diff --git a/mercurial/revset.py b/mercurial/revset.py
--- a/mercurial/revset.py
+++ b/mercurial/revset.py
@@ -334,11 +334,6 @@ def stringset(repo, subset, x):
         return baseset([x])
     return baseset()
 
-def symbolset(repo, subset, x):
-    if x in symbols:
-        raise error.ParseError(_("can't use %s here") % x)
-    return stringset(repo, subset, x)
-
 def rangeset(repo, subset, x, y):
     m = getset(repo, fullreposet(repo), x)
     n = getset(repo, fullreposet(repo), y)
@@ -2088,7 +2083,7 @@ methods = {
     "range": rangeset,
     "dagrange": dagrange,
     "string": stringset,
-    "symbol": symbolset,
+    "symbol": stringset,
     "and": andset,
     "or": orset,
     "not": notset,
diff --git a/tests/test-revset.t b/tests/test-revset.t
--- a/tests/test-revset.t
+++ b/tests/test-revset.t
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ quoting needed
   hg: parse error: date requires a string
   [255]
   $ log 'date'
-  hg: parse error: can't use date here
+  abort: unknown revision 'date'!
   [255]
   $ log 'date('
   hg: parse error at 5: not a prefix: end
@@ -289,11 +289,40 @@ quoting needed
   $ log 'date(tip)'
   abort: invalid date: 'tip'
   [255]
-  $ log '"date"'
+  $ log '0:date'
+  abort: unknown revision 'date'!
+  [255]
+  $ log '::"date"'
   abort: unknown revision 'date'!
   [255]
+  $ hg book date -r 4
+  $ log '0:date'
+  0
+  1
+  2
+  3
+  4
+  $ log '::date'
+  0
+  1
+  2
+  4
+  $ log '::"date"'
+  0
+  1
+  2
+  4
   $ log 'date(2005) and 1::'
   4
+  $ hg book -d date
+
+Test that symbols only get parsed as functions if there's an opening
+parenthesis.
+
+  $ hg book only -r 9
+  $ log 'only(only)'   # Outer "only" is a function, inner "only" is the bookmark
+  8
+  9
 
 ancestor can accept 0 or more arguments