diff --git a/cadquery/selectors.py b/cadquery/selectors.py
index 1cd66f3e..23196bbe 100644
--- a/cadquery/selectors.py
+++ b/cadquery/selectors.py
@@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ def _makeExpressionGrammar(atom):
     
     def delta_callback(res):
         items = res.asList()[0][::2]
-        reduce(SubtractSelector,items)
+        return reduce(SubtractSelector,items)
         
     def not_callback(res):
         right = res.asList()[0][1]
diff --git a/tests/TestCQSelectors.py b/tests/TestCQSelectors.py
index fdb20cf6..19ed26a1 100644
--- a/tests/TestCQSelectors.py
+++ b/tests/TestCQSelectors.py
@@ -354,6 +354,16 @@ class TestCQSelectors(BaseTest):
         self.assertEqual(2, len(fl))
         el = c.edges(S("|X") + S("|Y")).vals()
         self.assertEqual(8, len(el))
+        
+        # test using extended string syntax
+        fl = c.faces(">Z | <Z").vals()
+        self.assertEqual(2, len(fl))
+        el = c.edges("|X | |Y").vals()
+        self.assertEqual(8, len(el))
+        
+        # test using extended string syntax
+        v = c.vertices(">X & >Y").vals()
+        self.assertEqual(2, len(v))
 
     def testSubtractSelector(self):
         c = CQ(makeUnitCube())
@@ -366,6 +376,10 @@ class TestCQSelectors(BaseTest):
         # test the subtract operator
         fl = c.faces(S("#Z") - S(">X")).vals()
         self.assertEqual(3, len(fl))
+        
+        # test using extended string syntax
+        fl = c.faces("#Z ^ >X").vals()
+        self.assertEqual(3, len(fl))
 
     def testInverseSelector(self):
         c = CQ(makeUnitCube())
@@ -382,6 +396,12 @@ class TestCQSelectors(BaseTest):
         self.assertEqual(5, len(fl))
         el = c.faces('>Z').edges(-S('>X')).vals()
         self.assertEqual(3, len(el))
+        
+        # test using extended string syntax
+        fl = c.faces('~>Z').vals()
+        self.assertEqual(5, len(fl))
+        el = c.faces('>Z').edges('~>X').vals()
+        self.assertEqual(3, len(el))
 
     def testFaceCount(self):
         c = CQ(makeUnitCube())