diff --git a/R/assign_summary_type.R b/R/assign_summary_type.R
index 8501dcbbb3..59ead89017 100644
--- a/R/assign_summary_type.R
+++ b/R/assign_summary_type.R
@@ -115,13 +115,3 @@ assign_summary_type <- function(data, variables, value, type = NULL, cat_thresho
   NULL
 }
 
-.add_summary_type_as_attr <- function(data, type) {
-  type <- type[names(type) %in% names(data)]
-  type_names <- names(type)
-
-  for (i in seq_along(type)) {
-    attr(data[[type_names[i]]], "gtsummary.type") <- type[[i]]
-  }
-
-  data
-}
diff --git a/R/select_helpers.R b/R/select_helpers.R
index 274ffc7c2b..df3d6f955a 100644
--- a/R/select_helpers.R
+++ b/R/select_helpers.R
@@ -38,13 +38,13 @@ NULL
 all_continuous <- function(continuous2 = TRUE) {
   types <- if (continuous2) c("continuous", "continuous2") else "continuous"
 
-  where(function(x) isTRUE(attr(x, "gtsummary.type") %in% types))
+  where(function(x) isTRUE(attr(x, "gtsummary.summary_type") %in% types))
 }
 
 #' @rdname select_helpers
 #' @export
 all_continuous2 <- function() {
-  where(function(x) isTRUE(attr(x, "gtsummary.type") %in% "continuous2"))
+  where(function(x) isTRUE(attr(x, "gtsummary.summary_type") %in% "continuous2"))
 }
 
 #' @rdname select_helpers
@@ -52,13 +52,13 @@ all_continuous2 <- function() {
 all_categorical <- function(dichotomous = TRUE) {
   types <- if (dichotomous) c("categorical", "dichotomous") else "categorical"
 
-  where(function(x) isTRUE(attr(x, "gtsummary.type") %in% types))
+  where(function(x) isTRUE(attr(x, "gtsummary.summary_type") %in% types))
 }
 
 #' @rdname select_helpers
 #' @export
 all_dichotomous <- function() {
-  where(function(x) isTRUE(attr(x, "gtsummary.type") %in% "dichotomous"))
+  where(function(x) isTRUE(attr(x, "gtsummary.summary_type") %in% "dichotomous"))
 }
 
 # #' @rdname select_helpers
@@ -101,6 +101,7 @@ all_stat_cols <- function(stat_0 = TRUE) {
   }
 }
 
+
 # #' @rdname select_helpers
 # #' @export
 # all_interaction <- broom.helpers::all_interaction
@@ -112,3 +113,60 @@ all_stat_cols <- function(stat_0 = TRUE) {
 # #' @rdname select_helpers
 # #' @export
 # all_contrasts <- broom.helpers::all_contrasts
+
+
+
+#' Table Body Select Prep
+#'
+#' This function uses the information in `.$table_body` and adds them
+#' as attributes to `data` (if passed). Once they've been assigned as
+#' proper gtsummary attributes, gtsummary selectors like `all_continuous()`
+#' will work properly.
+#'
+#' @param table_body a data frame from `.$table_body`
+#' @param data an optional data frame the attributes will be added to
+#'
+#' @return a data frame
+#' @keywords internal
+select_prep <- function(table_body, data = NULL) {
+  # if data not passed, use table_body to construct one
+  if (is.null(data)) {
+    data <- dplyr::tibble(!!!rep_named(table_body$variable, character(0L)))
+  }
+
+  # only keeping rows that have corresponding column names in data
+  table_body <- table_body |> dplyr::filter(.data$variable %in% names(data))
+
+  # if table_body passed, add columns as attr to data
+  if (!is.null(table_body)) {
+    attr_cols <- intersect(names(table_body), c("summary_type", "test_name"))
+    for (v in attr_cols) {
+      df_attr <- table_body[c("variable", v)] |> unique() |> tidyr::drop_na()
+      for (i in seq_len(nrow(df_attr))) {
+        attr(data[[df_attr$variable[i]]], paste0("gtsummary.", v)) <- df_attr[[v]][i]
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  data
+}
+
+
+# converts a named list to a table_body format.
+# the result of this fn will often be passed to `select_prep()`
+#' Convert Named List to Table Body
+#'
+#' Many arguments in 'gtsummary' accept named lists. This function converts
+#' a named list to the `.$table_body` format expected in `select_prep()`
+#'
+#' @param x named list
+#' @param colname string of column name to assign. Default is `caller_arg(x)`
+#'
+#' @return `.$table_body` data frame
+#' @keywords internal
+#' @examples
+#' type <- list(age = "continuous", response = "dichotomous")
+#' gtsummary:::.list2tb(type, "summary_type")
+.list2tb <- function(x, colname = caller_arg(x)) {
+  enframe(unlist(x), "variable", colname)
+}
diff --git a/R/tbl_summary.R b/R/tbl_summary.R
index b4685c4094..111fcaa22b 100644
--- a/R/tbl_summary.R
+++ b/R/tbl_summary.R
@@ -193,58 +193,61 @@ tbl_summary <- function(data,
     # first set default types, so selectors like `all_continuous()` can be used
     # to recast the summary type, e.g. make all continuous type "continuous2"
     default_types <- assign_summary_type(data, include, value)
-    data <- .add_summary_type_as_attr(data, default_types)
     # process the user-passed type argument
-    cards::process_formula_selectors(data = data[include], type = type)
+    cards::process_formula_selectors(
+      data = select_prep(.list2tb(default_types, "summary_type"), data[include]),
+      type = type
+      )
     # fill in any types not specified by user
     type <- utils::modifyList(default_types, type)
   } else {
     type <- assign_summary_type(data, include, value)
   }
-  data <- .add_summary_type_as_attr(data, type)
 
-  value <- .assign_default_values(data[include], value, type)
+  value <-
+    select_prep(.list2tb(type, "summary_type"), data[include]) |>
+    .assign_default_values(value, type)
 
   # evaluate the remaining list-formula arguments ------------------------------
   # processed arguments are saved into this env
-  cards::process_formula_selectors(
-    data = data[include],
-    statistic =
-      .ifelse1(
-        missing(statistic),
-        get_theme_element("TODO:fill-this-in", default = statistic),
-        statistic
-      ),
-    include_env = TRUE
-  )
+  select_prep(.list2tb(type, "summary_type"), data[include]) |>
+    cards::process_formula_selectors(
+      statistic =
+        .ifelse1(
+          missing(statistic),
+          get_theme_element("TODO:fill-this-in", default = statistic),
+          statistic
+        ),
+      include_env = TRUE
+    )
 
   # add the calling env to the statistics
   statistic <- .add_env_to_list_elements(statistic, env = caller_env())
 
-  cards::process_formula_selectors(
-    data = data[include],
-    label = label,
-    sort =
-      .ifelse1(
-        missing(sort),
-        get_theme_element("TODO:fill-this-in", default = sort),
-        sort
-      )
-  )
+  select_prep(.list2tb(type, "summary_type"), data[include]) |>
+    cards::process_formula_selectors(
+      label = label,
+      sort =
+        .ifelse1(
+          missing(sort),
+          get_theme_element("TODO:fill-this-in", default = sort),
+          sort
+        )
+    )
 
-  cards::process_formula_selectors(
-    data = data[include],
-    digits =
-      .ifelse1(
-        is_empty(digits),
-        get_theme_element("TODO:fill-this-in", default = assign_summary_digits(data, statistic, type)),
-        digits
-      )
-  )
+  select_prep(.list2tb(type, "summary_type"), data[include]) |>
+    cards::process_formula_selectors(
+      digits =
+        .ifelse1(
+          is_empty(digits),
+          get_theme_element("TODO:fill-this-in", default = assign_summary_digits(data, statistic, type)),
+          digits
+        )
+    )
 
   # fill in unspecified variables
   cards::fill_formula_selectors(
-    data[include],
+    select_prep(.list2tb(type, "summary_type"), data[include]),
     statistic =
       get_theme_element("TODO:fill-this-in", default = eval(formals(gtsummary::tbl_summary)[["statistic"]])),
     sort =
@@ -256,7 +259,9 @@ tbl_summary <- function(data,
   # fill each element of digits argument
   # TODO: this needs to be updated to account for the scenario where there is a template override that may not fill in all the values
   if (!missing(digits)) {
-    digits <- assign_summary_digits(data[include], statistic, type, digits = digits)
+    digits <-
+      select_prep(.list2tb(type, "summary_type"), data[include]) |>
+      assign_summary_digits(statistic, type, digits = digits)
   }
 
   # check inputs ---------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -271,7 +276,7 @@ tbl_summary <- function(data,
   )
 
   # sort requested columns by frequency
-  data <- .sort_data_infreq(data, sort, type)
+  data <- .sort_data_infreq(data, sort)
 
   # save processed function inputs ---------------------------------------------
   tbl_summary_inputs <- as.list(environment())
@@ -297,7 +302,7 @@ tbl_summary <- function(data,
       },
       # tabulate categorical summaries
       cards::ard_categorical(
-        data,
+        select_prep(.list2tb(type, "summary_type"), data),
         by = all_of(by),
         variables = all_categorical(FALSE),
         fmt_fn = digits,
@@ -306,7 +311,7 @@ tbl_summary <- function(data,
       ),
       # tabulate dichotomous summaries
       cards::ard_dichotomous(
-        data,
+        select_prep(.list2tb(type, "summary_type"), data),
         by = all_of(by),
         variables = all_dichotomous(),
         fmt_fn = digits,
@@ -316,11 +321,13 @@ tbl_summary <- function(data,
       ),
       # calculate categorical summaries
       cards::ard_continuous(
-        data,
+        select_prep(.list2tb(type, "summary_type"), data),
         by = all_of(by),
         variables = all_continuous(),
         statistic =
-          .continuous_statistics_chr_to_fun(statistic[select(data, all_continuous()) |> names()]),
+          .continuous_statistics_chr_to_fun(
+            statistic[select(select_prep(.list2tb(type, "summary_type"), data), all_continuous()) |> names()]
+          ),
         fmt_fn = digits,
         stat_label = ~ default_stat_labels()
       )
@@ -409,7 +416,7 @@ tbl_summary <- function(data,
   )
 }
 
-.sort_data_infreq <- function(data, sort, type) {
+.sort_data_infreq <- function(data, sort) {
   # if no frequency sorts requested, just return data frame
   if (every(sort, function(x) x %in% "alphanumeric")) {
     return(data)
@@ -421,7 +428,7 @@ tbl_summary <- function(data,
     }
   }
 
-  .add_summary_type_as_attr(data, type)
+  data
 }
 
 .construct_summary_footnote <- function(card, include, statistic, type) {
diff --git a/man/dot-list2tb.Rd b/man/dot-list2tb.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..6601a72d61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/dot-list2tb.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/select_helpers.R
+\name{.list2tb}
+\alias{.list2tb}
+\title{Convert Named List to Table Body}
+\usage{
+.list2tb(x, colname = caller_arg(x))
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{x}{named list}
+
+\item{colname}{string of column name to assign. Default is \code{caller_arg(x)}}
+}
+\value{
+\code{.$table_body} data frame
+}
+\description{
+Many arguments in 'gtsummary' accept named lists. This function converts
+a named list to the \code{.$table_body} format expected in \code{select_prep()}
+}
+\examples{
+type <- list(age = "continuous", response = "dichotomous")
+gtsummary:::.list2tb(type, "summary_type")
+}
+\keyword{internal}
diff --git a/man/select_prep.Rd b/man/select_prep.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2623363331
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/select_prep.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/select_helpers.R
+\name{select_prep}
+\alias{select_prep}
+\title{Table Body Select Prep}
+\usage{
+select_prep(table_body, data = NULL)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{table_body}{a data frame from \code{.$table_body}}
+
+\item{data}{an optional data frame the attributes will be added to}
+}
+\value{
+a data frame
+}
+\description{
+This function uses the information in \code{.$table_body} and adds them
+as attributes to \code{data} (if passed). Once they've been assigned as
+proper gtsummary attributes, gtsummary selectors like \code{all_continuous()}
+will work properly.
+}
+\keyword{internal}