diff --git a/TODO.md b/TODO.md
index 86ea88b..9230efe 100644
--- a/TODO.md
+++ b/TODO.md
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
  - [DONE] dataspaces, dataspace relays
  - [DONE? Surely there's more] pin down and fix the problems with facet field scope (!!)
  - [DONE] `npm init @syndicate`
+ - [DONE] change send syntax from `^ ...` to `send ...` :-(
+    - Using `^` is too cute. Indentation doesn't work, and forgetting a semicolon causes silent xor!
 
  - [DONE] timer driver
  - [DONE] ui driver
@@ -30,5 +32,3 @@
    some formulations of the game-restart logic in the flappy bird
    demo.
 
- - change send syntax from `^ ...` to `send ...` :-(
-    - it's too cute. Indentation doesn't work, and forgetting a semicolon causes silent xor!
diff --git a/packages/broker/src/index.js b/packages/broker/src/index.js
index ae269fd..d75f603 100644
--- a/packages/broker/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/broker/src/index.js
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ spawn named 'websocketListener' {
   during Http.WebSocket($reqId, server, ['broker'], _) spawn named ['wsConnection', reqId] {
     on message Http.DataIn(reqId, $message) {
       console.log('got', reqId, new Decoder(message).next());
-      ^ Http.DataOut(reqId, message);
+      send Http.DataOut(reqId, message);
     }
 
     stop on message Http.DataIn(reqId, Bytes.from("quit"));
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ spawn named 'tcpListener' {
     assert Tcp.TcpAccepted(id);
     on message Tcp.DataIn(id, $data) {
       console.log('got', id, data);
-      ^ Tcp.DataOut(id, data);
+      send Tcp.DataOut(id, data);
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/driver-browser-ui/src/index.js b/packages/driver-browser-ui/src/index.js
index 6ee4297..490b4cb 100644
--- a/packages/driver-browser-ui/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/driver-browser-ui/src/index.js
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export function newFragmentId() {
 spawn named 'GlobalEventFactory' {
   during Observe(P.GlobalEvent($selector, $eventType, _))
   spawn named ['GlobalEvent', selector, eventType] {
-    let sender = Dataspace.wrapExternal((e) => { ^ P.GlobalEvent(selector, eventType, e); });
+    let sender = Dataspace.wrapExternal((e) => { send P.GlobalEvent(selector, eventType, e); });
     function handler(event) {
       sender(event);
       return dealWithPreventDefault(eventType, event);
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ spawn named 'GlobalEventFactory' {
 spawn named 'WindowEventFactory' {
   during Observe(P.WindowEvent($eventType, _))
   spawn named ['WindowEvent', eventType] {
-    let sender = Dataspace.wrapExternal((e) => { ^ P.WindowEvent(eventType, e); });
+    let sender = Dataspace.wrapExternal((e) => { send P.WindowEvent(eventType, e); });
     let handler = function (event) {
       sender(event);
       return dealWithPreventDefault(eventType, event);
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ spawn named 'UIFragmentFactory' {
 
       if (!(key in eventRegistrations)) {
         let sender = Dataspace.wrapExternal((e) => {
-          ^ P.UIEvent(fragmentId, c.selector, c.eventType, e);
+          send P.UIEvent(fragmentId, c.selector, c.eventType, e);
         });
         function handler(event) {
           sender(event);
diff --git a/packages/driver-http-node/src/index.js b/packages/driver-http-node/src/index.js
index 90916a8..0e191b0 100644
--- a/packages/driver-http-node/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/driver-http-node/src/index.js
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ function _server(host, port, httpsOptions) {
 
       on asserted Observe(DataIn(id, _)) {
         ws.on('message', Dataspace.wrapExternal((message) => {
-          ^ DataIn(id, Bytes.fromIO(message));
+          send DataIn(id, Bytes.fromIO(message));
         }));
       }
 
diff --git a/packages/driver-tcp-node/src/index.js b/packages/driver-tcp-node/src/index.js
index 03e2227..9878cb4 100644
--- a/packages/driver-tcp-node/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/driver-tcp-node/src/index.js
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ spawn named 'driver/TcpDriver' {
       if (pos !== -1) {
         const line = this.buffer.slice(0, pos);
         this.buffer = this.buffer.slice(pos + 1);
-        ^ LineIn(id, line);
+        send LineIn(id, line);
       }
     }
   }
@@ -107,9 +107,7 @@ function _connectionCommon(rootFacet, id, socket, established) {
     on stop try { socket.destroy() } catch (e) { console.error(e); }
 
     on start react stop on asserted Observe(DataIn(id, _)) {
-      socket.on('data', Dataspace.wrapExternal((data) => {
-        ^ DataIn(id, Bytes.fromIO(data));
-      }));
+      socket.on('data', Dataspace.wrapExternal((data) => { send DataIn(id, Bytes.fromIO(data)); }));
     }
 
     on message DataOut(id, $data) {
diff --git a/packages/driver-timer/src/index.js b/packages/driver-timer/src/index.js
index 50f53be..a23c10e 100644
--- a/packages/driver-timer/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/driver-timer/src/index.js
@@ -36,9 +36,8 @@ spawn named 'driver-timer/PeriodicTick' {
     let handle = null;
     let finish = Dataspace.backgroundTask();
     on start {
-      handle = setInterval(Dataspace.wrapExternal(() => {
-        ^ PeriodicTick(intervalMS);
-      }), Float.unwrap(intervalMS));
+      handle = setInterval(Dataspace.wrapExternal(() => { send PeriodicTick(intervalMS); }),
+                           Float.unwrap(intervalMS));
     }
     on stop {
       if (handle) {
diff --git a/packages/driver-udp-node/src/index.js b/packages/driver-udp-node/src/index.js
index 9f58cd6..20b5433 100644
--- a/packages/driver-udp-node/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/driver-udp-node/src/index.js
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ function _socket(addr, port) {
 
     socket.on('listening', Dataspace.wrapExternal(() => { this.connected = true; }));
     socket.on('message', Dataspace.wrapExternal((message, rinfo) => {
-      ^ UdpPacket(UdpPeer(rinfo.address, rinfo.port), addr, Bytes.fromIO(message));
+      send UdpPacket(UdpPeer(rinfo.address, rinfo.port), addr, Bytes.fromIO(message));
     }));
   };
 
diff --git a/packages/driver-websocket/src/index.js b/packages/driver-websocket/src/index.js
index 4136226..1cd117c 100644
--- a/packages/driver-websocket/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/driver-websocket/src/index.js
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ spawn named 'WebSocketFactory' {
 
       ws.onopen = Dataspace.wrapExternal(() => { this.connected = true; });
       ws.onclose = Dataspace.wrapExternal(() => { if (this.connected) { connect(); }});
-      ws.onmessage = Dataspace.wrapExternal((data) => { ^ DataIn(id, Bytes.fromIO(data.data)); });
+      ws.onmessage = Dataspace.wrapExternal((data) => { send DataIn(id, Bytes.fromIO(data.data)) });
     };
 
     const disconnect = () => {
diff --git a/packages/flappy-bird-demo/src/index.js b/packages/flappy-bird-demo/src/index.js
index 2c15fd8..74d3981 100644
--- a/packages/flappy-bird-demo/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/flappy-bird-demo/src/index.js
@@ -45,9 +45,7 @@ spawn named 'game-factory' {
   during GameOver() {
     on stop spawnGame();
     on message UI.WindowEvent('+keypress', $e) {
-      if (e.key !== ' ') {
-        ^ Reset();
-      }
+      if (e.key !== ' ') send Reset();
     }
   }
 }
@@ -56,9 +54,7 @@ function spawnGame() {
   spawn dataspace named 'GameInstance' {
     spawn named 'game-instance-control' {
       during GameOver() assert Outbound(GameOver());
-      on message Inbound(Reset()) {
-        ^ $QuitDataspace;
-      }
+      on message Inbound(Reset()) send $QuitDataspace;
     }
 
     spawn named 'score' {
@@ -143,9 +139,7 @@ function spawnGame() {
 
         stop on (this.xpos < -(PILLAR_WIDTH + FLAPPY_XPOS));
 
-        on start react stop on (this.xpos <= 0) {
-            ^ IncreaseScore();
-        }
+        on start react stop on (this.xpos <= 0) send IncreaseScore();
 
         field this.xpos = xlocation;
         on asserted Position($xpos, _) this.xpos = xlocation - xpos.value;
diff --git a/packages/syntax-playground/src/assertionspeed.js b/packages/syntax-playground/src/assertionspeed.js
index 6c3e770..ad3615a 100644
--- a/packages/syntax-playground/src/assertionspeed.js
+++ b/packages/syntax-playground/src/assertionspeed.js
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ spawn named 'box' {
 spawn named 'client' {
   on asserted Protocol.BoxState($v) {
     // console.log('client sending SetBox', v + 1);
-    ^ Protocol.SetBox(v + 1);
+    send Protocol.SetBox(v + 1);
   }
 
   on retracted Protocol.BoxState(_) {
diff --git a/packages/syntax-playground/src/chatclient.js b/packages/syntax-playground/src/chatclient.js
index f970d7a..b132e5c 100644
--- a/packages/syntax-playground/src/chatclient.js
+++ b/packages/syntax-playground/src/chatclient.js
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ spawn named 'chatclient' {
       .on('error', Dataspace.wrapExternal((err) => { throw err; }))
       .on('close', Dataspace.wrapExternal(() => { rootFacet.stop(); }))
       .on('data', Dataspace.wrapExternal(
-        (data) => { if (data) { ^ Tcp.DataOut(id, data + '\n'); }}));
+        (data) => { if (data) send Tcp.DataOut(id, data + '\n'); }));
     on stop process.stdin.destroy();
 
     on message Tcp.LineIn(id, $line) { console.log(line.toString('utf-8')); }
diff --git a/packages/syntax-playground/src/chatserver.js b/packages/syntax-playground/src/chatserver.js
index 7c51673..27b7a02 100644
--- a/packages/syntax-playground/src/chatserver.js
+++ b/packages/syntax-playground/src/chatserver.js
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ spawn named 'chatserver' {
 
     assert Present(me);
     during Present($who) {
-      on start { ^ Tcp.DataOut(id, `${who} arrived.\n`); }
-      on stop  { ^ Tcp.DataOut(id, `${who} departed.\n`); }
+      on start send Tcp.DataOut(id, `${who} arrived.\n`);
+      on stop  send Tcp.DataOut(id, `${who} departed.\n`);
     }
 
-    on message Tcp.LineIn(id, $line) { ^ Speak(me, line); }
-    on message Speak($who, $what) { ^ Tcp.DataOut(id, `${who}: ${what}\n`); }
+    on message Tcp.LineIn(id, $line) send Speak(me, line);
+    on message Speak($who, $what) send Tcp.DataOut(id, `${who}: ${what}\n`);
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/syntax-playground/src/client.js b/packages/syntax-playground/src/client.js
index a15bd77..ecaf853 100644
--- a/packages/syntax-playground/src/client.js
+++ b/packages/syntax-playground/src/client.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ spawn named 'demo' {
     }
 
     on message PeriodicTick(1000) {
-      ^ WS.DataOut(wsId, Bytes.from(genUuid('timestamp')));
+      send WS.DataOut(wsId, Bytes.from(genUuid('timestamp')));
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/syntax-playground/src/index.js b/packages/syntax-playground/src/index.js
index 69d3a42..f36dbe0 100644
--- a/packages/syntax-playground/src/index.js
+++ b/packages/syntax-playground/src/index.js
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ spawn named 'view' {
 
 spawn named 'controller' {
   on message UI.GlobalEvent('table#the-table th', 'click', $e) {
-    ^ SetSortColumn(JSON.parse(e.target.dataset.column));
+    send SetSortColumn(JSON.parse(e.target.dataset.column));
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/syntax-playground/src/mc.js b/packages/syntax-playground/src/mc.js
index 96e13b5..192ca4d 100644
--- a/packages/syntax-playground/src/mc.js
+++ b/packages/syntax-playground/src/mc.js
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ spawn named 'multicast_demo' {
     }
 
     on message PeriodicTick(2000) {
-      ^ U.UdpPacket(HANDLE, U.UdpPeer(GROUP_ADDRESS, PORT), genUuid('timestamp'));
+      send U.UdpPacket(HANDLE, U.UdpPeer(GROUP_ADDRESS, PORT), genUuid('timestamp'));
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/syntax-playground/src/messagespeed.js b/packages/syntax-playground/src/messagespeed.js
index b526e23..f87d321 100644
--- a/packages/syntax-playground/src/messagespeed.js
+++ b/packages/syntax-playground/src/messagespeed.js
@@ -22,14 +22,13 @@ var Dataspace = require('@syndicate-lang/core').Dataspace;
 const N = 100000;
 
 spawn {
-  on start {
-    ^ 0;
-  }
+  on start send 0;
+
   on message $v {
     if (v === N) {
       Dataspace.currentFacet().stop();
     } else {
-      ^ v + 1;
+      send v + 1;
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/packages/syntax-playground/src/nested2.js b/packages/syntax-playground/src/nested2.js
index 747d1b3..f04d23f 100644
--- a/packages/syntax-playground/src/nested2.js
+++ b/packages/syntax-playground/src/nested2.js
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ spawn dataspace named 'C' {
     spawn named 'H' on asserted Inbound(Inbound(Greeting($t))) console.log('Inner dataspace:', t);
     spawn named 'I' on asserted Inbound(Inbound(Greeting('Inner!'))) {
       console.log('I: Terminating F');
-      ^ $QuitDataspace
+      send $QuitDataspace;
     };
   }
 
diff --git a/packages/syntax-playground/src/server.js b/packages/syntax-playground/src/server.js
index 51551d7..92c53d0 100644
--- a/packages/syntax-playground/src/server.js
+++ b/packages/syntax-playground/src/server.js
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ spawn named 'websocketEchoServer' {
   during Http.WebSocket($reqId, server, ['echo'], _) {
     on message Http.DataIn(reqId, $message) {
       console.log('got', reqId, message);
-      ^ Http.DataOut(reqId, message);
+      send Http.DataOut(reqId, message);
     }
 
     stop on message Http.DataIn(reqId, "quit");
diff --git a/packages/syntax/src/generators.js b/packages/syntax/src/generators.js
index d48f48f..e9a9742 100644
--- a/packages/syntax/src/generators.js
+++ b/packages/syntax/src/generators.js
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ export function SyndicateTypeDefinition(node) {
 }
 
 export function MessageSendStatement(node) {
-  this.token("^");
+  this.token("send");
   this.space();
   this.print(node.body, node);
   this.semicolon();
diff --git a/packages/syntax/src/parser.js b/packages/syntax/src/parser.js
index 2aa43f4..1bd7c06 100644
--- a/packages/syntax/src/parser.js
+++ b/packages/syntax/src/parser.js
@@ -54,21 +54,6 @@ export default class SyndicateParser extends _original_Parser {
     let previousError = null;
 
     switch (this.state.type) {
-      case tt.bitwiseXOR:
-        if (this.hasPlugin("syndicate")) {
-          let result = this.withBacktracking(
-            () => {
-              this.next();
-              const node = this.startNode();
-              node.body = this.parseExpression();
-              this.semicolon();
-              return this.finishNode(node, "MessageSendStatement");
-            },
-            (err) => { previousError = err; return null; });
-          if (result) return result;
-        }
-        break;
-
       case tt.name:
         if (this.hasPlugin("syndicate")) {
           let result = this.withBacktracking(
@@ -141,6 +126,14 @@ export default class SyndicateParser extends _original_Parser {
                 return this.finishNode(node, "SyndicateReactStatement");
               }
 
+              if (this.isContextual("send")) {
+                this.next();
+                const node = this.startNode();
+                node.body = this.parseExpression();
+                this.semicolon();
+                return this.finishNode(node, "MessageSendStatement");
+              }
+
               if (this.isContextual("assertion") || this.isContextual("message")) {
                 const node = this.startNode();
                 node.expectedUse = this.state.value;