diff --git a/Project.toml b/Project.toml
index c233c068..262baba5 100644
--- a/Project.toml
+++ b/Project.toml
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ version = "1.21.1"
 Base64 = "2a0f44e3-6c83-55bd-87e4-b1978d98bd5f"
 Contour = "d38c429a-6771-53c6-b99e-75d170b6e991"
 Dates = "ade2ca70-3891-5945-98fb-dc099432e06a"
+Downloads = "f43a241f-c20a-4ad4-852c-f6b1247861c6"
 FFMPEG = "c87230d0-a227-11e9-1b43-d7ebe4e7570a"
 FixedPointNumbers = "53c48c17-4a7d-5ca2-90c5-79b7896eea93"
 GR = "28b8d3ca-fb5f-59d9-8090-bfdbd6d07a71"
@@ -31,7 +32,6 @@ SparseArrays = "2f01184e-e22b-5df5-ae63-d93ebab69eaf"
 Statistics = "10745b16-79ce-11e8-11f9-7d13ad32a3b2"
 StatsBase = "2913bbd2-ae8a-5f71-8c99-4fb6c76f3a91"
 UUIDs = "cf7118a7-6976-5b1a-9a39-7adc72f591a4"
-Downloads = "f43a241f-c20a-4ad4-852c-f6b1247861c6"
 
 [compat]
 Contour = "0.5"
diff --git a/src/args.jl b/src/args.jl
index e37e3fe2..db33568b 100644
--- a/src/args.jl
+++ b/src/args.jl
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ function hasgrid(arg::Symbol, letter)
         arg in (:all, :both, :on) || occursin(string(letter), string(arg))
     else
         @warn(
-            "Unknown grid argument $arg; $(get_axis_attr(letter, :grid)) was set to `true` instead."
+            "Unknown grid argument $arg; $(get_attr_symbol(letter, :grid)) was set to `true` instead."
         )
         true
     end
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ function showaxis(arg::Symbol, letter)
         arg in (:all, :both, :on, :yes) || occursin(string(letter), string(arg))
     else
         @warn(
-            "Unknown showaxis argument $arg; $(get_axis_attr(letter, :showaxis)) was set to `true` instead."
+            "Unknown showaxis argument $arg; $(get_attr_symbol(letter, :showaxis)) was set to `true` instead."
         )
         true
     end
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ reset_axis_defaults_byletter!()
 
 for letter in (:x, :y, :z), k in keys(_axis_defaults)
     # allow the underscore version too: xguide or x_guide
-    add_aliases(get_axis_attr(letter, k), Symbol(letter, "_", k))
+    add_aliases(get_attr_symbol(letter, k), Symbol(letter, "_", k))
 end
 
 const _all_defaults = KW[_series_defaults, _plot_defaults, _subplot_defaults]
@@ -1216,69 +1216,69 @@ end
 
 function processGridArg!(plotattributes::AKW, arg, letter)
     if arg in _allGridArgs || isa(arg, Bool)
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :grid)] = hasgrid(arg, letter)
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :grid)] = hasgrid(arg, letter)
 
     elseif allStyles(arg)
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :gridstyle)] = arg
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :gridstyle)] = arg
 
     elseif typeof(arg) <: Stroke
         arg.width === nothing ||
-            (plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :gridlinewidth)] = arg.width)
+            (plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :gridlinewidth)] = arg.width)
         arg.color === nothing || (
-            plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :foreground_color_grid)] =
+            plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :foreground_color_grid)] =
                 arg.color in (:auto, :match) ? :match : plot_color(arg.color)
         )
-        arg.alpha === nothing || (plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :gridalpha)] = arg.alpha)
-        arg.style === nothing || (plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :gridstyle)] = arg.style)
+        arg.alpha === nothing || (plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :gridalpha)] = arg.alpha)
+        arg.style === nothing || (plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :gridstyle)] = arg.style)
 
         # linealpha
     elseif allAlphas(arg)
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :gridalpha)] = arg
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :gridalpha)] = arg
 
         # linewidth
     elseif allReals(arg)
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :gridlinewidth)] = arg
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :gridlinewidth)] = arg
 
         # color
-    elseif !handleColors!(plotattributes, arg, get_axis_attr(letter, :foreground_color_grid))
+    elseif !handleColors!(plotattributes, arg, get_attr_symbol(letter, :foreground_color_grid))
         @warn("Skipped grid arg $arg.")
     end
 end
 
 function processMinorGridArg!(plotattributes::AKW, arg, letter)
     if arg in _allGridArgs || isa(arg, Bool)
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :minorgrid)] = hasgrid(arg, letter)
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :minorgrid)] = hasgrid(arg, letter)
 
     elseif allStyles(arg)
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :minorgridstyle)] = arg
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :minorgrid)] = true
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :minorgridstyle)] = arg
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :minorgrid)] = true
 
     elseif typeof(arg) <: Stroke
         arg.width === nothing ||
-            (plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :minorgridlinewidth)] = arg.width)
+            (plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :minorgridlinewidth)] = arg.width)
         arg.color === nothing || (
-            plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :foreground_color_minor_grid)] =
+            plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :foreground_color_minor_grid)] =
                 arg.color in (:auto, :match) ? :match : plot_color(arg.color)
         )
         arg.alpha === nothing ||
-            (plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :minorgridalpha)] = arg.alpha)
+            (plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :minorgridalpha)] = arg.alpha)
         arg.style === nothing ||
-            (plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :minorgridstyle)] = arg.style)
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :minorgrid)] = true
+            (plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :minorgridstyle)] = arg.style)
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :minorgrid)] = true
 
         # linealpha
     elseif allAlphas(arg)
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :minorgridalpha)] = arg
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :minorgrid)] = true
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :minorgridalpha)] = arg
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :minorgrid)] = true
 
         # linewidth
     elseif allReals(arg)
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :minorgridlinewidth)] = arg
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :minorgrid)] = true
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :minorgridlinewidth)] = arg
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :minorgrid)] = true
 
         # color
-    elseif handleColors!(plotattributes, arg, get_axis_attr(letter, :foreground_color_minor_grid))
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :minorgrid)] = true
+    elseif handleColors!(plotattributes, arg, get_attr_symbol(letter, :foreground_color_minor_grid))
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :minorgrid)] = true
     else
         @warn("Skipped grid arg $arg.")
     end
@@ -1344,7 +1344,7 @@ function RecipesPipeline.preprocess_attributes!(plotattributes::AKW)
     end
     # handle axis args
     for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
-        asym = get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)
+        asym = get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)
         args = RecipesPipeline.pop_kw!(plotattributes, asym, ())
         if !(typeof(args) <: Axis)
             for arg in wraptuple(args)
@@ -1371,7 +1371,7 @@ function RecipesPipeline.preprocess_attributes!(plotattributes::AKW)
     end
     # handle individual axes grid args
     for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
-        gridsym = get_axis_attr(letter, :grid)
+        gridsym = get_attr_symbol(letter, :grid)
         args = RecipesPipeline.pop_kw!(plotattributes, gridsym, ())
         for arg in wraptuple(args)
             processGridArg!(plotattributes, arg, letter)
@@ -1386,7 +1386,7 @@ function RecipesPipeline.preprocess_attributes!(plotattributes::AKW)
     end
     # handle individual axes grid args
     for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
-        gridsym = get_axis_attr(letter, :minorgrid)
+        gridsym = get_attr_symbol(letter, :minorgrid)
         args = RecipesPipeline.pop_kw!(plotattributes, gridsym, ())
         for arg in wraptuple(args)
             processMinorGridArg!(plotattributes, arg, letter)
@@ -1397,16 +1397,16 @@ function RecipesPipeline.preprocess_attributes!(plotattributes::AKW)
         args = RecipesPipeline.pop_kw!(plotattributes, fontname, ())
         for arg in wraptuple(args)
             for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
-                processFontArg!(plotattributes, get_axis_attr(letter, fontname), arg)
+                processFontArg!(plotattributes, get_attr_symbol(letter, fontname), arg)
             end
         end
     end
     # handle individual axes font args
     for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
         for fontname in (:tickfont, :guidefont)
-            args = RecipesPipeline.pop_kw!(plotattributes, get_axis_attr(letter, fontname), ())
+            args = RecipesPipeline.pop_kw!(plotattributes, get_attr_symbol(letter, fontname), ())
             for arg in wraptuple(args)
-                processFontArg!(plotattributes, get_axis_attr(letter, fontname), arg)
+                processFontArg!(plotattributes, get_attr_symbol(letter, fontname), arg)
             end
         end
     end
@@ -1415,7 +1415,7 @@ function RecipesPipeline.preprocess_attributes!(plotattributes::AKW)
         if haskey(plotattributes, k) && k !== :link
             v = plotattributes[k]
             for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
-                lk = get_axis_attr(letter, k)
+                lk = get_attr_symbol(letter, k)
                 if !is_explicit(plotattributes, lk)
                     plotattributes[lk] = v
                 end
@@ -1922,7 +1922,7 @@ function _update_axis(
         end
 
         # then get those args that were passed with a leading letter: `xlabel = "X"`
-        lk = get_axis_attr(letter, k)
+        lk = get_attr_symbol(letter, k)
 
         if haskey(plotattributes_in, lk)
             kw[k] = slice_arg(plotattributes_in[lk], subplot_index)
@@ -1980,7 +1980,7 @@ function _update_subplot_args(
     lims_warned = false
     for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
         _update_axis(plt, sp, plotattributes_in, letter, subplot_index)
-        lk = get_axis_attr(letter, :lims)
+        lk = get_attr_symbol(letter, :lims)
 
         # warn against using `Range` in x,y,z lims
         if !lims_warned &&
diff --git a/src/axes.jl b/src/axes.jl
index bce50663..1580f01e 100644
--- a/src/axes.jl
+++ b/src/axes.jl
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ function Axis(sp::Subplot, letter::Symbol, args...; kw...)
 end
 
 function get_axis(sp::Subplot, letter::Symbol)
-    axissym = get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)
+    axissym = get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)
     if haskey(sp.attr, axissym)
         sp.attr[axissym]
     else
@@ -35,40 +35,40 @@ function process_axis_arg!(plotattributes::AKW, arg, letter = "")
     T = typeof(arg)
     arg = get(_scaleAliases, arg, arg)
     if typeof(arg) <: Font
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :tickfont)] = arg
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :guidefont)] = arg
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :tickfont)] = arg
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :guidefont)] = arg
 
     elseif arg in _allScales
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :scale)] = arg
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :scale)] = arg
 
     elseif arg in (:flip, :invert, :inverted)
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :flip)] = true
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :flip)] = true
 
     elseif T <: AbstractString
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :guide)] = arg
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :guide)] = arg
 
         # xlims/ylims
     elseif (T <: Tuple || T <: AVec) && length(arg) == 2
         sym = typeof(arg[1]) <: Number ? :lims : :ticks
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, sym)] = arg
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, sym)] = arg
 
         # xticks/yticks
     elseif T <: AVec
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :ticks)] = arg
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :ticks)] = arg
 
     elseif arg === nothing
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :ticks)] = []
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :ticks)] = []
 
     elseif T <: Bool || arg in _allShowaxisArgs
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :showaxis)] = showaxis(arg, letter)
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :showaxis)] = showaxis(arg, letter)
 
     elseif typeof(arg) <: Number
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :rotation)] = arg
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :rotation)] = arg
 
     elseif typeof(arg) <: Function
-        plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, :formatter)] = arg
+        plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, :formatter)] = arg
 
-    elseif !handleColors!(plotattributes, arg, get_axis_attr(letter, :foreground_color_axis))
+    elseif !handleColors!(plotattributes, arg, get_attr_symbol(letter, :foreground_color_axis))
         @warn("Skipped $(letter)axis arg $arg")
     end
 end
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ for l in (:x, :y, :z)
     end
 end
 # get_ticks from axis symbol :x, :y, or :z
-get_ticks(sp::Subplot, s::Symbol) = get_ticks(sp, sp[get_axis_attr(s, :axis)])
+get_ticks(sp::Subplot, s::Symbol) = get_ticks(sp, sp[get_attr_symbol(s, :axis)])
 get_ticks(p::Plot, s::Symbol) = [get_ticks(sp, s) for sp in p.subplots]
 
 function get_ticks(ticks::Symbol, cvals::T, dvals, args...) where {T}
@@ -393,7 +393,7 @@ end
 
 function reset_extrema!(sp::Subplot)
     for asym in (:x, :y, :z)
-        sp[get_axis_attr(asym, :axis)][:extrema] = Extrema()
+        sp[get_attr_symbol(asym, :axis)][:extrema] = Extrema()
     end
     for series in sp.series_list
         expand_extrema!(sp, series.plotattributes)
@@ -446,7 +446,7 @@ function expand_extrema!(sp::Subplot, plotattributes::AKW)
         )
             data = [NaN]
         end
-        axis = sp[get_axis_attr(letter, "axis")]
+        axis = sp[get_attr_symbol(letter, "axis")]
 
         if isa(data, Volume)
             expand_extrema!(sp[:xaxis], data.x_extents)
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ function expand_extrema!(sp::Subplot, plotattributes::AKW)
             # 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)
-            plotattributes[letter], plotattributes[get_axis_attr(letter, "_discrete_indices")] =
+            plotattributes[letter], plotattributes[get_attr_symbol(letter, "_discrete_indices")] =
                 discrete_value!(axis, data)
             expand_extrema!(axis, plotattributes[letter])
         end
@@ -502,7 +502,7 @@ function expand_extrema!(sp::Subplot, plotattributes::AKW)
                 plotattributes[:bar_width] =
                     _bar_width * ignorenan_minimum(filter(x -> x > 0, diff(sort(data))))
         end
-        axis = sp.attr[get_axis_attr(dsym, :axis)]
+        axis = sp.attr[get_attr_symbol(dsym, :axis)]
         expand_extrema!(axis, ignorenan_maximum(data) + 0.5maximum(bw))
         expand_extrema!(axis, ignorenan_minimum(data) - 0.5minimum(bw))
     end
@@ -511,8 +511,8 @@ function expand_extrema!(sp::Subplot, plotattributes::AKW)
     if plotattributes[:seriestype] == :heatmap
         for letter in (:x, :y)
             data = plotattributes[letter]
-            axis = sp[get_axis_attr(letter, "axis")]
-            scale = get(plotattributes, get_axis_attr(letter, "scale"), :identity)
+            axis = sp[get_attr_symbol(letter, "axis")]
+            scale = get(plotattributes, get_attr_symbol(letter, "scale"), :identity)
             expand_extrema!(axis, heatmap_edges(data, scale))
         end
     end
@@ -586,10 +586,10 @@ end
 function axis_limits(
     sp,
     letter,
-    should_widen = default_should_widen(sp[get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)]),
+    should_widen = default_should_widen(sp[get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)]),
     consider_aspect = true,
 )
-    axis = sp[get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)]
+    axis = sp[get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)]
     ex = axis[:extrema]
     amin, amax = ex.emin, ex.emax
     lims = axis[:lims]
@@ -724,10 +724,10 @@ end
 # compute the line segments which should be drawn for this axis
 function axis_drawing_info(sp, letter)
     # find out which axis we are dealing with
-    asym = get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)
+    asym = get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)
     isy = letter === :y
     oletter = isy ? :x : :y
-    oasym = get_axis_attr(oletter, :axis)
+    oasym = get_attr_symbol(oletter, :axis)
 
     # get axis objects, ticks and minor ticks
     ax, oax = sp[asym], sp[oasym]
@@ -856,9 +856,9 @@ function axis_drawing_info_3d(sp, letter)
     near_letter = letter in (:x, :z) ? :y : :x
     far_letter = letter in (:x, :y) ? :z : :x
 
-    ax = sp[get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)]
-    nax = sp[get_axis_attr(near_letter, :axis)]
-    fax = sp[get_axis_attr(far_letter, :axis)]
+    ax = sp[get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)]
+    nax = sp[get_attr_symbol(near_letter, :axis)]
+    fax = sp[get_attr_symbol(far_letter, :axis)]
 
     amin, amax = axis_limits(sp, letter)
     namin, namax = axis_limits(sp, near_letter)
diff --git a/src/backends.jl b/src/backends.jl
index a5f5cb91..f60550e1 100644
--- a/src/backends.jl
+++ b/src/backends.jl
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ function merge_with_base_supported(v::AVec)
     for vi in v
         if haskey(_axis_defaults, vi)
             for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
-                push!(v, get_axis_attr(letter, vi))
+                push!(v, get_attr_symbol(letter, vi))
             end
         end
     end
diff --git a/src/backends/deprecated/pgfplots.jl b/src/backends/deprecated/pgfplots.jl
index 87530638..471618e0 100644
--- a/src/backends/deprecated/pgfplots.jl
+++ b/src/backends/deprecated/pgfplots.jl
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ end
 # ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 function pgf_axis(sp::Subplot, letter)
-    axis = sp[get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)]
+    axis = sp[get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)]
     style = []
     kw = KW()
 
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ function pgf_axis(sp::Subplot, letter)
     framestyle = pgf_framestyle(sp[:framestyle])
 
     # axis guide
-    kw[get_axis_attr(letter, :label)] = axis[:guide]
+    kw[get_attr_symbol(letter, :label)] = axis[:guide]
 
     # axis label position
     labelpos = ""
@@ -378,7 +378,7 @@ function pgf_axis(sp::Subplot, letter)
     # scale
     scale = axis[:scale]
     if scale in (:log2, :ln, :log10)
-        kw[get_axis_attr(letter, :mode)] = "log"
+        kw[get_attr_symbol(letter, :mode)] = "log"
         scale == :ln || push!(style, "log basis $letter=$(scale == :log2 ? 2 : 10)")
     end
 
@@ -400,8 +400,8 @@ function pgf_axis(sp::Subplot, letter)
         lims =
             ispolar(sp) && letter == :x ? rad2deg.(axis_limits(sp, :x)) :
             axis_limits(sp, letter)
-        kw[get_axis_attr(letter, :min)] = lims[1]
-        kw[get_axis_attr(letter, :max)] = lims[2]
+        kw[get_attr_symbol(letter, :min)] = lims[1]
+        kw[get_attr_symbol(letter, :max)] = lims[2]
     end
 
     if !(axis[:ticks] in (nothing, false, :none, :native)) && framestyle != :none
diff --git a/src/backends/gaston.jl b/src/backends/gaston.jl
index 3fb15b80..ea67b106 100644
--- a/src/backends/gaston.jl
+++ b/src/backends/gaston.jl
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ function gaston_parse_axes_args(
 
     for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
         (letter == :z && dims == 2) && continue
-        axis = sp.attr[get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)]
+        axis = sp.attr[get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)]
         # label names
         push!(
             axesconf,
diff --git a/src/backends/gr.jl b/src/backends/gr.jl
index 2a0657ff..95568e1a 100644
--- a/src/backends/gr.jl
+++ b/src/backends/gr.jl
@@ -681,7 +681,7 @@ function gr_display(plt::Plot, fmt = "")
 end
 
 function gr_set_tickfont(sp, letter)
-    axis = sp[get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)]
+    axis = sp[get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)]
 
     # invalidate alignment changes for small rotations (|θ| < 45°)
     trigger(rot) = abs(sind(rot)) < abs(cosd(rot)) ? 0 : sign(rot)
@@ -1467,7 +1467,7 @@ end
 
 function gr_draw_axis(sp, letter, viewport_plotarea)
     ax = axis_drawing_info(sp, letter)
-    axis = sp[get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)]
+    axis = sp[get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)]
 
     # draw segments
     gr_draw_grid(sp, axis, ax.grid_segments)
@@ -1483,7 +1483,7 @@ end
 
 function gr_draw_axis_3d(sp, letter, viewport_plotarea)
     ax = axis_drawing_info_3d(sp, letter)
-    axis = sp[get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)]
+    axis = sp[get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)]
 
     # draw segments
     gr_draw_grid(sp, axis, ax.grid_segments, gr_polyline3d)
@@ -1564,10 +1564,10 @@ function gr_draw_ticks(sp, axis, segments, func = gr_polyline)
 end
 
 function gr_label_ticks(sp, letter, ticks)
-    axis = sp[get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)]
+    axis = sp[get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)]
     isy = letter === :y
     oletter = isy ? :x : :y
-    oaxis = sp[get_axis_attr(oletter, :axis)]
+    oaxis = sp[get_attr_symbol(oletter, :axis)]
     oamin, oamax = axis_limits(sp, oletter)
     gr_set_tickfont(sp, letter)
     out_factor = ifelse(axis[:tick_direction] === :out, 1.5, 1)
@@ -1588,9 +1588,9 @@ function gr_label_ticks_3d(sp, letter, ticks)
     near_letter = letter in (:x, :z) ? :y : :x
     far_letter = letter in (:x, :y) ? :z : :x
 
-    ax = sp[get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)]
-    nax = sp[get_axis_attr(near_letter, :axis)]
-    fax = sp[get_axis_attr(far_letter, :axis)]
+    ax = sp[get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)]
+    nax = sp[get_attr_symbol(near_letter, :axis)]
+    fax = sp[get_attr_symbol(far_letter, :axis)]
 
     amin, amax = axis_limits(sp, letter)
     namin, namax = axis_limits(sp, near_letter)
@@ -1600,7 +1600,7 @@ function gr_label_ticks_3d(sp, letter, ticks)
     # find out which axes we are dealing with
     i = findfirst(==(letter), (:x, :y, :z))
     letters = axes_shift((:x, :y, :z), 1 - i)
-    asyms = get_axis_attr.(letters, :axis)
+    asyms = get_attr_symbol.(letters, :axis)
 
     # get axis objects, ticks and minor ticks
     # regardless of the `letter` we now use the convention that `x` in variable names refer to
@@ -1637,7 +1637,7 @@ function gr_label_ticks_3d(sp, letter, ticks)
 end
 
 function gr_label_axis(sp, letter, viewport_plotarea)
-    axis = sp[get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)]
+    axis = sp[get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)]
     mirror = axis[:mirror]
     # guide
     if axis[:guide] != ""
@@ -1681,13 +1681,13 @@ function gr_label_axis(sp, letter, viewport_plotarea)
 end
 
 function gr_label_axis_3d(sp, letter)
-    ax = sp[get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)]
+    ax = sp[get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)]
     if ax[:guide] != ""
         near_letter = letter in (:x, :z) ? :y : :x
         far_letter = letter in (:x, :y) ? :z : :x
 
-        nax = sp[get_axis_attr(near_letter, :axis)]
-        fax = sp[get_axis_attr(far_letter, :axis)]
+        nax = sp[get_attr_symbol(near_letter, :axis)]
+        fax = sp[get_attr_symbol(far_letter, :axis)]
 
         amin, amax = axis_limits(sp, letter)
         namin, namax = axis_limits(sp, near_letter)
diff --git a/src/backends/pgfplotsx.jl b/src/backends/pgfplotsx.jl
index 7b7508ce..a7f71329 100644
--- a/src/backends/pgfplotsx.jl
+++ b/src/backends/pgfplotsx.jl
@@ -1194,7 +1194,7 @@ function pgfx_sanitize_plot!(plt)
 end
 # --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 function pgfx_axis!(opt::PGFPlotsX.Options, sp::Subplot, letter)
-    axis = sp[get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)]
+    axis = sp[get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)]
 
     # turn off scaled ticks
     push!(opt, "scaled $(letter) ticks" => "false", string(letter, :label) => axis[:guide])
diff --git a/src/backends/plotly.jl b/src/backends/plotly.jl
index 337d844a..ab09ee80 100644
--- a/src/backends/plotly.jl
+++ b/src/backends/plotly.jl
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ function plotly_close_shapes(x, y)
 end
 
 function plotly_data(series::Series, letter::Symbol, data)
-    axis = series[:subplot][get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)]
+    axis = series[:subplot][get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)]
 
     data = if axis[:ticks] == :native && data !== nothing
         plotly_native_data(axis, data)
diff --git a/src/backends/pyplot.jl b/src/backends/pyplot.jl
index 6e2d6236..a0aeb323 100644
--- a/src/backends/pyplot.jl
+++ b/src/backends/pyplot.jl
@@ -827,11 +827,11 @@ end
 
 function py_set_ticks(sp, ax, ticks, letter, env)
     ticks == :auto && return
-    axis = getproperty(ax, get_axis_attr(letter, "axis"))
+    axis = getproperty(ax, get_attr_symbol(letter, "axis"))
     if ticks == :none || ticks === nothing || ticks == false
         kw = KW()
         for dir in (:top, :bottom, :left, :right)
-            kw[dir] = kw[get_axis_attr(:label, dir)] = false
+            kw[dir] = kw[get_attr_symbol(:label, dir)] = false
         end
         axis."set_tick_params"(; which = "both", kw...)
         return
@@ -887,15 +887,15 @@ function py_set_scale(ax, sp::Subplot, scale::Symbol, letter::Symbol)
     arg = if scale == :identity
         "linear"
     else
-        kw[get_axis_attr(:base, pyletter)] = if scale == :ln
+        kw[get_attr_symbol(:base, pyletter)] = if scale == :ln
             ℯ
         elseif scale == :log2
             2
         elseif scale == :log10
             10
         end
-        axis = sp[get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)]
-        kw[get_axis_attr(:linthresh, pyletter)] =
+        axis = sp[get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)]
+        kw[get_attr_symbol(:linthresh, pyletter)] =
             NaNMath.max(1e-16, py_compute_axis_minval(sp, axis))
         "symlog"
     end
@@ -922,7 +922,7 @@ end
 
 function py_set_axis_colors(sp, ax, a::Axis)
     py_set_spine_color(ax.spines, py_color(a[:foreground_color_border]))
-    axissym = get_axis_attr(a[:letter], :axis)
+    axissym = get_attr_symbol(a[:letter], :axis)
     if PyPlot.PyCall.hasproperty(ax, axissym)
         tickcolor =
             sp[:framestyle] in (:zerolines, :grid) ?
@@ -1193,7 +1193,7 @@ function _before_layout_calcs(plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend})
 
         # axis attributes
         for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
-            axissym = get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)
+            axissym = get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)
             PyPlot.PyCall.hasproperty(ax, axissym) || continue
             axis = sp[axissym]
             pyaxis = getproperty(ax, axissym)
@@ -1327,7 +1327,7 @@ function _before_layout_calcs(plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend})
                 if !ispolar(sp)
                     ax.spines[string(dir)].set_visible(false)
                 end
-                kw[dir] = kw[get_axis_attr(:label, dir)] = false
+                kw[dir] = kw[get_attr_symbol(:label, dir)] = false
             end
             ax."xaxis"."set_tick_params"(; which = "both", kw...)
         end
@@ -1337,7 +1337,7 @@ function _before_layout_calcs(plt::Plot{PyPlotBackend})
                 if !ispolar(sp)
                     ax.spines[string(dir)].set_visible(false)
                 end
-                kw[dir] = kw[get_axis_attr(:label, dir)] = false
+                kw[dir] = kw[get_attr_symbol(:label, dir)] = false
             end
             ax."yaxis"."set_tick_params"(; which = "both", kw...)
         end
diff --git a/src/components.jl b/src/components.jl
index e56a2c44..6786b98e 100644
--- a/src/components.jl
+++ b/src/components.jl
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ function scalefontsizes(factor::Number)
 
     for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
         for k in keys(_initial_ax_fontsizes)
-            scalefontsize(get_axis_attr(letter, k), factor)
+            scalefontsize(get_attr_symbol(letter, k), factor)
         end
     end
 end
@@ -343,9 +343,9 @@ function scalefontsizes()
     for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
         for k in keys(_initial_ax_fontsizes)
             if k in keys(_initial_fontsizes)
-                f = default(get_axis_attr(letter, k))
+                f = default(get_attr_symbol(letter, k))
                 factor = f / _initial_fontsizes[k]
-                scalefontsize(get_axis_attr(letter, k), 1.0 / factor)
+                scalefontsize(get_attr_symbol(letter, k), 1.0 / factor)
             end
         end
     end
diff --git a/src/pipeline.jl b/src/pipeline.jl
index e2b2420a..476b4256 100644
--- a/src/pipeline.jl
+++ b/src/pipeline.jl
@@ -250,12 +250,12 @@ function _subplot_setup(plt::Plot, plotattributes::AKW, kw_list::Vector{KW})
                     v = v[series_idx(kw_list, kw)]
                 end
                 for letter in (:x, :y, :z)
-                    attr[get_axis_attr(letter, k)] = v
+                    attr[get_attr_symbol(letter, k)] = v
                 end
             end
             for k in (:scale,), letter in (:x, :y, :z)
                 # Series recipes may need access to this information
-                lk = get_axis_attr(letter, k)
+                lk = get_attr_symbol(letter, k)
                 if haskey(attr, lk)
                     kw[lk] = attr[lk]
                 end
diff --git a/src/utils.jl b/src/utils.jl
index 6c45dda6..159805fc 100644
--- a/src/utils.jl
+++ b/src/utils.jl
@@ -816,7 +816,7 @@ end
 function extend_series_data!(series::Series, v, letter)
     copy_series!(series, letter)
     d = extend_by_data!(series[letter], v)
-    expand_extrema!(series[:subplot][get_axis_attr(letter, :axis)], d)
+    expand_extrema!(series[:subplot][get_attr_symbol(letter, :axis)], d)
     return d
 end
 
@@ -1215,15 +1215,15 @@ function mesh3d_triangles(x, y, z, cns)
     return X, Y, Z
 end
 
-const _axisattrcache = Dict{Symbol, Dict{Symbol, Symbol}}()
+const _attrsymbolcache = Dict{Symbol, Dict{Symbol, Symbol}}()
 
-get_axis_attr(letter::Symbol, keyword::String) = get_axis_attr(letter, Symbol(keyword))
+get_attr_symbol(letter::Symbol, keyword::String) = get_attr_symbol(letter, Symbol(keyword))
                                                 
-function get_axis_attr(letter::Symbol, keyword::Symbol)
-    lt = if haskey(_axisattrcache, letter)
-        _axisattrcache[letter]
+function get_attr_symbol(letter::Symbol, keyword::Symbol)
+    lt = if haskey(_attrsymbolcache, letter)
+        _attrsymbolcache[letter]
     else
-        _axisattrcache[letter] = Dict{Symbol, Symbol}()
+        _attrsymbolcache[letter] = Dict{Symbol, Symbol}()
     end
 
     lk = if haskey(lt, keyword)