diff --git a/library/syntax/parse-syntax.factor b/library/syntax/parse-syntax.factor
index e27e0dd86b..8987f3a3d6 100644
--- a/library/syntax/parse-syntax.factor
+++ b/library/syntax/parse-syntax.factor
@@ -7,9 +7,14 @@ USING: alien arrays errors generic hashtables kernel lists math
 namespaces parser sequences strings syntax vectors
 words ;
 
-: ( CHAR: ) ch-search until ; parsing
-: ! until-eol ; parsing
-: #! until-eol ; parsing
+: (
+    CHAR: ) column [
+        line-text get index* dup -1 =
+        [ "Unterminated (" throw ] when 1+
+    ] change ; parsing
+
+: ! line-text get length column set ; parsing
+: #! POSTPONE: ! ; parsing
 : IN: scan set-in ; parsing
 : USE: scan use+ ; parsing
 : USING: string-mode on [ string-mode off add-use ] f ; parsing
diff --git a/library/syntax/parser.factor b/library/syntax/parser.factor
index 15292062bc..c98cd79172 100644
--- a/library/syntax/parser.factor
+++ b/library/syntax/parser.factor
@@ -84,12 +84,6 @@ SYMBOL: string-mode
 : (parse) ( str -- ) line-text set 0 column set parse-loop ;
 
 ! Parsing word utilities
-: ch-search ( ch -- index ) column get line-text get index* ;
-
-: until ( index -- ) 1+ column set ;
-
-: until-eol ( -- ) line-text get length until ;
-
 : escape ( ch -- esc )
     H{
         { CHAR: e  CHAR: \e }