diff --git a/app/gui/language/parser/src/lib.rs b/app/gui/language/parser/src/lib.rs
index bc503db03ec..230a12b608e 100644
--- a/app/gui/language/parser/src/lib.rs
+++ b/app/gui/language/parser/src/lib.rs
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #![feature(extend_one)]
 #![feature(let_chains)]
 #![feature(if_let_guard)]
+#![feature(assert_matches)]
 // === Standard Linter Configuration ===
 #![deny(non_ascii_idents)]
 #![warn(unsafe_code)]
@@ -160,6 +161,7 @@ impl Parser {
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
     use ast::HasRepr;
+    use std::assert_matches::assert_matches;
 
     #[test]
     fn test_group_repr() {
@@ -220,4 +222,10 @@ main =
         let ast = Parser::new().parse_line_ast("a->4").unwrap();
         assert!(ast::macros::as_lambda(&ast).is_some(), "{ast:?}");
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_negative_number() {
+        let ast = Parser::new().parse_line_ast("-23").unwrap();
+        assert_matches!(ast.shape(), ast::Shape::Number(_));
+    }
 }
diff --git a/app/gui/language/parser/src/translation.rs b/app/gui/language/parser/src/translation.rs
index 5b11e50acf7..9847124501b 100644
--- a/app/gui/language/parser/src/translation.rs
+++ b/app/gui/language/parser/src/translation.rs
@@ -174,8 +174,12 @@ impl Translate {
                 if let Some(arg) = rhs {
                     let non_block_operand = "Unary operator cannot be applied to an (empty) block.";
                     let arg = self.translate(arg).expect(non_block_operand);
-                    let section = section_right(opr, arg).expect_unspaced();
-                    self.finish_ast(section, builder)
+                    let value = match arg.body.shape() {
+                        ast::Shape::Number(ast::Number { base, int }) =>
+                            (ast::Number { base: base.clone(), int: format!("-{int}") }).into(),
+                        _ => prefix(opr, arg).expect_unspaced(),
+                    };
+                    self.finish_ast(value, builder)
                 } else {
                     let opr = opr.expect_unspaced();
                     self.finish_ast(ast::SectionSides { opr }, builder)
diff --git a/engine/runtime/src/main/java/org/enso/compiler/TreeToIr.java b/engine/runtime/src/main/java/org/enso/compiler/TreeToIr.java
index ee28a5d39f3..6a8e580ac87 100644
--- a/engine/runtime/src/main/java/org/enso/compiler/TreeToIr.java
+++ b/engine/runtime/src/main/java/org/enso/compiler/TreeToIr.java
@@ -936,9 +936,7 @@ final class TreeToIr {
       case Tree.OprSectionBoundary bound -> translateExpression(bound.getAst(), false);
       case Tree.UnaryOprApp un when "-".equals(un.getOpr().codeRepr()) ->
         switch (translateExpression(un.getRhs(), false)) {
-          // AstToIr doesn't construct negative floating-point literals.
-          // Match that behavior for testing during the transition.
-          case IR$Literal$Number n when !n.copy$default$2().contains(".") -> n.copy(
+          case IR$Literal$Number n -> n.copy(
             n.copy$default$1(),
             "-" + n.copy$default$2(),
             n.copy$default$3(),
diff --git a/engine/runtime/src/test/java/org/enso/compiler/EnsoCompilerTest.java b/engine/runtime/src/test/java/org/enso/compiler/EnsoCompilerTest.java
index cf95714bc68..1990f368a28 100644
--- a/engine/runtime/src/test/java/org/enso/compiler/EnsoCompilerTest.java
+++ b/engine/runtime/src/test/java/org/enso/compiler/EnsoCompilerTest.java
@@ -1208,6 +1208,11 @@ public class EnsoCompilerTest {
     """);
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void testDotPrecedence() throws Exception {
+    equivalenceTest("x = -1.up_to 100", "x = (-1).up_to 100");
+  }
+
   @Test
   public void testFreeze() throws Exception {
     equivalenceTest("a = x", "a = FREEZE x");
diff --git a/lib/rust/parser/debug/tests/parse.rs b/lib/rust/parser/debug/tests/parse.rs
index 1bc04ea797a..4a22c36cc50 100644
--- a/lib/rust/parser/debug/tests/parse.rs
+++ b/lib/rust/parser/debug/tests/parse.rs
@@ -748,8 +748,25 @@ fn minus_unary() {
     test!("x=-x", (Assignment (Ident x) "=" (UnaryOprApp "-" (Ident x))));
     test!("-x+x", (OprApp (UnaryOprApp "-" (Ident x)) (Ok "+") (Ident x)));
     test!("-x*x", (OprApp (UnaryOprApp "-" (Ident x)) (Ok "*") (Ident x)));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn minus_unary_decimal() {
     test!("-2.1", (UnaryOprApp "-" (Number () "2" ("." "1"))));
-    //test!("-1.x", (OprApp (UnaryOprApp "-" (Number () "1" ())) (Ok ".") (Ident x)));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn minus_unary_in_method_app() {
+    test!("-1.x", (OprApp (UnaryOprApp "-" (Number () "1" ())) (Ok ".") (Ident x)));
+    test!("-1.up_to 100",
+        (App (OprApp (UnaryOprApp "-" (Number () "1" ())) (Ok ".") (Ident up_to))
+             (Number () "100" ())));
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn method_app_in_minus_unary() {
+    test!("-Number.positive_infinity",
+        (UnaryOprApp "-" (OprApp (Ident Number) (Ok ".") (Ident positive_infinity))));
 }
 
 
@@ -1197,6 +1214,7 @@ fn numbers() {
     test!("0o122137", (Number "0o" "122137" ()));
     test!("0xAE2F14", (Number "0x" "AE2F14" ()));
     test!("pi = 3.14", (Assignment (Ident pi) "=" (Number () "3" ("." "14"))));
+    test!("0.0.x", (OprApp (Number () "0" ("." "0")) (Ok ".") (Ident x)));
 }
 
 #[test]
@@ -1211,6 +1229,7 @@ fn new_delimited_numbers() {
 #[test]
 fn old_nondecimal_numbers() {
     test!("2_01101101", (Number "2_" "01101101" ()));
+    test!("-2_01101101", (UnaryOprApp "-" (Number "2_" "01101101" ())));
     test!("16_17ffffffffffffffa", (Number "16_" "17ffffffffffffffa" ()));
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/rust/parser/src/lexer.rs b/lib/rust/parser/src/lexer.rs
index 00c8b9ae1b4..b53a87d16b5 100644
--- a/lib/rust/parser/src/lexer.rs
+++ b/lib/rust/parser/src/lexer.rs
@@ -619,22 +619,48 @@ impl<'s> Lexer<'s> {
             }
         });
         if let Some(token) = token {
-            if token.code == "+-" {
-                let (left, right) = token.split_at_(Bytes(1));
-                let lhs = analyze_operator(&left.code);
-                self.submit_token(left.with_variant(token::Variant::operator(lhs)));
-                let rhs = analyze_operator(&right.code);
-                self.submit_token(right.with_variant(token::Variant::operator(rhs)));
-                return;
+            match token.code.as_ref() {
+                // Special-case: Split into multiple operators.
+                "+-" => {
+                    let (left, right) = token.split_at_(Bytes(1));
+                    let lhs = analyze_operator(&left.code);
+                    self.submit_token(left.with_variant(token::Variant::operator(lhs)));
+                    let rhs = analyze_operator(&right.code);
+                    self.submit_token(right.with_variant(token::Variant::operator(rhs)));
+                }
+                // Composed of operator characters, but not an operator node.
+                "..." => {
+                    let token = token.with_variant(token::Variant::auto_scope());
+                    self.submit_token(token);
+                }
+                // Decimal vs. method-application must be distinguished before parsing because they
+                // have different precedences; this is a special case here because the distinction
+                // requires lookahead.
+                "." if self.last_spaces_visible_offset.width_in_spaces == 0
+                        && let Some(char) = self.current_char && char.is_ascii_digit() => {
+                    let opr = token::OperatorProperties::new()
+                        .with_binary_infix_precedence(81)
+                        .as_decimal();
+                    let token = token.with_variant(token::Variant::operator(opr));
+                    self.submit_token(token);
+                }
+                // The unary-negation operator binds tighter to numeric literals than other
+                // expressions.
+                "-" if self.last_spaces_visible_offset.width_in_spaces == 0
+                    && let Some(char) = self.current_char && char.is_ascii_digit() => {
+                    let opr = token::OperatorProperties::new()
+                        .with_unary_prefix_mode(token::Precedence::unary_minus_numeric_literal())
+                        .with_binary_infix_precedence(15);
+                    let token = token.with_variant(token::Variant::operator(opr));
+                    self.submit_token(token);
+                }
+                // Normally-structured operator.
+                _ => {
+                    let tp = token::Variant::operator(analyze_operator(&token.code));
+                    let token = token.with_variant(tp);
+                    self.submit_token(token);
+                }
             }
-            if token.code == "..." {
-                let token = token.with_variant(token::Variant::auto_scope());
-                self.submit_token(token);
-                return;
-            }
-            let tp = token::Variant::operator(analyze_operator(&token.code));
-            let token = token.with_variant(tp);
-            self.submit_token(token);
         }
     }
 }
@@ -703,8 +729,7 @@ fn analyze_operator(token: &str) -> token::OperatorProperties {
                 .as_compile_time_operation()
                 .as_special()
                 .as_sequence(),
-        "." =>
-            return operator.with_binary_infix_precedence(80).with_decimal_interpretation().as_dot(),
+        "." => return operator.with_binary_infix_precedence(80).as_dot(),
         _ => (),
     }
     // "The precedence of all other operators is determined by the operator's Precedence Character:"
@@ -821,9 +846,13 @@ impl<'s> Lexer<'s> {
                     token::Base::Hexadecimal =>
                         self.token(|this| this.take_while(is_hexadecimal_digit)),
                 };
-                if let Some(token) = token {
-                    self.submit_token(token.with_variant(token::Variant::digits(Some(base))));
-                }
+                let joiner = token::OperatorProperties::new()
+                    .with_binary_infix_precedence(usize::MAX)
+                    .as_token_joiner();
+                self.submit_token(Token("", "", token::Variant::operator(joiner)));
+                // Every number has a digits-token, even if it's zero-length.
+                let token = token.unwrap_or_default();
+                self.submit_token(token.with_variant(token::Variant::digits(Some(base))));
             } else {
                 self.submit_token(token.with_variant(token::Variant::digits(None)));
             }
diff --git a/lib/rust/parser/src/syntax/operator.rs b/lib/rust/parser/src/syntax/operator.rs
index 4850b310c79..c686d5c6c8b 100644
--- a/lib/rust/parser/src/syntax/operator.rs
+++ b/lib/rust/parser/src/syntax/operator.rs
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ impl<'s> ExpressionBuilder<'s> {
                             SectionTermination::Unwrap => lhs.map(|op| op.value),
                         };
                         let rhs = rhs_.map(syntax::Tree::from);
-                        let ast = syntax::tree::apply_operator(lhs, tokens, rhs, self.nospace);
+                        let ast = syntax::tree::apply_operator(lhs, tokens, rhs);
                         Operand::from(ast)
                     } else {
                         let rhs = rhs_.map(syntax::Tree::from);
@@ -307,9 +307,8 @@ impl<'s> ExpressionBuilder<'s> {
                         if tokens.len() != 1 || tokens[0].properties.can_form_section() {
                             elided += lhs.is_none() as u32 + rhs.is_none() as u32;
                         }
-                        let mut operand = Operand::from(lhs).map(|lhs| {
-                            syntax::tree::apply_operator(lhs, tokens, rhs, self.nospace)
-                        });
+                        let mut operand = Operand::from(lhs)
+                            .map(|lhs| syntax::tree::apply_operator(lhs, tokens, rhs));
                         operand.elided += elided;
                         operand
                     }
diff --git a/lib/rust/parser/src/syntax/token.rs b/lib/rust/parser/src/syntax/token.rs
index b044fc37c9d..ff090d7b5f4 100644
--- a/lib/rust/parser/src/syntax/token.rs
+++ b/lib/rust/parser/src/syntax/token.rs
@@ -334,7 +334,7 @@ pub struct OperatorProperties {
     is_compile_time_operation: bool,
     is_right_associative:      bool,
     // Unique operators
-    can_be_decimal_operator:   bool,
+    is_decimal:                bool,
     is_type_annotation:        bool,
     is_assignment:             bool,
     is_arrow:                  bool,
@@ -343,6 +343,7 @@ pub struct OperatorProperties {
     is_annotation:             bool,
     is_dot:                    bool,
     is_special:                bool,
+    is_token_joiner:           bool,
 }
 
 impl OperatorProperties {
@@ -379,6 +380,11 @@ impl OperatorProperties {
         Self { is_special: true, ..self }
     }
 
+    /// Return a copy of this operator, modified to be flagged as the token-joiner operator.
+    pub fn as_token_joiner(self) -> Self {
+        Self { is_token_joiner: true, ..self }
+    }
+
     /// Return a copy of this operator, modified to have the specified LHS operator-section/
     /// template-function behavior.
     pub fn with_lhs_section_termination<T>(self, lhs_section_termination: T) -> Self
@@ -421,9 +427,9 @@ impl OperatorProperties {
         Self { is_dot: true, ..self }
     }
 
-    /// Return a copy of this operator, modified to allow an interpretion as a decmial point.
-    pub fn with_decimal_interpretation(self) -> Self {
-        Self { can_be_decimal_operator: true, ..self }
+    /// Return a copy of this operator, modified to be interpreted as a decimal point.
+    pub fn as_decimal(self) -> Self {
+        Self { is_decimal: true, ..self }
     }
 
     /// Return this operator's binary infix precedence, if it has one.
@@ -486,6 +492,11 @@ impl OperatorProperties {
         self.is_dot
     }
 
+    /// Return whether this operator is the token-joiner operator.
+    pub fn is_token_joiner(&self) -> bool {
+        self.is_token_joiner
+    }
+
     /// Return this operator's associativity.
     pub fn associativity(&self) -> Associativity {
         match self.is_right_associative {
@@ -494,9 +505,9 @@ impl OperatorProperties {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Return whether this operator can be interpreted as a decimal point.
-    pub fn can_be_decimal_operator(&self) -> bool {
-        self.can_be_decimal_operator
+    /// Return whether this operator is a decimal point.
+    pub fn is_decimal(&self) -> bool {
+        self.is_decimal
     }
 }
 
@@ -533,6 +544,11 @@ impl Precedence {
     pub fn unary_minus() -> Self {
         Precedence { value: 79 }
     }
+
+    /// Return the precedence of unary minus when applied to a numeric literal.
+    pub fn unary_minus_numeric_literal() -> Self {
+        Precedence { value: 80 }
+    }
 }
 
 /// Associativity (left or right).
diff --git a/lib/rust/parser/src/syntax/tree.rs b/lib/rust/parser/src/syntax/tree.rs
index 33aa1864167..001bd55e2cd 100644
--- a/lib/rust/parser/src/syntax/tree.rs
+++ b/lib/rust/parser/src/syntax/tree.rs
@@ -762,12 +762,6 @@ impl<'s> span::Builder<'s> for OperatorDelimitedTree<'s> {
 /// application has special semantics.
 pub fn apply<'s>(mut func: Tree<'s>, mut arg: Tree<'s>) -> Tree<'s> {
     match (&mut *func.variant, &mut *arg.variant) {
-        (Variant::Number(func_ @ Number { base: _, integer: None, fractional_digits: None }),
-                Variant::Number(Number { base: None, integer, fractional_digits })) => {
-            func_.integer = mem::take(integer);
-            func_.fractional_digits = mem::take(fractional_digits);
-            func
-        }
         (Variant::Annotated(func_ @ Annotated { argument: None, .. }), _) => {
             func_.argument = maybe_apply(mem::take(&mut func_.argument), arg).into();
             func
@@ -862,13 +856,29 @@ pub fn apply_operator<'s>(
     mut lhs: Option<Tree<'s>>,
     opr: Vec<token::Operator<'s>>,
     mut rhs: Option<Tree<'s>>,
-    nospace: bool,
 ) -> Tree<'s> {
     let opr = match opr.len() {
         0 => return apply(lhs.unwrap(), rhs.unwrap()),
         1 => Ok(opr.into_iter().next().unwrap()),
         _ => Err(MultipleOperatorError { operators: NonEmptyVec::try_from(opr).unwrap() }),
     };
+    if let Ok(opr_) = &opr
+            && opr_.properties.is_token_joiner()
+            && let Some(lhs_) = lhs.as_mut()
+            && let Some(rhs_) = rhs.as_mut() {
+        return match (&mut *lhs_.variant, &mut *rhs_.variant) {
+            (Variant::Number(func_ @ Number { base: _, integer: None, fractional_digits: None }),
+                Variant::Number(Number { base: None, integer, fractional_digits })) => {
+                func_.integer = mem::take(integer);
+                func_.fractional_digits = mem::take(fractional_digits);
+                lhs.take().unwrap()
+            }
+            _ => {
+                debug_assert!(false, "Unexpected use of token-joiner operator!");
+                apply(lhs.take().unwrap(), rhs.take().unwrap())
+            },
+        }
+    }
     if let Ok(opr_) = &opr && opr_.properties.is_special() {
         let tree = Tree::opr_app(lhs, opr, rhs);
         return tree.with_error("Invalid use of special operator.");
@@ -890,8 +900,7 @@ pub fn apply_operator<'s>(
         let invalid = Tree::opr_app(lhs, opr, rhs);
         return invalid.with_error(error);
     }
-    if nospace
-        && let Ok(opr) = &opr && opr.properties.can_be_decimal_operator()
+    if let Ok(opr) = &opr && opr.properties.is_decimal()
         && let Some(lhs) = lhs.as_mut()
         && let box Variant::Number(lhs_) = &mut lhs.variant
         && lhs_.fractional_digits.is_none()