diff --git a/src/Lib/CompileJS.newt b/src/Lib/CompileJS.newt
index 48655b5..da295bd 100644
--- a/src/Lib/CompileJS.newt
+++ b/src/Lib/CompileJS.newt
@@ -503,7 +503,7 @@ REVIEW could I avoid most of this by using `function` instead of arrow functions
 
 sortedNames : SortedMap QName CExp → List QName → List QName
 sortedNames defs names =
-  map snd $ filter (not ∘ fst) $ foldl (go Nil) Nil $ map (True,) names
+  map snd $ filter (not ∘ fst) $ foldl (go Nil) Nil $ map (_,_ True) names
   where
     getBody : CAlt → CExp
     getBody (CConAlt _ _ _ _ _ t) = t
diff --git a/src/Lib/CompileScheme.newt b/src/Lib/CompileScheme.newt
index 483aa4d..4668757 100644
--- a/src/Lib/CompileScheme.newt
+++ b/src/Lib/CompileScheme.newt
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@ REVIEW could I avoid most of this by using `function` instead of arrow functions
 -- TODO factor out to CompilerCommon
 sortedNames : SortedMap QName CExp → List QName → List QName
 sortedNames defs names =
-  map snd $ filter (not ∘ fst) $ foldl (go Nil) Nil $ map (True,) names
+  map snd $ filter (not ∘ fst) $ foldl (go Nil) Nil $ map (_,_ True) names
   where
     getBody : CAlt → CExp
     getBody (CConAlt _ _ _ _ _ t) = t
diff --git a/src/Lib/Elab.newt b/src/Lib/Elab.newt
index 7aa5260..30a7eac 100644
--- a/src/Lib/Elab.newt
+++ b/src/Lib/Elab.newt
@@ -80,18 +80,6 @@ lookupDef ctx name = go 0 ctx.types ctx.env
     go ix ((nm, ty) :: xs) (v :: vs) = if nm == name then Just v else go (1 + ix) xs vs
     go ix _ _ = Nothing
 
-expandList : FC → Maybe Raw → Raw
-expandList fc Nothing = RVar fc "Nil"
-expandList fc (Just t) = go fc t
-  where
-    cons : FC → Raw → Raw → Raw
-    cons fc t u = RApp fc (RApp fc (RVar fc "_::_") t Explicit) u Explicit
-
-    go : FC → Raw → Raw
-    go fc (RApp fc' (RApp fc'' (RVar fc "_,_") t Explicit) u Explicit) =
-      cons fc t $ go fc u
-    go fc t = cons fc t (RVar fc "Nil")
-
 forceMeta : Val -> M Val
 forceMeta (VMeta fc ix sp) = do
   meta <- lookupMeta ix
@@ -989,7 +977,6 @@ mkPat (RAs fc as tm, icit) = do
     (PatCon fc icit nm args Nothing) => pure $ PatCon fc icit nm args (Just as)
     (PatCon fc icit nm args _) => error fc "Double as pattern \{show tm}"
     t => error fc "Can't put as on non-constructor \{show tm}"
-mkPat (RList fc mt, icit) = mkPat (expandList fc mt, icit)
 mkPat (tm, icit) = do
   top <- getTop
   case splitArgs tm Nil of
@@ -1551,8 +1538,6 @@ infer ctx (RVar fc nm) = go 0 ctx.types
     go i ((x, ty) :: xs) = if x == nm then pure (Bnd fc i, ty)
       else go (i + 1) xs
 
-infer ctx (RList fc mt) = infer ctx $ expandList fc mt
-
 infer ctx (RApp fc t u icit) = do
   -- If the app is explicit, add any necessary metas
   (icit, t, tty) <- case icit of
diff --git a/src/Lib/Parser.newt b/src/Lib/Parser.newt
index 9f27e40..854ff2a 100644
--- a/src/Lib/Parser.newt
+++ b/src/Lib/Parser.newt
@@ -41,10 +41,6 @@ dbraces pa = do
   symbol "}}"
   pure t
 
-
-optional : ∀ a. Parser a -> Parser (Maybe a)
-optional pa = Just <$> pa <|> pure Nothing
-
 stringLit : Parser Raw
 stringLit = do
   fc <- getPos
@@ -98,25 +94,42 @@ lit = intLit <|> interpString <|> stringLit <|> charLit
 addPos : ∀ a. Parser a -> Parser (FC × a)
 addPos pa = _,_ <$> getPos <*> pa
 
-asAtom : Parser Raw
-asAtom = do
-  fc <- getPos
-  nm <- ident
-  asPat <- optional $ keyword "@" *> parenWrap typeExpr
-  case asPat of
-    Just exp => pure $ RAs fc nm exp
-    Nothing  => pure $ RVar fc nm
 
 
 recordUpdate : Parser Raw
+parseOp : Parser Raw
 
 listTypeExp : Parser Raw
 listTypeExp = do
   fc <- getPos
   symbol "["
-  tm <- optional typeExpr
+  -- many of these though
+  tms <- sepBy' (symbol ",") parseOp
+  nilFC <- getPos
   symbol "]"
-  pure $ RList fc tm
+  pure $ expandList nilFC tms
+  where
+    cons : FC → Raw → Raw → Raw
+    cons fc t u = RApp fc (RApp fc (RVar fc "_::_") t Explicit) u Explicit
+
+    expandList : FC → List Raw → Raw
+    expandList fc Nil = RVar fc "Nil"
+    expandList fc (x :: xs) = cons (getFC x) x $ expandList fc xs
+
+
+
+parenTypeExp' : Parser Raw
+parenTypeExp' = do
+  pure MkUnit
+  t <- typeExpr
+  ts <- many $ keyword "," >> typeExpr
+  pure $ comma t ts
+  where
+    comma : Raw → List Raw → Raw
+    comma acc Nil = acc
+    comma acc (t :: ts) =
+      let fc = getFC t in
+      (RApp fc (RApp fc (RVar fc "_,_") acc Explicit) (comma t ts) Explicit)
 
 parenTypeExp : Parser Raw
 parenTypeExp = do
@@ -126,9 +139,16 @@ parenTypeExp = do
   fc' <- getPos
   Nothing <- optional $ symbol ")"
     | Just tm => do pure $ RImpossible (fc + fc')
-  t <- typeExpr
-  symbol ")"
-  pure t
+  parenTypeExp' <* symbol ")"
+
+asAtom : Parser Raw
+asAtom = do
+  fc <- getPos
+  nm <- ident
+  asPat <- optional $ keyword "@" *> parenTypeExp
+  case asPat of
+    Just exp => pure $ RAs fc nm exp
+    Nothing  => pure $ RVar fc nm
 
 atom : Parser Raw
 atom = do
@@ -168,9 +188,9 @@ recordUpdate = do
 pArg : Parser (Icit × FC × Raw)
 pArg = do
   fc <- getPos
-  (\x => Implicit, fc, x) <$> braces typeExpr
-    <|> (\x => Auto, fc, x) <$> dbraces typeExpr
-    <|> (\x => Explicit, fc, x) <$> atom
+  (\x => (Implicit, fc, x)) <$> braces typeExpr
+    <|> (\x => (Auto, fc, x)) <$> dbraces typeExpr
+    <|> (\x => (Explicit, fc, x)) <$> atom
 
 AppSpine : U
 AppSpine = List (Icit × FC × Raw)
@@ -263,14 +283,14 @@ pratt ops prec stop left spine = do
 
 
 
-parseOp : Parser Raw
+
 parseOp = do
   fc <- getPos
   ops <- getOps
   hd <- atom
   rest <- many pArg
   (res, Nil) <- pratt ops 0 "" hd rest
-    | _ => fail "extra stuff"
+    | (res, xs) => fail "extra stuff \{show xs}"
   pure res
 
 letExpr : Parser Raw
@@ -300,10 +320,10 @@ pLamArg = impArg <|> expArg
   where
     -- TODO - we're moving away from uppercase variables, but a test uses them
     impArg : Parser (Icit × String × Maybe Raw)
-    impArg = (Implicit, ) <$> braces (_,_ <$> (ident <|> uident) <*> optional (symbol ":" >> typeExpr))
+    impArg = (_,_ Implicit ) <$> braces (_,_ <$> (ident <|> uident) <*> optional (symbol ":" >> typeExpr))
 
     expArg : Parser (Icit × String × Maybe Raw)
-    expArg = (Explicit , ) <$> parenWrap (_,_ <$> ident <*> optional (symbol ":" >> typeExpr))
+    expArg = (_,_ Explicit) <$> parenWrap (_,_ <$> ident <*> optional (symbol ":" >> typeExpr))
 
 lamExpr : Parser Raw
 lamExpr = do
@@ -353,7 +373,7 @@ caseLet = do
   -- look ahead so we can fall back to normal let
   fc <- getPos
   try (keyword "let" >> symbol "(")
-  pat <- typeExpr
+  pat <- parenTypeExp'
   symbol ")"
   keyword "="
   sc <- typeExpr
@@ -368,7 +388,7 @@ doCaseLet = do
   -- Maybe make it work like arrow?
   fc <- getPos
   try (keyword "let" >> symbol "(")
-  pat <- typeExpr
+  pat <- parenTypeExp'
   symbol ")"
   keyword "="
   sc <- typeExpr
diff --git a/src/Lib/Parser/Impl.newt b/src/Lib/Parser/Impl.newt
index 9ac69b5..28ac1df 100644
--- a/src/Lib/Parser/Impl.newt
+++ b/src/Lib/Parser/Impl.newt
@@ -131,11 +131,20 @@ some p = do
   pure (x :: xs)
 many p = some p <|> pure Nil
 
+optional : ∀ a. Parser a -> Parser (Maybe a)
+optional pa = Just <$> pa <|> pure Nothing
+
 -- one or more `a` seperated by `s`
 
 sepBy : ∀ s a. Parser s -> Parser a -> Parser (List a)
 sepBy s a = _::_ <$> a <*> many (s *> a)
 
+-- zero or more `a` seperated by `s`
+sepBy' : ∀ s a. Parser s -> Parser a -> Parser (List a)
+sepBy' s a = do
+    Just x <- optional a | _ => pure Nil
+    xs <- many (s *> a)
+    pure $ x :: xs
 
 getPos : Parser FC
 getPos = P $ \last toks com ops indent => case toks of
diff --git a/src/Lib/ProcessModule.newt b/src/Lib/ProcessModule.newt
index 650b909..a25392f 100644
--- a/src/Lib/ProcessModule.newt
+++ b/src/Lib/ProcessModule.newt
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ invalidateModule modname = do
       in updateMap k (v :: prev) deps
 
     getDeps : String × ModContext → List (String × String)
-    getDeps (nm, mod) = map (nm , ) mod.modDeps
+    getDeps (nm, mod) = map (_,_ nm) mod.modDeps
 
     go : SortedMap String (List String) → List String → SortedMap String ModContext → SortedMap String ModContext
     go deps Nil mods = mods
diff --git a/src/Lib/Syntax.newt b/src/Lib/Syntax.newt
index fe280de..3760604 100644
--- a/src/Lib/Syntax.newt
+++ b/src/Lib/Syntax.newt
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@ data Raw : U where
   -- has to be applied or we have to know its type as Foo → Foo to elaborate.
   -- I can bake the arg in here, or require an app in elab.
   RUpdateRec : (fc : FC) → List UpdateClause → Maybe Raw → Raw
-  RList : (fc : FC) → Maybe Raw → Raw
 
 instance HasFC Raw where
   getFC (RVar fc nm) = fc
@@ -79,7 +78,6 @@ instance HasFC Raw where
   getFC (RAs fc _ _) = fc
   getFC (RUpdateRec fc _ _) = fc
   getFC (RImpossible fc) = fc
-  getFC (RList fc _) = fc
 
 data Import = MkImport FC (FC × Name)
 
@@ -191,8 +189,6 @@ instance Pretty Raw where
     asDoc p (RWhere _ dd b) = text "TODO pretty RWhere"
     asDoc p (RAs _ nm x) = text nm ++ text "@(" ++ asDoc 0 x ++ text ")"
     asDoc p (RUpdateRec _ clauses tm) = text "{" <+> text "TODO RUpdateRec" <+> text "}"
-    asDoc p (RList _ (Just t)) = text "[" <+> asDoc p t <+> text "]"
-    asDoc p (RList _ Nothing) = text "[]"
 
 prettyBind : (BindInfo × Raw) -> Doc
 prettyBind (BI _ nm icit quant, ty) = wrap icit (text (show quant ++ nm) <+> text ":" <+> pretty ty)
@@ -250,8 +246,7 @@ substRaw ss t = case t of
   (RWhere fc ds body) => RWhere fc (map substDecl ds) (substRaw ss body)
   (RDo fc stmts) => RDo fc (substStmts ss stmts)
   (RCase fc scrut mdef alts) => RCase fc (substRaw ss scrut) (map (substRaw ss) mdef) (map substAlt alts)
-  (RList fc (Just t)) => RList fc (Just $ substRaw ss t)
-  (RList fc Nothing) => RList fc Nothing
+
   -- Enumerate to force consideration of new cases
   t@(RImpossible _) => t
   t@(RU _) => t
diff --git a/src/Lib/Tokenizer.newt b/src/Lib/Tokenizer.newt
index e490e33..fa36748 100644
--- a/src/Lib/Tokenizer.newt
+++ b/src/Lib/Tokenizer.newt
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ keywords = ("let" :: "in" :: "where" :: "case" :: "of" :: "data" :: "U" :: "do"
             "if" :: "then" :: "else" ::
             -- it would be nice to find a way to unkeyword "." so it could be
             -- used as an operator too
-            "$" :: "λ" :: "?" :: "@" :: "." ::
+            "$" :: "λ" :: "?" :: "@" :: "." :: "," ::
              "->" :: "→" :: ":" :: "=>" :: ":=" :: "$="
              :: "=" :: "<-" :: "\\" :: "_" :: "|" :: Nil)
 
@@ -101,7 +101,6 @@ rawTokenise ts@(TS sl sc toks chars) = case chars of
           rawTokenise (TS sl (sc + 1) (toks :< tok) cs)
         cs => Left $ E (MkFC "" (MkBounds sl sc sl (sc + 1))) "Expected '}'"
 
-  ',' :: cs => rawTokenise (TS sl (sc + 1) (toks :< mktok False sl (sc + 1) Ident ",") cs)
   '_' :: ',' :: '_' :: cs => rawTokenise (TS sl (sc + 3) (toks :< mktok False sl (sc + 3) MixFix "_,_") cs)
   '_' :: '.' :: '_' :: cs => rawTokenise (TS sl (sc + 3) (toks :< mktok False sl (sc + 3) MixFix "_._") cs)
   '\'' :: '\\' :: c :: '\'' :: cs =>
diff --git a/src/Prelude.newt b/src/Prelude.newt
index c419793..7ca0520 100644
--- a/src/Prelude.newt
+++ b/src/Prelude.newt
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ xs <>< (y :: ys) = (xs :< y) <>< ys
 -- f $ a = f a
 
 infixr 8 _×_
-infixr 2 _,_
+infixr 2 _,_ -- deprecated decl, it is special now
 data a × b = (a,b)
 
 fst : ∀ a b. a × b → a
diff --git a/tests/ListSugar.newt b/tests/ListSugar.newt
index 323fb7d..6f7c226 100644
--- a/tests/ListSugar.newt
+++ b/tests/ListSugar.newt
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ import Prelude
 blah : List Int
 blah = [ 1, 2, 3]
 
+pairs : List (Int × Int)
+pairs = [ (1,2), (3,4)]
+
 bar : List Int → Int
 bar [ ] = 0
 bar [x] = 1