diff --git a/src/Plots.jl b/src/Plots.jl
index 75e197ed..bf41d55b 100644
--- a/src/Plots.jl
+++ b/src/Plots.jl
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ include("output.jl")
 
 # define and export shorthand plotting method definitions
 macro shorthands(funcname::Symbol)
-    funcname2 = symbol(funcname, "!")
+    funcname2 = Symbol(funcname, "!")
     ret = esc(quote
         export $funcname, $funcname2
         $funcname(args...; kw...) = plot(args...; kw..., seriestype = $(quot(funcname)))
@@ -285,9 +285,9 @@ plot3d!(args...; kw...)    = plot!(args...; kw..., seriestype = :path3d)
 # quiver!(args...; kw...)    = plot!(args...; kw..., seriestype = :quiver)
 
 
-title!(s::AbstractString; kw...)                 = plot!(; title = s, kw...)
-xlabel!(s::AbstractString; kw...)                = plot!(; xlabel = s, kw...)
-ylabel!(s::AbstractString; kw...)                = plot!(; ylabel = s, kw...)
+title!(s::@compat(String); kw...)                 = plot!(; title = s, kw...)
+xlabel!(s::@compat(String); kw...)                = plot!(; xlabel = s, kw...)
+ylabel!(s::@compat(String); kw...)                = plot!(; ylabel = s, kw...)
 xlims!{T<:Real,S<:Real}(lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...) = plot!(; xlims = lims, kw...)
 ylims!{T<:Real,S<:Real}(lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...) = plot!(; ylims = lims, kw...)
 zlims!{T<:Real,S<:Real}(lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...) = plot!(; zlims = lims, kw...)
@@ -296,9 +296,9 @@ ylims!(ymin::Real, ymax::Real; kw...)                     = plot!(; ylims = (ymi
 zlims!(zmin::Real, zmax::Real; kw...)                     = plot!(; zlims = (zmin,zmax), kw...)
 xticks!{T<:Real}(v::AVec{T}; kw...)                       = plot!(; xticks = v, kw...)
 yticks!{T<:Real}(v::AVec{T}; kw...)                       = plot!(; yticks = v, kw...)
-xticks!{T<:Real,S<:AbstractString}(
+xticks!{T<:Real,S<:@compat(String)}(
               ticks::AVec{T}, labels::AVec{S}; kw...)     = plot!(; xticks = (ticks,labels), kw...)
-yticks!{T<:Real,S<:AbstractString}(
+yticks!{T<:Real,S<:@compat(String)}(
               ticks::AVec{T}, labels::AVec{S}; kw...)     = plot!(; yticks = (ticks,labels), kw...)
 annotate!(anns...; kw...)                                 = plot!(; annotation = anns, kw...)
 annotate!{T<:Tuple}(anns::AVec{T}; kw...)                 = plot!(; annotation = anns, kw...)
@@ -307,9 +307,9 @@ yflip!(flip::Bool = true; kw...)                          = plot!(; yflip = flip
 xaxis!(args...; kw...)                                    = plot!(; xaxis = args, kw...)
 yaxis!(args...; kw...)                                    = plot!(; yaxis = args, kw...)
 
-title!(plt::Plot, s::AbstractString; kw...)                  = plot!(plt; title = s, kw...)
-xlabel!(plt::Plot, s::AbstractString; kw...)                 = plot!(plt; xlabel = s, kw...)
-ylabel!(plt::Plot, s::AbstractString; kw...)                 = plot!(plt; ylabel = s, kw...)
+title!(plt::Plot, s::@compat(String); kw...)                  = plot!(plt; title = s, kw...)
+xlabel!(plt::Plot, s::@compat(String); kw...)                 = plot!(plt; xlabel = s, kw...)
+ylabel!(plt::Plot, s::@compat(String); kw...)                 = plot!(plt; ylabel = s, kw...)
 xlims!{T<:Real,S<:Real}(plt::Plot, lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...)  = plot!(plt; xlims = lims, kw...)
 ylims!{T<:Real,S<:Real}(plt::Plot, lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...)  = plot!(plt; ylims = lims, kw...)
 zlims!{T<:Real,S<:Real}(plt::Plot, lims::Tuple{T,S}; kw...)  = plot!(plt; zlims = lims, kw...)
@@ -318,9 +318,9 @@ ylims!(plt::Plot, ymin::Real, ymax::Real; kw...)                      = plot!(pl
 zlims!(plt::Plot, zmin::Real, zmax::Real; kw...)                      = plot!(plt; zlims = (zmin,zmax), kw...)
 xticks!{T<:Real}(plt::Plot, ticks::AVec{T}; kw...)                    = plot!(plt; xticks = ticks, kw...)
 yticks!{T<:Real}(plt::Plot, ticks::AVec{T}; kw...)                    = plot!(plt; yticks = ticks, kw...)
-xticks!{T<:Real,S<:AbstractString}(plt::Plot,
+xticks!{T<:Real,S<:@compat(String)}(plt::Plot,
                           ticks::AVec{T}, labels::AVec{S}; kw...)     = plot!(plt; xticks = (ticks,labels), kw...)
-yticks!{T<:Real,S<:AbstractString}(plt::Plot,
+yticks!{T<:Real,S<:@compat(String)}(plt::Plot,
                           ticks::AVec{T}, labels::AVec{S}; kw...)     = plot!(plt; yticks = (ticks,labels), kw...)
 annotate!(plt::Plot, anns...; kw...)                                  = plot!(plt; annotation = anns, kw...)
 annotate!{T<:Tuple}(plt::Plot, anns::AVec{T}; kw...)                  = plot!(plt; annotation = anns, kw...)
diff --git a/src/animation.jl b/src/animation.jl
index 843801b1..4e72c7d9 100644
--- a/src/animation.jl
+++ b/src/animation.jl
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 
 immutable Animation
-  dir::ASCIIString
-  frames::Vector{ASCIIString}
+  dir::@compat(String)
+  frames::Vector{@compat(String)}
 end
 
 function Animation()
-  tmpdir = convert(ASCIIString, mktempdir())
-  Animation(tmpdir, ASCIIString[])
+  tmpdir = convert(@compat(String), mktempdir())
+  Animation(tmpdir, @compat(String)[])
 end
 
 function frame{P<:AbstractPlot}(anim::Animation, plt::P=current())
@@ -21,10 +21,10 @@ end
 
 "Wraps the location of an animated gif so that it can be displayed"
 immutable AnimatedGif
-  filename::ASCIIString
+  filename::@compat(String)
 end
 
-function gif(anim::Animation, fn::@compat(AbstractString) = "tmp.gif"; fps::Integer = 20)
+function gif(anim::Animation, fn::@compat(String) = "tmp.gif"; fps::Integer = 20)
   fn = abspath(fn)
 
   try
diff --git a/src/args.jl b/src/args.jl
index d93e3f30..ab6cc6d5 100644
--- a/src/args.jl
+++ b/src/args.jl
@@ -272,10 +272,10 @@ for letter in (:x,:y,:z)
                 :foreground_color_guide,
                 :discrete_values
             )
-        _axis_defaults_byletter[symbol(letter,k)] = nothing
+        _axis_defaults_byletter[Symbol(letter,k)] = nothing
 
         # allow the underscore version too: xguide or x_guide
-        add_aliases(symbol(letter, k), symbol(letter, "_", k))
+        add_aliases(Symbol(letter, k), Symbol(letter, "_", k))
     end
 end
 
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ RecipesBase.is_key_supported(k::Symbol) = (k in supportedArgs())
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-makeplural(s::Symbol) = symbol(string(s,"s"))
+makeplural(s::Symbol) = Symbol(string(s,"s"))
 
 autopick(arr::AVec, idx::Integer) = arr[mod1(idx,length(arr))]
 autopick(notarr, idx::Integer) = notarr
@@ -592,7 +592,7 @@ function preprocessArgs!(d::KW)
 
     # handle axis args
     for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
-        asym = symbol(letter, :axis)
+        asym = Symbol(letter, :axis)
         args = pop!(d, asym, ())
         if !(typeof(args) <: Axis)
             for arg in wraptuple(args)
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ end
 
 "A special type that will break up incoming data into groups, and allow for easier creation of grouped plots"
 type GroupBy
-    groupLabels::Vector{UTF8String}   # length == numGroups
+    groupLabels::Vector{@compat(String)}   # length == numGroups
     groupIds::Vector{Vector{Int}}     # list of indices for each group
 end
 
@@ -869,7 +869,7 @@ function _update_subplot_args(plt::Plot, sp::Subplot, d_in::KW, subplot_index::I
 
     for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
         # get (maybe initialize) the axis
-        axissym = symbol(letter, :axis)
+        axissym = Symbol(letter, :axis)
         axis = if haskey(spargs, axissym)
             spargs[axissym]
         else
@@ -891,7 +891,7 @@ function _update_subplot_args(plt::Plot, sp::Subplot, d_in::KW, subplot_index::I
             end
 
             # then get those args that were passed with a leading letter: `xlabel = "X"`
-            lk = symbol(letter, k)
+            lk = Symbol(letter, k)
             if haskey(d_in, lk)
                 kw[k] = slice_arg(pop!(d_in, lk), subplot_index)
             end
diff --git a/src/axes.jl b/src/axes.jl
index 4b92fd06..c292e615 100644
--- a/src/axes.jl
+++ b/src/axes.jl
@@ -29,32 +29,32 @@ function process_axis_arg!(d::KW, arg, letter = "")
     arg = get(_scaleAliases, arg, arg)
 
     if typeof(arg) <: Font
-        d[symbol(letter,:tickfont)] = arg
-        d[symbol(letter,:guidefont)] = arg
+        d[Symbol(letter,:tickfont)] = arg
+        d[Symbol(letter,:guidefont)] = arg
 
     elseif arg in _allScales
-        d[symbol(letter,:scale)] = arg
+        d[Symbol(letter,:scale)] = arg
 
     elseif arg in (:flip, :invert, :inverted)
-        d[symbol(letter,:flip)] = true
+        d[Symbol(letter,:flip)] = true
 
-    elseif T <: @compat(AbstractString)
-        d[symbol(letter,:guide)] = arg
+    elseif T <: @compat(String)
+        d[Symbol(letter,:guide)] = arg
 
     # xlims/ylims
     elseif (T <: Tuple || T <: AVec) && length(arg) == 2
         sym = typeof(arg[1]) <: Number ? :lims : :ticks
-        d[symbol(letter,sym)] = arg
+        d[Symbol(letter,sym)] = arg
 
     # xticks/yticks
     elseif T <: AVec
-        d[symbol(letter,:ticks)] = arg
+        d[Symbol(letter,:ticks)] = arg
 
     elseif arg == nothing
-        d[symbol(letter,:ticks)] = []
+        d[Symbol(letter,:ticks)] = []
 
     elseif typeof(arg) <: Number
-        d[symbol(letter,:rotation)] = arg
+        d[Symbol(letter,:rotation)] = arg
 
     else
         warn("Skipped $(letter)axis arg $arg")
diff --git a/src/backends.jl b/src/backends.jl
index b907c959..4d3d0155 100644
--- a/src/backends.jl
+++ b/src/backends.jl
@@ -12,16 +12,16 @@ _backend_instance(sym::Symbol) = haskey(_backendType, sym) ? _backendType[sym]()
 
 macro init_backend(s)
     str = lowercase(string(s))
-    sym = symbol(str)
-    T = symbol(string(s) * "Backend")
+    sym = Symbol(str)
+    T = Symbol(string(s) * "Backend")
     esc(quote
         immutable $T <: AbstractBackend end
         export $sym
-        $sym(; kw...) = (default(; kw...); backend(symbol($str)))
-        backend_name(::$T) = symbol($str)
-        push!(_backends, symbol($str))
-        _backendType[symbol($str)] = $T
-        _backendSymbol[$T] = symbol($str)
+        $sym(; kw...) = (default(; kw...); backend(Symbol($str)))
+        backend_name(::$T) = Symbol($str)
+        push!(_backends, Symbol($str))
+        _backendType[Symbol($str)] = $T
+        _backendSymbol[$T] = Symbol($str)
         include("backends/" * $str * ".jl")
     end)
 end
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ function pickDefaultBackend()
     if env_default != ""
         try
             Pkg.installed(env_default)  # this will error if not installed
-            sym = symbol(lowercase(env_default))
+            sym = Symbol(lowercase(env_default))
             if haskey(_backendType, sym)
                 return backend(sym)
             else
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ function pickDefaultBackend()
     # features, speed, and robustness
     for pkgstr in ("PyPlot", "GR", "PlotlyJS", "Immerse", "Gadfly", "UnicodePlots")
         if Pkg.installed(pkgstr) != nothing
-            return backend(symbol(lowercase(pkgstr)))
+            return backend(Symbol(lowercase(pkgstr)))
         end
     end
 
diff --git a/src/backends/gr.jl b/src/backends/gr.jl
index f46bd158..836e7446 100644
--- a/src/backends/gr.jl
+++ b/src/backends/gr.jl
@@ -1236,8 +1236,8 @@ const _gr_mimeformats = Dict(
 
 
 for (mime, fmt) in _gr_mimeformats
-    # @eval function Base.writemime(io::IO, ::MIME{symbol($mime)}, plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend})
-    @eval function _writemime(io::IO, ::MIME{symbol($mime)}, plt::Plot{GRBackend})
+    # @eval function Base.writemime(io::IO, ::MIME{Symbol($mime)}, plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend})
+    @eval function _writemime(io::IO, ::MIME{Symbol($mime)}, plt::Plot{GRBackend})
         GR.emergencyclosegks()
         ENV["GKS_WSTYPE"] = $fmt
         gr_display(plt)
diff --git a/src/backends/pgfplots.jl b/src/backends/pgfplots.jl
index 3d5b4fe8..b278cb65 100644
--- a/src/backends/pgfplots.jl
+++ b/src/backends/pgfplots.jl
@@ -198,12 +198,12 @@ end
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 function pgf_axis(sp::Subplot, letter)
-    axis = sp.attr[symbol(letter,:axis)]
+    axis = sp.attr[Symbol(letter,:axis)]
     style = []
     kw = KW()
 
     # axis guide
-    kw[symbol(letter,:label)] = axis[:guide]
+    kw[Symbol(letter,:label)] = axis[:guide]
 
     # flip/reverse?
     axis[:flip] && push!(style, "$letter dir=reverse")
@@ -211,14 +211,14 @@ function pgf_axis(sp::Subplot, letter)
     # scale
     scale = axis[:scale]
     if scale in (:log2, :ln, :log10)
-        kw[symbol(letter,:mode)] = "log"
+        kw[Symbol(letter,:mode)] = "log"
         scale == :ln || push!(style, "log basis $letter=$(scale == :log2 ? 2 : 10)")
     end
 
     # limits
     lims = axis_limits(axis)
-    kw[symbol(letter,:min)] = lims[1]
-    kw[symbol(letter,:max)] = lims[2]
+    kw[Symbol(letter,:min)] = lims[1]
+    kw[Symbol(letter,:max)] = lims[2]
 
     # return the style list and KW args
     style, kw
diff --git a/src/backends/plotly.jl b/src/backends/plotly.jl
index 4811ac89..c1e566ae 100644
--- a/src/backends/plotly.jl
+++ b/src/backends/plotly.jl
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ function plotlyfont(font::Font, color = font.color)
     )
 end
 
-function get_annotation_dict(x, y, val::Union{AbstractString,Symbol})
+function get_annotation_dict(x, y, val::Union{@compat(String),Symbol})
     KW(
         :text => val,
         :xref => "x",
@@ -232,12 +232,12 @@ function _update_min_padding!(sp::Subplot{PlotlyBackend})
     sp.minpad = plotly_minpad(sp)
 end
 
-# tickssym(letter) = symbol(letter * "ticks")
-# limssym(letter) = symbol(letter * "lims")
-# flipsym(letter) = symbol(letter * "flip")
-# scalesym(letter) = symbol(letter * "scale")
-# labelsym(letter) = symbol(letter * "label")
-# rotationsym(letter) = symbol(letter * "rotation")
+# tickssym(letter) = Symbol(letter * "ticks")
+# limssym(letter) = Symbol(letter * "lims")
+# flipsym(letter) = Symbol(letter * "flip")
+# scalesym(letter) = Symbol(letter * "scale")
+# labelsym(letter) = Symbol(letter * "label")
+# rotationsym(letter) = Symbol(letter * "rotation")
 
 function plotly_axis(axis::Axis, sp::Subplot)
     letter = axis[:letter]
@@ -336,13 +336,13 @@ function plotly_layout(plt::Plot)
         # if any(is3d, seriesargs)
         if is3d(sp)
             d_out[:scene] = KW(
-                symbol("xaxis$spidx") => plotly_axis(sp.attr[:xaxis], sp),
-                symbol("yaxis$spidx") => plotly_axis(sp.attr[:yaxis], sp),
-                symbol("zaxis$spidx") => plotly_axis(sp.attr[:zaxis], sp),
+                Symbol("xaxis$spidx") => plotly_axis(sp.attr[:xaxis], sp),
+                Symbol("yaxis$spidx") => plotly_axis(sp.attr[:yaxis], sp),
+                Symbol("zaxis$spidx") => plotly_axis(sp.attr[:zaxis], sp),
             )
         else
-            d_out[symbol("xaxis$spidx")] = plotly_axis(sp.attr[:xaxis], sp)
-            d_out[symbol("yaxis$spidx")] = plotly_axis(sp.attr[:yaxis], sp)
+            d_out[Symbol("xaxis$spidx")] = plotly_axis(sp.attr[:xaxis], sp)
+            d_out[Symbol("yaxis$spidx")] = plotly_axis(sp.attr[:yaxis], sp)
         end
 
         # legend
diff --git a/src/backends/plotlyjs.jl b/src/backends/plotlyjs.jl
index f7453d6d..1c5c65c3 100644
--- a/src/backends/plotlyjs.jl
+++ b/src/backends/plotlyjs.jl
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ function _initialize_backend(::PlotlyJSBackend; kw...)
 
     for (mime, fmt) in PlotlyJS._mimeformats
         # mime == "image/png" && continue  # don't use plotlyjs's writemime for png
-        @eval Base.writemime(io::IO, m::MIME{symbol($mime)}, p::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend}) = writemime(io, m, p.o)
+        @eval Base.writemime(io::IO, m::MIME{Symbol($mime)}, p::Plot{PlotlyJSBackend}) = writemime(io, m, p.o)
     end
 
     # override IJulia inline display
diff --git a/src/backends/pyplot.jl b/src/backends/pyplot.jl
index b868b486..47a70669 100644
--- a/src/backends/pyplot.jl
+++ b/src/backends/pyplot.jl
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ function getPyPlotMarker(markers::AVec)
 end
 
 # pass through
-function getPyPlotMarker(marker::AbstractString)
+function getPyPlotMarker(marker::@compat(String))
     @assert length(marker) == 1
     marker
 end
@@ -325,13 +325,13 @@ end
 
 # bounding box: union of axis tick labels
 function py_bbox_ticks(ax, letter)
-    labels = ax[symbol("get_"*letter*"ticklabels")]()
+    labels = ax[Symbol("get_"*letter*"ticklabels")]()
     py_bbox(labels)
 end
 
 # bounding box: axis guide
 function py_bbox_axislabel(ax, letter)
-    pyaxis_label = ax[symbol("get_"*letter*"axis")]()[:label]
+    pyaxis_label = ax[Symbol("get_"*letter*"axis")]()[:label]
     py_bbox(pyaxis_label)
 end
 
@@ -856,21 +856,21 @@ end
 #     # TODO: check for polar, do set_tlim/set_rlim instead
 #
 #     # pyplot's set_xlim (or y/z) method:
-#     sp.o[symbol(:set_, axis[:letter], :lim)](lims...)
+#     sp.o[Symbol(:set_, axis[:letter], :lim)](lims...)
 # end
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 # get_axis and update_limits! should be moved to subplots.jl? or axes.jl?
 
-get_axis(sp::Subplot, letter::Symbol) = sp.attr[symbol(letter, :axis)]
+get_axis(sp::Subplot, letter::Symbol) = sp.attr[Symbol(letter, :axis)]
 
 function update_limits!(sp::Subplot{PyPlotBackend}, series::Series, letters)
     for letter in letters
         # axis = get_axis(sp, letter)
         # expand_extrema!(axis, series.d[letter])
         # set_lims!(sp, axis)
-        setPyPlotLims(sp.o, sp.attr[symbol(letter, :axis)])
+        setPyPlotLims(sp.o, sp.attr[Symbol(letter, :axis)])
     end
 end
 
@@ -925,7 +925,7 @@ end
 #     lims == :auto && return
 #     ltype = limsType(lims)
 #     if ltype == :limits
-#         setf = ax[symbol("set_", letter, "lim")]
+#         setf = ax[Symbol("set_", letter, "lim")]
 #         l1, l2 = lims
 #         if isfinite(l1)
 #             letter == :x ? setf(left = l1) : setf(bottom = l1)
@@ -941,16 +941,16 @@ end
 function setPyPlotLims(ax, axis::Axis)
     letter = axis[:letter]
     lims = axis_limits(axis)
-    ax[symbol("set_", letter, "lim")](lims...)
+    ax[Symbol("set_", letter, "lim")](lims...)
 end
 
 function addPyPlotTicks(ax, ticks, letter)
     ticks == :auto && return
-    axis = ax[symbol(letter,"axis")]
+    axis = ax[Symbol(letter,"axis")]
     if ticks == :none || ticks == nothing
         kw = KW()
         for dir in (:top,:bottom,:left,:right)
-            kw[dir] = kw[symbol(:label,dir)] = "off"
+            kw[dir] = kw[Symbol(:label,dir)] = "off"
         end
         axis[:set_tick_params](;which="both", kw...)
         return
@@ -968,7 +968,7 @@ function addPyPlotTicks(ax, ticks, letter)
 end
 
 function applyPyPlotScale(ax, scaleType::Symbol, letter)
-    func = ax[symbol("set_", letter, "scale")]
+    func = ax[Symbol("set_", letter, "scale")]
     scaleType == :identity && return func("linear")
     scaleType == :ln && return func("log", basex = e, basey = e)
     scaleType == :log2 && return func("log", basex = 2, basey = 2)
@@ -981,7 +981,7 @@ function updateAxisColors(ax, a::Axis)
     for (loc, spine) in ax[:spines]
         spine[:set_color](getPyPlotColor(a[:foreground_color_border]))
     end
-    axissym = symbol(a[:letter], :axis)
+    axissym = Symbol(a[:letter], :axis)
     if haskey(ax, axissym)
         ax[:tick_params](axis=string(a[:letter]), which="both",
                          colors=getPyPlotColor(a[:foreground_color_axis]),
@@ -1025,18 +1025,18 @@ function _before_layout_calcs(plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend})
 
         # axis attributes
         for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
-            axissym = symbol(letter, :axis)
+            axissym = Symbol(letter, :axis)
             axis = attr[axissym]
             haskey(ax, axissym) || continue
             applyPyPlotScale(ax, axis[:scale], letter)
             setPyPlotLims(ax, axis)
             addPyPlotTicks(ax, get_ticks(axis), letter)
-            ax[symbol("set_", letter, "label")](axis[:guide])
+            ax[Symbol("set_", letter, "label")](axis[:guide])
             if get(axis.d, :flip, false)
-                ax[symbol("invert_", letter, "axis")]()
+                ax[Symbol("invert_", letter, "axis")]()
             end
             ax[axissym][:label][:set_fontsize](axis[:guidefont].pointsize)
-            for lab in ax[symbol("get_", letter, "ticklabels")]()
+            for lab in ax[Symbol("get_", letter, "ticklabels")]()
                 lab[:set_fontsize](axis[:tickfont].pointsize)
                 lab[:set_rotation](axis[:rotation])
             end
@@ -1096,7 +1096,7 @@ end
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------
 
-function createPyPlotAnnotationObject(sp::Subplot{PyPlotBackend}, x, y, val::@compat(AbstractString))
+function createPyPlotAnnotationObject(sp::Subplot{PyPlotBackend}, x, y, val::@compat(String))
     ax = sp.o
     ax[:annotate](val, xy = (x,y))
 end
@@ -1275,8 +1275,8 @@ const _pyplot_mimeformats = Dict(
 
 
 for (mime, fmt) in _pyplot_mimeformats
-    # @eval function Base.writemime(io::IO, ::MIME{symbol($mime)}, plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend})
-    @eval function _writemime(io::IO, ::MIME{symbol($mime)}, plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend})
+    # @eval function Base.writemime(io::IO, ::MIME{Symbol($mime)}, plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend})
+    @eval function _writemime(io::IO, ::MIME{Symbol($mime)}, plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend})
         # finalizePlot(plt)
         fig = getfig(plt.o)
         fig.o["canvas"][:print_figure](
diff --git a/src/backends/unicodeplots.jl b/src/backends/unicodeplots.jl
index b0adbcb7..4a78b057 100644
--- a/src/backends/unicodeplots.jl
+++ b/src/backends/unicodeplots.jl
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ end
 # -------------------------------
 
 # since this is such a hack, it's only callable using `png`... should error during normal `writemime`
-function png(plt::AbstractPlot{UnicodePlotsBackend}, fn::@compat(AbstractString))
+function png(plt::AbstractPlot{UnicodePlotsBackend}, fn::@compat(String))
   fn = addExtension(fn, "png")
 
   # make some whitespace and show the plot
diff --git a/src/backends/web.jl b/src/backends/web.jl
index 2920ba68..cc8b6782 100644
--- a/src/backends/web.jl
+++ b/src/backends/web.jl
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 # CREDIT: parts of this implementation were inspired by @joshday's PlotlyLocal.jl
 
 
-function standalone_html(plt::AbstractPlot; title::AbstractString = get(plt.attr, :window_title, "Plots.jl"))
+function standalone_html(plt::AbstractPlot; title::@compat(String) = get(plt.attr, :window_title, "Plots.jl"))
     """
     <!DOCTYPE html>
     <html>
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ function standalone_html(plt::AbstractPlot; title::AbstractString = get(plt.attr
     """
 end
 
-function open_browser_window(filename::AbstractString)
+function open_browser_window(filename::@compat(String))
     @osx_only   return run(`open $(filename)`)
     @linux_only return run(`xdg-open $(filename)`)
     @windows_only return run(`$(ENV["COMSPEC"]) /c start $(filename)`)
diff --git a/src/colors.jl b/src/colors.jl
index a62f1bf1..4ae7ac73 100644
--- a/src/colors.jl
+++ b/src/colors.jl
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ colorscheme(c::Colorant; kw...) = ColorWrapper(c; kw...)
 # --------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
-convertColor(c::@compat(Union{AbstractString, Symbol})) = parse(Colorant, string(c))
+convertColor(c::@compat(Union{@compat(String), Symbol})) = parse(Colorant, string(c))
 convertColor(c::Colorant) = c
 convertColor(cvec::AbstractVector) = map(convertColor, cvec)
 convertColor(c::ColorScheme) = c
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ webcolor(c, α) = webcolor(convertColor(getColor(c), α))
 #
 #     # update sub-background colors
 #     for bgtype in ("legend", "inside", "outside")
-#         bgsym = symbol("background_color_" * bgtype)
+#         bgsym = Symbol("background_color_" * bgtype)
 #         if d[bgsym] == :match
 #             d[bgsym] = d[:background_color]
 #         elseif d[bgsym] == nothing
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ webcolor(c, α) = webcolor(convertColor(getColor(c), α))
 #
 #     # update sub-foreground colors
 #     for fgtype in ("legend", "grid", "axis", "text", "border", "guide")
-#         fgsym = symbol("foreground_color_" * fgtype)
+#         fgsym = Symbol("foreground_color_" * fgtype)
 #         if d[fgsym] == :match
 #             d[fgsym] = d[:foreground_color]
 #         elseif d[fgsym] == nothing
diff --git a/src/components.jl b/src/components.jl
index 53e88e10..cb97f302 100644
--- a/src/components.jl
+++ b/src/components.jl
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ const _shapes = KW(
   )
 
 for n in [4,5,6,7,8]
-  _shapes[symbol("star$n")] = makestar(n)
+  _shapes[Symbol("star$n")] = makestar(n)
 end
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ end
 
 
 immutable Font
-  family::AbstractString
+  family::@compat(String)
   pointsize::Int
   halign::Symbol
   valign::Symbol
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ function font(args...)
       valign = arg
     elseif T <: Colorant
       color = arg
-    elseif T <: @compat Union{Symbol,AbstractString}
+    elseif T <: @compat Union{Symbol,@compat(String)}
       try
         color = parse(Colorant, string(arg))
       catch
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ end
 
 "Wrap a string with font info"
 immutable PlotText
-  str::@compat(AbstractString)
+  str::@compat(String)
   font::Font
 end
 PlotText(str) = PlotText(string(str), font())
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ function stroke(args...; alpha = nothing)
       style = arg
     elseif T <: Colorant
       color = arg
-    elseif T <: @compat Union{Symbol,AbstractString}
+    elseif T <: @compat Union{Symbol,@compat(String)}
       try
         color = parse(Colorant, string(arg))
       end
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ function brush(args...; alpha = nothing)
 
     if T <: Colorant
       color = arg
-    elseif T <: @compat Union{Symbol,AbstractString}
+    elseif T <: @compat Union{Symbol,@compat(String)}
       try
         color = parse(Colorant, string(arg))
       end
@@ -367,12 +367,11 @@ Base.copy(surf::Surface) = Surface(copy(surf.surf))
 Base.eltype(surf::Surface) = eltype(surf.surf)
 
 function expand_extrema!(a::Axis, surf::Surface)
-    v = surf.surf
-    if !isempty(v)
-        emin, emax = a[:extrema]
-        a[:extrema] = (min(minimum(v), emin), max(maximum(v), emax))
+    ex = a[:extrema]
+    for vi in surf.surf
+        expand_extrema!(ex, vi)
     end
-    a[:extrema]
+    ex
 end
 
 "For the case of representing a surface as a function of x/y... can possibly avoid allocations."
diff --git a/src/output.jl b/src/output.jl
index ef763990..f174e604 100644
--- a/src/output.jl
+++ b/src/output.jl
@@ -2,48 +2,48 @@
 
 defaultOutputFormat(plt::Plot) = "png"
 
-function png(plt::Plot, fn::@compat(AbstractString))
+function png(plt::Plot, fn::@compat(String))
   fn = addExtension(fn, "png")
   io = open(fn, "w")
   writemime(io, MIME("image/png"), plt)
   close(io)
 end
-png(fn::@compat(AbstractString)) = png(current(), fn)
+png(fn::@compat(String)) = png(current(), fn)
 
-function svg(plt::Plot, fn::@compat(AbstractString))
+function svg(plt::Plot, fn::@compat(String))
   fn = addExtension(fn, "svg")
   io = open(fn, "w")
   writemime(io, MIME("image/svg+xml"), plt)
   close(io)
 end
-svg(fn::@compat(AbstractString)) = svg(current(), fn)
+svg(fn::@compat(String)) = svg(current(), fn)
 
 
-function pdf(plt::Plot, fn::@compat(AbstractString))
+function pdf(plt::Plot, fn::@compat(String))
   fn = addExtension(fn, "pdf")
   io = open(fn, "w")
   writemime(io, MIME("application/pdf"), plt)
   close(io)
 end
-pdf(fn::@compat(AbstractString)) = pdf(current(), fn)
+pdf(fn::@compat(String)) = pdf(current(), fn)
 
 
-function ps(plt::Plot, fn::@compat(AbstractString))
+function ps(plt::Plot, fn::@compat(String))
   fn = addExtension(fn, "ps")
   io = open(fn, "w")
   writemime(io, MIME("application/postscript"), plt)
   close(io)
 end
-ps(fn::@compat(AbstractString)) = ps(current(), fn)
+ps(fn::@compat(String)) = ps(current(), fn)
 
 
-function tex(plt::Plot, fn::@compat(AbstractString))
+function tex(plt::Plot, fn::@compat(String))
   fn = addExtension(fn, "tex")
   io = open(fn, "w")
   writemime(io, MIME("application/x-tex"), plt)
   close(io)
 end
-tex(fn::@compat(AbstractString)) = tex(current(), fn)
+tex(fn::@compat(String)) = tex(current(), fn)
 
 
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ tex(fn::@compat(AbstractString)) = tex(current(), fn)
     "tex" => tex,
   )
 
-function getExtension(fn::@compat(AbstractString))
+function getExtension(fn::@compat(String))
   pieces = split(fn, ".")
   length(pieces) > 1 || error("Can't extract file extension: ", fn)
   ext = pieces[end]
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ function getExtension(fn::@compat(AbstractString))
   ext
 end
 
-function addExtension(fn::@compat(AbstractString), ext::@compat(AbstractString))
+function addExtension(fn::@compat(String), ext::@compat(String))
   try
     oldext = getExtension(fn)
     if oldext == ext
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ function addExtension(fn::@compat(AbstractString), ext::@compat(AbstractString))
   end
 end
 
-function savefig(plt::Plot, fn::@compat(AbstractString))
+function savefig(plt::Plot, fn::@compat(String))
 
   # get the extension
   local ext
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ function savefig(plt::Plot, fn::@compat(AbstractString))
   end
   func(plt, fn)
 end
-savefig(fn::@compat(AbstractString)) = savefig(current(), fn)
+savefig(fn::@compat(String)) = savefig(current(), fn)
 
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ const _best_html_output_type = KW(
 
 # a backup for html... passes to svg or png depending on the html_output_format arg
 function Base.writemime(io::IO, ::MIME"text/html", plt::Plot)
-    output_type = symbol(plt.attr[:html_output_format])
+    output_type = Symbol(plt.attr[:html_output_format])
     if output_type == :auto
         output_type = get(_best_html_output_type, backend_name(plt.backend), :svg)
     end
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ end
 # IJulia
 # ---------------------------------------------------------
 
-const _ijulia_output = ASCIIString["text/html"]
+const _ijulia_output = @compat(String)["text/html"]
 
 function setup_ijulia()
     # override IJulia inline display
@@ -179,18 +179,18 @@ function setup_ijulia()
         @eval begin
             import IJulia
             export set_ijulia_output
-            function set_ijulia_output(mimestr::ASCIIString)
+            function set_ijulia_output(mimestr::@compat(String))
                 # info("Setting IJulia output format to $mimestr")
                 global _ijulia_output
                 _ijulia_output[1] = mimestr
             end
             function IJulia.display_dict(plt::Plot)
                 global _ijulia_output
-                Dict{ASCIIString, ByteString}(_ijulia_output[1] => sprint(writemime, _ijulia_output[1], plt))
+                Dict{@compat(String), ByteString}(_ijulia_output[1] => sprint(writemime, _ijulia_output[1], plt))
             end
         end
 
-        # IJulia.display_dict(plt::Plot) = Dict{ASCIIString, ByteString}("text/html" => sprint(writemime, "text/html", plt))
+        # IJulia.display_dict(plt::Plot) = Dict{@compat(String), ByteString}("text/html" => sprint(writemime, "text/html", plt))
         set_ijulia_output("text/html")
     end
 end
diff --git a/src/plot.jl b/src/plot.jl
index 8ab41d7b..a42bc9ad 100644
--- a/src/plot.jl
+++ b/src/plot.jl
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ end
 
 function strip_first_letter(s::Symbol)
     str = string(s)
-    str[1:1], symbol(str[2:end])
+    str[1:1], Symbol(str[2:end])
 end
 
 
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ function _apply_series_recipe(plt::Plot, d::KW)
         if st != :image
             for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
                 data = d[letter]
-                axis = sp.attr[symbol(letter, "axis")]
+                axis = sp.attr[Symbol(letter, "axis")]
                 if eltype(data) <: Number
                     expand_extrema!(axis, data)
                 elseif isa(data, Surface) && eltype(data.surf) <: Number
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ function _apply_series_recipe(plt::Plot, d::KW)
                     #       as well as any coord offset (think of boxplot shape coords... they all
                     #       correspond to the same x-value)
                     # @show letter,eltype(data),typeof(data)
-                    d[letter], d[symbol(letter,"_discrete_indices")] = discrete_value!(axis, data)
+                    d[letter], d[Symbol(letter,"_discrete_indices")] = discrete_value!(axis, data)
                 end
             end
         end
@@ -501,8 +501,8 @@ end
 # # TODO: remove?? this is the old way of handling discrete data... should be
 # # replaced by the Axis type and logic
 # function setTicksFromStringVector(plt::Plot, d::KW, di::KW, letter)
-#     sym = symbol(letter)
-#     ticksym = symbol(letter * "ticks")
+#     sym = Symbol(letter)
+#     ticksym = Symbol(letter * "ticks")
 #     pargs = plt.attr
 #     v = di[sym]
 #
@@ -534,7 +534,7 @@ end
 #     plt.attr[ticksym] = ticks, labels
 #
 #     # add an origsym field so that later on we can re-compute the x vector if ticks change
-#     origsym = symbol(letter * "orig")
+#     origsym = Symbol(letter * "orig")
 #     di[origsym] = v
 #     di[sym] = get_indices(v, labels)
 #
diff --git a/src/recipes.jl b/src/recipes.jl
index 10558548..7b002e59 100644
--- a/src/recipes.jl
+++ b/src/recipes.jl
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ macro userplot(expr::Expr)
     end
 
     typename = expr.args[2]
-    funcname = symbol(lowercase(string(typename)))
-    funcname2 = symbol(funcname, "!")
+    funcname = Symbol(lowercase(string(typename)))
+    funcname2 = Symbol(funcname, "!")
     # @show typename funcname expr
 
     # return a code block with the type definition and convenience plotting methods
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ if is_installed("DataFrames")
 
         function handle_dfs(df::DataFrames.AbstractDataFrame, d::KW, letter, dfs::DFS)
             if isa(dfs, Symbol)
-                get!(d, symbol(letter * "guide"), string(dfs))
+                get!(d, Symbol(letter * "guide"), string(dfs))
                 collect(df[dfs])
             else
                 get!(d, :label, reshape(dfs, 1, length(dfs)))
@@ -135,10 +135,10 @@ end
 #         expr.args[1].head == :(-->)
 # end
 #
-# function _equals_symbol(arg::Symbol, sym::Symbol)
+# function _equals_Symbol(arg::Symbol, sym::Symbol)
 #     arg == sym
 # end
-# function _equals_symbol(arg::Expr, sym::Symbol)
+# function _equals_Symbol(arg::Expr, sym::Symbol)
 #     arg.head == :quote && arg.args[1] == sym
 # end
 #
@@ -152,11 +152,11 @@ end
 #             quiet, require, force = false, false, false
 #             if _is_arrow_tuple(e)
 #                 for flag in e.args
-#                     if _equals_symbol(flag, :quiet)
+#                     if _equals_Symbol(flag, :quiet)
 #                         quiet = true
-#                     elseif _equals_symbol(flag, :require)
+#                     elseif _equals_Symbol(flag, :require)
 #                         require = true
-#                     elseif _equals_symbol(flag, :force)
+#                     elseif _equals_Symbol(flag, :force)
 #                         force = true
 #                     end
 #                 end
diff --git a/src/series_args.jl b/src/series_args.jl
index 02dd383d..c22a80f1 100644
--- a/src/series_args.jl
+++ b/src/series_args.jl
@@ -476,7 +476,7 @@ compute_xyz(x::Void, y::Void, z::Void)        = error("x/y/z are all nothing!")
 #
 #         function handle_dfs(df::DataFrames.AbstractDataFrame, d::KW, letter, dfs::DFS)
 #             if isa(dfs, Symbol)
-#                 get!(d, symbol(letter * "label"), string(dfs))
+#                 get!(d, Symbol(letter * "label"), string(dfs))
 #                 collect(df[dfs])
 #             else
 #                 get!(d, :label, reshape(dfs, 1, length(dfs)))
diff --git a/src/utils.jl b/src/utils.jl
index a910f7f9..eabd7ec9 100644
--- a/src/utils.jl
+++ b/src/utils.jl
@@ -274,8 +274,8 @@ limsType{T<:Real,S<:Real}(lims::@compat(Tuple{T,S}))    = :limits
 limsType(lims::Symbol)                                  = lims == :auto ? :auto : :invalid
 limsType(lims)                                          = :invalid
 
-# axis_symbol(letter, postfix) = symbol(letter * postfix)
-# axis_symbols(letter, postfix...) = map(s -> axis_symbol(letter, s), postfix)
+# axis_Symbol(letter, postfix) = Symbol(letter * postfix)
+# axis_symbols(letter, postfix...) = map(s -> axis_Symbol(letter, s), postfix)
 
 Base.convert{T<:Real}(::Type{Vector{T}}, rng::Range{T})         = T[x for x in rng]
 Base.convert{T<:Real,S<:Real}(::Type{Vector{T}}, rng::Range{S}) = T[x for x in rng]