diff --git a/Foi-Guide.md b/Foi-Guide.md
index 714968e..6f9b77c 100644
--- a/Foi-Guide.md
+++ b/Foi-Guide.md
@@ -858,6 +858,8 @@ def greeting: ?(myName){
 greeting;               // "Hello!"
 ```
 
+The `?:` else-clause can also be abbreviated as `:` if preferred. More on that in a bit.
+
 **Note:** Comparing this example to the previous one, `?:` is equivalent to the `!["Kyle"]` pattern. Readability preferences may dictate either style, depending on the circumstances.
 
 A dependent style pattern can include a `,` comma separated list of multiple values, any of which may match the topic:
@@ -907,7 +909,7 @@ greeting;               // "Hello!"
 
 **Note:** The pattern-match conditional `![myName ?= "Kyle"]` is equivalent to `?[myName != "Kyle"]`. Readability preferences may dictate either style, depending on the circumstances.
 
-Just as with dependent pattern matching, it's preferable for the overall independent pattern matching expression to be determinate, in that all conditional branches are covered. Again, to define a default (final) clause, `?:` may be used:
+Just as with dependent pattern matching, it's preferable for the overall independent pattern matching expression to be determinate, in that all conditional branches are covered. Again, to define a default (final) clause, `?:` (or abbreviated `:`) may be used:
 
 ```java
 def myName: "Kyle";
@@ -930,13 +932,13 @@ Pattern-matching conditional clauses may optionally skip the leading `?` type-sp
 ?{
     [isLoggedIn()]: showDashboard();
     [isRegistered()]: showLogin();
-    default: showRegistration()
+    : showRegistration()
 };
 ```
 
-Here, the two `[ .. ]: ..` clauses skip the leading type-signifier (a `?` is assumed). However, the `!` type signifier is never assumed, and therefore must be explicitly stated for clauses.
+Here, the two `[ .. ]: ..` clauses skip the leading type-signifier (a `?` is assumed). However, the `!` type signifier is never assumed, and therefore must be explicitly stated for clauses. As mentioned earlier, the `:` by itself on the third line illustrates an abbreviated `?:` else-clause.
 
-In cases where both affirmative and negative clauses are present, it may be desirable (for visual consistency) to specify both the `?` and `!` signifiers on the respective clauses, rather than only the `!` being present and the `?` being omitted. For example:
+In cases where both affirmative and negative clauses are present, it may be desirable (for visual consistency) to specify both the `?` and `!` signifiers on the respective clauses, rather than only the `!` being present and the `?` being assumed. For example:
 
 ```java
 // style 1
@@ -965,16 +967,18 @@ def myName: "Kyle";
 
 // full pattern matching expression:
 ?{
-    ?[!empty myName]: printGreeting(myName)
+    [!empty myName]: printGreeting(myName)
 }
 
 // standalone guard expression:
 ?[!empty myName]: printGreeting(myName);
 
-// or:
+// equivalent, if you prefer:
 ![?empty myName]: printGreeting(myName);
 ```
 
+The leading `?` is required on standalone guard expressions, unlike the optional abbreviated form in pattern matching.
+
 ## Records And Tuples
 
 Records are immutable collections of values, delimited by `<    >`.
diff --git a/Grammar.md b/Grammar.md
index 75dd58d..17f3c2b 100644
--- a/Grammar.md
+++ b/Grammar.md
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ IndepPatternStmt        := IndepCondClause MatchConsequent (WhSp* ";")*;
 IndepCondClause         := ("?" | "!" | Epsilon) BracketExpr;
 MatchConsequentNoSemi   := ":" WhSp* ExprAsOpt | BlockExpr;
 MatchConsequent         := ":" WhSp* ((ExprAsOpt WhSp* ";") | BlockExpr);
-ElseStmt                := "?" MatchConsequentNoSemi (WhSp* ";")*;
+ElseStmt                := "?"? MatchConsequentNoSemi (WhSp* ";")*;
 DepMatchExpr            := "?(" WhSp* ExprNoBlockAsOpt WhSp* "){" WhSp* DepPatternStmts WhSp* "}";
 DepPatternStmts         := DepPatternStmtNoSemi | ((DepPatternStmt WhSp*)+ (ElseStmt | DepPatternStmtNoSemi)?) | ElseStmt;
 DepPatternStmtNoSemi    := DepCondClause MatchConsequentNoSemi;
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 345bd10..a983e51 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -20,9 +20,42 @@ defn greetings(who) {
 
 The language is designed for general application programming purposes, but with a clear emphasis on FP (and de-emphasis on OOP). It's not trying to compete in performance or capability with systems languages like C or Rust. Eventually, **Foi** will compile to WASM so it should be usable for applications in a variety of environments, from the web to the server to mobile devices.
 
-An important design goal is that a somewhat experienced developer -- especially one with both FP and imperative experience/curiosity -- should be able to sufficiently/fully learn **Foi** in a few days. It also shouldn't take reading thousands of pages of books or watching months of workshop videos to fully grasp the surface area of **Foi**.
+An important design goal is that a somewhat experienced developer -- especially one with both FP and imperative experience/curiosity -- should be able to sufficiently or fully learn **Foi** in several days.
 
-Hopefully, without too much heavy orientation, code like this will settle into familiarity for you:
+In the following code snippet, you'll might recognize familiar mechanisms like function calls and pattern recognition. There's also some standard FP idioms like partial application and composition (and a monad!). You might also spot a fun trick (operators-as-functions)!
+
+```java
+def adder: arithmetic("add");
+def subtractor: arithmetic("subtract");
+def tripler: (*)|3|;
+def add3: adder|3|;
+def sub5: subtractor|,5|;
+def compute: tripler +> add3 +> sub5;
+
+adder(3, 4);                            // 7
+add3(4);                                // 7
+subtractor(12, 5);                      // 7
+sub5(12);                               // 7
+
+3 #> tripler #> adder(3, #) #> sub5;    // 7
+
+compute(3);                             // 7
+(<+)(sub5, add3, tripler)(3);           // 7
+
+// ***********************
+
+defn arithmetic(op) ^(
+  ?(op){
+    ["add"]: (+);
+    ["subtract"]: (-);
+    ["multiply"]: (*);
+    ["divide"]: (/);
+    : Left@ "Invalid"
+  }
+)
+```
+
+It shouldn't take reading thousands of pages of books or watching months of workshop videos to fully grasp the surface area of **Foi**. Hopefully, without too much learning and practice, even more advanced code like this will brighten into clarity:
 
 ```java
 defn getFavoriteMovies(userID) ^(IO ~<< {
@@ -43,6 +76,8 @@ defn getFavoriteMovies(userID) ^(IO ~<< {
 getFavoriteMovies(123).run(document)
 ```
 
+**Hint:** The above snippet defines a function using the "do-syntax" against the `IO` monad, where the `::` definitions are monadic chain operations. Don't worry if that's just a bowl of word-soup for now. You'll *get it* before too long!
+
 ## TL;DR
 
 If you're already convinced and ready to jump in, you may want to check these out next: