Try running \setupcolors[state=start] \definetype[JS][option=JS] \starttext \JS{function}\par \JS{function }\par \JS{ function}\par \JS{ function } \stoptext The first paragraph will only be the first character, f, the reason is made clear from the following two paragraphs. In the second paragraph, function comes out, but it isn't highlighted as a keyword, as the initial f has been consumed and thus the "unction" part doesn't match any keywords. I guess this is due to the type-handling checking for double characters, like in \type<< ... >>? In the third paragraph, only the initial space is output. The rest will never be output, as \PLsequence never gets a chance to be printed. Only in the fourth paragraph is "function" output correctly, although it is now surrounded by two spaces. Any suggestions on possible solutions, other than removing the option=JS?, nikolai -- Nikolai Weibull: now available free of charge at http://bitwi.se/! Born in Chicago, IL USA; currently residing in Gothenburg, Sweden. main(){printf(&linux["\021%six\012\0"],(linux)["have"]+"fun"-97);}