diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 582544b..f175ae8 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ Changes from 0.13.0
    * `return` has been implemented as a special form
    * `while` loops may now contain an `else` clause, like `for` loops
    * `xi` from `hy.extra.anaphoric` is now the `#%` tag macro
-   * `#%` also has a new `&kwargs` parameter `%**`.
+   * `#%` works on any expression and has a new `&kwargs` parameter `%**`
 
    [ Bug Fixes ]
    * Numeric literals are no longer parsed as symbols when followed by a dot
diff --git a/docs/extra/anaphoric.rst b/docs/extra/anaphoric.rst
index 1e4d062..a630eae 100644
--- a/docs/extra/anaphoric.rst
+++ b/docs/extra/anaphoric.rst
@@ -234,20 +234,32 @@ Returns a function which applies several forms in series from left to right. The
 #%
 ==
 
-Usage ``#%(body ...)``
+Usage ``#% expr``
 
-Makes a function with an implicit parameter list from ``%`` parameters.
+Makes an expression into a function with an implicit ``%`` parameter list.
 
-A ``%i`` symbol designates the `i` th parameter (1-based, e.g. ``%1 %2 %3`` etc.).
+A ``%i`` symbol designates the (1-based) *i* th parameter (such as ``%3``).
+Only the maximum ``%i`` determines the number of ``%i`` parameters--the
+others need not appear in the expression.
 ``%*`` and ``%**`` name the ``&rest`` and ``&kwargs`` parameters, respectively.
-Nesting of ``#%()`` forms is not recommended.
-
-This is similar to Clojure's anonymous function literals (``#()``).
 
 .. code-block:: hy
 
-   => (#%(identity [%1 %5 [%2 %3] %* %4]) 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8)
-   [1, 5, [2, 3,] (6, 7, 8), 4]
-   => (def add-10 #%(+ 10 %1))
-   => (add-10 6)
-   16
+    => (#%[%1 %6 42 [%2 %3] %* %4] 1 2 3 4 555 6 7 8)
+    [1, 6, 42, [2, 3], (7, 8), 4]
+    => (#% %** :foo 2)
+    {"foo": 2}
+
+When used on an s-expression,
+``#%`` is similar to Clojure's anonymous function literals--``#()``.
+
+.. code-block:: hy
+
+    => (setv add-10 #%(+ 10 %1))
+    => (add-10 6)
+    16
+
+``#%`` determines the parameter list by the presence of a ``%*`` or ``%**``
+symbol and by the maximum ``%i`` symbol found *anywhere* in the expression,
+so nesting of ``#%`` forms is not recommended.
+
diff --git a/hy/extra/anaphoric.hy b/hy/extra/anaphoric.hy
index 73dc5fb..9ad92b7 100644
--- a/hy/extra/anaphoric.hy
+++ b/hy/extra/anaphoric.hy
@@ -5,7 +5,6 @@
 
 ;;; These macros make writing functional programs more concise
 
-
 (defmacro ap-if [test-form then-form &optional else-form]
   `(do
      (setv it ~test-form)
@@ -112,29 +111,32 @@
   "Returns a function which is the composition of several forms."
   `(fn [var] (ap-pipe var ~@forms)))
 
-(deftag % [body]
-  "makes a function with an implicit parameter list from `%` parameters.
+(deftag % [expr]
+  "Makes an expression into a function with an implicit `%` parameter list.
 
-   A %i symbol designates the ith parameter (1-based, e.g. `%1 %2 %3` etc.).
+   A `%i` symbol designates the (1-based) ith parameter (such as `%3`).
+   Only the maximum `%i` determines the number of `%i` parameters--the
+   others need not appear in the expression.
    `%*` and `%**` name the `&rest` and `&kwargs` parameters, respectively.
-   Nesting of `#%()` forms is not recommended."
-  (setv flatbody (flatten body))
-  `(fn [;; generate all %i symbols up to the maximum found in body
-        ~@(genexpr (HySymbol (+ "%"
-                                (str i)))
-                   [i (range 1
-                             ;; find the maximum %i
-                             (-> (list-comp (int (cut a 1))
-                                            [a flatbody]
-                                            (and (symbol? a)
-                                                 (.startswith a '%)
-                                                 (.isdigit (cut a 1))))
-                                 (+ [0])
-                                 max
-                                 inc))])
-        ;; generate the &rest parameter only if '%* is present in body
-        ~@(if (in '%* flatbody)
+
+   Nesting of `#%` forms is not recommended."
+  (setv %symbols (set-comp a
+                           [a (flatten [expr])]
+                           (and (symbol? a)
+                                (.startswith a '%))))
+  `(fn [;; generate all %i symbols up to the maximum found in expr
+        ~@(genexpr (HySymbol (+ "%" (str i)))
+                   [i (range 1 (-> (list-comp (int (cut a 1))
+                                              [a %symbols]
+                                              (.isdigit (cut a 1)))
+                                   (or (, 0))
+                                   max
+                                   inc))])
+        ;; generate the &rest parameter only if '%* is present in expr
+        ~@(if (in '%* %symbols)
               '(&rest %*))
-        ~@(if (in '%** flatbody)
+        ;; similarly for &kwargs and %**
+        ~@(if (in '%** %symbols)
               '(&kwargs %**))]
-     (~@body)))
+     ~expr))
+
diff --git a/tests/native_tests/extra/anaphoric.hy b/tests/native_tests/extra/anaphoric.hy
index e0ab038..76bf635 100644
--- a/tests/native_tests/extra/anaphoric.hy
+++ b/tests/native_tests/extra/anaphoric.hy
@@ -127,4 +127,18 @@
   ;; test &rest &kwargs
   (assert-equal (#%(, %* %**) 1 2 :a 'b)
                 (, (, 1 2)
-                   (dict :a 'b))))
+                   (dict :a 'b)))
+  ;; test other expression types
+  (assert-equal (#% %* 1 2 3)
+                (, 1 2 3))
+  (assert-equal (#% %** :foo 2)
+                (dict :foo 2))
+  (assert-equal (#%[%3 %2 %1] 1 2 3)
+                [3 2 1])
+  (assert-equal (#%{%1 %2} 10 100)
+                {10 100})
+  (assert-equal (#% #{%3 %2 %1} 1 3 2)
+                #{3 1 2})  ; sets are not ordered.
+  (assert-equal (#% "%1")
+                "%1"))
+