syntax-quote can cause this: > (type `(1)) clojure.lang.PersistentList > (type `(1 2)) clojure.lang.Cons > (list? `(1 2)) false edit: however http

syntax-quote can cause this: > (type `(1)) clojure.lang.PersistentList > (type `(1 2)) clojure.lang.Cons > (list? `(1 2)) false edit: however http://clojure.org/reader#syntax-quote http://clojure.org/reader#syntax-quote does specify that syntax-quote is not the same as quote for some forms, including lists.