diff --git a/src/axes.jl b/src/axes.jl
index 094d4494..6f00a27a 100644
--- a/src/axes.jl
+++ b/src/axes.jl
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 function Axis(sp::Subplot, letter::Symbol, args...; kw...)
     # init with values from _plot_defaults
-    d = KW(
+    plotattributes = KW(
         :letter => letter,
         # :extrema => (Inf, -Inf),
         :extrema => Extrema(),
@@ -22,14 +22,14 @@ function Axis(sp::Subplot, letter::Symbol, args...; kw...)
     for (k,v) in _axis_defaults
         lk = Symbol(letter, k)
         lv = _axis_defaults_byletter[lk]
-        d[k] = (lv == :match ? v : lv)
+        plotattributes[k] = (lv == :match ? v : lv)
     end
 
-    # merge!(d, _axis_defaults)
-    d[:discrete_values] = []
+    # merge!(plotattributes, _axis_defaults)
+    plotattributes[:discrete_values] = []
 
     # update the defaults
-    attr!(Axis([sp], d), args...; kw...)
+    attr!(Axis([sp], plotattributes), args...; kw...)
 end
 
 function get_axis(sp::Subplot, letter::Symbol)
@@ -41,45 +41,45 @@ function get_axis(sp::Subplot, letter::Symbol)
     end::Axis
 end
 
-function process_axis_arg!(d::KW, arg, letter = "")
+function process_axis_arg!(plotattributes::KW, arg, letter = "")
     T = typeof(arg)
     arg = get(_scaleAliases, arg, arg)
 
     if typeof(arg) <: Font
-        d[Symbol(letter,:tickfont)] = arg
-        d[Symbol(letter,:guidefont)] = arg
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:tickfont)] = arg
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:guidefont)] = arg
 
     elseif arg in _allScales
-        d[Symbol(letter,:scale)] = arg
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:scale)] = arg
 
     elseif arg in (:flip, :invert, :inverted)
-        d[Symbol(letter,:flip)] = true
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:flip)] = true
 
     elseif T <: AbstractString
-        d[Symbol(letter,:guide)] = arg
+        plotattributes[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
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,sym)] = arg
 
     # xticks/yticks
     elseif T <: AVec
-        d[Symbol(letter,:ticks)] = arg
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:ticks)] = arg
 
     elseif arg == nothing
-        d[Symbol(letter,:ticks)] = []
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:ticks)] = []
 
     elseif T <: Bool || arg in _allShowaxisArgs
-        d[Symbol(letter,:showaxis)] = showaxis(arg, letter)
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:showaxis)] = showaxis(arg, letter)
 
     elseif typeof(arg) <: Number
-        d[Symbol(letter,:rotation)] = arg
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:rotation)] = arg
 
     elseif typeof(arg) <: Function
-        d[Symbol(letter,:formatter)] = arg
+        plotattributes[Symbol(letter,:formatter)] = arg
 
-    elseif !handleColors!(d, arg, Symbol(letter, :foreground_color_axis))
+    elseif !handleColors!(plotattributes, arg, Symbol(letter, :foreground_color_axis))
         @warn("Skipped $(letter)axis arg $arg")
 
     end
@@ -88,28 +88,28 @@ end
 # update an Axis object with magic args and keywords
 function attr!(axis::Axis, args...; kw...)
     # first process args
-    d = axis.d
+    plotattributes = axis.plotattributes
     for arg in args
-        process_axis_arg!(d, arg)
+        process_axis_arg!(plotattributes, arg)
     end
 
-    # then override for any keywords... only those keywords that already exists in d
+    # then override for any keywords... only those keywords that already exists in plotattributes
     for (k,v) in kw
-        if haskey(d, k)
+        if haskey(plotattributes, k)
             if k == :discrete_values
                 # add these discrete values to the axis
                 for vi in v
                     discrete_value!(axis, vi)
                 end
             else
-                d[k] = v
+                plotattributes[k] = v
             end
         end
     end
 
     # replace scale aliases
-    if haskey(_scaleAliases, d[:scale])
-        d[:scale] = _scaleAliases[d[:scale]]
+    if haskey(_scaleAliases, plotattributes[:scale])
+        plotattributes[:scale] = _scaleAliases[plotattributes[:scale]]
     end
 
     axis
@@ -117,10 +117,10 @@ end
 
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
-Base.show(io::IO, axis::Axis) = dumpdict(axis.d, "Axis", true)
-# Base.getindex(axis::Axis, k::Symbol) = getindex(axis.d, k)
-Base.setindex!(axis::Axis, v, ks::Symbol...) = setindex!(axis.d, v, ks...)
-Base.haskey(axis::Axis, k::Symbol) = haskey(axis.d, k)
+Base.show(io::IO, axis::Axis) = dumpdict(axis.plotattributes, "Axis", true)
+# Base.getindex(axis::Axis, k::Symbol) = getindex(axis.plotattributes, k)
+Base.setindex!(axis::Axis, v, ks::Symbol...) = setindex!(axis.plotattributes, v, ks...)
+Base.haskey(axis::Axis, k::Symbol) = haskey(axis.plotattributes, k)
 ignorenan_extrema(axis::Axis) = (ex = axis[:extrema]; (ex.emin, ex.emax))
 
 
@@ -290,9 +290,9 @@ function get_minor_ticks(axis,ticks)
     axis[:minorticks] in (nothing, false) && !axis[:minorgrid] && return nothing
     ticks = ticks[1]
     length(ticks) < 2 && return nothing
-    
+
     amin, amax = axis_limits(axis)
-    #Add one phantom tick either side of the ticks to ensure minor ticks extend to the axis limits 
+    #Add one phantom tick either side of the ticks to ensure minor ticks extend to the axis limits
     if length(ticks) > 2
         ratio = (ticks[3] - ticks[2])/(ticks[2] - ticks[1])
     elseif axis[:scale] == :none
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ function reset_extrema!(sp::Subplot)
         sp[Symbol(asym,:axis)][:extrema] = Extrema()
     end
     for series in sp.series_list
-        expand_extrema!(sp, series.d)
+        expand_extrema!(sp, series.plotattributes)
     end
 end
 
@@ -357,17 +357,17 @@ function expand_extrema!(axis::Axis, v::AVec{N}) where N<:Number
 end
 
 
-function expand_extrema!(sp::Subplot, d::KW)
-    vert = isvertical(d)
+function expand_extrema!(sp::Subplot, plotattributes::KW)
+    vert = isvertical(plotattributes)
 
     # first expand for the data
     for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
-        data = d[if vert
+        data = plotattributes[if vert
             letter
         else
             letter == :x ? :y : letter == :y ? :x : :z
         end]
-        if letter != :z && d[:seriestype] == :straightline && any(series[:seriestype] != :straightline for series in series_list(sp)) && data[1] != data[2]
+        if letter != :z && plotattributes[:seriestype] == :straightline && any(series[:seriestype] != :straightline for series in series_list(sp)) && data[1] != data[2]
             data = [NaN]
         end
         axis = sp[Symbol(letter, "axis")]
@@ -379,30 +379,30 @@ function expand_extrema!(sp::Subplot, d::KW)
         elseif eltype(data) <: Number || (isa(data, Surface) && all(di -> isa(di, Number), data.surf))
             if !(eltype(data) <: Number)
                 # huh... must have been a mis-typed surface? lets swap it out
-                data = d[letter] = Surface(Matrix{Float64}(data.surf))
+                data = plotattributes[letter] = Surface(Matrix{Float64}(data.surf))
             end
             expand_extrema!(axis, data)
         elseif data != nothing
             # TODO: need more here... gotta track the discrete reference value
             #       as well as any coord offset (think of boxplot shape coords... they all
             #       correspond to the same x-value)
-            d[letter], d[Symbol(letter,"_discrete_indices")] = discrete_value!(axis, data)
-            expand_extrema!(axis, d[letter])
+            plotattributes[letter], plotattributes[Symbol(letter,"_discrete_indices")] = discrete_value!(axis, data)
+            expand_extrema!(axis, plotattributes[letter])
         end
     end
 
     # # expand for fillrange/bar_width
     # fillaxis, baraxis = sp.attr[:yaxis], sp.attr[:xaxis]
-    # if isvertical(d)
+    # if isvertical(plotattributes)
     #     fillaxis, baraxis = baraxis, fillaxis
     # end
 
     # expand for fillrange
-    fr = d[:fillrange]
-    if fr == nothing && d[:seriestype] == :bar
+    fr = plotattributes[:fillrange]
+    if fr == nothing && plotattributes[:seriestype] == :bar
         fr = 0.0
     end
-    if fr != nothing && !all3D(d)
+    if fr != nothing && !all3D(plotattributes)
         axis = sp.attr[vert ? :yaxis : :xaxis]
         if typeof(fr) <: Tuple
             for fri in fr
@@ -414,13 +414,13 @@ function expand_extrema!(sp::Subplot, d::KW)
     end
 
     # expand for bar_width
-    if d[:seriestype] == :bar
+    if plotattributes[:seriestype] == :bar
         dsym = vert ? :x : :y
-        data = d[dsym]
+        data = plotattributes[dsym]
 
-        bw = d[:bar_width]
+        bw = plotattributes[:bar_width]
         if bw == nothing
-            bw = d[:bar_width] = _bar_width * ignorenan_minimum(filter(x->x>0,diff(sort(data))))
+            bw = plotattributes[:bar_width] = _bar_width * ignorenan_minimum(filter(x->x>0,diff(sort(data))))
         end
         axis = sp.attr[Symbol(dsym, :axis)]
         expand_extrema!(axis, ignorenan_maximum(data) + 0.5maximum(bw))
@@ -428,11 +428,11 @@ function expand_extrema!(sp::Subplot, d::KW)
     end
 
     # expand for heatmaps
-    if d[:seriestype] == :heatmap
+    if plotattributes[:seriestype] == :heatmap
         for letter in (:x, :y)
-            data = d[letter]
+            data = plotattributes[letter]
             axis = sp[Symbol(letter, "axis")]
-            scale = get(d, Symbol(letter, "scale"), :identity)
+            scale = get(plotattributes, Symbol(letter, "scale"), :identity)
             expand_extrema!(axis, heatmap_edges(data, scale))
         end
     end
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ function default_should_widen(axis::Axis)
     if !is_2tuple(axis[:lims])
         for sp in axis.sps
             for series in series_list(sp)
-                if series.d[:seriestype] in _widen_seriestypes
+                if series.plotattributes[:seriestype] in _widen_seriestypes
                     should_widen = true
                 end
             end
@@ -572,12 +572,12 @@ end
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 function pie_labels(sp::Subplot, series::Series)
-    d = series.d
-    if haskey(d,:x_discrete_indices)
-        dvals = sp.attr[:xaxis].d[:discrete_values]
-        [dvals[idx] for idx in d[:x_discrete_indices]]
+    plotattributes = series.plotattributes
+    if haskey(plotattributes,:x_discrete_indices)
+        dvals = sp.attr[:xaxis].plotattributes[:discrete_values]
+        [dvals[idx] for idx in plotattributes[:x_discrete_indices]]
     else
-        d[:x]
+        plotattributes[:x]
     end
 end
 
diff --git a/src/deprecated/series_args.jl b/src/deprecated/series_args.jl
index f0dc4dc4..4dafda80 100644
--- a/src/deprecated/series_args.jl
+++ b/src/deprecated/series_args.jl
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 const FuncOrFuncs = Union{Function, AVec{Function}}
 
-all3D(plotattributes::KW) = trueOrAllTrue(st -> st in (:contour, :contourf, :heatmap, :surface, :wireframe, :contour3d, :image), get(d, :seriestype, :none))
+all3D(plotattributes::KW) = trueOrAllTrue(st -> st in (:contour, :contourf, :heatmap, :surface, :wireframe, :contour3d, :image), get(plotattributes, :seriestype, :none))
 
 # missing
 convertToAnyVector(v::Nothing, plotattributes::KW) = Any[nothing], nothing
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ convertToAnyVector(v::AVec{T}, plotattributes::KW) where {T<:Number} = Any[v], n
 convertToAnyVector(v::AVec{T}, plotattributes::KW) where {T<:AbstractString} = Any[v], nothing
 
 function convertToAnyVector(v::AMat, plotattributes::KW)
-    if all3D(d)
+    if all3D(plotattributes)
         Any[Surface(v)]
     else
         Any[v[:,i] for i in 1:size(v,2)]
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ function convertToAnyVector(v::AVec, plotattributes::KW)
         Any[convert(Vector{Float64}, v)], nothing
     else
         # something else... treat each element as an item
-        vcat(Any[convertToAnyVector(vi, d)[1] for vi in v]...), nothing
+        vcat(Any[convertToAnyVector(vi, plotattributes)[1] for vi in v]...), nothing
         # Any[vi for vi in v], nothing
     end
 end
diff --git a/src/layouts.jl b/src/layouts.jl
index b61561aa..2527cfc3 100644
--- a/src/layouts.jl
+++ b/src/layouts.jl
@@ -465,11 +465,11 @@ end
 
 # pass the layout arg through
 function layout_args(plotattributes::KW)
-    layout_args(get(d, :layout, default(:layout)))
+    layout_args(get(plotattributes, :layout, default(:layout)))
 end
 
 function layout_args(plotattributes::KW, n_override::Integer)
-    layout, n = layout_args(get(d, :layout, n_override))
+    layout, n = layout_args(get(plotattributes, :layout, n_override))
     if n != n_override
         error("When doing layout, n ($n) != n_override ($(n_override)).  You're probably trying to force existing plots into a layout that doesn't fit them.")
     end
diff --git a/src/plot.jl b/src/plot.jl
index 20b12550..7ac78601 100644
--- a/src/plot.jl
+++ b/src/plot.jl
@@ -48,20 +48,20 @@ as a String to look up its docstring; e.g. `plotattr("seriestype")`.
 """
 function plot(args...; kw...)
     # this creates a new plot with args/kw and sets it to be the current plot
-    d = KW(kw)
-    preprocessArgs!(d)
+    plotattributes = KW(kw)
+    preprocessArgs!(plotattributes)
 
     # create an empty Plot then process
     plt = Plot()
-    # plt.user_attr = d
-    _plot!(plt, d, args)
+    # plt.user_attr = plotattributes
+    _plot!(plt, plotattributes, args)
 end
 
 # build a new plot from existing plots
 # note: we split into plt1 and plts_tail so we can dispatch correctly
 function plot(plt1::Plot, plts_tail::Plot...; kw...)
-    d = KW(kw)
-    preprocessArgs!(d)
+    plotattributes = KW(kw)
+    preprocessArgs!(plotattributes)
 
     # build our plot vector from the args
     n = length(plts_tail) + 1
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ function plot(plt1::Plot, plts_tail::Plot...; kw...)
     end
 
     # compute the layout
-    layout = layout_args(d, n)[1]
+    layout = layout_args(plotattributes, n)[1]
     num_sp = sum([length(p.subplots) for p in plts])
 
     # create a new plot object, with subplot list/map made of existing subplots.
@@ -83,21 +83,21 @@ function plot(plt1::Plot, plts_tail::Plot...; kw...)
     # TODO: build the user_attr dict by creating "Any matrices" for the args of each subplot
 
     # TODO: replace this with proper processing from a merged user_attr KW
-    # update plot args, first with existing plots, then override with d
+    # update plot args, first with existing plots, then override with plotattributes
     for p in plts
         _update_plot_args(plt, copy(p.attr))
         plt.n += p.n
     end
-    _update_plot_args(plt, d)
+    _update_plot_args(plt, plotattributes)
 
     # pass new plot to the backend
     plt.o = _create_backend_figure(plt)
     plt.init = true
 
     series_attr = KW()
-    for (k,v) in d
+    for (k,v) in plotattributes
         if haskey(_series_defaults, k)
-            series_attr[k] = pop!(d,k)
+            series_attr[k] = pop!(plotattributes,k)
         end
     end
 
@@ -118,8 +118,8 @@ function plot(plt1::Plot, plts_tail::Plot...; kw...)
         sp.plt = plt
         sp.attr[:subplot_index] = idx
         for series in serieslist
-            merge!(series.d, series_attr)
-            _add_defaults!(series.d, plt, sp, cmdidx)
+            merge!(series.plotattributes, series_attr)
+            _add_defaults!(series.plotattributes, plt, sp, cmdidx)
             push!(plt.series_list, series)
             _series_added(plt, series)
             cmdidx += 1
@@ -128,12 +128,12 @@ function plot(plt1::Plot, plts_tail::Plot...; kw...)
 
     # first apply any args for the subplots
     for (idx,sp) in enumerate(plt.subplots)
-        _update_subplot_args(plt, sp, d, idx, false)
+        _update_subplot_args(plt, sp, plotattributes, idx, false)
     end
 
     # finish up
     current(plt)
-    _do_plot_show(plt, get(d, :show, default(:show)))
+    _do_plot_show(plt, get(plotattributes, :show, default(:show)))
     plt
 end
 
@@ -152,10 +152,10 @@ end
 
 # this adds to a specific plot... most plot commands will flow through here
 function plot!(plt::Plot, args...; kw...)
-    d = KW(kw)
-    preprocessArgs!(d)
-    # merge!(plt.user_attr, d)
-    _plot!(plt, d, args)
+    plotattributes = KW(kw)
+    preprocessArgs!(plotattributes)
+    # merge!(plt.user_attr, plotattributes)
+    _plot!(plt, plotattributes, args)
 end
 
 # -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ end
 # a list of series KW dicts.
 # note: at entry, we only have those preprocessed args which were passed in... no default values yet
 function _plot!(plt::Plot, plotattributes::KW, args::Tuple)
-    d[:plot_object] = plt
+    plotattributes[:plot_object] = plt
 
     if !isempty(args) && !isdefined(Main, :StatPlots) &&
             first(split(string(typeof(args[1])), ".")) == "DataFrames"
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ function _plot!(plt::Plot, plotattributes::KW, args::Tuple)
     # "USER RECIPES"
     # --------------------------------
 
-    kw_list = _process_userrecipes(plt, d, args)
+    kw_list = _process_userrecipes(plt, plotattributes, args)
 
     # @info(1)
     # map(DD, kw_list)
@@ -202,8 +202,8 @@ function _plot!(plt::Plot, plotattributes::KW, args::Tuple)
     # --------------------------------
     # Plot/Subplot/Layout setup
     # --------------------------------
-    _plot_setup(plt, d, kw_list)
-    _subplot_setup(plt, d, kw_list)
+    _plot_setup(plt, plotattributes, kw_list)
+    _subplot_setup(plt, plotattributes, kw_list)
 
     # !!! note: At this point, kw_list is fully decomposed into individual series... one KW per series.          !!!
     # !!!       The next step is to recursively apply series recipes until the backend supports that series type !!!
diff --git a/src/utils.jl b/src/utils.jl
index fe25ae5f..0db12bc5 100644
--- a/src/utils.jl
+++ b/src/utils.jl
@@ -19,15 +19,15 @@ A hacky replacement for a histogram when the backend doesn't support histograms
 Convert it into a bar chart with the appropriate x/y values.
 """
 function histogramHack(; kw...)
-  d = KW(kw)
+  plotattributes = KW(kw)
 
   # we assume that the y kwarg is set with the data to be binned, and nbins is also defined
-  edges, midpoints, buckets, counts = binData(d[:y], d[:bins])
-  d[:x] = midpoints
-  d[:y] = float(counts)
-  d[:seriestype] = :bar
-  d[:fillrange] = d[:fillrange] == nothing ? 0.0 : d[:fillrange]
-  d
+  edges, midpoints, buckets, counts = binData(plotattributes[:y], plotattributes[:bins])
+  plotattributes[:x] = midpoints
+  plotattributes[:y] = float(counts)
+  plotattributes[:seriestype] = :bar
+  plotattributes[:fillrange] = plotattributes[:fillrange] == nothing ? 0.0 : plotattributes[:fillrange]
+  plotattributes
 end
 
 """
@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ A hacky replacement for a bar graph when the backend doesn't support bars direct
 Convert it into a line chart with fillrange set.
 """
 function barHack(; kw...)
-  d = KW(kw)
-  midpoints = d[:x]
-  heights = d[:y]
-  fillrange = d[:fillrange] == nothing ? 0.0 : d[:fillrange]
+  plotattributes = KW(kw)
+  midpoints = plotattributes[:x]
+  heights = plotattributes[:y]
+  fillrange = plotattributes[:fillrange] == nothing ? 0.0 : plotattributes[:fillrange]
 
   # estimate the edges
   dists = diff(midpoints) * 0.5
@@ -62,11 +62,11 @@ function barHack(; kw...)
     append!(y, [fillrange, heights[i], heights[i], fillrange])
   end
 
-  d[:x] = x
-  d[:y] = y
-  d[:seriestype] = :path
-  d[:fillrange] = fillrange
-  d
+  plotattributes[:x] = x
+  plotattributes[:y] = y
+  plotattributes[:seriestype] = :path
+  plotattributes[:fillrange] = fillrange
+  plotattributes
 end
 
 
@@ -75,33 +75,33 @@ A hacky replacement for a sticks graph when the backend doesn't support sticks d
 Convert it into a line chart that traces the sticks, and a scatter that sets markers at the points.
 """
 function sticksHack(; kw...)
-  dLine = KW(kw)
-  dScatter = copy(dLine)
+  plotattributesLine = KW(kw)
+  plotattributesScatter = copy(plotattributesLine)
 
   # these are the line vertices
   x = Float64[]
   y = Float64[]
-  fillrange = dLine[:fillrange] == nothing ? 0.0 : dLine[:fillrange]
+  fillrange = plotattributesLine[:fillrange] == nothing ? 0.0 : plotattributesLine[:fillrange]
 
   # calculate the vertices
-  yScatter = dScatter[:y]
-  for (i,xi) in enumerate(dScatter[:x])
+  yScatter = plotattributesScatter[:y]
+  for (i,xi) in enumerate(plotattributesScatter[:x])
     yi = yScatter[i]
     for j in 1:3 push!(x, xi) end
     append!(y, [fillrange, yScatter[i], fillrange])
   end
 
   # change the line args
-  dLine[:x] = x
-  dLine[:y] = y
-  dLine[:seriestype] = :path
-  dLine[:markershape] = :none
-  dLine[:fillrange] = nothing
+  plotattributesLine[:x] = x
+  plotattributesLine[:y] = y
+  plotattributesLine[:seriestype] = :path
+  plotattributesLine[:markershape] = :none
+  plotattributesLine[:fillrange] = nothing
 
   # change the scatter args
-  dScatter[:seriestype] = :none
+  plotattributesScatter[:seriestype] = :none
 
-  dLine, dScatter
+  plotattributesLine, plotattributesScatter
 end
 
 function regressionXY(x, y)
@@ -132,8 +132,8 @@ end
 
 function imageHack(plotattributes::KW)
     is_seriestype_supported(:heatmap) || error("Neither :image or :heatmap are supported!")
-    d[:seriestype] = :heatmap
-    d[:z], d[:fillcolor] = replace_image_with_heatmap(d[:z].surf)
+    plotattributes[:seriestype] = :heatmap
+    plotattributes[:z], plotattributes[:fillcolor] = replace_image_with_heatmap(plotattributes[:z].surf)
 end
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -330,14 +330,14 @@ end
 
 function replaceAlias!(plotattributes::KW, k::Symbol, aliases::Dict{Symbol,Symbol})
   if haskey(aliases, k)
-    d[aliases[k]] = pop!(d, k)
+    plotattributes[aliases[k]] = pop!(plotattributes, k)
   end
 end
 
 function replaceAliases!(plotattributes::KW, aliases::Dict{Symbol,Symbol})
-  ks = collect(keys(d))
+  ks = collect(keys(plotattributes))
   for k in ks
-      replaceAlias!(d, k, aliases)
+      replaceAlias!(plotattributes, k, aliases)
   end
 end
 
@@ -347,7 +347,7 @@ Base.first(c::Colorant) = c
 Base.first(x::Symbol) = x
 
 
-sortedkeys(d::Dict) = sort(collect(keys(d)))
+sortedkeys(plotattributes::Dict) = sort(collect(keys(plotattributes)))
 
 
 const _scale_base = Dict{Symbol, Real}(
@@ -432,8 +432,8 @@ isscalar(::Any)  = false
 is_2tuple(v) = typeof(v) <: Tuple && length(v) == 2
 
 
-isvertical(plotattributes::KW) = get(d, :orientation, :vertical) in (:vertical, :v, :vert)
-isvertical(series::Series) = isvertical(series.d)
+isvertical(plotattributes::KW) = get(plotattributes, :orientation, :vertical) in (:vertical, :v, :vert)
+isvertical(series::Series) = isvertical(series.plotattributes)
 
 
 ticksType(ticks::AVec{T}) where {T<:Real}                      = :ticks
@@ -492,8 +492,8 @@ end
 # this is a helper function to determine whether we need to transpose a surface matrix.
 # it depends on whether the backend matches rows to x (transpose_on_match == true) or vice versa
 # for example: PyPlot sends rows to y, so transpose_on_match should be true
-function transpose_z(d, z, transpose_on_match::Bool = true)
-    if d[:match_dimensions] == transpose_on_match
+function transpose_z(plotattributes, z, transpose_on_match::Bool = true)
+    if plotattributes[:match_dimensions] == transpose_on_match
         # z'
         permutedims(z, [2,1])
     else
@@ -812,14 +812,14 @@ function dumpdict(plotattributes::KW, prefix = "", alwaysshow = false)
   if prefix != ""
     println(prefix, ":")
   end
-  for k in sort(collect(keys(d)))
+  for k in sort(collect(keys(plotattributes)))
     @printf("%14s: ", k)
-    debugshow(d[k])
+    debugshow(plotattributes[k])
     println()
   end
   println()
 end
-DD(plotattributes::KW, prefix = "") = dumpdict(d, prefix, true)
+DD(plotattributes::KW, prefix = "") = dumpdict(plotattributes, prefix, true)
 
 
 function dumpcallstack()
@@ -845,25 +845,25 @@ tovec(v::AbstractVector) = v
 tovec(v::Nothing) = zeros(0)
 
 function getxy(plt::Plot, i::Integer)
-    d = plt.series_list[i].d
-    tovec(d[:x]), tovec(d[:y])
+    plotattributes = plt.series_list[i].plotattributes
+    tovec(plotattributes[:x]), tovec(plotattributes[:y])
 end
 function getxyz(plt::Plot, i::Integer)
-    d = plt.series_list[i].d
-    tovec(d[:x]), tovec(d[:y]), tovec(d[:z])
+    plotattributes = plt.series_list[i].plotattributes
+    tovec(plotattributes[:x]), tovec(plotattributes[:y]), tovec(plotattributes[:z])
 end
 
 function setxy!(plt::Plot, xy::Tuple{X,Y}, i::Integer) where {X,Y}
     series = plt.series_list[i]
-    series.d[:x], series.d[:y] = xy
-    sp = series.d[:subplot]
+    series.plotattributes[:x], series.plotattributes[:y] = xy
+    sp = series.plotattributes[:subplot]
     reset_extrema!(sp)
     _series_updated(plt, series)
 end
 function setxyz!(plt::Plot, xyz::Tuple{X,Y,Z}, i::Integer) where {X,Y,Z}
     series = plt.series_list[i]
-    series.d[:x], series.d[:y], series.d[:z] = xyz
-    sp = series.d[:subplot]
+    series.plotattributes[:x], series.plotattributes[:y], series.plotattributes[:z] = xyz
+    sp = series.plotattributes[:subplot]
     reset_extrema!(sp)
     _series_updated(plt, series)
 end
@@ -912,9 +912,9 @@ Base.push!(series::Series, xi, yi, zi) = (push_x!(series,xi); push_y!(series,yi)
 # -------------------------------------------------------
 
 function attr!(series::Series; kw...)
-    d = KW(kw)
-    preprocessArgs!(d)
-    for (k,v) in d
+    plotattributes = KW(kw)
+    preprocessArgs!(plotattributes)
+    for (k,v) in plotattributes
         if haskey(_series_defaults, k)
             series[k] = v
         else
@@ -926,9 +926,9 @@ function attr!(series::Series; kw...)
 end
 
 function attr!(sp::Subplot; kw...)
-    d = KW(kw)
-    preprocessArgs!(d)
-    for (k,v) in d
+    plotattributes = KW(kw)
+    preprocessArgs!(plotattributes)
+    for (k,v) in plotattributes
         if haskey(_subplot_defaults, k)
             sp[k] = v
         else
@@ -1057,9 +1057,9 @@ mm2px(mm::Real)         = float(px / MM_PER_PX)
 
 
 "Smallest x in plot"
-xmin(plt::Plot) = ignorenan_minimum([ignorenan_minimum(series.d[:x]) for series in plt.series_list])
+xmin(plt::Plot) = ignorenan_minimum([ignorenan_minimum(series.plotattributes[:x]) for series in plt.series_list])
 "Largest x in plot"
-xmax(plt::Plot) = ignorenan_maximum([ignorenan_maximum(series.d[:x]) for series in plt.series_list])
+xmax(plt::Plot) = ignorenan_maximum([ignorenan_maximum(series.plotattributes[:x]) for series in plt.series_list])
 
 "Extrema of x-values in plot"
 ignorenan_extrema(plt::Plot) = (xmin(plt), xmax(plt))