diff --git a/embed.fnc b/embed.fnc
index 9a7716d41eac6..adfadd7c273b2 100644
--- a/embed.fnc
+++ b/embed.fnc
@@ -3004,12 +3004,6 @@ EXpx	|char * |scan_word	|NN char *s				\
 				|STRLEN destlen 			\
 				|int allow_package			\
 				|NN STRLEN *slp
-EXpx	|char * |scan_word6	|NN char *s				\
-				|NN char *dest				\
-				|STRLEN destlen 			\
-				|int allow_package			\
-				|NN STRLEN *slp 			\
-				|bool warn_tick
 Cp	|U32	|seed
 : Only used by perl.c/miniperl.c, but defined in caretx.c
 ep	|void	|set_caret_X
@@ -5901,8 +5895,7 @@ S	|void	|parse_ident	|NN char **s				\
 				|NN char * const e			\
 				|int allow_package			\
 				|bool is_utf8				\
-				|bool check_dollar			\
-				|bool tick_warn
+				|bool check_dollar
 S	|int	|pending_ident
 RS	|char * |scan_const	|NN char *start
 RS	|char * |scan_formline	|NN char *s
diff --git a/embed.h b/embed.h
index df70b1c2e0838..904cb66c5850b 100644
--- a/embed.h
+++ b/embed.h
@@ -1625,7 +1625,7 @@
 #     define lop(a,b,c)                         S_lop(aTHX_ a,b,c)
 #     define missingterm(a,b)                   S_missingterm(aTHX_ a,b)
 #     define no_op(a,b)                         S_no_op(aTHX_ a,b)
-#     define parse_ident(a,b,c,d,e,f,g)         S_parse_ident(aTHX_ a,b,c,d,e,f,g)
+#     define parse_ident(a,b,c,d,e,f)           S_parse_ident(aTHX_ a,b,c,d,e,f)
 #     define pending_ident()                    S_pending_ident(aTHX)
 #     define scan_const(a)                      S_scan_const(aTHX_ a)
 #     define scan_formline(a)                   S_scan_formline(aTHX_ a)
@@ -1760,7 +1760,6 @@
 #   define report_uninit(a)                     Perl_report_uninit(aTHX_ a)
 #   define scan_str(a,b,c,d,e)                  Perl_scan_str(aTHX_ a,b,c,d,e)
 #   define scan_word(a,b,c,d,e)                 Perl_scan_word(aTHX_ a,b,c,d,e)
-#   define scan_word6(a,b,c,d,e,f)              Perl_scan_word6(aTHX_ a,b,c,d,e,f)
 #   define skipspace_flags(a,b)                 Perl_skipspace_flags(aTHX_ a,b)
 #   define sv_magicext_mglob(a)                 Perl_sv_magicext_mglob(aTHX_ a)
 #   define sv_only_taint_gmagic                 Perl_sv_only_taint_gmagic
diff --git a/gv.c b/gv.c
index 86c485c579012..92db109270731 100644
--- a/gv.c
+++ b/gv.c
@@ -1167,7 +1167,7 @@ Perl_gv_fetchmethod_pvn_flags(pTHX_ HV *stash, const char *name, const STRLEN le
          * method name.
          *
          * leaves last_separator pointing to the beginning of the
-         * last package separator (either ' or ::) or 0
+         * last package separator (::) or 0
          * if none was found.
          *
          * leaves name pointing at the beginning of the
@@ -1176,11 +1176,7 @@ Perl_gv_fetchmethod_pvn_flags(pTHX_ HV *stash, const char *name, const STRLEN le
         const char *name_cursor = name;
         const char * const name_em1 = name_end - 1; /* name_end minus 1 */
         for (name_cursor = name; name_cursor < name_end ; name_cursor++) {
-            if (*name_cursor == '\'') {
-                last_separator = name_cursor;
-                name = name_cursor + 1;
-            }
-            else if (name_cursor < name_em1 && *name_cursor == ':' && name_cursor[1] == ':') {
+            if (name_cursor < name_em1 && *name_cursor == ':' && name_cursor[1] == ':') {
                 last_separator = name_cursor++;
                 name = name_cursor + 1;
             }
@@ -1782,7 +1778,6 @@ S_parse_gv_stash_name(pTHX_ HV **stash, GV **gv, const char **name,
     const char *name_cursor;
     const char *const name_end = nambeg + full_len;
     const char *const name_em1 = name_end - 1;
-    char smallbuf[64]; /* small buffer to avoid a malloc when possible */
 
     PERL_ARGS_ASSERT_PARSE_GV_STASH_NAME;
 
@@ -1796,8 +1791,7 @@ S_parse_gv_stash_name(pTHX_ HV **stash, GV **gv, const char **name,
 
     for (name_cursor = *name; name_cursor < name_end; name_cursor++) {
         if (name_cursor < name_em1 &&
-            ((*name_cursor == ':' && name_cursor[1] == ':')
-           || *name_cursor == '\''))
+            (*name_cursor == ':' && name_cursor[1] == ':'))
         {
             if (!*stash)
                 *stash = PL_defstash;
@@ -1812,22 +1806,6 @@ S_parse_gv_stash_name(pTHX_ HV **stash, GV **gv, const char **name,
                     key = *name;
                     *len += 2;
                 }
-                else { /* using ' for package separator */
-                    /* use our pre-allocated buffer when possible to save a malloc */
-                    char *tmpbuf;
-                    if ( *len+2 <= sizeof smallbuf)
-                        tmpbuf = smallbuf;
-                    else {
-                        /* only malloc once if needed */
-                        if (tmpfullbuf == NULL) /* only malloc&free once, a little more than needed */
-                            Newx(tmpfullbuf, full_len+2, char);
-                        tmpbuf = tmpfullbuf;
-                    }
-                    Copy(*name, tmpbuf, *len, char);
-                    tmpbuf[(*len)++] = ':';
-                    tmpbuf[(*len)++] = ':';
-                    key = tmpbuf;
-                }
                 gvp = (GV**)hv_fetch(*stash, key, is_utf8 ? -((I32)*len) : (I32)*len, add);
                 *gv = gvp ? *gvp : NULL;
                 if (!*gv || *gv == (const GV *)&PL_sv_undef) {
diff --git a/lib/overload.t b/lib/overload.t
index 6447acd0f008f..7f8cb48a7d78e 100644
--- a/lib/overload.t
+++ b/lib/overload.t
@@ -2399,7 +2399,7 @@ is eval {"$a"}, overload::StrVal($a),
 {
  package mane;
  use overload q\""\ => "bear::strength";
- use overload bool  => "bear'bouillon";
+ use overload bool  => "bear::bouillon";
 }
 @bear::ISA = 'food';
 sub food::strength { 'twine' }
diff --git a/pod/perldiag.pod b/pod/perldiag.pod
index 126e6fb568f4f..65f8f6f5742c5 100644
--- a/pod/perldiag.pod
+++ b/pod/perldiag.pod
@@ -481,7 +481,7 @@ results.
 of Perl.  Check the #! line, or manually feed your script into
 Perl yourself.
 
-=item Bad name after %s
+=item Bad name after %s::
 
 (F) You started to name a symbol by using a package prefix, and then
 didn't finish the symbol.  In particular, you can't interpolate outside
@@ -4782,22 +4782,6 @@ C<sysread()>ing a file, or when seeking past the end of a scalar opened
 for I/O (in anticipation of future reads and to imitate the behavior
 with real files).
 
-=item Old package separator "'" deprecated
-
-(D deprecated::apostrophe_as_package_separator, syntax) You used the old package
-separator "'" in a variable, subroutine or package name. Support for the
-old package separator will be removed in Perl 5.42.
-
-=item Old package separator used in string
-
-(D deprecated::apostrophe_as_package_separator, syntax) You used the old package
-separator, "'", in a variable named inside a double-quoted string; e.g.,
-C<"In $name's house">. This is equivalent to C<"In $name::s house">. If
-you meant the former, put a backslash before the apostrophe
-(C<"In $name\'s house">).
-
-Support for the old package separator will be removed in Perl 5.42.
-
 =item Only scalar fields can take a :param attribute
 
 (F) You tried to apply the C<:param> attribute to an array or hash field.
diff --git a/proto.h b/proto.h
index 8c6ea3c04062c..b088e59ff608b 100644
--- a/proto.h
+++ b/proto.h
@@ -4177,11 +4177,6 @@ Perl_scan_word(pTHX_ char *s, char *dest, STRLEN destlen, int allow_package, STR
 #define PERL_ARGS_ASSERT_SCAN_WORD              \
         assert(s); assert(dest); assert(slp)
 
-PERL_CALLCONV char *
-Perl_scan_word6(pTHX_ char *s, char *dest, STRLEN destlen, int allow_package, STRLEN *slp, bool warn_tick);
-#define PERL_ARGS_ASSERT_SCAN_WORD6             \
-        assert(s); assert(dest); assert(slp)
-
 PERL_CALLCONV U32
 Perl_seed(pTHX);
 #define PERL_ARGS_ASSERT_SEED
@@ -9261,7 +9256,7 @@ S_no_op(pTHX_ const char * const what, char *s);
         assert(what)
 
 STATIC void
-S_parse_ident(pTHX_ char **s, char **d, char * const e, int allow_package, bool is_utf8, bool check_dollar, bool tick_warn);
+S_parse_ident(pTHX_ char **s, char **d, char * const e, int allow_package, bool is_utf8, bool check_dollar);
 # define PERL_ARGS_ASSERT_PARSE_IDENT           \
         assert(s); assert(d); assert(e)
 
diff --git a/t/comp/package.t b/t/comp/package.t
index 7b19513bddf2b..d3e8850a45119 100644
--- a/t/comp/package.t
+++ b/t/comp/package.t
@@ -18,15 +18,12 @@ $bar = 4;
 
 {
     package ABC;
-    no warnings qw(syntax deprecated);
     $blurfl = 5;
-    $main'a = $'b;
-}
-{
-    no warnings qw(syntax deprecated);
-    $ABC'dyick = 6;
+    $main::a = $::b;
 }
 
+$ABC::dyick = 6;
+
 $xyz = 2;
 
 $main = join(':', sort(keys %main::));
@@ -36,13 +33,10 @@ $ABC = join(':', sort(keys %ABC::));
 if ('a' lt 'A') {
     print $xyz eq 'bar:main:new:xyz:ABC' ? "ok 1\n" : "not ok 1 '$xyz'\n";
 } else {
-    print $xyz eq 'ABC:BEGIN:bar:main:new:xyz' ? "ok 1\n" : "not ok 1 '$xyz'\n";
-}    
-print $ABC eq 'BEGIN:blurfl:dyick' ? "ok 2\n" : "not ok 2 '$ABC'\n";
-{
-    no warnings qw(syntax deprecated);
-    print $main'blurfl == 123 ? "ok 3\n" : "not ok 3\n";
+    print $xyz eq 'ABC:bar:main:new:xyz' ? "ok 1\n" : "not ok 1 '$xyz'\n";
 }
+print $ABC eq 'blurfl:dyick' ? "ok 2\n" : "not ok 2 '$ABC'\n";
+print $main::blurfl == 123 ? "ok 3\n" : "not ok 3\n";
 
 package ABC;
 
diff --git a/t/comp/parser.t b/t/comp/parser.t
index dbd5ecc842bce..eaf50f36bb160 100644
--- a/t/comp/parser.t
+++ b/t/comp/parser.t
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ BEGIN {
     chdir 't' if -d 't';
 }
 
-print "1..191\n";
+print "1..189\n";
 
 sub failed {
     my ($got, $expected, $name) = @_;
@@ -222,8 +222,12 @@ EOF
 # tests for "Bad name"
 eval q{ foo::$bar };
 like( $@, qr/Bad name after foo::/, 'Bad name after foo::' );
-eval q{ foo''bar };
-like( $@, qr/Bad name after foo'/, 'Bad name after foo\'' );
+{
+    # since ' is no longer usable in symbols, the error is no longer "Bad name"
+    no warnings "syntax"; # suppress String found where operator expeected
+    eval q{ foo''bar };
+    like( $@, qr/syntax error at \(eval \d+\) line 1, near "foo''/, 'Syntax error for foo\'' );
+}
 
 # test for ?: context error
 eval q{($a ? $x : ($y)) = 5};
@@ -368,12 +372,11 @@ like($@, qr/BEGIN failed--compilation aborted/, 'BEGIN 7' );
 }
 
 {
-    no warnings;
     # [perl #113016] CORE::print::foo
-    sub CORE'print'foo { 43 } # apostrophes intentional; do not tempt fate
-    sub CORE'foo'bar { 43 }
+    sub CORE::print::foo { 43 }
+    sub CORE::foo::bar { 43 }
     is CORE::print::foo, 43, 'CORE::print::foo is not CORE::print ::foo';
-    is scalar eval "CORE::foo'bar", 43, "CORE::foo'bar is not an error";
+    is scalar eval "CORE::foo::bar", 43, "CORE::foo'bar is not an error";
 }
 
 # bug #71748
@@ -451,11 +454,6 @@ END
 eval 's/${<<END}//';
 eval 's//${<<END}/';
 print "ok ", ++$test, " - unterminated here-docs in s/// in string eval\n";
-{
-    no warnings qw(syntax deprecated);
-    sub 'Hello'_he_said (_);
-}
-is prototype "Hello::_he_said", '_', 'initial tick in sub declaration';
 
 {
     my @x = 'string';
@@ -474,21 +472,6 @@ for my $pkg(()){}
 $pkg = 3;
 is $pkg, 3, '[perl #114942] for my $foo()){} $foo';
 
-# Check that format 'Foo still works after removing the hack from
-# force_word
-{
-    no warnings qw(syntax deprecated);
-    $test++;
-    format 'one =
-ok @<< - format 'foo still works
-$test
-.
-}
-{
-    local $~ = "one";
-    write();
-}
-
 $test++;
 format ::two =
 ok @<< - format ::foo still works
diff --git a/t/lib/croak/toke b/t/lib/croak/toke
index 190766d2cf475..66150f5776c4b 100644
--- a/t/lib/croak/toke
+++ b/t/lib/croak/toke
@@ -353,7 +353,8 @@ has cxxc => (
 EXPECT
 Bareword found where operator expected (Do you need to predeclare "isa"?) at - line 9, near "isa => 'Int"
   (Might be a runaway multi-line '' string starting on line 4)
-Bad name after Int' at - line 9.
+syntax error at - line 9, near "isa => 'Int"
+Execution of - aborted due to compilation errors.
 ########
 # NAME Bad name after :: (with other helpful messages)
 sub has{}
@@ -611,3 +612,18 @@ syntax error at - line 2, near "[
 =="
   (Might be a runaway multi-line // string starting on line 1)
 Execution of - aborted due to compilation errors.
+########
+# NAME tick in names: initial character of sub name
+sub 'Hello'_he_said (_);
+EXPECT
+Illegal declaration of anonymous subroutine at - line 1.
+########
+# NAME tick in names: initial character of format name
+    format 'one =
+ok @<< - format 'foo still works
+$test
+.
+EXPECT
+syntax error at - line 2, near "ok @<< - format '"
+  (Might be a runaway multi-line '' string starting on line 1)
+Execution of - aborted due to compilation errors.
diff --git a/t/lib/warnings/toke b/t/lib/warnings/toke
index fc1c66378288b..476108858e21b 100644
--- a/t/lib/warnings/toke
+++ b/t/lib/warnings/toke
@@ -408,6 +408,10 @@ sort ("")
 EXPECT
 
 ########
+# NAME ' no longer is part of the symbol character set
+# previously these would parse like:
+# "${foo'bar}", but now they parse like "${foo}'bar"
+# and any ' parsing for symbols is now gone, so no warning
 @foo::bar = 1..3;
 () = "$foo'bar";
 () = "@foo'bar";
@@ -421,19 +425,8 @@ no warnings 'syntax', 'deprecated' ;
 () = "@foo'bar";
 () = "$#foo'bar";
 EXPECT
-Old package separator used in string at - line 2.
-	(Did you mean "$foo\'bar" instead?)
-Old package separator used in string at - line 3.
-	(Did you mean "@foo\'bar" instead?)
-Old package separator used in string at - line 4.
-	(Did you mean "$#foo\'bar" instead?)
-Old package separator used in string at - line 6.
-	(Did you mean "$foo\'bar" instead?)
-Old package separator used in string at - line 7.
-	(Did you mean "@foo\'bar" instead?)
-Old package separator used in string at - line 8.
-	(Did you mean "$#foo\'bar" instead?)
 ########
+# similar to the test above in that the parsing has changed
 use warnings 'syntax'; use utf8;
 @fooл::barл = 1..3;
 () = "$fooл'barл";
@@ -444,12 +437,7 @@ no warnings 'syntax', 'deprecated' ;
 () = "@fooл'barл";
 () = "$#fooл'barл";
 EXPECT
-Old package separator used in string at - line 3.
-	(Did you mean "$fooл\'barл" instead?)
-Old package separator used in string at - line 4.
-	(Did you mean "@fooл\'barл" instead?)
-Old package separator used in string at - line 5.
-	(Did you mean "$#fooл\'barл" instead?)
+Possible unintended interpolation of @fooл in string at - line 5.
 ########
 # NAME deprecation of ' in names
 sub foo'bar { 1 }
@@ -458,11 +446,8 @@ $a'b = 1;
 %a'd = ();
 package a'e;
 EXPECT
-Old package separator "'" deprecated at - line 1.
-Old package separator "'" deprecated at - line 2.
-Old package separator "'" deprecated at - line 3.
-Old package separator "'" deprecated at - line 4.
-Old package separator "'" deprecated at - line 5.
+OPTION fatal
+Illegal declaration of subroutine main::foo at - line 1.
 ########
 # toke.c
 use warnings 'ambiguous' ;
diff --git a/t/op/method.t b/t/op/method.t
index eaa129aee1c7d..ddadb87420e69 100644
--- a/t/op/method.t
+++ b/t/op/method.t
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ BEGIN {
 use strict;
 no warnings 'once';
 
-plan(tests => 163);
+plan(tests => 161);
 
 {
     # RT #126042 &{1==1} * &{1==1} would crash
@@ -253,12 +253,6 @@ sub OtherSouper::method { "Isidore Ropen, Draft Manager" }
    my @ret = $o->SUPER::method('whatever');
    ::is $ret[0], $o, 'object passed to SUPER::method';
    ::is $ret[1], 'whatever', 'argument passed to SUPER::method';
-   {
-       no warnings qw(syntax deprecated);
-       @ret = $o->SUPER'method('whatever');
-   }
-   ::is $ret[0], $o, "object passed to SUPER'method";
-   ::is $ret[1], 'whatever', "argument passed to SUPER'method";
    @ret = Saab->SUPER::method;
    ::is $ret[0], 'Saab', "package name passed to SUPER::method";
    @ret = OtherSaab->SUPER::method;
diff --git a/t/op/ref.t b/t/op/ref.t
index 3cf6ab0472592..76b55b24ad9d4 100644
--- a/t/op/ref.t
+++ b/t/op/ref.t
@@ -272,10 +272,8 @@ is (join('', sort values %$anonhash2), 'BARXYZ');
 # Test bless operator.
 
 package MYHASH;
-{
-    no warnings qw(syntax deprecated);
-    $object = bless $main'anonhash2;
-}
+$object = bless $main::anonhash2;
+
 main::is (ref $object, 'MYHASH');
 main::is ($object->{ABC}, 'XYZ');
 
@@ -299,10 +297,7 @@ sub mymethod {
 $string = "bad";
 $object = "foo";
 $string = "good";
-{
-    no warnings qw(syntax deprecated);
-    $main'anonhash2 = "foo";
-}
+$main::anonhash2 = "foo";
 $string = "";
 
 DESTROY {
@@ -319,10 +314,7 @@ package OBJ;
 
 @ISA = ('BASEOBJ');
 
-{
-    no warnings qw(syntax deprecated);
-    $main'object = bless {FOO => 'foo', BAR => 'bar'};
-}
+$main::object = bless {FOO => 'foo', BAR => 'bar'};
 
 package main;
 
@@ -335,13 +327,10 @@ is ($object->doit("BAR"), 'bar');
 $foo = doit $object "FOO";
 main::is ($foo, 'foo');
 
-{
-    no warnings qw(syntax deprecated);
-    sub BASEOBJ'doit {
-        local $ref = shift;
-        die "Not an OBJ" unless ref $ref eq 'OBJ';
-        $ref->{shift()};
-    }
+sub BASEOBJ::doit {
+    local $ref = shift;
+    die "Not an OBJ" unless ref $ref eq 'OBJ';
+    $ref->{shift()};
 }
 
 package UNIVERSAL;
diff --git a/t/op/sort.t b/t/op/sort.t
index bdb965dcee632..19c99961ac055 100644
--- a/t/op/sort.t
+++ b/t/op/sort.t
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ eval <<'CODE';
     no warnings qw(deprecated syntax);
     my @result = sort main'Backwards 'one', 'two';
 CODE
-cmp_ok($@,'eq','',q(old skool package));
+cmp_ok($@,'ne','',q(old skool package));
 
 eval <<'CODE';
     # "sort 'one', 'two'" should not try to parse "'one" as a sort sub
diff --git a/t/op/stash.t b/t/op/stash.t
index a507c4239db13..f10834adcc875 100644
--- a/t/op/stash.t
+++ b/t/op/stash.t
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ BEGIN {
     set_up_inc( qw(../lib) );
 }
 
-plan( tests => 55 );
+plan( tests => 54 );
 
 # Used to segfault (bug #15479)
 fresh_perl_like(
@@ -301,10 +301,6 @@ fresh_perl_is(
      'packages ending with :: are self-consistent';
 }
 
-# [perl #88138] ' not equivalent to :: before a null
-${"a'\0b"} = "c";
-is ${"a::\0b"}, "c", "' is equivalent to :: before a null";
-
 # [perl #101486] Clobbering the current package
 ok eval '
      package Do;
diff --git a/t/op/stash_parse_gv.t b/t/op/stash_parse_gv.t
index 9e143d979e15e..465480e331eb7 100644
--- a/t/op/stash_parse_gv.t
+++ b/t/op/stash_parse_gv.t
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ BEGIN {
     set_up_inc(qw(../lib));
 }
 
-plan( tests => 5 );
+plan( tests => 3 );
 
 my $long  = 'x' x 100;
 my $short = 'abcd';
@@ -14,9 +14,7 @@ my $short = 'abcd';
 my @tests = (
     [ $long, 'long package name: one word' ],
     [ join( '::', $long, $long ), 'long package name: multiple words' ],
-    [ join( q['], $long, $long ), q[long package name: multiple words using "'" separator] ],
     [ join( '::', $long, $short, $long ), 'long & short package name: multiple words' ],
-    [ join( q['], $long, $short, $long ), q[long & short package name: multiple words using "'" separator] ],
 );
 
 foreach my $t (@tests) {
diff --git a/t/uni/package.t b/t/uni/package.t
index 84d3ea32789f8..0b153f73ec5b8 100644
--- a/t/uni/package.t
+++ b/t/uni/package.t
@@ -34,23 +34,17 @@ ok 1, "sanity check. If we got this far, UTF-8 in package names is legal.";
         $ㄅĽuṞfⳐ = 5;
     }
     
-    {
-        no warnings qw(syntax deprecated);
-        $압Ƈ'd읯ⱪ = 6;        #'
-    }
+    $압Ƈ::d읯ⱪ = 6;
     
     $ꑭʑ = 2;
     
     $ꑭʑ = join(':', sort(keys %ꑭʑ::));
     $압Ƈ = join(':', sort(keys %압Ƈ::));
     
-    ::is $ꑭʑ, 'BEGIN:bar:ニュー:ꑭʑ:압Ƈ', "comp/stash.t test 1";
+    ::is $ꑭʑ, 'bar:ニュー:ꑭʑ:압Ƈ', "comp/stash.t test 1";
     ::is $압Ƈ, "d읯ⱪ:ㄅĽuṞfⳐ", "comp/stash.t test 2";
 
-    {
-        no warnings qw(syntax deprecated);
-        ::is $main'ㄅĽuṞfⳐ, 123, "comp/stash.t test 3";
-    }
+    ::is $main::ㄅĽuṞfⳐ, 123, "comp/stash.t test 3";
 
     package 압Ƈ;
 
diff --git a/t/uni/parser.t b/t/uni/parser.t
index d3aa745272245..6fdd997491633 100644
--- a/t/uni/parser.t
+++ b/t/uni/parser.t
@@ -187,8 +187,12 @@ is ${"main::\345\225\217"}, undef, "..and using the encoded form doesn't";
 # tests for "Bad name"
 eval q{ Ｆｏｏ::$bar };
 like( $@, qr/Bad name after Ｆｏｏ::/, 'Bad name after Ｆｏｏ::' );
-eval q{ Ｆｏｏ''bar };
-like( $@, qr/Bad name after Ｆｏｏ'/, 'Bad name after Ｆｏｏ\'' );
+{
+    # since ' is no longer usable in symbols, the error is no longer "Bad name"
+    no warnings "syntax"; # suppress String found where operator expeected
+    eval q{ Ｆｏｏ''bar };
+    like( $@, qr/syntax error at \(eval \d+\) line 1, near \"Ｆｏｏ\'\'/, 'Syntax error for Ｆｏｏ\'' );
+}
 
 {
     no warnings 'utf8';
diff --git a/t/uni/stash.t b/t/uni/stash.t
index a069aa111e235..7bfdc6cac3c5d 100644
--- a/t/uni/stash.t
+++ b/t/uni/stash.t
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ BEGIN {
 use utf8;
 use open qw( :utf8 :std );
 
-plan( tests => 49 );
+plan( tests => 48 );
 
 #These come from op/my_stash.t
 {
@@ -283,8 +283,4 @@ plan( tests => 49 );
         ok eval { Bèàr::::bàz() },
         'packages ending with :: are self-consistent';
     }
-    
-    # [perl #88138] ' not equivalent to :: before a null
-    ${"à'\0b"} = "c";
-    is ${"à::\0b"}, "c", "' is equivalent to :: before a null";
 }
diff --git a/t/uni/variables.t b/t/uni/variables.t
index 2c18951a1a263..c5284de3e9f53 100644
--- a/t/uni/variables.t
+++ b/t/uni/variables.t
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ use utf8;
 use open qw( :utf8 :std );
 no warnings qw(misc reserved);
 
-plan (tests => 66880);
+plan (tests => 66879);
 
 # ${single:colon} should not be treated as a simple variable, but as a
 # block with a label inside.
@@ -35,16 +35,11 @@ plan (tests => 66880);
         );
 }
 
-# ${yadda'etc} and ${yadda::etc} should both work under strict
+# and ${yadda::etc} should both work under strict
 {
     local $@;
     eval q<use strict; ${flark::fleem}>;
     is($@, '', q<${package::var} works>);
-
-    no warnings qw(syntax deprecated);
-    local $@;
-    eval q<use strict; ${fleem'flark}>;
-    is($@, '', q<...as does ${package'var}>);
 }
 
 # The first character in ${...} should respect the rules
diff --git a/toke.c b/toke.c
index 0eb3470fa7715..b499b83c29e51 100644
--- a/toke.c
+++ b/toke.c
@@ -2263,7 +2263,7 @@ S_force_word(pTHX_ char *start, int token, int check_keyword, int allow_pack)
     if (   isIDFIRST_lazy_if_safe(s, PL_bufend, UTF)
         || (allow_pack && *s == ':' && s[1] == ':') )
     {
-        s = scan_word6(s, PL_tokenbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf, allow_pack, &len, allow_pack);
+        s = scan_word(s, PL_tokenbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf, allow_pack, &len);
         if (check_keyword) {
           char *s2 = PL_tokenbuf;
           STRLEN len2 = len;
@@ -4802,7 +4802,7 @@ S_intuit_method(pTHX_ char *start, SV *ioname, CV *cv)
         return *s == '(' ? METHCALL : METHCALL0;
     }
 
-    s = scan_word6(s, tmpbuf, sizeof tmpbuf, TRUE, &len, FALSE);
+    s = scan_word(s, tmpbuf, sizeof tmpbuf, TRUE, &len);
     /* start is the beginning of the possible filehandle/object,
      * and s is the end of it
      * tmpbuf is a copy of it (but with single quotes as double colons)
@@ -5251,7 +5251,7 @@ yyl_sigvar(pTHX_ char *s)
             /* read var name, including sigil, into PL_tokenbuf */
             PL_tokenbuf[0] = sigil;
             parse_ident(&s, &dest, dest + sizeof(PL_tokenbuf) - 1,
-                0, cBOOL(UTF), FALSE, FALSE);
+                0, cBOOL(UTF), FALSE);
             *dest = '\0';
             assert(PL_tokenbuf[1]); /* we have a variable name */
         }
@@ -5488,7 +5488,7 @@ yyl_dollar(pTHX_ char *s)
                 char tmpbuf[sizeof PL_tokenbuf];
                 int t2;
                 STRLEN len;
-                scan_word6(s, tmpbuf, sizeof tmpbuf, TRUE, &len, FALSE);
+                scan_word(s, tmpbuf, sizeof tmpbuf, TRUE, &len);
                 if ((t2 = keyword(tmpbuf, len, 0))) {
                     /* binary operators exclude handle interpretations */
                     switch (t2) {
@@ -5554,13 +5554,11 @@ yyl_sub(pTHX_ char *s, const int key)
     PL_parser->sig_seen = FALSE;
 
     if (   isIDFIRST_lazy_if_safe(s, PL_bufend, UTF)
-        || *s == '\''
         || (*s == ':' && s[1] == ':'))
     {
 
         PL_expect = XATTRBLOCK;
-        d = scan_word6(s, tmpbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf - 1, TRUE,
-                      &len, TRUE);
+        d = scan_word(s, tmpbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf - 1, TRUE, &len);
         if (key == KEY_format)
             format_name = S_newSV_maybe_utf8(aTHX_ s, d - s);
         *PL_tokenbuf = '&';
@@ -6154,7 +6152,7 @@ yyl_colon(pTHX_ char *s)
             I32 tmp;
             SV *sv;
             STRLEN len;
-            char *d = scan_word6(s, PL_tokenbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf, FALSE, &len, FALSE);
+            char *d = scan_word(s, PL_tokenbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf, FALSE, &len);
             if (isLOWER(*s) && (tmp = keyword(PL_tokenbuf, len, 0))) {
                 if (tmp < 0) tmp = -tmp;
                 switch (tmp) {
@@ -6333,8 +6331,8 @@ yyl_leftcurly(pTHX_ char *s, const U8 formbrack)
         }
         if (d < PL_bufend && isIDFIRST_lazy_if_safe(d, PL_bufend, UTF)) {
             STRLEN len;
-            d = scan_word6(d, PL_tokenbuf + 1, sizeof PL_tokenbuf - 1,
-                          FALSE, &len, FALSE);
+            d = scan_word(d, PL_tokenbuf + 1, sizeof PL_tokenbuf - 1,
+                          FALSE, &len);
             while (d < PL_bufend && SPACE_OR_TAB(*d))
                 d++;
             if (*d == '}') {
@@ -7181,7 +7179,7 @@ yyl_foreach(pTHX_ char *s)
             /* skip optional package name, as in "for my abc $x (..)" */
             if (UNLIKELY(isIDFIRST_lazy_if_safe(p, PL_bufend, UTF))) {
                 STRLEN len;
-                p = scan_word6(p, PL_tokenbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf, TRUE, &len, TRUE);
+                p = scan_word(p, PL_tokenbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf, TRUE, &len);
                 p = skipspace(p);
                 paren_is_valid = FALSE;
             }
@@ -7210,8 +7208,8 @@ yyl_do(pTHX_ char *s, I32 orig_keyword)
         char *d;
         STRLEN len;
         *PL_tokenbuf = '&';
-        d = scan_word6(s, PL_tokenbuf + 1, sizeof PL_tokenbuf - 1,
-                      1, &len, TRUE);
+        d = scan_word(s, PL_tokenbuf + 1, sizeof PL_tokenbuf - 1,
+                      1, &len);
         if (len && memNEs(PL_tokenbuf+1, len, "CORE")
          && !keyword(PL_tokenbuf + 1, len, 0)) {
             SSize_t off = s-SvPVX(PL_linestr);
@@ -7246,7 +7244,7 @@ yyl_my(pTHX_ char *s, I32 my)
     s = skipspace(s);
     if (isIDFIRST_lazy_if_safe(s, PL_bufend, UTF)) {
         STRLEN len;
-        s = scan_word6(s, PL_tokenbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf, TRUE, &len, TRUE);
+        s = scan_word(s, PL_tokenbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf, TRUE, &len);
         if (memEQs(PL_tokenbuf, len, "sub"))
             return yyl_sub(aTHX_ s, my);
         PL_in_my_stash = find_in_my_stash(PL_tokenbuf, len);
@@ -7716,18 +7714,17 @@ yyl_just_a_word(pTHX_ char *s, STRLEN len, I32 orig_keyword, struct code c)
 
     /* Get the rest if it looks like a package qualifier */
 
-    if (*s == '\'' || (*s == ':' && s[1] == ':')) {
+    if (*s == ':' && s[1] == ':') {
         STRLEN morelen;
-        s = scan_word6(s, PL_tokenbuf + len, sizeof PL_tokenbuf - len,
-                      TRUE, &morelen, TRUE);
+        s = scan_word(s, PL_tokenbuf + len, sizeof PL_tokenbuf - len,
+                      TRUE, &morelen);
         if (no_op_error) {
             no_op("Bareword",s);
             no_op_error = FALSE;
         }
         if (!morelen)
-            Perl_croak(aTHX_ "Bad name after %" UTF8f "%s",
-                    UTF8fARG(UTF, len, PL_tokenbuf),
-                    *s == '\'' ? "'" : "::");
+            Perl_croak(aTHX_ "Bad name after %" UTF8f "::",
+                    UTF8fARG(UTF, len, PL_tokenbuf));
         len += morelen;
         pkgname = 1;
     }
@@ -8468,7 +8465,7 @@ yyl_word_or_keyword(pTHX_ char *s, STRLEN len, I32 key, I32 orig_keyword, struct
         s = skipspace(s);
         if (isIDFIRST_lazy_if_safe(s, PL_bufend, UTF)) {
             const char *t;
-            char *d = scan_word6(s, PL_tokenbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf, FALSE, &len, FALSE);
+            char *d = scan_word(s, PL_tokenbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf, FALSE, &len);
             for (t=d; isSPACE(*t);)
                 t++;
             if ( *t && memCHRs("|&*+-=!?:.", *t) && ckWARN_d(WARN_PRECEDENCE)
@@ -8909,18 +8906,17 @@ yyl_word_or_keyword(pTHX_ char *s, STRLEN len, I32 key, I32 orig_keyword, struct
 static int
 yyl_key_core(pTHX_ char *s, STRLEN len, struct code c)
 {
-    I32 key = 0;
     I32 orig_keyword = 0;
     STRLEN olen = len;
     char *d = s;
     s += 2;
-    s = scan_word6(s, PL_tokenbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf, FALSE, &len, FALSE);
-    if ((*s == ':' && s[1] == ':')
-        || (!(key = keyword(PL_tokenbuf, len, 1)) && *s == '\''))
+    s = scan_word(s, PL_tokenbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf, FALSE, &len);
+    if (*s == ':' && s[1] == ':')
     {
         Copy(PL_bufptr, PL_tokenbuf, olen, char);
         return yyl_just_a_word(aTHX_ d, olen, 0, c);
     }
+    I32 key = keyword(PL_tokenbuf, len, 1);
     if (!key)
         Perl_croak(aTHX_ "CORE::%" UTF8f " is not a keyword",
                           UTF8fARG(UTF, len, PL_tokenbuf));
@@ -8993,7 +8989,7 @@ yyl_keylookup(pTHX_ char *s, GV *gv)
     c.gv = gv;
 
     PL_bufptr = s;
-    s = scan_word6(s, PL_tokenbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf, FALSE, &len, FALSE);
+    s = scan_word(s, PL_tokenbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf, FALSE, &len);
 
     /* Some keywords can be followed by any delimiter, including ':' */
     anydelim = word_takes_any_delimiter(PL_tokenbuf, len);
@@ -10317,10 +10313,8 @@ S_new_constant(pTHX_ const char *s, STRLEN len, const char *key, STRLEN keylen,
 
 PERL_STATIC_INLINE void
 S_parse_ident(pTHX_ char **s, char **d, char * const e, int allow_package,
-                    bool is_utf8, bool check_dollar, bool tick_warn)
+                    bool is_utf8, bool check_dollar)
 {
-    int saw_tick = 0;
-    const char *olds = *s;
     PERL_ARGS_ASSERT_PARSE_IDENT;
 
     while (*s < PL_bufend) {
@@ -10347,15 +10341,6 @@ S_parse_ident(pTHX_ char **s, char **d, char * const e, int allow_package,
                 *(*d)++ = *(*s)++;
             } while (isWORDCHAR_A(**s) && *d < e);
         }
-        else if (   allow_package
-                 && **s == '\''
-                 && isIDFIRST_lazy_if_safe((*s)+1, PL_bufend, is_utf8))
-        {
-            *(*d)++ = ':';
-            *(*d)++ = ':';
-            (*s)++;
-            saw_tick++;
-        }
         else if (allow_package && **s == ':' && (*s)[1] == ':'
            /* Disallow things like Foo::$bar. For the curious, this is
             * the code path that triggers the "Bad name after" warning
@@ -10368,66 +10353,24 @@ S_parse_ident(pTHX_ char **s, char **d, char * const e, int allow_package,
         else
             break;
     }
-    if (UNLIKELY(saw_tick && tick_warn && ckWARN2_d(WARN_SYNTAX, WARN_DEPRECATED__APOSTROPHE_AS_PACKAGE_SEPARATOR))) {
-        if (PL_lex_state == LEX_INTERPNORMAL && !PL_lex_brackets) {
-            char *this_d;
-            char *d2;
-            Newx(this_d, *s - olds + saw_tick + 2, char); /* +2 for $# */
-            d2 = this_d;
-            SAVEFREEPV(this_d);
-
-            Perl_warner(aTHX_ packWARN2(WARN_SYNTAX, WARN_DEPRECATED__APOSTROPHE_AS_PACKAGE_SEPARATOR),
-                        "Old package separator used in string");
-            if (olds[-1] == '#')
-                *d2++ = olds[-2];
-            *d2++ = olds[-1];
-            while (olds < *s) {
-                if (*olds == '\'') {
-                    *d2++ = '\\';
-                    *d2++ = *olds++;
-                }
-                else
-                    *d2++ = *olds++;
-            }
-            Perl_warner(aTHX_ packWARN(WARN_SYNTAX),
-                        "\t(Did you mean \"%" UTF8f "\" instead?)\n",
-                        UTF8fARG(is_utf8, d2-this_d, this_d));
-        }
-        else {
-            Perl_warner(aTHX_ packWARN2(WARN_SYNTAX, WARN_DEPRECATED__APOSTROPHE_AS_PACKAGE_SEPARATOR),
-                        "Old package separator \"'\" deprecated");
-        }
-    }
     return;
 }
 
-/* Returns a NUL terminated string, with the length of the string written to
-   *slp
-
-   scan_word6() may be removed once ' in names is removed.
-   */
 char *
-Perl_scan_word6(pTHX_ char *s, char *dest, STRLEN destlen, int allow_package, STRLEN *slp, bool warn_tick)
+Perl_scan_word(pTHX_ char *s, char *dest, STRLEN destlen, int allow_package, STRLEN *slp)
 {
+    PERL_ARGS_ASSERT_SCAN_WORD;
+
     char *d = dest;
     char * const e = d + destlen - 3;  /* two-character token, ending NUL */
     bool is_utf8 = cBOOL(UTF);
 
-    PERL_ARGS_ASSERT_SCAN_WORD6;
-
-    parse_ident(&s, &d, e, allow_package, is_utf8, TRUE, warn_tick);
+    parse_ident(&s, &d, e, allow_package, is_utf8, TRUE);
     *d = '\0';
     *slp = d - dest;
     return s;
 }
 
-char *
-Perl_scan_word(pTHX_ char *s, char *dest, STRLEN destlen, int allow_package, STRLEN *slp)
-{
-    PERL_ARGS_ASSERT_SCAN_WORD;
-    return scan_word6(s, dest, destlen, allow_package, slp, FALSE);
-}
-
 /* scan s and extract an identifier ($var) from it if possible
  * into dest.
  * XXX: This function has subtle implications on parsing, and
@@ -10463,7 +10406,7 @@ S_scan_ident(pTHX_ char *s, char *dest, STRLEN destlen, I32 ck_uni)
             Perl_croak(aTHX_ ident_var_zero_multi_digit);
     }
     else {  /* See if it is a "normal" identifier */
-        parse_ident(&s, &d, e, 1, is_utf8, FALSE, TRUE);
+        parse_ident(&s, &d, e, 1, is_utf8, FALSE);
     }
     *d = '\0';
     d = dest;
@@ -10588,7 +10531,7 @@ S_scan_ident(pTHX_ char *s, char *dest, STRLEN destlen, I32 ck_uni)
                    (the later check for } being at the expected point will trap
                    cases where this doesn't pan out.)  */
                 d += is_utf8 ? UTF8SKIP(d) : 1;
-                parse_ident(&s, &d, e, 1, is_utf8, TRUE, TRUE);
+                parse_ident(&s, &d, e, 1, is_utf8, TRUE);
                 *d = '\0';
             }
             else { /* caret word: ${^Foo} ${^CAPTURE[0]} */
@@ -11535,7 +11478,7 @@ S_scan_inputsymbol(pTHX_ char *start)
     if (*d == '$' && d[1]) d++;
 
     /* allow <Pkg'VALUE> or <Pkg::VALUE> */
-    while (isWORDCHAR_lazy_if_safe(d, e, UTF) || *d == '\'' || *d == ':') {
+    while (isWORDCHAR_lazy_if_safe(d, e, UTF) || *d == ':') {
         d += UTF ? UTF8SKIP(d) : 1;
     }
 
@@ -13883,7 +13826,7 @@ Perl_parse_label(pTHX_ U32 flags)
         t = s = PL_bufptr;
         if (!isIDFIRST_lazy_if_safe(s, PL_bufend, UTF))
             goto no_label;
-        t = scan_word6(s, PL_tokenbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf, FALSE, &wlen, FALSE);
+        t = scan_word(s, PL_tokenbuf, sizeof PL_tokenbuf, FALSE, &wlen);
         if (word_takes_any_delimiter(s, wlen))
             goto no_label;
         bufptr_pos = s - SvPVX(PL_linestr);