I posted this question to python-help, but I think I have a better chance of getting the answer here. I'm looking for clarification on when NEWLINE tokens are generated during lexical analysis of Python source code. In particular, I'm confused about some of the top-level components in Python's grammar (file_input, interactive_input, and eval_input). Section 2.1.7 of the reference manual states that blank lines (lines consisting only of whitespace and possibly a comment) do not generate NEWLINE tokens. This is supported by the definition of a suite, which does not allow for standalone or consecutive NEWLINE tokens. suite ::= stmt_list NEWLINE | NEWLINE INDENT statement+ DEDENT Yet the grammar for top-level components seems to suggest that a parsable input may consist entirely of a single NEWLINE token, or include consecutive NEWLINE tokens. file_input ::= (NEWLINE | statement)* interactive_input ::= [stmt_list] NEWLINE | compound_stmt NEWLINE eval_input ::= expression_list NEWLINE* To me this seems to contradict section 2.1.7 in so far as I don't see how it's possible to generate such a sequence of tokens. What kind of input would generate NEWLINE tokens in the top-level components of the grammar? Matthew Barnes matthew@barnes.net