diff --git a/cjs/src/connection.js b/cjs/src/connection.js
index 6736d955..943aabeb 100644
--- a/cjs/src/connection.js
+++ b/cjs/src/connection.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ const tls = require('tls')
 const crypto = require('crypto')
 const Stream = require('stream')
 
-const { stringify, handleValue, arrayParser, arraySerializer } = require('./types.js')
+const { serialize, stringify, handleValue, arrayParser, arraySerializer } = require('./types.js')
 const { Errors } = require('./errors.js')
 const Result = require('./result.js')
 const Queue = require('./queue.js')
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ function Connection(options, queues = {}, { onopen = noop, onend = noop, onclose
       throw Errors.generic('MAX_PARAMETERS_EXCEEDED', 'Max number of parameters (65534) exceeded')
 
     return q.options.simple
-      ? b().Q().str(q.strings[0] + b.N).end()
+      ? b().Q().str(q.statement.string + b.N).end()
       : q.describeFirst
         ? Buffer.concat([describe(q), Flush])
         : q.prepare
@@ -912,7 +912,7 @@ function Connection(options, queues = {}, { onopen = noop, onend = noop, onclose
       type = types[i]
       parameters[i] = x = type in options.serializers
         ? options.serializers[type](x)
-        : '' + x
+        : serialize(x)
 
       prev = b.i
       b.inc(4).str(x).i32(b.i - prev - 4, prev)
diff --git a/cjs/src/types.js b/cjs/src/types.js
index 1c8ae092..f9fca7cc 100644
--- a/cjs/src/types.js
+++ b/cjs/src/types.js
@@ -1,11 +1,19 @@
 const { Query } = require('./query.js')
 const { Errors } = require('./errors.js')
 
+const serialize = module.exports.serialize = function serialize(x) {
+  return typeof x === 'string' ? x :
+    x instanceof Date ? types.date.serialize(x) :
+    x instanceof Uint8Array ? types.bytea.serialize(x) :
+    (x === true || x === false) ? types.boolean.serialize(x) :
+    '' + x
+}
+
 const types = module.exports.types = {
   string: {
     to: 25,
     from: null,             // defaults to string
-    serialize: x => '' + x
+    serialize
   },
   number: {
     to: 0,
@@ -66,10 +74,9 @@ const Builder = module.exports.Builder = class Builder extends NotTagged {
 
   build(before, parameters, types, options) {
     const keyword = builders.map(([x, fn]) => ({ fn, i: before.search(x) })).sort((a, b) => a.i - b.i).pop()
-    if (keyword.i === -1)
-      throw new Error('Could not infer helper mode')
-
-    return keyword.fn(this.first, this.rest, parameters, types, options)
+    return keyword.i === -1
+      ? escapeIdentifiers(this.first, options)
+      : keyword.fn(this.first, this.rest, parameters, types, options)
   }
 }
 
@@ -137,7 +144,7 @@ function values(first, rest, parameters, types, options) {
 function select(first, rest, parameters, types, options) {
   typeof first === 'string' && (first = [first].concat(rest))
   if (Array.isArray(first))
-    return first.map(x => escapeIdentifier(options.transform.column.to ? options.transform.column.to(x) : x)).join(',')
+    return escapeIdentifiers(first, options)
 
   let value
   const columns = rest.length ? rest.flat() : Object.keys(first)
@@ -170,9 +177,7 @@ const builders = Object.entries({
 
   insert(first, rest, parameters, types, options) {
     const columns = rest.length ? rest.flat() : Object.keys(Array.isArray(first) ? first[0] : first)
-    return '(' + columns.map(x =>
-      escapeIdentifier(options.transform.column.to ? options.transform.column.to(x) : x)
-    ).join(',') + ')values' +
+    return '(' + escapeIdentifiers(columns, options) + ')values' +
     valuesBuilder(Array.isArray(first) ? first : [first], parameters, types, columns, options)
   }
 }).map(([x, fn]) => ([new RegExp('((?:^|[\\s(])' + x + '(?:$|[\\s(]))(?![\\s\\S]*\\1)', 'i'), fn]))
@@ -209,20 +214,18 @@ function typeHandlers(types) {
   }, { parsers: {}, serializers: {} })
 }
 
+function escapeIdentifiers(xs, { transform: { column } }) {
+  return xs.map(x => escapeIdentifier(column.to ? column.to(x) : x)).join(',')
+}
+
 const escapeIdentifier = module.exports.escapeIdentifier = function escape(str) {
   return '"' + str.replace(/"/g, '""').replace(/\./g, '"."') + '"'
 }
 
 const inferType = module.exports.inferType = function inferType(x) {
-  return (
-    x instanceof Parameter ? x.type :
-    x instanceof Date ? 1184 :
-    x instanceof Uint8Array ? 17 :
-    (x === true || x === false) ? 16 :
-    typeof x === 'bigint' ? 20 :
-    Array.isArray(x) ? inferType(x[0]) :
-    0
-  )
+  return x instanceof Parameter
+    ? x.type
+    : 0
 }
 
 const escapeBackslash = /\\/g
diff --git a/cjs/tests/index.js b/cjs/tests/index.js
index 985fb086..f9fd6056 100644
--- a/cjs/tests/index.js
+++ b/cjs/tests/index.js
@@ -89,16 +89,16 @@ t('String', async() =>
 )
 
 t('Boolean false', async() =>
-  [false, (await sql`select ${ false } as x`)[0].x]
+  [false, (await sql`select ${ false }::bool as x`)[0].x]
 )
 
 t('Boolean true', async() =>
-  [true, (await sql`select ${ true } as x`)[0].x]
+  [true, (await sql`select ${ true }::bool as x`)[0].x]
 )
 
 t('Date', async() => {
   const now = new Date()
-  return [0, now - (await sql`select ${ now } as x`)[0].x]
+  return [0, now - (await sql`select ${ now }::timestamptz as x`)[0].x]
 })
 
 t('Json', async() => {
@@ -134,7 +134,8 @@ t('Array of String', async() =>
 
 t('Array of Date', async() => {
   const now = new Date()
-  return [now.getTime(), (await sql`select ${ sql.array([now, now, now]) } as x`)[0].x[2].getTime()]
+      , iso = now.toISOString()
+  return [now.getTime(), (await sql`select ${ sql.array([iso, iso, iso]) }::timestamptz[] as x`)[0].x[2].getTime()]
 })
 
 t('Nested array n2', async() =>
@@ -482,7 +483,7 @@ t('Point type array', async() => {
   })
 
   await sql`create table test (x point[])`
-  await sql`insert into test (x) values (${ sql.array([sql.types.point([10, 20]), sql.types.point([20, 30])]) })`
+  await sql`insert into test (x) values (${ [sql.types.point([10, 20]), sql.types.point([20, 30])] })`
   return [30, (await sql`select x from test`)[0].x[1][1], await sql`drop table test`]
 })
 
@@ -1194,10 +1195,7 @@ t('Multiple queries', async() => {
 })
 
 t('Multiple statements', async() =>
-  [2, await sql.unsafe(`
-    select 1 as x;
-    select 2 as a;
-  `).then(([, [x]]) => x.a)]
+  [2, await sql.unsafe(`select 1 as x;select 2 as a`).then(([, [x]]) => x.a)]
 )
 
 t('throws correct error when authentication fails', async() => {
@@ -1348,7 +1346,7 @@ t('Multiple Cursors', { timeout: 2 }, async() => {
 
 t('Cursor as async iterator', async() => {
   const order = []
-  for await (const [x] of sql`select generate_series(1,2) as x;`.cursor()) {
+  for await (const [x] of sql`select generate_series(1,2) as x`.cursor()) {
     order.push(x.x + 'a')
     await delay(10)
     order.push(x.x + 'b')
@@ -1359,7 +1357,7 @@ t('Cursor as async iterator', async() => {
 
 t('Cursor as async iterator with break', async() => {
   const order = []
-  for await (const xs of sql`select generate_series(1,2) as x;`.cursor()) {
+  for await (const xs of sql`select generate_series(1,2) as x`.cursor()) {
     order.push(xs[0].x + 'a')
     await delay(10)
     order.push(xs[0].x + 'b')
@@ -1748,7 +1746,7 @@ t('Recreate prepared statements on transformAssignedExpr error', { timeout: 1 },
 
 t('Throws correct error when retrying in transactions', async() => {
   await sql`create table test(x int)`
-  const error = await sql.begin(sql => sql`insert into test (x) values (${ false })`).catch(e => e)
+  const error = await sql.begin(sql => sql`insert into test (x) values (${ false }::bool)`).catch(e => e)
   return [
     error.code,
     '42804',
diff --git a/deno/src/connection.js b/deno/src/connection.js
index 2feac1bd..4024e498 100644
--- a/deno/src/connection.js
+++ b/deno/src/connection.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ import { tls } from '../polyfills.js'
 import crypto from 'https://deno.land/std@0.132.0/node/crypto.ts'
 import Stream from 'https://deno.land/std@0.132.0/node/stream.ts'
 
-import { stringify, handleValue, arrayParser, arraySerializer } from './types.js'
+import { serialize, stringify, handleValue, arrayParser, arraySerializer } from './types.js'
 import { Errors } from './errors.js'
 import Result from './result.js'
 import Queue from './queue.js'
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ function Connection(options, queues = {}, { onopen = noop, onend = noop, onclose
       throw Errors.generic('MAX_PARAMETERS_EXCEEDED', 'Max number of parameters (65534) exceeded')
 
     return q.options.simple
-      ? b().Q().str(q.strings[0] + b.N).end()
+      ? b().Q().str(q.statement.string + b.N).end()
       : q.describeFirst
         ? Buffer.concat([describe(q), Flush])
         : q.prepare
@@ -916,7 +916,7 @@ function Connection(options, queues = {}, { onopen = noop, onend = noop, onclose
       type = types[i]
       parameters[i] = x = type in options.serializers
         ? options.serializers[type](x)
-        : '' + x
+        : serialize(x)
 
       prev = b.i
       b.inc(4).str(x).i32(b.i - prev - 4, prev)
diff --git a/deno/src/types.js b/deno/src/types.js
index c59d6224..c4b51626 100644
--- a/deno/src/types.js
+++ b/deno/src/types.js
@@ -2,11 +2,19 @@ import { Buffer } from 'https://deno.land/std@0.132.0/node/buffer.ts'
 import { Query } from './query.js'
 import { Errors } from './errors.js'
 
+export const serialize = function serialize(x) {
+  return typeof x === 'string' ? x :
+    x instanceof Date ? types.date.serialize(x) :
+    x instanceof Uint8Array ? types.bytea.serialize(x) :
+    (x === true || x === false) ? types.boolean.serialize(x) :
+    '' + x
+}
+
 export const types = {
   string: {
     to: 25,
     from: null,             // defaults to string
-    serialize: x => '' + x
+    serialize
   },
   number: {
     to: 0,
@@ -67,10 +75,9 @@ export class Builder extends NotTagged {
 
   build(before, parameters, types, options) {
     const keyword = builders.map(([x, fn]) => ({ fn, i: before.search(x) })).sort((a, b) => a.i - b.i).pop()
-    if (keyword.i === -1)
-      throw new Error('Could not infer helper mode')
-
-    return keyword.fn(this.first, this.rest, parameters, types, options)
+    return keyword.i === -1
+      ? escapeIdentifiers(this.first, options)
+      : keyword.fn(this.first, this.rest, parameters, types, options)
   }
 }
 
@@ -138,7 +145,7 @@ function values(first, rest, parameters, types, options) {
 function select(first, rest, parameters, types, options) {
   typeof first === 'string' && (first = [first].concat(rest))
   if (Array.isArray(first))
-    return first.map(x => escapeIdentifier(options.transform.column.to ? options.transform.column.to(x) : x)).join(',')
+    return escapeIdentifiers(first, options)
 
   let value
   const columns = rest.length ? rest.flat() : Object.keys(first)
@@ -171,9 +178,7 @@ const builders = Object.entries({
 
   insert(first, rest, parameters, types, options) {
     const columns = rest.length ? rest.flat() : Object.keys(Array.isArray(first) ? first[0] : first)
-    return '(' + columns.map(x =>
-      escapeIdentifier(options.transform.column.to ? options.transform.column.to(x) : x)
-    ).join(',') + ')values' +
+    return '(' + escapeIdentifiers(columns, options) + ')values' +
     valuesBuilder(Array.isArray(first) ? first : [first], parameters, types, columns, options)
   }
 }).map(([x, fn]) => ([new RegExp('((?:^|[\\s(])' + x + '(?:$|[\\s(]))(?![\\s\\S]*\\1)', 'i'), fn]))
@@ -210,20 +215,18 @@ function typeHandlers(types) {
   }, { parsers: {}, serializers: {} })
 }
 
+function escapeIdentifiers(xs, { transform: { column } }) {
+  return xs.map(x => escapeIdentifier(column.to ? column.to(x) : x)).join(',')
+}
+
 export const escapeIdentifier = function escape(str) {
   return '"' + str.replace(/"/g, '""').replace(/\./g, '"."') + '"'
 }
 
 export const inferType = function inferType(x) {
-  return (
-    x instanceof Parameter ? x.type :
-    x instanceof Date ? 1184 :
-    x instanceof Uint8Array ? 17 :
-    (x === true || x === false) ? 16 :
-    typeof x === 'bigint' ? 20 :
-    Array.isArray(x) ? inferType(x[0]) :
-    0
-  )
+  return x instanceof Parameter
+    ? x.type
+    : 0
 }
 
 const escapeBackslash = /\\/g
diff --git a/deno/tests/index.js b/deno/tests/index.js
index 688c002b..6b7b440b 100644
--- a/deno/tests/index.js
+++ b/deno/tests/index.js
@@ -91,16 +91,16 @@ t('String', async() =>
 )
 
 t('Boolean false', async() =>
-  [false, (await sql`select ${ false } as x`)[0].x]
+  [false, (await sql`select ${ false }::bool as x`)[0].x]
 )
 
 t('Boolean true', async() =>
-  [true, (await sql`select ${ true } as x`)[0].x]
+  [true, (await sql`select ${ true }::bool as x`)[0].x]
 )
 
 t('Date', async() => {
   const now = new Date()
-  return [0, now - (await sql`select ${ now } as x`)[0].x]
+  return [0, now - (await sql`select ${ now }::timestamptz as x`)[0].x]
 })
 
 t('Json', async() => {
@@ -136,7 +136,8 @@ t('Array of String', async() =>
 
 t('Array of Date', async() => {
   const now = new Date()
-  return [now.getTime(), (await sql`select ${ sql.array([now, now, now]) } as x`)[0].x[2].getTime()]
+      , iso = now.toISOString()
+  return [now.getTime(), (await sql`select ${ sql.array([iso, iso, iso]) }::timestamptz[] as x`)[0].x[2].getTime()]
 })
 
 t('Nested array n2', async() =>
@@ -484,7 +485,7 @@ t('Point type array', async() => {
   })
 
   await sql`create table test (x point[])`
-  await sql`insert into test (x) values (${ sql.array([sql.types.point([10, 20]), sql.types.point([20, 30])]) })`
+  await sql`insert into test (x) values (${ [sql.types.point([10, 20]), sql.types.point([20, 30])] })`
   return [30, (await sql`select x from test`)[0].x[1][1], await sql`drop table test`]
 })
 
@@ -1196,10 +1197,7 @@ t('Multiple queries', async() => {
 })
 
 t('Multiple statements', async() =>
-  [2, await sql.unsafe(`
-    select 1 as x;
-    select 2 as a;
-  `).then(([, [x]]) => x.a)]
+  [2, await sql.unsafe(`select 1 as x;select 2 as a`).then(([, [x]]) => x.a)]
 )
 
 t('throws correct error when authentication fails', async() => {
@@ -1350,7 +1348,7 @@ t('Multiple Cursors', { timeout: 2 }, async() => {
 
 t('Cursor as async iterator', async() => {
   const order = []
-  for await (const [x] of sql`select generate_series(1,2) as x;`.cursor()) {
+  for await (const [x] of sql`select generate_series(1,2) as x`.cursor()) {
     order.push(x.x + 'a')
     await delay(10)
     order.push(x.x + 'b')
@@ -1361,7 +1359,7 @@ t('Cursor as async iterator', async() => {
 
 t('Cursor as async iterator with break', async() => {
   const order = []
-  for await (const xs of sql`select generate_series(1,2) as x;`.cursor()) {
+  for await (const xs of sql`select generate_series(1,2) as x`.cursor()) {
     order.push(xs[0].x + 'a')
     await delay(10)
     order.push(xs[0].x + 'b')
@@ -1750,7 +1748,7 @@ t('Recreate prepared statements on transformAssignedExpr error', { timeout: 1 },
 
 t('Throws correct error when retrying in transactions', async() => {
   await sql`create table test(x int)`
-  const error = await sql.begin(sql => sql`insert into test (x) values (${ false })`).catch(e => e)
+  const error = await sql.begin(sql => sql`insert into test (x) values (${ false }::bool)`).catch(e => e)
   return [
     error.code,
     '42804',
diff --git a/src/connection.js b/src/connection.js
index ca3c8cc8..58cd41a8 100644
--- a/src/connection.js
+++ b/src/connection.js
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import tls from 'tls'
 import crypto from 'crypto'
 import Stream from 'stream'
 
-import { stringify, handleValue, arrayParser, arraySerializer } from './types.js'
+import { serialize, stringify, handleValue, arrayParser, arraySerializer } from './types.js'
 import { Errors } from './errors.js'
 import Result from './result.js'
 import Queue from './queue.js'
@@ -912,7 +912,7 @@ function Connection(options, queues = {}, { onopen = noop, onend = noop, onclose
       type = types[i]
       parameters[i] = x = type in options.serializers
         ? options.serializers[type](x)
-        : '' + x
+        : serialize(x)
 
       prev = b.i
       b.inc(4).str(x).i32(b.i - prev - 4, prev)
diff --git a/src/types.js b/src/types.js
index e4c1b680..eeb7237c 100644
--- a/src/types.js
+++ b/src/types.js
@@ -1,11 +1,19 @@
 import { Query } from './query.js'
 import { Errors } from './errors.js'
 
+export const serialize = function serialize(x) {
+  return typeof x === 'string' ? x :
+    x instanceof Date ? types.date.serialize(x) :
+    x instanceof Uint8Array ? types.bytea.serialize(x) :
+    (x === true || x === false) ? types.boolean.serialize(x) :
+    '' + x
+}
+
 export const types = {
   string: {
     to: 25,
     from: null,             // defaults to string
-    serialize: x => '' + x
+    serialize
   },
   number: {
     to: 0,
@@ -215,15 +223,9 @@ export const escapeIdentifier = function escape(str) {
 }
 
 export const inferType = function inferType(x) {
-  return (
-    x instanceof Parameter ? x.type :
-    x instanceof Date ? 1184 :
-    x instanceof Uint8Array ? 17 :
-    (x === true || x === false) ? 16 :
-    typeof x === 'bigint' ? 20 :
-    Array.isArray(x) ? inferType(x[0]) :
-    0
-  )
+  return x instanceof Parameter
+    ? x.type
+    : 0
 }
 
 const escapeBackslash = /\\/g
diff --git a/tests/index.js b/tests/index.js
index b990acbc..4a516f71 100644
--- a/tests/index.js
+++ b/tests/index.js
@@ -89,16 +89,16 @@ t('String', async() =>
 )
 
 t('Boolean false', async() =>
-  [false, (await sql`select ${ false } as x`)[0].x]
+  [false, (await sql`select ${ false }::bool as x`)[0].x]
 )
 
 t('Boolean true', async() =>
-  [true, (await sql`select ${ true } as x`)[0].x]
+  [true, (await sql`select ${ true }::bool as x`)[0].x]
 )
 
 t('Date', async() => {
   const now = new Date()
-  return [0, now - (await sql`select ${ now } as x`)[0].x]
+  return [0, now - (await sql`select ${ now }::timestamptz as x`)[0].x]
 })
 
 t('Json', async() => {
@@ -134,7 +134,8 @@ t('Array of String', async() =>
 
 t('Array of Date', async() => {
   const now = new Date()
-  return [now.getTime(), (await sql`select ${ sql.array([now, now, now]) } as x`)[0].x[2].getTime()]
+      , iso = now.toISOString()
+  return [now.getTime(), (await sql`select ${ sql.array([iso, iso, iso]) }::timestamptz[] as x`)[0].x[2].getTime()]
 })
 
 t('Nested array n2', async() =>
@@ -482,7 +483,7 @@ t('Point type array', async() => {
   })
 
   await sql`create table test (x point[])`
-  await sql`insert into test (x) values (${ sql.array([sql.types.point([10, 20]), sql.types.point([20, 30])]) })`
+  await sql`insert into test (x) values (${ [sql.types.point([10, 20]), sql.types.point([20, 30])] })`
   return [30, (await sql`select x from test`)[0].x[1][1], await sql`drop table test`]
 })
 
@@ -1194,10 +1195,7 @@ t('Multiple queries', async() => {
 })
 
 t('Multiple statements', async() =>
-  [2, await sql.unsafe(`
-    select 1 as x;
-    select 2 as a;
-  `).then(([, [x]]) => x.a)]
+  [2, await sql.unsafe(`select 1 as x;select 2 as a`).then(([, [x]]) => x.a)]
 )
 
 t('throws correct error when authentication fails', async() => {
@@ -1348,7 +1346,7 @@ t('Multiple Cursors', { timeout: 2 }, async() => {
 
 t('Cursor as async iterator', async() => {
   const order = []
-  for await (const [x] of sql`select generate_series(1,2) as x;`.cursor()) {
+  for await (const [x] of sql`select generate_series(1,2) as x`.cursor()) {
     order.push(x.x + 'a')
     await delay(10)
     order.push(x.x + 'b')
@@ -1359,7 +1357,7 @@ t('Cursor as async iterator', async() => {
 
 t('Cursor as async iterator with break', async() => {
   const order = []
-  for await (const xs of sql`select generate_series(1,2) as x;`.cursor()) {
+  for await (const xs of sql`select generate_series(1,2) as x`.cursor()) {
     order.push(xs[0].x + 'a')
     await delay(10)
     order.push(xs[0].x + 'b')
@@ -1748,7 +1746,7 @@ t('Recreate prepared statements on transformAssignedExpr error', { timeout: 1 },
 
 t('Throws correct error when retrying in transactions', async() => {
   await sql`create table test(x int)`
-  const error = await sql.begin(sql => sql`insert into test (x) values (${ false })`).catch(e => e)
+  const error = await sql.begin(sql => sql`insert into test (x) values (${ false }::bool)`).catch(e => e)
   return [
     error.code,
     '42804',