diff --git a/crates/squawk_ide/src/infer.rs b/crates/squawk_ide/src/infer.rs
index 4478a1aa..756ffe39 100644
--- a/crates/squawk_ide/src/infer.rs
+++ b/crates/squawk_ide/src/infer.rs
@@ -131,6 +131,11 @@ mod tests {
         assert_snapshot!(infer("select E'hello'"), @"text");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn unicode_escape_string() {
+        assert_snapshot!(infer("select U&' \' UESCAPE '!'"), @"text");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn boolean_true() {
         assert_snapshot!(infer("select true"), @"boolean");
@@ -161,6 +166,11 @@ mod tests {
         assert_snapshot!(infer("select b'100'"), @"bit");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn byte_string() {
+        assert_snapshot!(infer("select x'FF'"), @"bit");
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn bit_varying() {
         assert_snapshot!(infer("select b'100'::bit varying"), @"bit");
diff --git a/crates/squawk_parser/src/lexed_str.rs b/crates/squawk_parser/src/lexed_str.rs
index 803117ec..8d377622 100644
--- a/crates/squawk_parser/src/lexed_str.rs
+++ b/crates/squawk_parser/src/lexed_str.rs
@@ -255,12 +255,8 @@ impl<'a> Converter<'a> {
                         "Missing trailing `'` symbol to terminate the hex bit string literal"
                             .into(),
                     );
-                } else {
-                    let inside = &token_text[2..token_text.len() - 1];
-                    if let Some(c) = inside.chars().find(|c| !c.is_ascii_hexdigit()) {
-                        err = Some(format!("\"{c}\" is not a valid hexadecimal digit"));
-                    }
                 }
+                // digit validation in squawk_syntax
                 SyntaxKind::BYTE_STRING
             }
             squawk_lexer::LiteralKind::BitStr { terminated } => {
@@ -268,12 +264,8 @@ impl<'a> Converter<'a> {
                     err = Some(
                         "Missing trailing `'` symbol to terminate the bit string literal".into(),
                     );
-                } else {
-                    let inside = &token_text[2..token_text.len() - 1];
-                    if let Some(c) = inside.chars().find(|&c| c != '0' && c != '1') {
-                        err = Some(format!("\"{c}\" is not a valid binary digit"));
-                    }
                 }
+                // digit validation in squawk_syntax
                 SyntaxKind::BIT_STRING
             }
             squawk_lexer::LiteralKind::DollarQuotedString { terminated } => {
@@ -298,9 +290,8 @@ impl<'a> Converter<'a> {
                     err = Some(
                         "Missing trailing `'` symbol to terminate the escape string literal".into(),
                     );
-                } else {
-                    err = validate_escape_string_unicode_escapes(token_text);
                 }
+                // unicode escape sequences validated in squawk_syntax
                 SyntaxKind::ESC_STRING
             }
         };
@@ -309,32 +300,6 @@ impl<'a> Converter<'a> {
     }
 }
 
-fn validate_escape_string_unicode_escapes(token_text: &str) -> Option<String> {
-    let mut chars = token_text[2..token_text.len() - 1].chars();
-
-    while let Some(c) = chars.next() {
-        if c != '\\' {
-            continue;
-        }
-
-        let (required, example) = match chars.next() {
-            Some('u') => (4, r"\uXXXX"),
-            Some('U') => (8, r"\UXXXXXXXX"),
-            _ => continue,
-        };
-
-        for _ in 0..required {
-            if !chars.next().is_some_and(|c| c.is_ascii_hexdigit()) {
-                return Some(format!(
-                    "Unicode escape requires {required} hex digits: {example}"
-                ));
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    None
-}
-
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use annotate_snippets::{AnnotationKind, Level, Renderer, Snippet, renderer::DecorStyle};
@@ -390,16 +355,6 @@ mod tests {
         ");
     }
 
-    #[test]
-    fn hex_invalid_digit() {
-        assert_snapshot!(lex("select X'1FZ';"), @r#"
-        error: "Z" is not a valid hexadecimal digit
-          ╭▸ 
-        1 │ select X'1FZ';
-          ╰╴       ━━━━━━
-        "#);
-    }
-
     #[test]
     fn unterminated_hex_bit_string_error() {
         assert_snapshot!(lex("select X'1F;"), @"
@@ -420,16 +375,6 @@ mod tests {
         ");
     }
 
-    #[test]
-    fn invalid_binary_digit_error() {
-        assert_snapshot!(lex("select b'0 ';"), @r#"
-        error: " " is not a valid binary digit
-          ╭▸ 
-        1 │ select b'0 ';
-          ╰╴       ━━━━━
-        "#);
-    }
-
     #[test]
     fn unterminated_dollar_quoted_string_error() {
         assert_snapshot!(lex("select $tag$hello;"), @"
@@ -459,24 +404,4 @@ mod tests {
           ╰╴       ━━━━━━━━
         ");
     }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn invalid_unicode_escape_4_digits_error() {
-        assert_snapshot!(lex(r"select E'\u00';"), @r"
-        error: Unicode escape requires 4 hex digits: \uXXXX
-          ╭▸ 
-        1 │ select E'\u00';
-          ╰╴       ━━━━━━━
-        ");
-    }
-
-    #[test]
-    fn invalid_unicode_escape_8_digits_error() {
-        assert_snapshot!(lex(r"select E'\UFFFF';"), @r"
-        error: Unicode escape requires 8 hex digits: \UXXXXXXXX
-          ╭▸ 
-        1 │ select E'\UFFFF';
-          ╰╴       ━━━━━━━━━
-        ");
-    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/squawk_syntax/src/snapshots/squawk_syntax__test__bit_string_validation.snap b/crates/squawk_syntax/src/snapshots/squawk_syntax__test__bit_string_validation.snap
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3a315c49
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/squawk_syntax/src/snapshots/squawk_syntax__test__bit_string_validation.snap
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+---
+source: crates/squawk_syntax/src/test.rs
+input_file: crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/bit_string.sql
+---
+SOURCE_FILE@0..120
+  COMMENT@0..5 "-- ok"
+  WHITESPACE@5..6 "\n"
+  SELECT@6..18
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@6..18
+      SELECT_KW@6..12 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@12..13 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@13..18
+        TARGET@13..18
+          LITERAL@13..18
+            BIT_STRING@13..18 "b'01'"
+  SEMICOLON@18..19 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@19..20 "\n"
+  SELECT@20..34
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@20..34
+      SELECT_KW@20..26 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@26..27 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@27..34
+        TARGET@27..34
+          LITERAL@27..34
+            BIT_STRING@27..34 "B'1010'"
+  SEMICOLON@34..35 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@35..36 "\n"
+  SELECT@36..46
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@36..46
+      SELECT_KW@36..42 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@42..43 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@43..46
+        TARGET@43..46
+          LITERAL@43..46
+            BIT_STRING@43..46 "b''"
+  SEMICOLON@46..47 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@47..49 "\n\n"
+  COMMENT@49..58 "-- errors"
+  WHITESPACE@58..59 "\n"
+  SELECT@59..72
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@59..72
+      SELECT_KW@59..65 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@65..66 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@66..72
+        TARGET@66..72
+          LITERAL@66..72
+            BIT_STRING@66..72 "b'012'"
+  SEMICOLON@72..73 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@73..74 "\n"
+  SELECT@74..87
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@74..87
+      SELECT_KW@74..80 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@80..81 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@81..87
+        TARGET@81..87
+          LITERAL@81..87
+            BIT_STRING@81..87 "b'01A'"
+  SEMICOLON@87..88 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@88..89 "\n"
+  SELECT@89..102
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@89..102
+      SELECT_KW@89..95 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@95..96 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@96..102
+        TARGET@96..102
+          LITERAL@96..102
+            BIT_STRING@96..102 "b'0 1'"
+  SEMICOLON@102..103 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@103..104 "\n"
+  SELECT@104..118
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@104..118
+      SELECT_KW@104..110 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@110..111 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@111..118
+        TARGET@111..118
+          LITERAL@111..118
+            BIT_STRING@111..118 "B'2345'"
+  SEMICOLON@118..119 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@119..120 "\n"
+
+error[syntax-error]: "2" is not a valid binary digit
+  ╭▸ 
+7 │ select b'012';
+  ╰╴           ━
+error[syntax-error]: "A" is not a valid binary digit
+  ╭▸ 
+8 │ select b'01A';
+  ╰╴           ━
+error[syntax-error]: " " is not a valid binary digit
+  ╭▸ 
+9 │ select b'0 1';
+  ╰╴          ━
+error[syntax-error]: "2" is not a valid binary digit
+   ╭▸ 
+10 │ select B'2345';
+   ╰╴         ━
+error[syntax-error]: "3" is not a valid binary digit
+   ╭▸ 
+10 │ select B'2345';
+   ╰╴          ━
+error[syntax-error]: "4" is not a valid binary digit
+   ╭▸ 
+10 │ select B'2345';
+   ╰╴           ━
+error[syntax-error]: "5" is not a valid binary digit
+   ╭▸ 
+10 │ select B'2345';
+   ╰╴            ━
diff --git a/crates/squawk_syntax/src/snapshots/squawk_syntax__test__byte_string_validation.snap b/crates/squawk_syntax/src/snapshots/squawk_syntax__test__byte_string_validation.snap
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a4530b6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/squawk_syntax/src/snapshots/squawk_syntax__test__byte_string_validation.snap
@@ -0,0 +1,112 @@
+---
+source: crates/squawk_syntax/src/test.rs
+input_file: crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/byte_string.sql
+---
+SOURCE_FILE@0..124
+  COMMENT@0..5 "-- ok"
+  WHITESPACE@5..6 "\n"
+  SELECT@6..18
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@6..18
+      SELECT_KW@6..12 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@12..13 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@13..18
+        TARGET@13..18
+          LITERAL@13..18
+            BYTE_STRING@13..18 "x'1F'"
+  SEMICOLON@18..19 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@19..20 "\n"
+  SELECT@20..38
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@20..38
+      SELECT_KW@20..26 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@26..27 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@27..38
+        TARGET@27..38
+          LITERAL@27..38
+            BYTE_STRING@27..38 "X'deadBEEF'"
+  SEMICOLON@38..39 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@39..40 "\n"
+  SELECT@40..50
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@40..50
+      SELECT_KW@40..46 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@46..47 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@47..50
+        TARGET@47..50
+          LITERAL@47..50
+            BYTE_STRING@47..50 "x''"
+  SEMICOLON@50..51 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@51..53 "\n\n"
+  COMMENT@53..62 "-- errors"
+  WHITESPACE@62..63 "\n"
+  SELECT@63..76
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@63..76
+      SELECT_KW@63..69 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@69..70 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@70..76
+        TARGET@70..76
+          LITERAL@70..76
+            BYTE_STRING@70..76 "x'1FZ'"
+  SEMICOLON@76..77 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@77..78 "\n"
+  SELECT@78..90
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@78..90
+      SELECT_KW@78..84 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@84..85 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@85..90
+        TARGET@85..90
+          LITERAL@85..90
+            BYTE_STRING@85..90 "x'1G'"
+  SEMICOLON@90..91 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@91..92 "\n"
+  SELECT@92..106
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@92..106
+      SELECT_KW@92..98 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@98..99 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@99..106
+        TARGET@99..106
+          LITERAL@99..106
+            BYTE_STRING@99..106 "x'1G2H'"
+  SEMICOLON@106..107 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@107..108 "\n"
+  SELECT@108..122
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@108..122
+      SELECT_KW@108..114 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@114..115 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@115..122
+        TARGET@115..122
+          LITERAL@115..122
+            BYTE_STRING@115..122 "X'GHIJ'"
+  SEMICOLON@122..123 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@123..124 "\n"
+
+error[syntax-error]: "Z" is not a valid hexadecimal digit
+  ╭▸ 
+7 │ select x'1FZ';
+  ╰╴           ━
+error[syntax-error]: "G" is not a valid hexadecimal digit
+  ╭▸ 
+8 │ select x'1G';
+  ╰╴          ━
+error[syntax-error]: "G" is not a valid hexadecimal digit
+  ╭▸ 
+9 │ select x'1G2H';
+  ╰╴          ━
+error[syntax-error]: "H" is not a valid hexadecimal digit
+  ╭▸ 
+9 │ select x'1G2H';
+  ╰╴            ━
+error[syntax-error]: "G" is not a valid hexadecimal digit
+   ╭▸ 
+10 │ select X'GHIJ';
+   ╰╴         ━
+error[syntax-error]: "H" is not a valid hexadecimal digit
+   ╭▸ 
+10 │ select X'GHIJ';
+   ╰╴          ━
+error[syntax-error]: "I" is not a valid hexadecimal digit
+   ╭▸ 
+10 │ select X'GHIJ';
+   ╰╴           ━
+error[syntax-error]: "J" is not a valid hexadecimal digit
+   ╭▸ 
+10 │ select X'GHIJ';
+   ╰╴            ━
diff --git a/crates/squawk_syntax/src/snapshots/squawk_syntax__test__escape_string_validation.snap b/crates/squawk_syntax/src/snapshots/squawk_syntax__test__escape_string_validation.snap
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f40d74a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/squawk_syntax/src/snapshots/squawk_syntax__test__escape_string_validation.snap
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+---
+source: crates/squawk_syntax/src/test.rs
+input_file: crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/escape_string.sql
+---
+SOURCE_FILE@0..148
+  COMMENT@0..5 "-- ok"
+  WHITESPACE@5..6 "\n"
+  SELECT@6..27
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@6..27
+      SELECT_KW@6..12 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@12..13 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@13..27
+        TARGET@13..27
+          LITERAL@13..27
+            ESC_STRING@13..27 "e'a\\U00000062'"
+  SEMICOLON@27..28 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@28..29 "\n"
+  SELECT@29..44
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@29..44
+      SELECT_KW@29..35 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@35..36 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@36..44
+        TARGET@36..44
+          LITERAL@36..44
+            ESC_STRING@36..44 "e'\\\\u00'"
+  SEMICOLON@44..45 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@45..46 "\n"
+  SELECT@46..71
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@46..71
+      SELECT_KW@46..52 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@52..53 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@53..71
+        TARGET@53..71
+          LITERAL@53..71
+            ESC_STRING@53..71 "e'no escapes here'"
+  SEMICOLON@71..72 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@72..74 "\n\n"
+  COMMENT@74..83 "-- errors"
+  WHITESPACE@83..84 "\n"
+  SELECT@84..98
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@84..98
+      SELECT_KW@84..90 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@90..91 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@91..98
+        TARGET@91..98
+          LITERAL@91..98
+            ESC_STRING@91..98 "E'\\u00'"
+  SEMICOLON@98..99 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@99..100 "\n"
+  SELECT@100..116
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@100..116
+      SELECT_KW@100..106 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@106..107 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@107..116
+        TARGET@107..116
+          LITERAL@107..116
+            ESC_STRING@107..116 "E'\\UFFFF'"
+  SEMICOLON@116..117 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@117..118 "\n"
+  SELECT@118..146
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@118..146
+      SELECT_KW@118..124 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@124..125 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@125..146
+        TARGET@125..146
+          LITERAL@125..146
+            ESC_STRING@125..146 "E'hello \\UFGFF world'"
+  SEMICOLON@146..147 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@147..148 "\n"
+
+error[syntax-error]: Unicode escape requires 4 hex digits: \uXXXX
+  ╭▸ 
+7 │ select E'\u00';
+  ╰╴         ━━━━
+error[syntax-error]: Unicode escape requires 8 hex digits: \UXXXXXXXX
+  ╭▸ 
+8 │ select E'\UFFFF';
+  ╰╴         ━━━━━━
+error[syntax-error]: Unicode escape requires 8 hex digits: \UXXXXXXXX
+  ╭▸ 
+9 │ select E'hello \UFGFF world';
+  ╰╴               ━━━
diff --git a/crates/squawk_syntax/src/snapshots/squawk_syntax__test__validate_string_continuation_validation.snap b/crates/squawk_syntax/src/snapshots/squawk_syntax__test__validate_string_continuation_validation.snap
index 2fbdcfa1..87952cf1 100644
--- a/crates/squawk_syntax/src/snapshots/squawk_syntax__test__validate_string_continuation_validation.snap
+++ b/crates/squawk_syntax/src/snapshots/squawk_syntax__test__validate_string_continuation_validation.snap
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 source: crates/squawk_syntax/src/test.rs
 input_file: crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/validate_string_continuation.sql
 ---
-SOURCE_FILE@0..1140
+SOURCE_FILE@0..1228
   COMMENT@0..28 "-- ok strings with ne ..."
   WHITESPACE@28..29 "\n"
   SELECT@29..48
@@ -212,259 +212,277 @@ SOURCE_FILE@0..1140
             WHITESPACE@534..535 " "
             STRING@535..541 "'buzz'"
   SEMICOLON@541..542 ";"
-  WHITESPACE@542..544 "\n\n"
-  COMMENT@544..574 "-- error unicode esca ..."
-  WHITESPACE@574..575 "\n"
-  SELECT@575..594
-    SELECT_CLAUSE@575..594
-      SELECT_KW@575..581 "select"
-      WHITESPACE@581..582 " "
-      TARGET_LIST@582..594
-        TARGET@582..594
-          CAST_EXPR@582..594
-            PATH_TYPE@582..583
-              PATH@582..583
-                PATH_SEGMENT@582..583
-                  NAME_REF@582..583
-                    IDENT@582..583 "u"
-            LITERAL@583..594
-              STRING@583..588 "'foo'"
-              WHITESPACE@588..589 " "
-              STRING@589..594 "'bar'"
-  SEMICOLON@594..595 ";"
-  WHITESPACE@595..596 "\n"
-  SELECT@596..629
-    SELECT_CLAUSE@596..629
-      SELECT_KW@596..602 "select"
-      WHITESPACE@602..603 " "
-      TARGET_LIST@603..629
-        TARGET@603..629
-          CAST_EXPR@603..629
-            PATH_TYPE@603..604
-              PATH@603..604
-                PATH_SEGMENT@603..604
-                  NAME_REF@603..604
-                    IDENT@603..604 "u"
-            LITERAL@604..629
-              STRING@604..609 "'foo'"
-              WHITESPACE@609..610 " "
-              COMMENT@610..623 "/* comment */"
-              WHITESPACE@623..624 " "
-              STRING@624..629 "'bar'"
-  SEMICOLON@629..630 ";"
-  WHITESPACE@630..631 "\n"
-  SELECT@631..697
-    SELECT_CLAUSE@631..697
-      SELECT_KW@631..637 "select"
-      WHITESPACE@637..638 " "
-      TARGET_LIST@638..697
-        TARGET@638..697
-          CAST_EXPR@638..697
-            PATH_TYPE@638..639
-              PATH@638..639
-                PATH_SEGMENT@638..639
-                  NAME_REF@638..639
-                    IDENT@638..639 "u"
-            LITERAL@639..697
-              STRING@639..646 "'hello'"
-              WHITESPACE@646..647 " "
-              COMMENT@647..660 "/* comment */"
-              WHITESPACE@660..661 " "
-              STRING@661..666 "'bar'"
-              WHITESPACE@666..667 " "
-              COMMENT@667..688 "/* another comment */"
-              WHITESPACE@688..689 " "
-              STRING@689..697 "' world'"
-  SEMICOLON@697..698 ";"
-  WHITESPACE@698..699 "\n"
-  SELECT@699..733
-    SELECT_CLAUSE@699..733
-      SELECT_KW@699..705 "select"
-      WHITESPACE@705..706 " "
-      TARGET_LIST@706..733
-        TARGET@706..733
-          CAST_EXPR@706..733
-            PATH_TYPE@706..707
-              PATH@706..707
-                PATH_SEGMENT@706..707
-                  NAME_REF@706..707
-                    IDENT@706..707 "u"
-            LITERAL@707..733
-              STRING@707..714 "'hello'"
-              WHITESPACE@714..715 " "
-              COMMENT@715..725 "-- comment"
-              WHITESPACE@725..726 "\n"
-              STRING@726..733 "'world'"
-  SEMICOLON@733..734 ";"
-  WHITESPACE@734..735 "\n"
-  SELECT@735..761
-    SELECT_CLAUSE@735..761
-      SELECT_KW@735..741 "select"
-      WHITESPACE@741..742 " "
-      TARGET_LIST@742..761
-        TARGET@742..761
-          CAST_EXPR@742..761
-            PATH_TYPE@742..743
-              PATH@742..743
-                PATH_SEGMENT@742..743
-                  NAME_REF@742..743
-                    IDENT@742..743 "u"
-            LITERAL@743..761
-              STRING@743..748 "'foo'"
-              WHITESPACE@748..749 " "
-              STRING@749..754 "'bar'"
-              WHITESPACE@754..755 " "
-              STRING@755..761 "'buzz'"
-  SEMICOLON@761..762 ";"
-  WHITESPACE@762..764 "\n\n"
-  COMMENT@764..783 "-- error bit string"
-  WHITESPACE@783..784 "\n"
-  SELECT@784..801
-    SELECT_CLAUSE@784..801
-      SELECT_KW@784..790 "select"
-      WHITESPACE@790..791 " "
-      TARGET_LIST@791..801
-        TARGET@791..801
-          LITERAL@791..801
-            BIT_STRING@791..796 "b'01'"
-            WHITESPACE@796..797 " "
-            STRING@797..801 "'10'"
-  SEMICOLON@801..802 ";"
-  WHITESPACE@802..803 "\n"
-  SELECT@803..834
-    SELECT_CLAUSE@803..834
-      SELECT_KW@803..809 "select"
-      WHITESPACE@809..810 " "
-      TARGET_LIST@810..834
-        TARGET@810..834
-          LITERAL@810..834
-            BIT_STRING@810..815 "b'01'"
-            WHITESPACE@815..816 " "
-            COMMENT@816..829 "/* comment */"
-            WHITESPACE@829..830 " "
-            STRING@830..834 "'11'"
-  SEMICOLON@834..835 ";"
-  WHITESPACE@835..836 "\n"
-  SELECT@836..894
-    SELECT_CLAUSE@836..894
-      SELECT_KW@836..842 "select"
-      WHITESPACE@842..843 " "
-      TARGET_LIST@843..894
-        TARGET@843..894
-          LITERAL@843..894
-            BIT_STRING@843..848 "b'01'"
-            WHITESPACE@848..849 " "
-            COMMENT@849..862 "/* comment */"
-            WHITESPACE@862..863 " "
-            STRING@863..867 "'11'"
-            WHITESPACE@867..868 " "
-            COMMENT@868..889 "/* another comment */"
-            WHITESPACE@889..890 " "
-            STRING@890..894 "'10'"
-  SEMICOLON@894..895 ";"
-  WHITESPACE@895..896 "\n"
-  SELECT@896..925
-    SELECT_CLAUSE@896..925
-      SELECT_KW@896..902 "select"
-      WHITESPACE@902..903 " "
-      TARGET_LIST@903..925
-        TARGET@903..925
-          LITERAL@903..925
-            BIT_STRING@903..909 "b'111'"
-            WHITESPACE@909..910 " "
-            COMMENT@910..920 "-- comment"
-            WHITESPACE@920..921 "\n"
-            STRING@921..925 "'10'"
-  SEMICOLON@925..926 ";"
-  WHITESPACE@926..927 "\n"
-  SELECT@927..949
-    SELECT_CLAUSE@927..949
-      SELECT_KW@927..933 "select"
-      WHITESPACE@933..934 " "
-      TARGET_LIST@934..949
-        TARGET@934..949
-          LITERAL@934..949
-            BIT_STRING@934..939 "b'10'"
+  WHITESPACE@542..543 "\n"
+  SELECT@543..563
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@543..563
+      SELECT_KW@543..549 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@549..550 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@550..563
+        TARGET@550..563
+          LITERAL@550..563
+            ESC_STRING@550..556 "e'foo'"
+            WHITESPACE@556..557 "\n"
+            STRING@557..563 "'\\u00'"
+  SEMICOLON@563..564 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@564..566 "\n\n"
+  COMMENT@566..596 "-- error unicode esca ..."
+  WHITESPACE@596..597 "\n"
+  SELECT@597..617
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@597..617
+      SELECT_KW@597..603 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@603..604 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@604..617
+        TARGET@604..617
+          LITERAL@604..617
+            UNICODE_ESC_STRING@604..611 "u&'foo'"
+            WHITESPACE@611..612 " "
+            STRING@612..617 "'bar'"
+  SEMICOLON@617..618 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@618..619 "\n"
+  SELECT@619..653
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@619..653
+      SELECT_KW@619..625 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@625..626 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@626..653
+        TARGET@626..653
+          LITERAL@626..653
+            UNICODE_ESC_STRING@626..633 "u&'foo'"
+            WHITESPACE@633..634 " "
+            COMMENT@634..647 "/* comment */"
+            WHITESPACE@647..648 " "
+            STRING@648..653 "'bar'"
+  SEMICOLON@653..654 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@654..655 "\n"
+  SELECT@655..722
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@655..722
+      SELECT_KW@655..661 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@661..662 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@662..722
+        TARGET@662..722
+          LITERAL@662..722
+            UNICODE_ESC_STRING@662..671 "u&'hello'"
+            WHITESPACE@671..672 " "
+            COMMENT@672..685 "/* comment */"
+            WHITESPACE@685..686 " "
+            STRING@686..691 "'bar'"
+            WHITESPACE@691..692 " "
+            COMMENT@692..713 "/* another comment */"
+            WHITESPACE@713..714 " "
+            STRING@714..722 "' world'"
+  SEMICOLON@722..723 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@723..724 "\n"
+  SELECT@724..759
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@724..759
+      SELECT_KW@724..730 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@730..731 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@731..759
+        TARGET@731..759
+          LITERAL@731..759
+            UNICODE_ESC_STRING@731..740 "u&'hello'"
+            WHITESPACE@740..741 " "
+            COMMENT@741..751 "-- comment"
+            WHITESPACE@751..752 "\n"
+            STRING@752..759 "'world'"
+  SEMICOLON@759..760 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@760..761 "\n"
+  SELECT@761..788
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@761..788
+      SELECT_KW@761..767 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@767..768 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@768..788
+        TARGET@768..788
+          LITERAL@768..788
+            UNICODE_ESC_STRING@768..775 "u&'foo'"
+            WHITESPACE@775..776 " "
+            STRING@776..781 "'bar'"
+            WHITESPACE@781..782 " "
+            STRING@782..788 "'buzz'"
+  SEMICOLON@788..789 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@789..790 "\n"
+  SELECT@790..811
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@790..811
+      SELECT_KW@790..796 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@796..797 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@797..811
+        TARGET@797..811
+          LITERAL@797..811
+            UNICODE_ESC_STRING@797..804 "u&'foo'"
+            WHITESPACE@804..805 "\n"
+            STRING@805..811 "'\\010'"
+  SEMICOLON@811..812 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@812..814 "\n\n"
+  COMMENT@814..833 "-- error bit string"
+  WHITESPACE@833..834 "\n"
+  SELECT@834..851
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@834..851
+      SELECT_KW@834..840 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@840..841 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@841..851
+        TARGET@841..851
+          LITERAL@841..851
+            BIT_STRING@841..846 "b'01'"
+            WHITESPACE@846..847 " "
+            STRING@847..851 "'10'"
+  SEMICOLON@851..852 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@852..853 "\n"
+  SELECT@853..884
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@853..884
+      SELECT_KW@853..859 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@859..860 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@860..884
+        TARGET@860..884
+          LITERAL@860..884
+            BIT_STRING@860..865 "b'01'"
+            WHITESPACE@865..866 " "
+            COMMENT@866..879 "/* comment */"
+            WHITESPACE@879..880 " "
+            STRING@880..884 "'11'"
+  SEMICOLON@884..885 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@885..886 "\n"
+  SELECT@886..944
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@886..944
+      SELECT_KW@886..892 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@892..893 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@893..944
+        TARGET@893..944
+          LITERAL@893..944
+            BIT_STRING@893..898 "b'01'"
+            WHITESPACE@898..899 " "
+            COMMENT@899..912 "/* comment */"
+            WHITESPACE@912..913 " "
+            STRING@913..917 "'11'"
+            WHITESPACE@917..918 " "
+            COMMENT@918..939 "/* another comment */"
             WHITESPACE@939..940 " "
             STRING@940..944 "'10'"
-            WHITESPACE@944..945 " "
-            STRING@945..949 "'11'"
-  SEMICOLON@949..950 ";"
-  WHITESPACE@950..952 "\n\n"
-  COMMENT@952..972 "-- error byte string"
-  WHITESPACE@972..973 "\n"
-  SELECT@973..990
-    SELECT_CLAUSE@973..990
-      SELECT_KW@973..979 "select"
-      WHITESPACE@979..980 " "
-      TARGET_LIST@980..990
-        TARGET@980..990
-          LITERAL@980..990
-            BYTE_STRING@980..985 "x'0F'"
-            WHITESPACE@985..986 " "
-            STRING@986..990 "'10'"
-  SEMICOLON@990..991 ";"
-  WHITESPACE@991..992 "\n"
-  SELECT@992..1023
-    SELECT_CLAUSE@992..1023
-      SELECT_KW@992..998 "select"
-      WHITESPACE@998..999 " "
-      TARGET_LIST@999..1023
-        TARGET@999..1023
-          LITERAL@999..1023
-            BYTE_STRING@999..1004 "x'01'"
-            WHITESPACE@1004..1005 " "
-            COMMENT@1005..1018 "/* comment */"
-            WHITESPACE@1018..1019 " "
-            STRING@1019..1023 "'1F'"
-  SEMICOLON@1023..1024 ";"
-  WHITESPACE@1024..1025 "\n"
-  SELECT@1025..1083
-    SELECT_CLAUSE@1025..1083
-      SELECT_KW@1025..1031 "select"
-      WHITESPACE@1031..1032 " "
-      TARGET_LIST@1032..1083
-        TARGET@1032..1083
-          LITERAL@1032..1083
-            BYTE_STRING@1032..1037 "x'01'"
-            WHITESPACE@1037..1038 " "
-            COMMENT@1038..1051 "/* comment */"
-            WHITESPACE@1051..1052 " "
-            STRING@1052..1056 "'1F'"
-            WHITESPACE@1056..1057 " "
-            COMMENT@1057..1078 "/* another comment */"
-            WHITESPACE@1078..1079 " "
-            STRING@1079..1083 "'10'"
-  SEMICOLON@1083..1084 ";"
-  WHITESPACE@1084..1085 "\n"
-  SELECT@1085..1114
-    SELECT_CLAUSE@1085..1114
-      SELECT_KW@1085..1091 "select"
-      WHITESPACE@1091..1092 " "
-      TARGET_LIST@1092..1114
-        TARGET@1092..1114
-          LITERAL@1092..1114
-            BYTE_STRING@1092..1098 "x'1F1'"
-            WHITESPACE@1098..1099 " "
-            COMMENT@1099..1109 "-- comment"
-            WHITESPACE@1109..1110 "\n"
-            STRING@1110..1114 "'10'"
-  SEMICOLON@1114..1115 ";"
-  WHITESPACE@1115..1116 "\n"
-  SELECT@1116..1138
-    SELECT_CLAUSE@1116..1138
-      SELECT_KW@1116..1122 "select"
-      WHITESPACE@1122..1123 " "
-      TARGET_LIST@1123..1138
-        TARGET@1123..1138
-          LITERAL@1123..1138
-            BYTE_STRING@1123..1128 "x'1F'"
-            WHITESPACE@1128..1129 " "
-            STRING@1129..1133 "'F0'"
-            WHITESPACE@1133..1134 " "
-            STRING@1134..1138 "'11'"
-  SEMICOLON@1138..1139 ";"
-  WHITESPACE@1139..1140 "\n"
+  SEMICOLON@944..945 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@945..946 "\n"
+  SELECT@946..975
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@946..975
+      SELECT_KW@946..952 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@952..953 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@953..975
+        TARGET@953..975
+          LITERAL@953..975
+            BIT_STRING@953..959 "b'111'"
+            WHITESPACE@959..960 " "
+            COMMENT@960..970 "-- comment"
+            WHITESPACE@970..971 "\n"
+            STRING@971..975 "'10'"
+  SEMICOLON@975..976 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@976..977 "\n"
+  SELECT@977..999
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@977..999
+      SELECT_KW@977..983 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@983..984 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@984..999
+        TARGET@984..999
+          LITERAL@984..999
+            BIT_STRING@984..989 "b'10'"
+            WHITESPACE@989..990 " "
+            STRING@990..994 "'10'"
+            WHITESPACE@994..995 " "
+            STRING@995..999 "'11'"
+  SEMICOLON@999..1000 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@1000..1001 "\n"
+  SELECT@1001..1018
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@1001..1018
+      SELECT_KW@1001..1007 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@1007..1008 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@1008..1018
+        TARGET@1008..1018
+          LITERAL@1008..1018
+            BIT_STRING@1008..1013 "b'10'"
+            WHITESPACE@1013..1014 "\n"
+            STRING@1014..1018 "'20'"
+  SEMICOLON@1018..1019 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@1019..1021 "\n\n"
+  COMMENT@1021..1041 "-- error byte string"
+  WHITESPACE@1041..1042 "\n"
+  SELECT@1042..1059
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@1042..1059
+      SELECT_KW@1042..1048 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@1048..1049 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@1049..1059
+        TARGET@1049..1059
+          LITERAL@1049..1059
+            BYTE_STRING@1049..1054 "x'0F'"
+            WHITESPACE@1054..1055 " "
+            STRING@1055..1059 "'10'"
+  SEMICOLON@1059..1060 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@1060..1061 "\n"
+  SELECT@1061..1092
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@1061..1092
+      SELECT_KW@1061..1067 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@1067..1068 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@1068..1092
+        TARGET@1068..1092
+          LITERAL@1068..1092
+            BYTE_STRING@1068..1073 "x'01'"
+            WHITESPACE@1073..1074 " "
+            COMMENT@1074..1087 "/* comment */"
+            WHITESPACE@1087..1088 " "
+            STRING@1088..1092 "'1F'"
+  SEMICOLON@1092..1093 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@1093..1094 "\n"
+  SELECT@1094..1152
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@1094..1152
+      SELECT_KW@1094..1100 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@1100..1101 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@1101..1152
+        TARGET@1101..1152
+          LITERAL@1101..1152
+            BYTE_STRING@1101..1106 "x'01'"
+            WHITESPACE@1106..1107 " "
+            COMMENT@1107..1120 "/* comment */"
+            WHITESPACE@1120..1121 " "
+            STRING@1121..1125 "'1F'"
+            WHITESPACE@1125..1126 " "
+            COMMENT@1126..1147 "/* another comment */"
+            WHITESPACE@1147..1148 " "
+            STRING@1148..1152 "'10'"
+  SEMICOLON@1152..1153 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@1153..1154 "\n"
+  SELECT@1154..1183
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@1154..1183
+      SELECT_KW@1154..1160 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@1160..1161 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@1161..1183
+        TARGET@1161..1183
+          LITERAL@1161..1183
+            BYTE_STRING@1161..1167 "x'1F1'"
+            WHITESPACE@1167..1168 " "
+            COMMENT@1168..1178 "-- comment"
+            WHITESPACE@1178..1179 "\n"
+            STRING@1179..1183 "'10'"
+  SEMICOLON@1183..1184 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@1184..1185 "\n"
+  SELECT@1185..1207
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@1185..1207
+      SELECT_KW@1185..1191 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@1191..1192 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@1192..1207
+        TARGET@1192..1207
+          LITERAL@1192..1207
+            BYTE_STRING@1192..1197 "x'1F'"
+            WHITESPACE@1197..1198 " "
+            STRING@1198..1202 "'F0'"
+            WHITESPACE@1202..1203 " "
+            STRING@1203..1207 "'11'"
+  SEMICOLON@1207..1208 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@1208..1209 "\n"
+  SELECT@1209..1226
+    SELECT_CLAUSE@1209..1226
+      SELECT_KW@1209..1215 "select"
+      WHITESPACE@1215..1216 " "
+      TARGET_LIST@1216..1226
+        TARGET@1216..1226
+          LITERAL@1216..1226
+            BYTE_STRING@1216..1221 "x'1F'"
+            WHITESPACE@1221..1222 "\n"
+            STRING@1222..1226 "'G0'"
+  SEMICOLON@1226..1227 ";"
+  WHITESPACE@1227..1228 "\n"
 
 error[syntax-error]: Expected new line or comma between string literals
    ╭▸ 
@@ -522,107 +540,103 @@ error[syntax-error]: Expected new line or comma between string literals
    ╭▸ 
 27 │ select e'foo' 'bar' 'buzz';
    ╰╴                   ━
-error[syntax-error]: unknown literal prefix
+error[syntax-error]: Unicode escape requires 4 hex digits: \uXXXX
    ╭▸ 
-30 │ select u'foo' 'bar';
-   ╰╴       ━
+29 │ '\u00';
+   ╰╴ ━━━━
 error[syntax-error]: Expected new line or comma between string literals
    ╭▸ 
-30 │ select u'foo' 'bar';
-   ╰╴             ━
-error[syntax-error]: unknown literal prefix
-   ╭▸ 
-31 │ select u'foo' /* comment */ 'bar';
-   ╰╴       ━
+32 │ select u&'foo' 'bar';
+   ╰╴              ━
 error[syntax-error]: Comments between string literals are not allowed.
    ╭▸ 
-31 │ select u'foo' /* comment */ 'bar';
-   ╰╴              ━━━━━━━━━━━━━
-error[syntax-error]: unknown literal prefix
-   ╭▸ 
-32 │ select u'hello' /* comment */ 'bar' /* another comment */ ' world';
-   ╰╴       ━
+33 │ select u&'foo' /* comment */ 'bar';
+   ╰╴               ━━━━━━━━━━━━━
 error[syntax-error]: Comments between string literals are not allowed.
    ╭▸ 
-32 │ select u'hello' /* comment */ 'bar' /* another comment */ ' world';
-   ╰╴                ━━━━━━━━━━━━━
+34 │ select u&'hello' /* comment */ 'bar' /* another comment */ ' world';
+   ╰╴                 ━━━━━━━━━━━━━
 error[syntax-error]: Comments between string literals are not allowed.
    ╭▸ 
-32 │ select u'hello' /* comment */ 'bar' /* another comment */ ' world';
-   ╰╴                                    ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
-error[syntax-error]: unknown literal prefix
-   ╭▸ 
-33 │ select u'hello' -- comment
-   ╰╴       ━
+34 │ select u&'hello' /* comment */ 'bar' /* another comment */ ' world';
+   ╰╴                                     ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
 error[syntax-error]: Comments between string literals are not allowed.
    ╭▸ 
-33 │ select u'hello' -- comment
-   ╰╴                ━━━━━━━━━━
-error[syntax-error]: unknown literal prefix
-   ╭▸ 
-35 │ select u'foo' 'bar' 'buzz';
-   ╰╴       ━
+35 │ select u&'hello' -- comment
+   ╰╴                 ━━━━━━━━━━
 error[syntax-error]: Expected new line or comma between string literals
    ╭▸ 
-35 │ select u'foo' 'bar' 'buzz';
-   ╰╴             ━
+37 │ select u&'foo' 'bar' 'buzz';
+   ╰╴              ━
 error[syntax-error]: Expected new line or comma between string literals
    ╭▸ 
-35 │ select u'foo' 'bar' 'buzz';
-   ╰╴                   ━
+37 │ select u&'foo' 'bar' 'buzz';
+   ╰╴                    ━
+error[syntax-error]: Unicode escape requires 4 hex digits: \XXXX
+   ╭▸ 
+39 │ '\010';
+   ╰╴ ━━━━
 error[syntax-error]: Expected new line or comma between string literals
    ╭▸ 
-38 │ select b'01' '10';
+42 │ select b'01' '10';
    ╰╴            ━
 error[syntax-error]: Comments between string literals are not allowed.
    ╭▸ 
-39 │ select b'01' /* comment */ '11';
+43 │ select b'01' /* comment */ '11';
    ╰╴             ━━━━━━━━━━━━━
 error[syntax-error]: Comments between string literals are not allowed.
    ╭▸ 
-40 │ select b'01' /* comment */ '11' /* another comment */ '10';
+44 │ select b'01' /* comment */ '11' /* another comment */ '10';
    ╰╴             ━━━━━━━━━━━━━
 error[syntax-error]: Comments between string literals are not allowed.
    ╭▸ 
-40 │ select b'01' /* comment */ '11' /* another comment */ '10';
+44 │ select b'01' /* comment */ '11' /* another comment */ '10';
    ╰╴                                ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
 error[syntax-error]: Comments between string literals are not allowed.
    ╭▸ 
-41 │ select b'111' -- comment
+45 │ select b'111' -- comment
    ╰╴              ━━━━━━━━━━
 error[syntax-error]: Expected new line or comma between string literals
    ╭▸ 
-43 │ select b'10' '10' '11';
+47 │ select b'10' '10' '11';
    ╰╴            ━
 error[syntax-error]: Expected new line or comma between string literals
    ╭▸ 
-43 │ select b'10' '10' '11';
+47 │ select b'10' '10' '11';
    ╰╴                 ━
+error[syntax-error]: "2" is not a valid binary digit
+   ╭▸ 
+49 │ '20';
+   ╰╴ ━
 error[syntax-error]: Expected new line or comma between string literals
    ╭▸ 
-46 │ select x'0F' '10';
+52 │ select x'0F' '10';
    ╰╴            ━
 error[syntax-error]: Comments between string literals are not allowed.
    ╭▸ 
-47 │ select x'01' /* comment */ '1F';
+53 │ select x'01' /* comment */ '1F';
    ╰╴             ━━━━━━━━━━━━━
 error[syntax-error]: Comments between string literals are not allowed.
    ╭▸ 
-48 │ select x'01' /* comment */ '1F' /* another comment */ '10';
+54 │ select x'01' /* comment */ '1F' /* another comment */ '10';
    ╰╴             ━━━━━━━━━━━━━
 error[syntax-error]: Comments between string literals are not allowed.
    ╭▸ 
-48 │ select x'01' /* comment */ '1F' /* another comment */ '10';
+54 │ select x'01' /* comment */ '1F' /* another comment */ '10';
    ╰╴                                ━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
 error[syntax-error]: Comments between string literals are not allowed.
    ╭▸ 
-49 │ select x'1F1' -- comment
+55 │ select x'1F1' -- comment
    ╰╴              ━━━━━━━━━━
 error[syntax-error]: Expected new line or comma between string literals
    ╭▸ 
-51 │ select x'1F' 'F0' '11';
+57 │ select x'1F' 'F0' '11';
    ╰╴            ━
 error[syntax-error]: Expected new line or comma between string literals
    ╭▸ 
-51 │ select x'1F' 'F0' '11';
+57 │ select x'1F' 'F0' '11';
    ╰╴                 ━
+error[syntax-error]: "G" is not a valid hexadecimal digit
+   ╭▸ 
+59 │ 'G0';
+   ╰╴ ━
diff --git a/crates/squawk_syntax/src/validation.rs b/crates/squawk_syntax/src/validation.rs
index d73519c2..af27fbff 100644
--- a/crates/squawk_syntax/src/validation.rs
+++ b/crates/squawk_syntax/src/validation.rs
@@ -178,10 +178,140 @@ fn validate_literal(lit: ast::Literal, acc: &mut Vec<SyntaxError>) {
     }
 
     validate_unicode_esc_string(&lit, acc);
+    validate_prefixed_strings(&lit, acc);
+}
+
+#[derive(Clone, Copy)]
+enum PrefixedKind {
+    Bit,
+    Byte,
+    Esc,
+}
+
+fn validate_prefixed_strings(lit: &ast::Literal, acc: &mut Vec<SyntaxError>) {
+    let mut continuation: Option<PrefixedKind> = None;
+    for e in lit.syntax().children_with_tokens() {
+        let Some(token) = e.into_token() else {
+            continue;
+        };
+        match token.kind() {
+            ESC_STRING => {
+                let Some((inner, inner_start)) = prefixed_str_inner(&token, ['e', 'E']) else {
+                    continue;
+                };
+                validate_escape_string_content(inner, inner_start, acc);
+                continuation = Some(PrefixedKind::Esc);
+            }
+            BIT_STRING => {
+                let Some((inner, inner_start)) = prefixed_str_inner(&token, ['b', 'B']) else {
+                    continue;
+                };
+                validate_bit_string_content(inner, inner_start, acc);
+                continuation = Some(PrefixedKind::Bit);
+            }
+            BYTE_STRING => {
+                let Some((inner, inner_start)) = prefixed_str_inner(&token, ['x', 'X']) else {
+                    continue;
+                };
+                validate_byte_string_content(inner, inner_start, acc);
+                continuation = Some(PrefixedKind::Byte);
+            }
+            STRING => {
+                let Some(continuation) = continuation else {
+                    continue;
+                };
+                let Some(inner) = token
+                    .text()
+                    .strip_prefix('\'')
+                    .and_then(|s| s.strip_suffix('\''))
+                else {
+                    continue;
+                };
+                let inner_start = token.text_range().start() + TextSize::new(1);
+                match continuation {
+                    PrefixedKind::Esc => validate_escape_string_content(inner, inner_start, acc),
+                    PrefixedKind::Bit => validate_bit_string_content(inner, inner_start, acc),
+                    PrefixedKind::Byte => validate_byte_string_content(inner, inner_start, acc),
+                };
+            }
+            WHITESPACE | COMMENT => (),
+            _ => continuation = None,
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn validate_bit_string_content(inner: &str, inner_start: TextSize, acc: &mut Vec<SyntaxError>) {
+    for (i, c) in inner.char_indices() {
+        if c != '0' && c != '1' {
+            acc.push(SyntaxError::new(
+                format!("\"{c}\" is not a valid binary digit"),
+                offset_range(inner_start, i..i + c.len_utf8()),
+            ));
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn validate_byte_string_content(inner: &str, inner_start: TextSize, acc: &mut Vec<SyntaxError>) {
+    for (i, c) in inner.char_indices() {
+        if !c.is_ascii_hexdigit() {
+            acc.push(SyntaxError::new(
+                format!("\"{c}\" is not a valid hexadecimal digit"),
+                offset_range(inner_start, i..i + c.len_utf8()),
+            ));
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+fn prefixed_str_inner(token: &SyntaxToken, prefix: [char; 2]) -> Option<(&str, TextSize)> {
+    let inner = token
+        .text()
+        .strip_prefix(prefix)
+        .and_then(|s| s.strip_prefix('\''))
+        .and_then(|s| s.strip_suffix('\''))?;
+    let inner_start = token.text_range().start() + TextSize::new(2);
+    Some((inner, inner_start))
+}
+
+fn validate_escape_string_content(inner: &str, inner_start: TextSize, acc: &mut Vec<SyntaxError>) {
+    let mut chars = inner.char_indices().peekable();
+    while let Some((esc_start, c)) = chars.next() {
+        if c != '\\' {
+            continue;
+        }
+        let Some((next_pos, next_c)) = chars.next() else {
+            return;
+        };
+        let (required, example) = match next_c {
+            'u' => (4usize, r"\uXXXX"),
+            'U' => (8usize, r"\UXXXXXXXX"),
+            _ => continue,
+        };
+        let mut end = next_pos + next_c.len_utf8();
+        let mut got_all = true;
+        for _ in 0..required {
+            match chars.peek() {
+                Some(&(i, ch)) if ch.is_ascii_hexdigit() => {
+                    end = i + ch.len_utf8();
+                    chars.next();
+                }
+                _ => {
+                    got_all = false;
+                    break;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        if !got_all {
+            acc.push(SyntaxError::new(
+                format!("Unicode escape requires {required} hex digits: {example}"),
+                offset_range(inner_start, esc_start..end),
+            ));
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 fn validate_unicode_esc_string(lit: &ast::Literal, acc: &mut Vec<SyntaxError>) {
     let mut unicode_esc = None;
+    let mut continuations: Vec<SyntaxToken> = vec![];
     let mut seen_uescape = false;
     let mut escape_char = '\\';
     for e in lit.syntax().children_with_tokens() {
@@ -204,36 +334,55 @@ fn validate_unicode_esc_string(lit: &ast::Literal, acc: &mut Vec<SyntaxError>) {
                 };
                 break;
             }
+            STRING if unicode_esc.is_some() => continuations.push(token),
             _ => (),
         }
     }
     let Some(token) = unicode_esc else {
         return;
     };
-    let text = token.text();
-    let Some(inside) = text
-        .strip_prefix("U&'")
-        .or_else(|| text.strip_prefix("u&'"))
+    let Some(inner) = token
+        .text()
+        .strip_prefix(['u', 'U'])
+        .and_then(|s| s.strip_prefix("&'"))
         .and_then(|s| s.strip_suffix('\''))
     else {
         return;
     };
-    let inside_start = token.text_range().start() + TextSize::new(3);
-    escape_unicode_esc_str(inside, escape_char, |range, result| {
+    let inner_start = token.text_range().start() + TextSize::new(3);
+    escape_unicode_esc_str(inner, escape_char, |range, result| {
         if let Err(err) = result {
             acc.push(SyntaxError::new(
                 err.to_string(),
-                offset_range(inside_start, range),
+                offset_range(inner_start, range),
             ));
         }
     });
+    for cont in continuations {
+        let Some(cont_inner) = cont
+            .text()
+            .strip_prefix('\'')
+            .and_then(|s| s.strip_suffix('\''))
+        else {
+            continue;
+        };
+        let cont_start = cont.text_range().start() + TextSize::new(1);
+        escape_unicode_esc_str(cont_inner, escape_char, |range, result| {
+            if let Err(err) = result {
+                acc.push(SyntaxError::new(
+                    err.to_string(),
+                    offset_range(cont_start, range),
+                ));
+            }
+        });
+    }
 }
 
 fn validate_unicode_esc_ident(token: &SyntaxToken, acc: &mut Vec<SyntaxError>) {
-    let text = token.text();
-    let Some(inside) = text
-        .strip_prefix("U&\"")
-        .or_else(|| text.strip_prefix("u&\""))
+    let Some(inner) = token
+        .text()
+        .strip_prefix(['u', 'U'])
+        .and_then(|s| s.strip_prefix("&\""))
         .and_then(|s| s.strip_suffix('"'))
     else {
         return;
@@ -266,12 +415,12 @@ fn validate_unicode_esc_ident(token: &SyntaxToken, acc: &mut Vec<SyntaxError>) {
         next = element.next_sibling_or_token();
     }
 
-    let inside_start = token.text_range().start() + TextSize::new(3);
-    escape_unicode_esc_str(inside, escape_char, |range, result| {
+    let inner_start = token.text_range().start() + TextSize::new(3);
+    escape_unicode_esc_str(inner, escape_char, |range, result| {
         if let Err(err) = result {
             acc.push(SyntaxError::new(
                 err.to_string(),
-                offset_range(inside_start, range),
+                offset_range(inner_start, range),
             ));
         }
     });
@@ -296,8 +445,7 @@ const fn is_valid_uescape_char(byte: u8) -> bool {
 }
 
 fn uescape_char(string_token: &SyntaxToken) -> Option<char> {
-    let text = string_token.text();
-    let inner = text.strip_prefix('\'')?.strip_suffix('\'')?;
+    let inner = string_token.text().strip_prefix('\'')?.strip_suffix('\'')?;
     let &[byte] = inner.as_bytes() else {
         return None;
     };
diff --git a/crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/bit_string.sql b/crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/bit_string.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..66b65eff
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/bit_string.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+-- ok
+select b'01';
+select B'1010';
+select b'';
+
+-- errors
+select b'012';
+select b'01A';
+select b'0 1';
+select B'2345';
diff --git a/crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/byte_string.sql b/crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/byte_string.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4538b666
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/byte_string.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+-- ok
+select x'1F';
+select X'deadBEEF';
+select x'';
+
+-- errors
+select x'1FZ';
+select x'1G';
+select x'1G2H';
+select X'GHIJ';
diff --git a/crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/escape_string.sql b/crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/escape_string.sql
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6c124078
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/escape_string.sql
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+-- ok
+select e'a\U00000062';
+select e'\\u00';
+select e'no escapes here';
+
+-- errors
+select E'\u00';
+select E'\UFFFF';
+select E'hello \UFGFF world';
diff --git a/crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/validate_string_continuation.sql b/crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/validate_string_continuation.sql
index 57f14ca3..ce4e4450 100644
--- a/crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/validate_string_continuation.sql
+++ b/crates/squawk_syntax/test_data/validation/validate_string_continuation.sql
@@ -25,14 +25,18 @@ select e'hello' /* comment */ 'bar' /* another comment */ ' world';
 select e'hello' -- comment
 'world';
 select e'foo' 'bar' 'buzz';
+select e'foo'
+'\u00';
 
 -- error unicode escape string
-select u'foo' 'bar';
-select u'foo' /* comment */ 'bar';
-select u'hello' /* comment */ 'bar' /* another comment */ ' world';
-select u'hello' -- comment
+select u&'foo' 'bar';
+select u&'foo' /* comment */ 'bar';
+select u&'hello' /* comment */ 'bar' /* another comment */ ' world';
+select u&'hello' -- comment
 'world';
-select u'foo' 'bar' 'buzz';
+select u&'foo' 'bar' 'buzz';
+select u&'foo'
+'\010';
 
 -- error bit string
 select b'01' '10';
@@ -41,6 +45,8 @@ select b'01' /* comment */ '11' /* another comment */ '10';
 select b'111' -- comment
 '10';
 select b'10' '10' '11';
+select b'10'
+'20';
 
 -- error byte string
 select x'0F' '10';
@@ -49,3 +55,5 @@ select x'01' /* comment */ '1F' /* another comment */ '10';
 select x'1F1' -- comment
 '10';
 select x'1F' 'F0' '11';
+select x'1F'
+'G0';