "testing"
 // pulls a value from another via a {..path} reference resolved from the data root.
 func TestRootReferenceAcrossFolders(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"en_US/person":   `["Pat Smith"]`,
-		"sv_SE/greeting": `{"format":"Hej, {..en_US.person}!"}`,
+		"en_US/person":   `"Pat Smith"`,
+		"sv_SE/greeting": `"Hej, {..en_US.person}!"`,
 	})
 	f := newGenerator(t, dir, WithSeed(1))
 	if got := fake(t, f, "sv_SE.greeting"); got != "Hej, Pat Smith!" {
@@ -19,8 +19,8 @@ func TestRootReferenceAcrossFolders(t *testing.T) {
 // a single-variant choice and then a template field (..who.last).
 func TestReferenceIntoAField(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"who":  `[{"format":"{first} {last}","first":["Ada"],"last":["Byron"]}]`,
-		"card": `{"format":"signed {..who.last}"}`,
+		"who":  `{"format":"{first} {last}","first":"Ada","last":"Byron"}`,
+		"card": `"signed {..who.last}"`,
 	})
 	f := newGenerator(t, dir, WithSeed(1))
 	if got := fake(t, f, "card"); got != "signed Byron" {
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ func TestReferenceIntoAField(t *testing.T) {
 // alternation, so a field and a cross-file value share one slot.
 func TestReferenceInAlternation(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"far":  `["X"]`,
-		"near": `{"format":"{here|..far}","here":["H"]}`,
+		"far":  `"X"`,
+		"near": `{"format":"{here|..far}","here":"H"}`,
 	})
 	f := newGenerator(t, dir, WithSeed(2))
 	seen := map[string]bool{}
@@ -48,8 +48,8 @@ func TestReferenceInAlternation(t *testing.T) {
 // TestReferenceCombinesLoadedPaths is the point of references over the merge
 // model: data layered from two dirs can point at each other through the root.
 func TestReferenceCombinesLoadedPaths(t *testing.T) {
-	a := writeData(t, map[string]string{"en_US/word": `["river"]`})
-	b := writeData(t, map[string]string{"mine/slug": `{"format":"the-{..en_US.word}"}`})
+	a := writeData(t, map[string]string{"en_US/word": `"river"`})
+	b := writeData(t, map[string]string{"mine/slug": `"the-{..en_US.word}"`})
 	f := newGeneratorN(t, []string{a, b}, WithSeed(1))
 	if got := fake(t, f, "mine.slug"); got != "the-river" {
 		t.Fatalf("slug = %q, want the-river", got)
@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ func TestReferenceCombinesLoadedPaths(t *testing.T) {
 // linking order cannot matter.
 func TestReferenceChain(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"a": `{"format":"{..b}"}`,
-		"b": `{"format":"{..c}"}`,
-		"c": `["deep"]`,
+		"a": `"{..b}"`,
+		"b": `"{..c}"`,
+		"c": `"deep"`,
 	})
 	f := newGenerator(t, dir, WithSeed(1))
 	if got := fake(t, f, "a"); got != "deep" {
@@ -74,37 +74,37 @@ func TestReferenceChain(t *testing.T) {
 // fails at load, never at a random render.
 func TestReferenceErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	cases := map[string]map[string]string{
-		"missing target": {"card": `{"format":"{..nope.gone}"}`},
-		"folder target":  {"en_US/word": `["w"]`, "card": `{"format":"{..en_US}"}`},
+		"missing target": {"card": `"{..nope.gone}"`},
+		"folder target":  {"en_US/word": `"w"`, "card": `"{..en_US}"`},
 		"multi-variant on the path": {
-			"who":  `[{"format":"{f}","f":["1"]},{"format":"{f}","f":["2"]}]`,
-			"card": `{"format":"{..who.f}"}`,
+			"who":  `[{"format":"{f}","f":"1"},{"format":"{f}","f":"2"}]`,
+			"card": `"{..who.f}"`,
 		},
-		"empty reference path": {"card": `{"format":"{..}"}`},
+		"empty reference path": {"card": `"{..}"`},
 		// A reference that leads back to its own value never terminates at render,
 		// so New must reject the cycle up front (direct, mutual, or chained).
-		"direct cycle": {"a": `{"format":"x{..a}"}`},
-		"mutual cycle": {"a": `{"format":"{..b}"}`, "b": `{"format":"{..a}"}`},
-		"chain cycle":  {"a": `{"format":"{..b}"}`, "b": `{"format":"{..c}"}`, "c": `{"format":"{..a}"}`},
+		"direct cycle": {"a": `"x{..a}"`},
+		"mutual cycle": {"a": `"{..b}"`, "b": `"{..a}"`},
+		"chain cycle":  {"a": `"{..b}"`, "b": `"{..c}"`, "c": `"{..a}"`},
 		// calc renders its operands, so a cycle through one must be caught too.
-		"calc operand cycle": {"x": `{"format":"{calc(y)}","y":[{"format":"{..x}"}]}`},
+		"calc operand cycle": {"x": `{"format":"{calc(y)}","y":"{..x}"}`},
 		// A field its parent's format never renders is still reachable by dot path,
 		// so a cycle hiding in one must fail at New rather than at render.
-		"cycle in an unrendered field": {"cat": `{"format":"hi","x":{"format":"{..cat.x}"}}`},
+		"cycle in an unrendered field": {"cat": `{"format":"hi","x":"{..cat.x}"}`},
 		"mutual cycle between unrendered fields": {
-			"cat": `{"format":"hi","x":{"format":"{..cat.y}"},"y":{"format":"{..cat.x}"}}`,
+			"cat": `{"format":"hi","x":"{..cat.y}","y":"{..cat.x}"}`,
 		},
 		"cycle in an unrendered field of a choice arm": {
-			"cat": `[{"format":"hi","x":{"format":"{..cat.x}"}}]`,
+			"cat": `{"format":"hi","x":"{..cat.x}"}`,
 		},
 		// The shipped layout puts categories in folders, so a cycle one level down
 		// is the common case, not an edge case.
-		"cycle in a subfolder":            {"sv_SE/a": `{"format":"x{..sv_SE.a}"}`},
-		"mutual cycle within a subfolder": {"sv_SE/a": `{"format":"{..sv_SE.b}"}`, "sv_SE/b": `{"format":"{..sv_SE.a}"}`},
-		"mutual cycle across two folders": {"en_US/a": `{"format":"{..sv_SE.b}"}`, "sv_SE/b": `{"format":"{..en_US.a}"}`},
+		"cycle in a subfolder":            {"sv_SE/a": `"x{..sv_SE.a}"`},
+		"mutual cycle within a subfolder": {"sv_SE/a": `"{..sv_SE.b}"`, "sv_SE/b": `"{..sv_SE.a}"`},
+		"mutual cycle across two folders": {"en_US/a": `"{..sv_SE.b}"`, "sv_SE/b": `"{..en_US.a}"`},
 		// ".." is reserved for bound references, so an authored key using it would
 		// name a node nothing can reach and nothing would validate.
-		"field key using the reference prefix": {"cat": `{"format":"hi","..x":{"format":"{..nope}"}}`},
+		"field key using the reference prefix": {"cat": `{"format":"hi","..x":"{..nope}"}`},
 	}
 	for name, files := range cases {
 		if _, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataPath(writeData(t, files))); err == nil {
@@ -119,10 +119,10 @@ func TestReferenceErrors(t *testing.T) {
 // starts with "." — it is skipped, not rejected.
 func TestDotPrefixedDataEntriesAreSkipped(t *testing.T) {
 	f := newGenerator(t, writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"sv_SE/ok":     `["fine"]`,
-		"sv_SE/..bad":  `{"format":"{..nope}"}`,
-		"sv_SE/..y/ct": `{"format":"{..nope}"}`,
-		".git/config":  `["not data"]`,
+		"sv_SE/ok":     `"fine"`,
+		"sv_SE/..bad":  `"{..nope}"`,
+		"sv_SE/..y/ct": `"{..nope}"`,
+		".git/config":  `"not data"`,
 	}), WithSeed(1))
 	if got := f.List(); len(got) != 1 || got[0] != "sv_SE.ok" {
 		t.Fatalf("List() = %v, want only sv_SE.ok", got)
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ func TestDotPrefixedDataEntriesAreSkipped(t *testing.T) {
 // over-rejecting: a field the format never renders may point back at its own
 // category, which terminates, and stays renderable by path.
 func TestReferenceFromUnrenderedFieldTerminates(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{"cat": `{"format":"hi","x":{"format":"see {..cat}"}}`})
+	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{"cat": `{"format":"hi","x":"see {..cat}"}`})
 	f := newGenerator(t, dir, WithSeed(1))
 	if got := fake(t, f, "cat"); got != "hi" {
 		t.Fatalf("cat = %q, want hi", got)
@@ -149,9 +149,9 @@ func TestReferenceFromUnrenderedFieldTerminates(t *testing.T) {
 func TestNewErrorIsDeterministic(t *testing.T) {
 	cases := map[string]map[string]string{
 		"three bad references": {
-			"a": `{"format":"{..nope.one}"}`,
-			"b": `{"format":"{..nope.two}"}`,
-			"c": `{"format":"{..nope.three}"}`,
+			"a": `"{..nope.one}"`,
+			"b": `"{..nope.two}"`,
+			"c": `"{..nope.three}"`,
 		},
 		"two bad fields in one template": {
 			"cat": `{"format":"hi","aaa":{"no":1},"zzz":{"no":2}}`,
@@ -188,12 +188,12 @@ func TestNewErrorPathIsCanonical(t *testing.T) {
 	}{
 		{
 			"cycle inside a choice arm",
-			map[string]string{"cat": `[{"format":"hi","x":{"format":"{..cat.x}"}}]`},
+			map[string]string{"cat": `{"format":"hi","x":"{..cat.x}"}`},
 			"fejkdata: reference cycle: cat.x -> ..cat.x",
 		},
 		{
 			"bad reference reached through another reference",
-			map[string]string{"a": `{"format":"{..b}"}`, "b": `{"format":"{..nope}"}`},
+			map[string]string{"a": `"{..b}"`, "b": `"{..nope}"`},
 			`fejkdata: b: reference {..nope}: no entry "nope"`,
 		},
 	}
diff --git a/shipped_data_test.go b/shipped_data_test.go
index 660fccd..c1d97e3 100644
--- a/shipped_data_test.go
+++ b/shipped_data_test.go
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ func TestNewDefaultsToShippedData(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestWithDataPathLayersOverShipped(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{"sv_SE/word": `["only-mine"]`, "greeting": `["hej"]`})
+	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{"sv_SE/word": `"only-mine"`, "greeting": `"hej"`})
 	f, err := New(WithDataPath(dir), WithSeed(1))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("New = %v", err)
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ func TestWithDataPathLayersOverShipped(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestUserDataMayReferenceShipped(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{"greeting": `{"format":"Hej {..sv_SE.person}!"}`})
+	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{"greeting": `"Hej {..sv_SE.person}!"`})
 	f, err := New(WithDataPath(dir), WithSeed(1))
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("New = %v", err)
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func TestWithoutShippedDataNeedsASource(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestWithoutShippedDataListsOnlyOwn(t *testing.T) {
-	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{"greeting": `["hej"]`})
+	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{"greeting": `"hej"`})
 	f := newGenerator(t, dir, WithSeed(1))
 	if got := f.List(); !reflect.DeepEqual(got, []string{"greeting"}) {
 		t.Errorf("List() = %v, want only the loaded dir", got)
@@ -70,10 +70,10 @@ func TestWithoutShippedDataListsOnlyOwn(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestWithDataFS(t *testing.T) {
 	fsys := fstest.MapFS{
-		"greeting.json":  {Data: []byte(`["hej"]`)},
-		"nested/x.json":  {Data: []byte(`{"format":"{y}","y":["z"]}`)},
-		".hidden.json":   {Data: []byte(`["ignored"]`)},
-		"broken/no.json": {Data: []byte(`["x"]`)},
+		"greeting.json":  {Data: []byte(`"hej"`)},
+		"nested/x.json":  {Data: []byte(`{"format":"{y}","y":"z"}`)},
+		".hidden.json":   {Data: []byte(`"ignored"`)},
+		"broken/no.json": {Data: []byte(`"x"`)},
 	}
 	f, err := New(WithoutShippedData(), WithDataFS(fsys), WithSeed(1))
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/template_stability_test.go b/template_stability_test.go
index 67dc7f1..4e410ed 100644
--- a/template_stability_test.go
+++ b/template_stability_test.go
@@ -7,16 +7,16 @@ import "testing"
 // cannot quietly shift the rng stream that reproducibility depends on.
 func TestSeededOutputIsStable(t *testing.T) {
 	dir := writeData(t, map[string]string{
-		"alt":     `{"format":"{a|b}","a":["A"],"b":["B"]}`,
+		"alt":     `{"format":"{a|b}","a":"A","b":"B"}`,
 		"calc":    `{"format":"{net} x {qty} = {calc(net * qty, 2)}","net":["19.99","5.00","100.00"],"qty":["2","3","7"]}`,
-		"classes": `{"format":"{digits(2)}-{int(1,9)}{int(1,9)}-{upper(2)}-{lower(2)}"}`,
-		"escapes": `{"format":"01Aa#{x}","x":["!"]}`,
-		"funcs":   `{"format":"{hex(6)} {int(10,99)} {float(0,1,3)} {nanoid(5)} {seq()}"}`,
-		"nested":  `{"format":"{outer}","outer":[{"format":"{inner}-{digits(2)}","inner":["i"]}]}`,
-		"ref":     `{"format":"see {..alt}"}`,
+		"classes": `"{digits(2)}-{int(1,9)}{int(1,9)}-{upper(2)}-{lower(2)}"`,
+		"escapes": `{"format":"01Aa#{x}","x":"!"}`,
+		"funcs":   `"{hex(6)} {int(10,99)} {float(0,1,3)} {nanoid(5)} {seq()}"`,
+		"nested":  `{"format":"{outer}","outer":{"format":"{inner}-{digits(2)}","inner":"i"}}`,
+		"ref":     `"see {..alt}"`,
 		"repeat":  `{"format":"{w}","repeat":4,"separator":",","w":["x","y","z"]}`,
-		"sums":    `{"format":"9{d}{luhn()} {e}{ean()} {m}{mod11()}","d":["012345678901234"],"e":["123456789012"],"m":["12345678"]}`,
-		"weights": `[{"format":"big","weight":9},{"format":"tiny","weight":1}]`,
+		"sums":    `{"format":"9{d}{luhn()} {e}{ean()} {m}{mod11()}","d":"012345678901234","e":"123456789012","m":"12345678"}`,
+		"weights": `[{"format":"big","weight":9},"tiny"]`,
 	})
 	want := map[string][]string{
 		"alt":     {"A", "B", "A", "A"},
diff --git a/template_test.go b/template_test.go
index cdd6420..1f8a59a 100644
--- a/template_test.go
+++ b/template_test.go
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func TestClassBuiltins(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestTextIsLiteral(t *testing.T) {
-	if got := mustRender(t, engine(1), `{"format":"100 Main St #1 {x}","x":["A"]}`); got != "100 Main St #1 A" {
+	if got := mustRender(t, engine(1), `{"format":"100 Main St #1 {x}","x":"A"}`); got != "100 Main St #1 A" {
 		t.Fatalf("text = %q, want it verbatim", got)
 	}
 }
@@ -82,21 +82,21 @@ func TestTextIsLiteral(t *testing.T) {
 func TestBraceEscapes(t *testing.T) {
 	f := engine(1)
 	for src, want := range map[string]string{
-		`{"format":"{{","x":["v"]}`:         "{",
-		`{"format":"}}","x":["v"]}`:         "}",
-		`{"format":"{{x}}","x":["v"]}`:      "{x}",
-		`{"format":"{{{x}}}","x":["v"]}`:    "{v}",
-		`{"format":"a{{{{b}}}}","x":["v"]}`: "a{{b}}",
+		`{"format":"{{","x":"v"}`:         "{",
+		`{"format":"}}","x":"v"}`:         "}",
+		`{"format":"{{x}}","x":"v"}`:      "{x}",
+		`{"format":"{{{x}}}","x":"v"}`:    "{v}",
+		`{"format":"a{{{{b}}}}","x":"v"}`: "a{{b}}",
 	} {
 		if got := mustRender(t, f, src); got != want {
 			t.Errorf("render(%s) = %q, want %q", src, got, want)
 		}
 	}
 	for src, want := range map[string]string{
-		`{"format":"x}y"}`:             "}}",
-		`{"format":"}"}`:               "}}",
-		`{"format":"{a{b}","a":["Q"]}`: "'{'",
-		`{"format":"{x"}`:              "unterminated",
+		`"x}y"`:                      "}}",
+		`"}"`:                        "}}",
+		`{"format":"{a{b}","a":"Q"}`: "'{'",
+		`"{x"`:                       "unterminated",
 	} {
 		if _, err := compile(parse(t, src)); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), want) {
 			t.Errorf("compile(%s) = %v, want an error mentioning %s", src, err, want)
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ func TestBraceEscapes(t *testing.T) {
 }
 
 func TestTokenSubstitution(t *testing.T) {
-	if got := mustRender(t, engine(1), `{"format":"{x}sson","x":["Erik"]}`); got != "Eriksson" {
+	if got := mustRender(t, engine(1), `{"format":"{x}sson","x":"Erik"}`); got != "Eriksson" {
 		t.Fatalf("token = %q, want Eriksson", got)
 	}
 }
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ func TestAlternationPicksOneField(t *testing.T) {
 	f := engine(3)
 	seen := map[string]bool{}
 	for i := 0; i < 100; i++ {
-		seen[mustRender(t, f, `{"format":"{a|b}","a":["A"],"b":["B"]}`)] = true
+		seen[mustRender(t, f, `{"format":"{a|b}","a":"A","b":"B"}`)] = true
 	}
 	if !seen["A"] || !seen["B"] || len(seen) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("alternation produced %v, want both A and B", seen)
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func TestWeightSkewsDistribution(t *testing.T) {
 	f := engine(9)
 	heavy := 0
 	for i := 0; i < 1000; i++ {
-		if mustRender(t, f, `[{"format":"H","weight":10},{"format":"L"}]`) == "H" {
+		if mustRender(t, f, `[{"format":"H","weight":10},"L"]`) == "H" {
 			heavy++
 		}
 	}
@@ -173,10 +173,10 @@ func TestFunctionTokenLuhn(t *testing.T) {
 	// buffer, so a value is never re-rendered. Bodies are escaped to fix input.
 	f := engine(1)
 	cases := map[string]string{
-		`{"format":"811218987{luhn()}"}`:             "8112189876",  // personnummer body
-		`{"format":"7992739871{luhn()}"}`:            "79927398713", // classic Luhn vector
-		`{"format":"811218-987{luhn()}"}`:            "811218-9876", // '-' skipped, kept
-		`{"format":"{n}{luhn()}","n":["811218987"]}`: "8112189876",  // over a rendered token
+		`"811218987{luhn()}"`:                      "8112189876",  // personnummer body
+		`"7992739871{luhn()}"`:                     "79927398713", // classic Luhn vector
+		`"811218-987{luhn()}"`:                     "811218-9876", // '-' skipped, kept
+		`{"format":"{n}{luhn()}","n":"811218987"}`: "8112189876",  // over a rendered token
 	}
 	for tmpl, want := range cases {
 		if got := mustRender(t, f, tmpl); got != want {
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ func TestRecursionHasNoDepthLimit(t *testing.T) {
 	// Build {format:{a}, a:[{format:{a}, a:[ ... "deep" ]]}} 50 levels deep.
 	tmpl := `"deep"`
 	for i := 0; i < 50; i++ {
-		tmpl = `{"format":"{a}","a":[` + tmpl + `]}`
+		tmpl = `{"format":"{a}","a":` + tmpl + `}`
 	}
 	if got := mustRender(t, engine(1), tmpl); got != "deep" {
 		t.Fatalf("deep recursion = %q, want deep", got)
@@ -200,51 +200,56 @@ func TestCompileErrors(t *testing.T) {
 	// Every structural problem is caught up front, at compile/New time, never
 	// deferred to a random render that happens to hit the bad branch.
 	for _, bad := range []string{
-		`{"x":["Q"]}`,                  // object without "format"
-		`{"format":"{y}","x":1}`,       // a field is a bare number
-		`[1, 2]`,                       // a choice of numbers
-		`5`,                            // unsupported node type
-		`[]`,                           // empty choice
-		`{"format":"{x"}`,              // unterminated brace
-		`{"format":"x}y"}`,             // a lone } must be written }}
-		`{"format":"{a{b}","a":["Q"]}`, // a brace inside a token
-		`"{x}"`,                        // a bare string has no fields to name
-		`{"format":"{digits(0)}"}`,     // count must be positive
-		`{"format":"{upper(x)}"}`,      // count must be an integer
-		`{"format":"{lower()}"}`,       // wrong arity
-		`{"format":"{y}","x":["Q"]}`,   // token names a missing field
-		`{"format":"{}"}`,              // empty token name
-		`{"format":"{a|}","a":["Q"]}`,  // empty alternation segment
-		`[{"format":"A","weight":-1},{"format":"B"}]`,                   // negative weight
+		`{"x":"Q"}`,                           // object without "format"
+		`{"format":"{y}","x":1}`,              // a field is a bare number
+		`[1, 2]`,                              // a choice of numbers
+		`5`,                                   // unsupported node type
+		`[]`,                                  // empty choice
+		`"{x"`,                                // unterminated brace
+		`"x}y"`,                               // a lone } must be written }}
+		`["x"]`,                               // a one-item choice is its item
+		`["a","a"]`,                           // a repeated item is a weight
+		`{"format":"x"}`,                      // an object holding only a format is a string
+		`[{"format":"a","weight":1},"b"]`,     // weight 1 is the default
+		`{"format":"{x}","x":"v","repeat":1}`, // repeat 1 is the default
+		`{"format":"{a{b}","a":"Q"}`,          // a brace inside a token
+		`"{x}"`,                               // a bare string has no fields to name
+		`"{digits(0)}"`,                       // count must be positive
+		`"{upper(x)}"`,                        // count must be an integer
+		`"{lower()}"`,                         // wrong arity
+		`{"format":"{y}","x":"Q"}`,            // token names a missing field
+		`"{}"`,                                // empty token name
+		`{"format":"{a|}","a":"Q"}`,           // empty alternation segment
+		`[{"format":"A","weight":-1},"B"]`,    // negative weight
 		`[{"format":"A","weight":0},{"format":"B","weight":0}]`,         // weights sum to zero
 		`[{"format":"A","weight":1e308},{"format":"B","weight":1e308}]`, // weights overflow to +Inf
-		`[{"format":"A","weight":"heavy"}]`,                             // non-numeric weight
+		`{"format":"A","weight":"heavy"}`,                               // non-numeric weight
 		`{"format":"x","repeat":0}`,                                     // repeat below 1
 		`{"format":"x","repeat":-2}`,                                    // negative repeat
 		`{"format":"x","repeat":1.5}`,                                   // non-integer repeat
 		`{"format":"x","repeat":"two"}`,                                 // non-numeric repeat
 		`{"format":"x","repeat":2,"separator":5}`,                       // non-string separator
-		`{"format":"{nope()}"}`,                                         // unknown function
-		`{"format":"{luhn(x)}"}`,                                        // function given args it takes none of
-		`{"format":"{luhn(}"}`,                                          // malformed function token
-		`{"format":"{int(1)}"}`,                                         // wrong arity
-		`{"format":"{int(a,b)}"}`,                                       // non-integer args
-		`{"format":"{int(5,1)}"}`,                                       // min > max
-		`{"format":"{hex(0)}"}`,                                         // count must be positive
-		`{"format":"{nanoid(-1)}"}`,                                     // negative count
-		`{"format":"{base64(0)}"}`,                                      // count must be positive
-		`{"format":"{float(1,2)}"}`,                                     // wrong arity
-		`{"format":"{float(1,2,-1)}"}`,                                  // negative decimals
-		`{"format":"{iban(US)}"}`,                                       // unsupported country
-		`{"format":"{seq(a,b)}"}`,                                       // seq takes at most one name
-		`{"format":"{calc()}"}`,                                         // calc needs an expression
-		`{"format":"{calc(1 +)}"}`,                                      // dangling operator
-		`{"format":"{calc((1 + 2)}"}`,                                   // unbalanced parenthesis
-		`{"format":"{calc(1 2)}"}`,                                      // two operands, no operator
-		`{"format":"{calc(price)}"}`,                                    // operand names no field
-		`{"format":"{calc(1, 2, 3)}"}`,                                  // too many args
-		`{"format":"{calc(1, x)}"}`,                                     // decimals arg not an integer
-		`{"format":"{calc(1, -1)}"}`,                                    // decimals negative
+		`"{nope()}"`,        // unknown function
+		`"{luhn(x)}"`,       // function given args it takes none of
+		`"{luhn(}"`,         // malformed function token
+		`"{int(1)}"`,        // wrong arity
+		`"{int(a,b)}"`,      // non-integer args
+		`"{int(5,1)}"`,      // min > max
+		`"{hex(0)}"`,        // count must be positive
+		`"{nanoid(-1)}"`,    // negative count
+		`"{base64(0)}"`,     // count must be positive
+		`"{float(1,2)}"`,    // wrong arity
+		`"{float(1,2,-1)}"`, // negative decimals
+		`"{iban(US)}"`,      // unsupported country
+		`"{seq(a,b)}"`,      // seq takes at most one name
+		`"{calc()}"`,        // calc needs an expression
+		`"{calc(1 +)}"`,     // dangling operator
+		`"{calc((1 + 2)}"`,  // unbalanced parenthesis
+		`"{calc(1 2)}"`,     // two operands, no operator
+		`"{calc(price)}"`,   // operand names no field
+		`"{calc(1, 2, 3)}"`, // too many args
+		`"{calc(1, x)}"`,    // decimals arg not an integer
+		`"{calc(1, -1)}"`,   // decimals negative
 	} {
 		if _, err := compile(parse(t, bad)); err == nil {
 			t.Errorf("compile(%s) = nil error, want error", bad)
@@ -255,7 +260,7 @@ func TestCompileErrors(t *testing.T) {
 func TestFakePathNavigation(t *testing.T) {
 	f := engine(1)
 	f.categories = map[string]node{
-		"addr": compiled(t, `[{"format":"{street}","street":["Main"]}]`),
+		"addr": compiled(t, `{"format":"{street}","street":"Main"}`),
 	}
 	if got, err := f.Fake("addr"); err != nil || !strings.Contains(got, "Main") {
 		t.Fatalf("Fake(addr) = %q, %v", got, err)
@@ -288,7 +293,7 @@ func TestGrowIsALowerBound(t *testing.T) {
 		"9{d}{luhn()}",
 		"{a|b} and {a|b}",
 	} {
-		src := `{"format":` + quote(format) + `,"x":["1"],"a":["A"],"b":["B"],"d":["012345678901234"]}`
+		src := `{"format":` + quote(format) + `,"x":"1","a":"A","b":"B","d":"012345678901234"}`
 		tmpl, ok := compiled(t, src).(*template)
 		if !ok {
 			t.Fatalf("format %q did not compile to a template", format)