diff --git a/src/main/scala/dsls/regex/Program.scala b/src/main/scala/dsls/regex/Program.scala
index 38a0302..ae119c2 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/dsls/regex/Program.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/dsls/regex/Program.scala
@@ -1,24 +1,28 @@
 package dsls.regex
 
+import scala.language.postfixOps
+
 object Program extends App {
   
+  import RegularExpression._
+  
   /****************************************************************************
-   * TODO: Extend characters to support regular expressions
+   * Extend characters to support regular expressions
    * 
    * Make it possible to replace the definition of the numbers with:
    *   val zero = '0'
    * etc.
    ***************************************************************************/
-  val zero  = Literal('0')
-  val one   = Literal('1')
-  val two   = Literal('2')
-  val three = Literal('3')
-  val four  = Literal('4')
-  val five  = Literal('5')
-  val six   = Literal('6')
-  val seven = Literal('7')
-  val eight = Literal('8')
-  val nine  = Literal('9')
+  val zero  = '0'
+  val one   = '1'
+  val two   = '2'
+  val three = '3'
+  val four  = '4'
+  val five  = '5'
+  val six   = '6'
+  val seven = '7'
+  val eight = '8'
+  val nine  = '9'
   
   require(zero matches "0")
   require(one matches "1")
@@ -32,23 +36,22 @@ object Program extends App {
   require(nine matches "9")
   
   /****************************************************************************
-   * TODO: Extend strings to support regular expressions
+   * Extend strings to support regular expressions
    * 
    * Make it possible to replace the definition of answer with:
    *   val answer = "42"
    ***************************************************************************/
-  val answer = Concat(four, two)
+  val answer = "42"
 
   require(answer matches "42")
               
   /****************************************************************************
-   * TODO: Add the union operator for regular expressions
+   * Add the union operator for regular expressions
    * 
    * Make it possible to replace the definition of digit with:
    *   val digit = '0' || '1' || '2' || '3' || '4' || '5' || '6' || '7' || '8' || '9' 
    ***************************************************************************/
-  val digit = Union(zero, Union(one, Union(two, Union(three, Union(four, 
-              Union(five, Union(six, Union(seven, Union(eight, nine)))))))))
+  val digit = '0' || '1' || '2' || '3' || '4' || '5' || '6' || '7' || '8' || '9' 
 
   require(digit matches "0")
   require(digit matches "1")
@@ -62,22 +65,22 @@ object Program extends App {
   require(digit matches "9")      
 
   /****************************************************************************
-   * TODO: Add the concatenation operator for regular expressions
+   * Add the concatenation operator for regular expressions
    * 
    * Make it possible to replace the definition of digit with:
    *   val pi = '3' ~ '1' ~ '4'
    ***************************************************************************/
-  val pi = Concat(Literal('3'), Concat(Literal('1'), Literal('4')))
+  val pi = '3' ~ '1' ~ '4'
 
   require(pi matches "314")
   
   /****************************************************************************
-   * TODO: Add the star operator for regular expressions
+   * Add the star operator for regular expressions
    * 
    * Make it possible to replace the definition of zeroOrMoreDigits with:
    *   val zeroOrMoreDigits = digit <*>
    ***************************************************************************/
-  val zeroOrMoreDigits = Star(digit)
+  val zeroOrMoreDigits = digit <*>
   
   require(zeroOrMoreDigits matches "")
   require(zeroOrMoreDigits matches "0")
@@ -89,9 +92,9 @@ object Program extends App {
    * TODO: Add the plus operator for regular expressions
    * 
    * Make it possible to replace the definition of number with:
-   *   val number = digit <+> 
+   *   val number = digit <+>
    ***************************************************************************/
-  val number = Concat(digit, zeroOrMoreDigits)
+  val number = digit <+>
   
   require(!(number matches ""))
   require(number matches "0")
@@ -99,13 +102,13 @@ object Program extends App {
   require(number matches "09")
   require(number matches "987651234")
 
-  /****************************************************************************
-   * TODO: Add the repetition operator for regular expressions
+   /****************************************************************************
+   * Add the repetition operator for regular expressions
    * 
    * Make it possible to replace the definition of cThree with:
    *    val cThree = 'c'{3}
    ***************************************************************************/
-  val cThree = Concat(Literal('c'), Concat(Literal('c'), Literal('c')))
+  val cThree = 'c'{3}
   
   require(cThree matches "ccc")
   
@@ -115,9 +118,7 @@ object Program extends App {
    * the following several definitions with:
    *   val pattern = "42" || ( ('a' <*>) ~ ('b' <+>) ~ ('c'{3}))
    ***************************************************************************/
-  val aStar = Star(Literal('a'))
-  val bPlus = Concat(Literal('b'), Star(Literal('b')))
-  val pattern = Union(answer, Concat(aStar, Concat(bPlus, cThree)))
+  val pattern = "42" || ( ('a' <*>) ~ ('b' <+>) ~ ('c'{3}))
   
   require(pattern matches "42")
   require(pattern matches "bccc")
@@ -133,13 +134,7 @@ object Program extends App {
    * the following several definitions with:
    *   val helloworld = ("hello" <*>) ~ "world"
    ***************************************************************************/
-  val hello = Concat(Literal('h'), Concat(Literal('e'), Concat(Literal('l'), 
-              Concat(Literal('l'), Literal('o'))))) 
-  
-  val world = Concat(Literal('w'), Concat(Literal('o'), Concat(Literal('r'), 
-              Concat(Literal('l'), Literal('d'))))) 
-
-  val helloworld = Concat(Star(hello), world)
+  val helloworld = ("hello" <*>) ~ "world"
   
   require(helloworld matches "helloworld")
   require(helloworld matches "world")
@@ -152,10 +147,7 @@ object Program extends App {
    * the following several definitions with:
    *   val telNumber = '(' ~ digit{3} ~ ')' ~ digit{3} ~ '-' ~ digit{4}
    ***************************************************************************/
-  val threeDigits = Concat(digit, Concat(digit, digit))
-  val fourDigits = Concat(threeDigits, digit)
-  val areaCode = Concat(Literal('('), Concat(threeDigits, Literal(')')))
-  val telNumber = Concat(areaCode, Concat(threeDigits, Concat(Literal('-'), fourDigits)))
+  val telNumber = '(' ~ digit{3} ~ ')' ~ digit{3} ~ '-' ~ digit{4}
   
   require(telNumber matches "(202)456-1111")
 }
diff --git a/src/main/scala/dsls/regex/RegexMatcher.scala b/src/main/scala/dsls/regex/RegexMatcher.scala
index c644967..d0fee15 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/dsls/regex/RegexMatcher.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/dsls/regex/RegexMatcher.scala
@@ -1,12 +1,27 @@
 package dsls.regex
 
+import scala.language.implicitConversions
+
 object RegexMatcher {
+  import RegularExpression._   // might as well take advantage of the DSL :)
+  
+  // add a bit more DSL-ness (this definitely crosses the border of ridiculous)
+  // but it lets us say:
+  //    ε ∈ language
+  // and
+  //    ε ∉ language
+  object EpsilonChecker {
+    def ∈(language: RegularExpression) = matchesEpsilon(language)
+    def ∉(language: RegularExpression) = !(matchesEpsilon(language)) 
+  }
+  implicit def epsilonToChecker(e: ε.type) = EpsilonChecker
+  
   /**
    * returns true if the given string matches the given pattern
    */
   def matches(string: String, pattern: RegularExpression): Boolean = 
     if (string.isEmpty)
-      matchesEpsilon(pattern)
+      ε ∈ pattern
     else 
       matches(string.tail, ∂(string.head, pattern))      
 
@@ -23,32 +38,32 @@ object RegexMatcher {
    *     
    *     ∂c( {d} ) = {ε} if c = d; ∅ otherwise
    *     
-   *     ∂c( L1 ∪ L2 ) = ∂c( L1 ) ∪ ∂c( L2 )
+   *     ∂c( l1 ∪ l2 ) = ∂c( l1 ) ∪ ∂c( l2 )
    *     
-   *     ∂c( L1 ⋅ L2 ) = ∂c( L1 ) ⋅ L2              if ε ∉ L1 
-   *                    (∂c( L1 ) ⋅ L2) ∪ ∂c( L2 )  otherwise
+   *     ∂c( l1 ⋅ l2 ) = ∂c( l1 ) ⋅ l2              if ε ∉ l1 
+   *                    (∂c( l1 ) ⋅ l2) ∪ ∂c( l2 )  otherwise
    *                    
-   *     ∂c( L* ) = ∂c( L ) ⋅ L*
+   *     ∂c( l* ) = ∂c( l ) ⋅ l*
    */
   def ∂(c: Char, pattern: RegularExpression): RegularExpression = 
     pattern match {
-        case EMPTY | EPSILON ⇒ EMPTY        
-        case Literal(d)      ⇒ if (c == d) EPSILON else EMPTY
-        case Union(l1, l2)   ⇒ Union(∂(c, l1), ∂(c, l2))
-        case Concat(l1, l2)  ⇒ if (!matchesEpsilon(l1)) 
-                                  Concat(∂(c, l1), l2)
+        case `∅` | `ε`       ⇒ ∅        
+        case Literal(d)      ⇒ if (c == d) ε else ∅
+        case l1 ∪ l2         ⇒ ∂(c, l1) ∪ ∂(c, l2)
+        case l1 ⋅ l2         ⇒ if (ε ∉ l1)
+                                  ∂(c, l1) ⋅ l2
                                 else
-                                  Union(Concat(∂(c, l1),  l2), ∂(c, l2))
-        case Star(expr)      ⇒ Concat(∂(c, expr),  pattern)
+                                  (∂(c, l1) ⋅ l2) ∪ ∂(c, l2)
+        case Star(l)         ⇒ ∂(c, l) ⋅ pattern
     }
 
   /**
    * returns true if the empty string matches the pattern
    */
   def matchesEpsilon(pattern: RegularExpression): Boolean = pattern match {
-    case EPSILON | Star(_) ⇒ true
-    case Union(a, b)   ⇒ matchesEpsilon(a) || matchesEpsilon(b)
-    case Concat(a, b)  ⇒ matchesEpsilon(a) && matchesEpsilon(b)
+    case `ε` | Star(_) ⇒ true
+    case a ∪ b         ⇒ (ε ∈ a) || (ε ∈ b)
+    case a ⋅ b         ⇒ (ε ∈ a) && (ε ∈ b)
     case _             ⇒ false
   }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/main/scala/dsls/regex/RegularExpression.scala b/src/main/scala/dsls/regex/RegularExpression.scala
index 199fe1e..7fc90d3 100644
--- a/src/main/scala/dsls/regex/RegularExpression.scala
+++ b/src/main/scala/dsls/regex/RegularExpression.scala
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 package dsls.regex
 
+import scala.language.implicitConversions
+import scala.language.postfixOps
+
 /**
  * Modify this file to implement an internal DSL for regular expressions. 
  * 
@@ -11,6 +14,32 @@ package dsls.regex
 abstract class RegularExpression {
   /** returns true if the given string matches this regular expression */
   def matches(string: String) = RegexMatcher.matches(string, this)
+  def matches(char: Char) = RegexMatcher.matches(char.toString, this)
+  
+  /** the union operator */
+  def ||(other: RegularExpression) = Union(this, other)
+  def ∪(other: RegularExpression) = this || other
+  
+  /** the concatenation operator */
+  def ~(other: RegularExpression) = Concat(this, other)
+  def ⋅(other: RegularExpression) = this ~ other
+  
+  /** the star operator (zero or more repetitions) */
+  def <*> = Star(this)
+  def * = this <*>
+
+  /** the plus operator (one or more repetitions) */
+  def <+> = this ~ (this <*>)
+  def + = this <+>
+
+  /** the repetition operator (n repetitions) */
+  def apply(n: Int): RegularExpression = {
+    require(n >= 0)
+    if (n == 0)
+      EPSILON
+    else
+      this ~ this{n - 1}
+  }
 }
 
 /** a regular expression that matches nothing */
@@ -34,3 +63,54 @@ case class Concat(val left: RegularExpression, val right: RegularExpression)
  *  expression
  */
 case class Star(val expression: RegularExpression) extends RegularExpression
+
+/**
+ * A companion object that extends chars and strings to regexes
+ * (and adds other sugar)
+ */
+object RegularExpression {
+  // convert characters to regular expressions
+  implicit def charToRegex(c: Char): RegularExpression = Literal(c)
+
+  // convert strings to regular expressions
+  implicit def stringToRegex(s: String): RegularExpression = {
+    val chars: List[RegularExpression] = s.toList map Literal
+    val initial: RegularExpression = EPSILON
+    (chars :\ initial)(Concat)
+  }
+  
+  // syntactic sugar
+  val ε : RegularExpression = EPSILON
+  val ∅ : RegularExpression = EMPTY
+  
+  // this might be too ridiculous, but it lets us say:
+  //   string ∈ pattern   or   char ∈ pattern
+  // and
+  //   string ∉ pattern   or   char ∉ pattern
+  case class Flipper(s: String) {
+    def ∈(pattern: RegularExpression) = pattern matches s
+    def ∉(pattern: RegularExpression) = !(pattern matches s) 
+  }
+  implicit def stringToMatcher(s: String) = Flipper(s)
+  implicit def charToMatcher(c: Char) = Flipper(c.toString)
+  
+  // this bit lets us pattern-match on unions, using the binary operators
+  object || {
+    def unapply(arg: Union): Option[(RegularExpression, RegularExpression)] = 
+      Some(arg.left, arg.right)
+  }
+  object ∪ {
+    def unapply(arg: Union): Option[(RegularExpression, RegularExpression)] = 
+      Some(arg.left, arg.right)
+  }
+  
+  // this bit lets us pattern-match on concatenations, using the binary operators
+  object ~ {
+    def unapply(arg: Concat): Option[(RegularExpression, RegularExpression)] = 
+      Some(arg.left, arg.right)
+  }
+  object ⋅ {
+    def unapply(arg: Concat): Option[(RegularExpression, RegularExpression)] = 
+      Some(arg.left, arg.right)
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/test/scala/dsls/regex/RegexCheck.scala b/src/test/scala/dsls/regex/RegexCheck.scala
index 995bd32..b118976 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/dsls/regex/RegexCheck.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/dsls/regex/RegexCheck.scala
@@ -3,32 +3,34 @@ package dsls.regex
 import org.scalacheck._
 import Prop.forAll
 
+import scala.language.postfixOps
+
 /**
  * These tests are to make sure that the pattern-matching algorithm works.
  * 
  * BUT: you can modify these tests to use your internal DSL!
  */
 object RegexCheck extends Properties("Regex") {
-  property("empty") = forAll { s: String ⇒ !(EMPTY matches s) }
+  import RegularExpression._
+  
+  property("empty") = forAll { s: String ⇒ s ∉ ∅ }
   
-  property("literals") = forAll { c: Char ⇒ Literal(c) matches c.toString }
+  property("literals") = forAll { c: Char ⇒ c matches c }
   
   property("concat") = forAll { (c1: Char, c2: Char) ⇒ 
-    Concat(Literal(c1), Literal(c2)) matches (c1.toString + c2.toString) 
+    (c1 ⋅ c2) matches (c1.toString + c2.toString) 
   }
   
   property("union") = forAll { (c1: Char, c2: Char) ⇒ 
-    val pattern = Union(Literal(c1), Literal(c2)) 
-    (pattern matches c1.toString) && (pattern matches c2.toString)  
+    val union = c1 ∪ c2
+    (c1 ∈ union) && (c2 ∈ union)
   }
   
   property("star") = forAll { c: Char ⇒ 
-    val pattern = Star(Literal(c)) 
-    (pattern matches "") && (pattern matches c.toString) && 
+    val pattern = (c <*>) 
+    (pattern matches "") && (pattern matches c) && 
       (pattern matches c.toString * 3) 
   }
   
-  property("epsilon*") = forAll { c: Char ⇒ 
-    !(Star(EPSILON) matches c.toString)
-  }
+  property("epsilon*") = forAll { c: Char ⇒ c ∉ (ε *) } 
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/test/scala/dsls/regex/RegexSuite.scala b/src/test/scala/dsls/regex/RegexSuite.scala
index 830a65d..ba73cab 100644
--- a/src/test/scala/dsls/regex/RegexSuite.scala
+++ b/src/test/scala/dsls/regex/RegexSuite.scala
@@ -3,12 +3,16 @@ package dsls.regex
 import org.scalatest.FunSuite
 import org.scalatest.Matchers
 
+import scala.language.postfixOps
+
 class RegexSuite extends FunSuite with Matchers {
-   test("epsilon") {
-     (EPSILON matches "") should be (true)
-   }
-   
-   test("epsilon*") {
-     (Star(EPSILON) matches "") should be (true)
-   }
+  import RegularExpression._
+
+  test("epsilon") {
+    (ε matches "") should be (true)
+  }
+
+  test("epsilon*") {
+    ((ε *) matches "") should be (true)
+  }
 }
\ No newline at end of file