diff --git a/etc/syntax/reference-files/flow_empy.cylc b/etc/syntax/reference-files/flow_empy.cylc
deleted file mode 100644
index d97c9733e2e..00000000000
--- a/etc/syntax/reference-files/flow_empy.cylc
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,75 +0,0 @@
-#!empy
-# ^ SYNTAX:3.1
-
-# SYNTAX numbering matches the table in https://github.com/cylc/cylc/issues/2752
-
-# SYNTAX: 3.4
-# templating code should be displayed differently to cylc code
-@# no comment  # should display as a comment
-@foo
-@{foo="bar"}
-@{ foo = "bar" }
-@{ foo = "bar"; bar = "baz" }
-@{ foo = '%s' % 'bar' }
-@{ set foo = {"1": 2, "3", []} }  # highlight to the last }
-@{ set foo = foo.bar(1, 2, 3) }  # highlight to the last }
-@{ foo_bar }
-@{foo_bar}
-@{ foo.bar(1, 2, 3, []) }  # highlight to the last }
-@[if x]a = b@[end if]  # highlight all but "a = b"
-@[if x.y[]]a = b@[end if]  # highlight all but "a = b"
-a = b  
-# SYNTAX 3.5
-# non-exhaustive list of advanced empy syntax
-@# no comment
-@?NewContextName
-@!100
-invisible@ whitespace  # the @ character should be highlighted
-foo = @\0 bar @\xHH # @\0 and @\xHH should both be highlighted
-foo = @@  # the @@ should NOT be highlighted
-@"foo"  # this should be highlighted the same as @foo?
-@( x ? "true" ! "false )
-@os.environ
-@`x`
-@:2 + 2:
-@%title  "Cylc"
-**'@<CONTENTS>'**  # custom markup
-@[def f(x, y=z, **kwargs)] @[end def]
-@[try]  @[except]
-
-# SYNTAX 3./1.1
-# keys, values and sections outside of the templating code should display
-# as normal
-a = @b
-@a = b
-a = @( b + 1 )
-a = @( b_b | c.d('1', "2", 3) )
-[[@a]]
-    d = e  # check highlighting of this line un-affected by section
-[[@( a_a | c.d('1', "2", 3) )]]
-    d = e  # check highlighting of this line un-affected by section
-[[@( "%(foo)s" % {"foo": "abc"} )]]
-    d = e  # check highlighting of this line un-affected by section
-
-# SYNTAX 3./1.2
-# comments outside of the templating code should display as normal
-@( foo )  # foo
-@{ foo }  # foo
-@[ foo ]  # foo
-
-# syntax 3./1.3
-# tasks and deps outside of the templating code should display as normal
-R1 = """
-    foo => @( b_az.pub('1', "2", 3) ) => qux =>
-@[ if BAR ]
-    bar => pub
-@[ else ]
-    baz => pub
-@[ endif ]
-"""
-
-# syntax 3./2.5
-# clashing xtrigger and empy syntax should somehow be handled
-R1 = """
-    @wall_clock => @@bar => baz  # note empy evaluates @@ as @
-"""