diff --git a/highlighter.go b/highlighter.go
index 31a9e56..599a772 100644
--- a/highlighter.go
+++ b/highlighter.go
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"regexp"
 	"strings"
 	"unicode/utf8"
-
-	"github.com/dlclark/regexp2"
 )
 
 // RunePos returns the rune index of a given byte index
@@ -62,7 +60,7 @@ func NewHighlighter(def *Def) *Highlighter {
 // color's group (represented as one byte)
 type LineMatch map[int]Group
 
-func findIndex(regex *regexp2.Regexp, str []rune, canMatchStart, canMatchEnd bool) []int {
+func findIndex(regex *regexp.Regexp, skip []*regexp.Regexp, str []rune, canMatchStart, canMatchEnd bool) []int {
 	regexStr := regex.String()
 	if strings.Contains(regexStr, "^") {
 		if !canMatchStart {
@@ -74,12 +72,30 @@ func findIndex(regex *regexp2.Regexp, str []rune, canMatchStart, canMatchEnd boo
 			return nil
 		}
 	}
-	match, _ := regex.FindStringMatch(string(str))
+
+	var strbytes []byte
+	if skip != nil && len(skip) > 0 {
+		for _, r := range skip {
+			if r != nil {
+				strbytes = r.ReplaceAllFunc([]byte(string(str)), func(match []byte) []byte {
+					res := make([]byte, len(match))
+					// for i := 0; i < len(match); i++ {
+					//
+					// }
+					return res
+				})
+			}
+		}
+	} else {
+		strbytes = []byte(string(str))
+	}
+
+	match := regex.FindIndex(strbytes)
 	if match == nil {
 		return nil
 	}
-	return []int{match.Index, match.Index + match.Length}
-	// return []int{runePos(match.Index, string(str)), runePos(match.Index+match.Length, string(str))}
+	// return []int{match.Index, match.Index + match.Length}
+	return []int{runePos(match[0], string(str)), runePos(match[1], string(str))}
 }
 
 func findAllIndex(regex *regexp.Regexp, str []rune, canMatchStart, canMatchEnd bool) [][]int {
@@ -111,7 +127,15 @@ func (h *Highlighter) highlightRegion(highlights LineMatch, start int, canMatchE
 		}
 	}
 
-	loc := findIndex(curRegion.end, line, start == 0, canMatchEnd)
+	skips := make([]*regexp.Regexp, len(curRegion.rules.patterns)+1)
+	for i := range skips {
+		if i != len(skips)-1 {
+			skips[i] = curRegion.rules.patterns[i].regex
+		} else {
+			skips[i] = curRegion.skip
+		}
+	}
+	loc := findIndex(curRegion.end, skips, line, start == 0, canMatchEnd)
 	if loc != nil {
 		if !statesOnly {
 			highlights[start+loc[1]-1] = curRegion.group
@@ -144,7 +168,7 @@ func (h *Highlighter) highlightRegion(highlights LineMatch, start int, canMatchE
 
 	var firstRegion *region
 	for _, r := range curRegion.rules.regions {
-		loc := findIndex(r.start, line, start == 0, canMatchEnd)
+		loc := findIndex(r.start, nil, line, start == 0, canMatchEnd)
 		if loc != nil {
 			if loc[0] < firstLoc[0] {
 				firstLoc = loc
@@ -198,7 +222,7 @@ func (h *Highlighter) highlightEmptyRegion(highlights LineMatch, start int, canM
 	firstLoc := []int{len(line), 0}
 	var firstRegion *region
 	for _, r := range h.Def.rules.regions {
-		loc := findIndex(r.start, line, start == 0, canMatchEnd)
+		loc := findIndex(r.start, nil, line, start == 0, canMatchEnd)
 		if loc != nil {
 			if loc[0] < firstLoc[0] {
 				firstLoc = loc
diff --git a/parser.go b/parser.go
index 95fce74..f1a233d 100644
--- a/parser.go
+++ b/parser.go
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"regexp"
 
-	"github.com/dlclark/regexp2"
-
 	"gopkg.in/yaml.v2"
 )
 
@@ -61,8 +59,9 @@ type rules struct {
 type region struct {
 	group  Group
 	parent *region
-	start  *regexp2.Regexp
-	end    *regexp2.Regexp
+	start  *regexp.Regexp
+	end    *regexp.Regexp
+	skip   *regexp.Regexp
 	rules  *rules
 }
 
@@ -217,18 +216,27 @@ func parseRegion(group string, regionInfo map[interface{}]interface{}, prevRegio
 	region.group = groupNum
 	region.parent = prevRegion
 
-	region.start, err = regexp2.Compile(regionInfo["start"].(string), 0)
+	region.start, err = regexp.Compile(regionInfo["start"].(string))
 
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
-	region.end, err = regexp2.Compile(regionInfo["end"].(string), 0)
+	region.end, err = regexp.Compile(regionInfo["end"].(string))
 
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
 
+	// skip is optional
+	if _, ok := regionInfo["skip"]; ok {
+		region.skip, err = regexp.Compile(regionInfo["skip"].(string))
+
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, err
+		}
+	}
+
 	region.rules, err = parseRules(regionInfo["rules"].([]interface{}), region)
 
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/syntax_files/apacheconf.yaml b/syntax_files/apacheconf.yaml
index 7e852fd..dff8fd2 100644
--- a/syntax_files/apacheconf.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/apacheconf.yaml
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/arduino.yaml b/syntax_files/arduino.yaml
index 65310ca..29765ec 100644
--- a/syntax_files/arduino.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/arduino.yaml
@@ -74,13 +74,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - preproc: "..+"
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
diff --git a/syntax_files/asm.yaml b/syntax_files/asm.yaml
index dd53259..aae47fb 100644
--- a/syntax_files/asm.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/asm.yaml
@@ -90,13 +90,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/awk.yaml b/syntax_files/awk.yaml
index 3c7e051..20b820c 100644
--- a/syntax_files/awk.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/awk.yaml
@@ -24,13 +24,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/c.yaml b/syntax_files/c.yaml
index 0511555..c31125b 100644
--- a/syntax_files/c.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/c.yaml
@@ -27,13 +27,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - preproc: "..+"
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
diff --git a/syntax_files/caddyfile.yaml b/syntax_files/caddyfile.yaml
index b01f648..80c241c 100644
--- a/syntax_files/caddyfile.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/caddyfile.yaml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ rules:
     - constant.specialChar: "^\\s*}$"
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/clojure.yaml b/syntax_files/clojure.yaml
index 4f6f3c4..692f51a 100644
--- a/syntax_files/clojure.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/clojure.yaml
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ rules:
       # String highlighting
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "(\\\\u[0-9A-fa-f]{4,4}|\\\\newline|\\\\space|\\\\tab|\\\\formfeed|\\\\backspace|\\\\return|\\\\.)"
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/cmake.yaml b/syntax_files/cmake.yaml
index 67fdb81..2a13247 100644
--- a/syntax_files/cmake.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/cmake.yaml
@@ -15,13 +15,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/coffeescript.yaml b/syntax_files/coffeescript.yaml
index 5c99d10..c4feca7 100644
--- a/syntax_files/coffeescript.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/coffeescript.yaml
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/conf.yaml b/syntax_files/conf.yaml
index 40362c1..4a10448 100644
--- a/syntax_files/conf.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/conf.yaml
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ detect:
 rules:
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules: []
 
     - comment:
diff --git a/syntax_files/cpp.yaml b/syntax_files/cpp.yaml
index 5c06545..86b3545 100644
--- a/syntax_files/cpp.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/cpp.yaml
@@ -28,13 +28,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - preproc: "..+"
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
diff --git a/syntax_files/crystal.yaml b/syntax_files/crystal.yaml
index c75843f..ae28480 100644
--- a/syntax_files/crystal.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/crystal.yaml
@@ -32,14 +32,14 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialchar: "\\\\."
             - special: "#\\{[^}]*\\}"
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules: []
 
     - comment:
diff --git a/syntax_files/csharp.yaml b/syntax_files/csharp.yaml
index 2f69dce..11088a2 100644
--- a/syntax_files/csharp.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/csharp.yaml
@@ -23,14 +23,14 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\([btnfr]|'|\\\"|\\\\)"
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\u[A-Fa-f0-9]{4}"
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\([btnfr]|'|\\\"|\\\\)"
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\u[A-Fa-f0-9]{4}"
diff --git a/syntax_files/css.yaml b/syntax_files/css.yaml
index f95d46e..d9a328c 100644
--- a/syntax_files/css.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/css.yaml
@@ -24,12 +24,12 @@ rules:
     # Strings
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     - special: "\"|'"
diff --git a/syntax_files/cython.yaml b/syntax_files/cython.yaml
index 01dfad5..844adcf 100644
--- a/syntax_files/cython.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/cython.yaml
@@ -32,13 +32,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/d.yaml b/syntax_files/d.yaml
index 98dd8a4..e7ab369 100644
--- a/syntax_files/d.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/d.yaml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ rules:
     # Character literals
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     # Keywords
@@ -52,13 +52,13 @@ rules:
     # DoubleQuotedString
     - constant.string: 
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules: 
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     # WysiwygString
     - constant.string:
         start: "r\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     - constant.string:
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ rules:
     # HexString
     - constant.string:
         start: "x\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     # DelimitedString
diff --git a/syntax_files/dart.yaml b/syntax_files/dart.yaml
index 1c9b933..43f4caa 100644
--- a/syntax_files/dart.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/dart.yaml
@@ -32,13 +32,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/dockerfile.yaml b/syntax_files/dockerfile.yaml
index e3efa60..f75b400 100644
--- a/syntax_files/dockerfile.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/dockerfile.yaml
@@ -22,13 +22,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/dot.yaml b/syntax_files/dot.yaml
index 2b71187..24e1567 100644
--- a/syntax_files/dot.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/dot.yaml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/fish.yaml b/syntax_files/fish.yaml
index 416a145..6806cc7 100644
--- a/syntax_files/fish.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/fish.yaml
@@ -29,13 +29,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules: []
 
     - comment:
diff --git a/syntax_files/fortran.yaml b/syntax_files/fortran.yaml
index 956db2c..5b99a18 100644
--- a/syntax_files/fortran.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/fortran.yaml
@@ -43,13 +43,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/gdscript.yaml b/syntax_files/gdscript.yaml
index 2b721a7..3aa81e5 100644
--- a/syntax_files/gdscript.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/gdscript.yaml
@@ -46,13 +46,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\([0-7]{3}|x[A-Fa-f0-9]{2}|u[A-Fa-f0-9]{4}|U[A-Fa-f0-9]{8})"
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\([0-7]{3}|x[A-Fa-f0-9]{2}|u[A-Fa-f0-9]{4}|U[A-Fa-f0-9]{8})"
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/gentoo-ebuild.yaml b/syntax_files/gentoo-ebuild.yaml
index 763a3fb..c1cdd31 100644
--- a/syntax_files/gentoo-ebuild.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/gentoo-ebuild.yaml
@@ -28,13 +28,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/go.yaml b/syntax_files/go.yaml
index ede5555..95c5a51 100644
--- a/syntax_files/go.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/go.yaml
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
+        skip: "\\\\."
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "%."
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\[abfnrtv'\\\"\\\\]"
@@ -37,7 +38,8 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
+        skip: "\\\\."
         rules:
             - error: "..+"
             - constant.specialChar: "%."
diff --git a/syntax_files/golo.yaml b/syntax_files/golo.yaml
index 269360e..8ff7262 100644
--- a/syntax_files/golo.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/golo.yaml
@@ -47,13 +47,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/haskell.yaml b/syntax_files/haskell.yaml
index a71646a..aa3eb00 100644
--- a/syntax_files/haskell.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/haskell.yaml
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ rules:
       # Strings
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/html.yaml b/syntax_files/html.yaml
index c80bd74..d4915c9 100644
--- a/syntax_files/html.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/html.yaml
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules: []
 
     - default:
diff --git a/syntax_files/java.yaml b/syntax_files/java.yaml
index 10719aa..2327187 100644
--- a/syntax_files/java.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/java.yaml
@@ -12,13 +12,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - preproc: "..+"
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
diff --git a/syntax_files/javascript.yaml b/syntax_files/javascript.yaml
index 665d4af..79afd3e 100644
--- a/syntax_files/javascript.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/javascript.yaml
@@ -21,13 +21,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/json.yaml b/syntax_files/json.yaml
index 3b1c0d4..e10f7f5 100644
--- a/syntax_files/json.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/json.yaml
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ rules:
     - constant: "\\b(true|false)\\b"
     - constant.string: 
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     - statement: "\\\"(\\\\\"|[^\"])*\\\"[[:space:]]*:\"  \"'(\\'|[^'])*'[[:space:]]*:"
diff --git a/syntax_files/keymap.yaml b/syntax_files/keymap.yaml
index ca953b3..50aad50 100644
--- a/syntax_files/keymap.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/keymap.yaml
@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@ rules:
     - special: "="
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     - comment:
diff --git a/syntax_files/lilypond.yaml b/syntax_files/lilypond.yaml
index b336cfd..2938188 100644
--- a/syntax_files/lilypond.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/lilypond.yaml
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ rules:
     - special: "[(){}<>]|\\[|\\]"
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     - comment:
diff --git a/syntax_files/lua.yaml b/syntax_files/lua.yaml
index b02233c..d8c6802 100644
--- a/syntax_files/lua.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/lua.yaml
@@ -26,13 +26,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/makefile.yaml b/syntax_files/makefile.yaml
index 7efe352..86af21d 100644
--- a/syntax_files/makefile.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/makefile.yaml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     - identifier: "\\$+(\\{[^} ]+\\}|\\([^) ]+\\))"
diff --git a/syntax_files/micro.yaml b/syntax_files/micro.yaml
index 16ebac5..4c53da8 100644
--- a/syntax_files/micro.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/micro.yaml
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ rules:
         rules: []
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     - constant.number: "#[0-9 A-F a-f]+"
diff --git a/syntax_files/objc.yaml b/syntax_files/objc.yaml
index a099d2b..5644ac7 100644
--- a/syntax_files/objc.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/objc.yaml
@@ -34,13 +34,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "@\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/pascal.yaml b/syntax_files/pascal.yaml
index 5628119..69795ee 100644
--- a/syntax_files/pascal.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/pascal.yaml
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     - preproc:
diff --git a/syntax_files/python2.yaml b/syntax_files/python2.yaml
index a28b81b..f702c15 100644
--- a/syntax_files/python2.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/python2.yaml
@@ -41,13 +41,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/python3.yaml b/syntax_files/python3.yaml
index 8c200cd..8fc05af 100644
--- a/syntax_files/python3.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/python3.yaml
@@ -40,13 +40,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/rust.yaml b/syntax_files/rust.yaml
index 3c61e51..4347260 100644
--- a/syntax_files/rust.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/rust.yaml
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/scala.yaml b/syntax_files/scala.yaml
index bbbbfee..ec10cde 100644
--- a/syntax_files/scala.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/scala.yaml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ rules:
     - statement: "\\b(def|object|case|trait|lazy|implicit|abstract|class|extends|final|implements|import|instanceof|interface|native|package|private|protected|public|static|strictfp|super|synchronized|throws|volatile|sealed)\\b"
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     - constant: "\\b(true|false|null)\\b"
diff --git a/syntax_files/sh.yaml b/syntax_files/sh.yaml
index 255f9ef..88f7203 100644
--- a/syntax_files/sh.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/sh.yaml
@@ -25,13 +25,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules: []
 
     - comment:
diff --git a/syntax_files/solidity.yaml b/syntax_files/solidity.yaml
index d8b220c..4f5ea54 100644
--- a/syntax_files/solidity.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/solidity.yaml
@@ -28,12 +28,12 @@ rules:
     - todo: "TODO:?"
     - constant.string: 
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/swift.yaml b/syntax_files/swift.yaml
index 6b50190..abaee1a 100644
--- a/syntax_files/swift.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/swift.yaml
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/toml.yaml b/syntax_files/toml.yaml
index e123802..1018324 100644
--- a/syntax_files/toml.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/toml.yaml
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/typescript.yaml b/syntax_files/typescript.yaml
index bead19a..12b4037 100644
--- a/syntax_files/typescript.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/typescript.yaml
@@ -31,12 +31,12 @@ rules:
             - todo: "TODO:?"
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
     
diff --git a/syntax_files/vi.yaml b/syntax_files/vi.yaml
index 84020ef..faac7cf 100644
--- a/syntax_files/vi.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/vi.yaml
@@ -12,13 +12,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/yaml.yaml b/syntax_files/yaml.yaml
index 47ad272..63f28bf 100644
--- a/syntax_files/yaml.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/yaml.yaml
@@ -16,13 +16,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
diff --git a/syntax_files/zsh.yaml b/syntax_files/zsh.yaml
index 0bc0043..1d5e754 100644
--- a/syntax_files/zsh.yaml
+++ b/syntax_files/zsh.yaml
@@ -35,13 +35,13 @@ rules:
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "\""
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)\""
+        end: "\""
         rules:
             - constant.specialChar: "\\\\."
 
     - constant.string:
         start: "'"
-        end: "(?<!\\\\)'"
+        end: "'"
         rules: []
 
     - comment: