diff --git a/examples/basic/main.arf b/examples/basic/main.arf
index 3a8695e..7084112 100644
--- a/examples/basic/main.arf
+++ b/examples/basic/main.arf
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ require "io"
 ---
 
 func ro main
-	> arguments:{String}
+	> arguments:{String ..}
 	< status:Int 0
 	---
 	io.println "hello world"
diff --git a/examples/full/main.arf b/examples/full/main.arf
index 9cfa79a..0817ddd 100644
--- a/examples/full/main.arf
+++ b/examples/full/main.arf
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ objt ro Greeter:Obj
 
 # this is a function
 func ro main
-	> arguments:{String}
+	> arguments:{String ..}
 	< status:Int 0
 	---
 	= greeter:Greeter:mut
diff --git a/parser/accessors.go b/parser/accessors.go
index 28e51d9..fbf9a32 100644
--- a/parser/accessors.go
+++ b/parser/accessors.go
@@ -75,10 +75,11 @@ func (what Type) Mutable () (mutable bool) {
 	return
 }
 
-// Length returns the length of the type if the type is a fixed length array.
-// Otherwise, it just returns zero.
+// Length returns the length of the type. If it is greater than 1, that means
+// the type is a fixed length array.
 func (what Type) Length () (length uint64) {
-	if what.kind == TypeKindArray {
+	length = 1
+	if what.length > 1 {
 		length = what.length
 	}
 	return
diff --git a/parser/body.go b/parser/body.go
index 15b9092..bb852a0 100644
--- a/parser/body.go
+++ b/parser/body.go
@@ -15,37 +15,37 @@ func (parser *ParsingOperation) parseBody () (err error) {
 			section, parseErr := parser.parseDataSection()
 			err = parser.tree.addSection(section)
 			if err      != nil { return }
-			if parseErr != nil { return }
+			if parseErr != nil { return parseErr }
 			
 		case "type":
 			section, parseErr := parser.parseTypeSection()
 			err = parser.tree.addSection(section)
 			if err      != nil { return }
-			if parseErr != nil { return }
+			if parseErr != nil { return parseErr }
 			
 		case "objt":
 			section, parseErr := parser.parseObjtSection()
 			err = parser.tree.addSection(section)
 			if err      != nil { return }
-			if parseErr != nil { return }
+			if parseErr != nil { return parseErr }
 			
 		case "face":
 			section, parseErr := parser.parseFaceSection()
 			err = parser.tree.addSection(section)
 			if err      != nil { return }
-			if parseErr != nil { return }
+			if parseErr != nil { return parseErr }
 			
 		case "enum":
 			section, parseErr := parser.parseEnumSection()
 			err = parser.tree.addSection(section)
 			if err      != nil { return }
-			if parseErr != nil { return }
+			if parseErr != nil { return parseErr }
 			
 		case "func":
 			section, parseErr := parser.parseFuncSection()
 			err = parser.tree.addSection(section)
 			if err      != nil { return }
-			if parseErr != nil { return }
+			if parseErr != nil { return parseErr }
 			
 		default:
 			err = parser.token.NewError (
diff --git a/parser/data_test.go b/parser/data_test.go
index 2d9e54e..08c77d9 100644
--- a/parser/data_test.go
+++ b/parser/data_test.go
@@ -6,9 +6,13 @@ func TestData (test *testing.T) {
 	checkTree ("../tests/parser/data",
 `:arf
 ---
-data ro integer:Int 3202
-data ro integerArray16:{Int 16}
-data ro integerArrayInitialized:{Int 16}
+data ro aInteger:Int 3202
+data ro bMutInteger:Int:mut 3202
+data ro cIntegerPointer:{Int}
+data ro dMutIntegerPointer:{Int}:mut
+data ro eIntegerArray16:Int:16
+data ro fIntegerArrayVariable:{Int ..}
+data ro gIntegerArrayInitialized:Int:16
 	3948
 	293
 	293049
@@ -20,19 +24,28 @@ data ro integerArrayInitialized:{Int 16}
 	0
 	4785
 	92
-data ro integerArrayVariable:{Int ..}
-data ro integerPointer:{Int}
-data ro mutInteger:Int:mut 3202
-data ro mutIntegerPointer:{Int}:mut
-data ro nestedObject:Obj
+data ro jObject:thing.Thing.thing.thing
+	.that 2139
+	.this 324
+data ro kNestedObject:Obj
 	.that
 		.bird2 123.8439
 		.bird3 9328.21348239
 	.this
 		.bird0 324
 		.bird1 "hello world"
-data ro object:thing.thing.thing.thing
-	.that 2139
-	.this 324
+data ro lMutIntegerArray16:Int:16:mut
+data ro mIntegerArrayInitialized:Int:16:mut
+	3948
+	293
+	293049
+	948
+	912
+	340
+	0
+	2304
+	0
+	4785
+	92
 `, test)
 }
diff --git a/parser/enum_test.go b/parser/enum_test.go
index 7857387..a695dfc 100644
--- a/parser/enum_test.go
+++ b/parser/enum_test.go
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ func TestEnum (test *testing.T) {
 	checkTree ("../tests/parser/enum",
 `:arf
 ---
-enum ro AffrontToGod:{Int 4}
+enum ro AffrontToGod:Int:4
 	bird0
 		28394
 		9328
diff --git a/parser/func_test.go b/parser/func_test.go
index f221b9e..d7137b3 100644
--- a/parser/func_test.go
+++ b/parser/func_test.go
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ func ro cBasicPhrases
 	[fn [gn 329 983 57] 123]
 func ro dArgumentTypes
 	---
-	[bird tree butterfly.wing "hello world" grass:{Int:mut 8}]
+	[bird tree butterfly.wing "hello world" grass:Int:8:mut]
 func ro eMath
 	> x:Int
 	> y:Int
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func ro hSetPhrase
 	---
 	[= x:Int 3]
 	[= y:{Int} [loc x]]
-	[= z:{Int 8}]
+	[= z:Int:8]
 		398
 		9
 		2309
diff --git a/parser/misc.go b/parser/misc.go
index 9ccc17c..b2a54d5 100644
--- a/parser/misc.go
+++ b/parser/misc.go
@@ -44,19 +44,11 @@ func (parser *ParsingOperation) parseType () (what Type, err error) {
 		what.points = &points
 
 		err = parser.expect (
-			lexer.TokenKindUInt,
 			lexer.TokenKindRBrace,
 			lexer.TokenKindElipsis)
 		if err != nil { return }
 
-		if parser.token.Is(lexer.TokenKindUInt) {
-			what.kind = TypeKindArray
-		
-			what.length = parser.token.Value().(uint64)
-		
-			err = parser.nextToken(lexer.TokenKindRBrace)
-			if err != nil { return }
-		} else if parser.token.Is(lexer.TokenKindElipsis) {
+		if parser.token.Is(lexer.TokenKindElipsis) {
 			what.kind = TypeKindVariableArray
 		
 			err = parser.nextToken(lexer.TokenKindRBrace)
@@ -70,19 +62,28 @@ func (parser *ParsingOperation) parseType () (what Type, err error) {
 		if err != nil { return }
 	}
 
-	if parser.token.Is(lexer.TokenKindColon) {
-		err = parser.nextToken(lexer.TokenKindName)
+	for {
+		if !parser.token.Is(lexer.TokenKindColon) { break }
+		
+		err = parser.nextToken(lexer.TokenKindName, lexer.TokenKindUInt)
 		if err != nil { return }
 
-		qualifier := parser.token.Value().(string)
-		switch qualifier {
-		case "mut":
-			what.mutable = true
-		default:
-			err = parser.token.NewError (
-				"unknown type qualifier \"" + qualifier + "\"",
-				infoerr.ErrorKindError)
-			return
+		if parser.token.Is(lexer.TokenKindName) {
+			// parse type qualifier
+			qualifier := parser.token.Value().(string)
+			switch qualifier {
+			case "mut":
+				what.mutable = true
+			default:
+				err = parser.token.NewError (
+					"unknown type qualifier \"" +
+					qualifier + "\"",
+					infoerr.ErrorKindError)
+				return
+			}
+		} else {
+			// parse fixed array length
+			what.length = parser.token.Value().(uint64)
 		}
 		
 		err = parser.nextToken()
diff --git a/parser/objt_test.go b/parser/objt_test.go
index 4490f38..3a6775a 100644
--- a/parser/objt_test.go
+++ b/parser/objt_test.go
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ objt ro BitFields:Obj
 	ro that:Int & 1
 	ro this:Int & 24 298
 objt ro ComplexInit:Obj
-	ro whatever:{Int 3}
+	ro whatever:Int:3
 		230984
 		849
 		394580
diff --git a/parser/tree-tostring.go b/parser/tree-tostring.go
index 78dd94c..a7e8cb5 100644
--- a/parser/tree-tostring.go
+++ b/parser/tree-tostring.go
@@ -73,15 +73,17 @@ func (what Type) ToString () (output string) {
 		output += "{"
 		output += what.points.ToString()
 
-		if what.kind == TypeKindArray {
-			output += fmt.Sprint(" ", what.length)
-		} else if what.kind == TypeKindVariableArray {
+		if what.kind == TypeKindVariableArray {
 			output += " .."
 		}
 		
 		output += "}"
 	}
 
+	if what.length > 1 {
+		output += fmt.Sprint(":", what.length)
+	}
+	
 	if what.mutable {
 		output += ":mut"
 	}
diff --git a/parser/tree.go b/parser/tree.go
index fa47cc9..8f13b2c 100644
--- a/parser/tree.go
+++ b/parser/tree.go
@@ -55,9 +55,6 @@ const (
 	// TypeKindPointer means it's a pointer
 	TypeKindPointer
 
-	// TypeKindArray means it's a fixed length array.
-	TypeKindArray
-
 	// TypeKindVariableArray means it's an array of variable length.
 	TypeKindVariableArray
 )
@@ -68,8 +65,6 @@ type Type struct {
 
 	mutable bool
 	kind TypeKind
-
-	// only applicable for fixed length arrays.
 	length uint64
 
 	// only applicable for basic.
diff --git a/parser/type_test.go b/parser/type_test.go
index 3221737..44219bc 100644
--- a/parser/type_test.go
+++ b/parser/type_test.go
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ func TestType (test *testing.T) {
 type ro Basic:Int
 type ro BasicInit:Int 6
 type ro IntArray:{Int ..}
-type ro IntArrayInit:{Int 3}
+type ro IntArrayInit:Int:3
 	3298
 	923
 	92
diff --git a/tests/parser/data/main.arf b/tests/parser/data/main.arf
index e6e03ff..b850361 100644
--- a/tests/parser/data/main.arf
+++ b/tests/parser/data/main.arf
@@ -1,34 +1,34 @@
 :arf
 ---
 
-data ro integer:Int 3202
+data ro aInteger:Int 3202
 
-data ro mutInteger:Int:mut 3202
+data ro bMutInteger:Int:mut 3202
 
-data ro integerPointer:{Int}
+data ro cIntegerPointer:{Int}
 
-data ro mutIntegerPointer:{Int}:mut
+data ro dMutIntegerPointer:{Int}:mut
 
-data ro integerArray16:{Int 16}
+data ro eIntegerArray16:Int:16
 
-data ro integerArrayVariable:{Int ..}
+data ro fIntegerArrayVariable:{Int ..}
 
-data ro integerArrayInitialized:{Int 16}
+data ro gIntegerArrayInitialized:Int:16
 	3948 293 293049 948 912
 	340 0 2304 0 4785 92
 
 # TODO: reinstate these two after phrase parsing is implemented
-# data wr integerPointerInit:{Int} [& integer]
+# data wr hIntegerPointerInit:{Int} [& integer]
 
-# data wr mutIntegerPointerInit:{Int}:mut [& integer]
+# data wr iMutIntegerPointerInit:{Int}:mut [& integer]
 
 # TODO: maybe test identifiers somewhere else?
-data ro object:thing.thing.
+data ro jObject:thing.Thing.
 	thing.thing
 	.this 324
 	.that 2139
 
-data ro nestedObject:Obj
+data ro kNestedObject:Obj
 	.this
 		.bird0 324
 		.bird1 "hello world"
@@ -36,19 +36,8 @@ data ro nestedObject:Obj
 		.bird2 123.8439
 		.bird3 9328.21348239
 
+data ro lMutIntegerArray16:Int:16:mut
 
-# func ro main
-	# ---
-	# # TODO: set should be a special case, checking under itself for object
-	# member initialization args. it should also check for args in general
-	# under there which should be treated as array initialization args.
-	# basically, under a set phrase, it should do the same checks that it
-	# does under a data section.
-	#
-	# [set object:Obj]
-		# .this 324
-		# .that 2139
-	# 
-	# set object:Obj 
-	#	.this 324
-	#	.that 2139
+data ro mIntegerArrayInitialized:Int:16:mut
+	3948 293 293049 948 912
+	340 0 2304 0 4785 92
diff --git a/tests/parser/enum/main.arf b/tests/parser/enum/main.arf
index 0571149..6d2788e 100644
--- a/tests/parser/enum/main.arf
+++ b/tests/parser/enum/main.arf
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ enum ro NamedColor:U32
 	green 0x00FF00
 	blue  0x0000FF
 
-enum ro AffrontToGod:{Int 4}
+enum ro AffrontToGod:Int:4
 	bird0
 		28394 9328
 		398 9
diff --git a/tests/parser/full/main.arf b/tests/parser/full/main.arf
index e64decb..0817ddd 100644
--- a/tests/parser/full/main.arf
+++ b/tests/parser/full/main.arf
@@ -5,37 +5,31 @@ require "io"
 ---
 
 # this is a global variable
-data wn helloText:String "Hello, world!"
+data pv helloText:String "Hello, world!"
 
 # this is a struct definition
-type rr Greeter:Obj
-        # "Hi." is a string constant. all Greeters will be initialized with a
-        # pointer to it. I don't know really it depends on what I decide that
-        # a String type even is.
-        wr text:String "Hi."
-                "sdfdsf" "ahh"
-                "asdf"
+objt ro Greeter:Obj
+	rw text:String "Hi."
 
 # this is a function
-func rr main
-        > argc:Int
-        > argv:{String}
-        < status:Int 0
-        ---
-        let greeter:Greeter:mut
-        greeter.setText helloText
-        greeter.greet
+func ro main
+	> arguments:{String ..}
+	< status:Int 0
+	---
+	= greeter:Greeter:mut
+	greeter.setText helloText
+	greeter.greet
 
 # this is a member function
-func rr greet
-        @ greeter:{Greeter}
-        ---
-        io.println greeter.text
+func ro greet
+	@ greeter:{Greeter}
+	---
+	io.println greeter.text
 
 # this is mutator member function
-func rr setText
-        @ greeter:{Greeter}
-        > text:String
-        ---
-        greeter.text.set text
+func ro setText
+	@ greeter:{Greeter}
+	> text:String
+	---
+	greeter.text.set text
 
diff --git a/tests/parser/func/main.arf b/tests/parser/func/main.arf
index fcb1671..79ab114 100644
--- a/tests/parser/func/main.arf
+++ b/tests/parser/func/main.arf
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func ro cBasicPhrases
 func ro dArgumentTypes
 	---
 	[bird tree butterfly.wing "hello world"
-		grass:{Int:mut 8}]
+		grass:Int:mut:8]
 
 func ro eMath
 	> x:Int
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ func ro hSetPhrase
 	= x:Int 3
 	# loc is a reference, similar to * in C
 	= y:{Int} [loc x]
-	= z:{Int 8}
+	= z:Int:8
 		398 9 2309 983 -2387
 		478 555 123
 	= bird:Bird
diff --git a/tests/parser/objt/main.arf b/tests/parser/objt/main.arf
index 7bdaf3c..9026d29 100644
--- a/tests/parser/objt/main.arf
+++ b/tests/parser/objt/main.arf
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ objt ro Init:Obj
 	ro this:Int 23
 
 objt ro ComplexInit:Obj
-	ro whatever:{Int 3}
+	ro whatever:Int:3
 		230984
 		849 394580
 	ro complex0:Bird
diff --git a/tests/parser/type/main.arf b/tests/parser/type/main.arf
index d7feb7e..7c84c2a 100644
--- a/tests/parser/type/main.arf
+++ b/tests/parser/type/main.arf
@@ -6,5 +6,5 @@ type ro BasicInit:Int 6
 
 type ro IntArray:{Int ..}
 
-type ro IntArrayInit:{Int 3}
+type ro IntArrayInit:Int:3
 	3298 923 92