diff --git a/include/notcurses.h b/include/notcurses.h
index ccf6ca652..a1132c892 100644
--- a/include/notcurses.h
+++ b/include/notcurses.h
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ typedef struct cell {
   // (values 0--0x7f), or a pointer into a per-ncplane attached pool of
   // varying-length UTF-8 grapheme clusters. This pool may thus be up to 16MB.
   uint32_t gcluster;          // 1 * 4b -> 4b
-  // The classic NCURSES WA_* attributes (16 bits), plus 16 bits of alpha.
+  // The CELL_STYLE_* attributes (16 bits), plus 16 bits of alpha.
   uint32_t attrword;          // + 4b -> 8b
   // (channels & 0x8000000000000000ull): inherit styling from prior cell
   // (channels & 0x4000000000000000ull): foreground is *not* "default color"
@@ -246,19 +246,19 @@ API int ncplane_bg_rgb8(struct ncplane* n, int r, int g, int b);
 
 // Set the specified style bits for the ncplane 'n', whether they're actively
 // supported or not.
-API void ncplane_set_style(struct ncplane* n, unsigned stylebits);
+API void ncplane_styles_set(struct ncplane* n, unsigned stylebits);
 
 // Add the specified styles to the ncplane's existing spec.
-API void ncplane_enable_styles(struct ncplane* n, unsigned stylebits);
+API void ncplane_styles_on(struct ncplane* n, unsigned stylebits);
 
 // Remove the specified styles from the ncplane's existing spec.
-API void ncplane_disable_styles(struct ncplane* n, unsigned stylebits);
+API void ncplane_styles_off(struct ncplane* n, unsigned stylebits);
 
 // Fine details about terminal
 
-// Returns a 16-bit bitmask in the LSBs of supported NCURSES-style attributes
-// (WA_UNDERLINE, WA_BOLD, etc.) The attribute is only indicated as supported
-// if the terminal can support it together with color.
+// Returns a 16-bit bitmask in the LSBs of supported curses-style attributes
+// (CELL_STYLE_UNDERLINE, CELL_STYLE_BOLD, etc.) The attribute is only
+// indicated as supported if the terminal can support it together with color.
 API unsigned notcurses_supported_styles(const struct notcurses* nc);
 
 // Returns the number of colors supported by the palette, or 1 if there is no
@@ -286,13 +286,23 @@ API int cell_duplicate(struct ncplane* n, cell* targ, const cell* c);
 // Release resources held by the cell 'c'.
 API void cell_release(struct ncplane* n, cell* c);
 
-#define CELL_STYLE_MASK 0xffff0000ul
-#define CELL_ALPHA_MASK 0x0000fffful
+#define CELL_STYLE_SHIFT     16u
+#define CELL_STYLE_MASK      0xffff0000ul
+#define CELL_ALPHA_MASK      0x0000fffful
+#define CELL_STYLE_STANDOUT  (0x001u << CELL_STYLE_SHIFT)
+#define CELL_STYLE_UNDERLINE (0x002u << CELL_STYLE_SHIFT)
+#define CELL_STYLE_REVERSE   (0x004u << CELL_STYLE_SHIFT)
+#define CELL_STYLE_BLINK     (0x008u << CELL_STYLE_SHIFT)
+#define CELL_STYLE_DIM       (0x010u << CELL_STYLE_SHIFT)
+#define CELL_STYLE_BOLD      (0x020u << CELL_STYLE_SHIFT)
+#define CELL_STYLE_INVIS     (0x040u << CELL_STYLE_SHIFT)
+#define CELL_STYLE_PROTECT   (0x080u << CELL_STYLE_SHIFT)
+#define CELL_STYLE_ITALIC    (0x100u << CELL_STYLE_SHIFT)
 
 // Set the specified style bits for the cell 'c', whether they're actively
 // supported or not.
 static inline void
-cell_set_style(cell* c, unsigned stylebits){
+cell_styles_set(cell* c, unsigned stylebits){
   c->attrword = (c->attrword & ~CELL_STYLE_MASK) |
                 ((stylebits & 0xffff) << 16u);
 }
@@ -306,13 +316,13 @@ cell_get_style(const cell* c){
 // Add the specified styles (in the LSBs) to the cell's existing spec, whether
 // they're actively supported or not.
 static inline void
-cell_enable_styles(cell* c, unsigned stylebits){
+cell_styles_on(cell* c, unsigned stylebits){
   c->attrword |= ((stylebits & 0xffff) << 16u);
 }
 
 // Remove the specified styles (in the LSBs) from the cell's existing spec.
 static inline void
-cell_disable_styles(cell* c, unsigned stylebits){
+cell_styles_off(cell* c, unsigned stylebits){
   c->attrword &= ~((stylebits & 0xffff) << 16u);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/demo/demo.c b/src/demo/demo.c
index d254c9def..01770d492 100644
--- a/src/demo/demo.c
+++ b/src/demo/demo.c
@@ -145,9 +145,11 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv){
   if(ncplane_cursor_move_yx(ncp, rows / 2, (cols - strlen(str) + 4) / 2)){
     goto err;
   }
+  ncplane_styles_on(ncp, CELL_STYLE_ITALIC);
   if(ncplane_putstr(ncp, str) != (int)strlen(str)){
     goto err;
   }
+  ncplane_styles_off(ncp, CELL_STYLE_ITALIC);
   const wchar_t wstr[] = L"▏▁ ▂ ▃ ▄ ▅ ▆ ▇ █ █ ▇ ▆ ▅ ▄ ▃ ▂ ▁▕";
   char mbstr[128];
   if(wcstombs(mbstr, wstr, sizeof(mbstr)) <= 0){
diff --git a/src/demo/widecolor.c b/src/demo/widecolor.c
index f16b83102..fbe219998 100644
--- a/src/demo/widecolor.c
+++ b/src/demo/widecolor.c
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ message(struct ncplane* n, int maxy, int maxx, int num, int total){
   ncplane_cursor_move_yx(n, 3, 1);
   ncplane_fg_rgb8(n, 255, 255, 255);
   ncplane_bg_rgb8(n, 0, 20, 0);
-  ncplane_set_style(n, WA_BOLD);
+  ncplane_styles_on(n, CELL_STYLE_BOLD);
   if(ncplane_box(n, &ul, &ur, &ll, &lr, &hl, &vl, 5, 54)){
     return -1;
   }
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ message(struct ncplane* n, int maxy, int maxx, int num, int total){
   ncplane_cursor_move_yx(n, 2, 5);
   ncplane_printf(n, " %dx%d (%d/%d) ", maxx, maxy, num, total);
   ncplane_cursor_move_yx(n, 4, 2);
-  ncplane_set_style(n, WA_NORMAL);
+  ncplane_styles_off(n, CELL_STYLE_BOLD);
   ncplane_fg_rgb8(n, 200, 20, 200);
   ncplane_putstr(n, " 🔥wide chars, multiple colors, resize awareness…🔥 ");
   return 0;
@@ -272,7 +272,6 @@ int widecolor_demo(struct notcurses* nc){
         s = strs;
         for(s = strs ; *s ; ++s){
           cell wch = CELL_TRIVIAL_INITIALIZER;
-          cell_set_style(&wch, WA_NORMAL);
           cell_set_fg(&wch, cell_rgb_red(rgb), 255 - cell_rgb_green(rgb),
                       cell_rgb_blue(rgb));
           cell_set_bg(&wch, 64, 64, 64);
diff --git a/src/lib/notcurses.c b/src/lib/notcurses.c
index f64b726a6..d103d9f7a 100644
--- a/src/lib/notcurses.c
+++ b/src/lib/notcurses.c
@@ -972,15 +972,18 @@ int notcurses_palette_size(const notcurses* nc){
   return nc->colors;
 }
 
-void ncplane_enable_styles(ncplane* n, unsigned stylebits){
+// turn on any specified stylebits
+void ncplane_styles_on(ncplane* n, unsigned stylebits){
   n->attrword |= ((stylebits & 0xffff) << 16u);
 }
 
-void ncplane_disable_styles(ncplane* n, unsigned stylebits){
+// turn off any specified stylebits
+void ncplane_styles_off(ncplane* n, unsigned stylebits){
   n->attrword &= ~((stylebits & 0xffff) << 16u);
 }
 
-void ncplane_set_style(ncplane* n, unsigned stylebits){
+// set the current stylebits to exactly those provided
+void ncplane_styles_set(ncplane* n, unsigned stylebits){
   n->attrword = (n->attrword & ~CELL_STYLE_MASK) |
                 ((stylebits & 0xffff) << 16u);
 }
diff --git a/tests/cell.cpp b/tests/cell.cpp
index 7021f21a6..3772c4d30 100644
--- a/tests/cell.cpp
+++ b/tests/cell.cpp
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class CellTest : public :: testing::Test {
 TEST_F(CellTest, SetStyles) {
   cell c;
   memset(&c, 0, sizeof(c));
-  cell_set_style(&c, WA_ITALIC);
+  cell_styles_set(&c, CELL_STYLE_ITALIC);
   ASSERT_EQ(1, cell_load(n_, &c, "s"));
   EXPECT_EQ(0, ncplane_fg_rgb8(n_, 255, 255, 255));
   EXPECT_EQ(1, ncplane_putc(n_, &c));