diff --git a/src/display.jl b/src/display.jl
index c85af809..074059aa 100644
--- a/src/display.jl
+++ b/src/display.jl
@@ -44,10 +44,6 @@ function prefix(x::Unit)
     end
 end
 
-function show(io::IO, x::Unit{N,D}) where {N,D}
-    show(io, FreeUnits{(x,), D, nothing}())
-end
-
 abstract type BracketStyle end
 
 struct NoBrackets <: BracketStyle end
@@ -89,7 +85,7 @@ brackets are not printed.
 """
 function showval(io::IO, x::Number, brackets::Bool=true)
     brackets && print_opening_bracket(io, x)
-    show(io, x)
+    show(io, MIME"text/plain"(), x)
     brackets && print_closing_bracket(io, x)
 end
 
@@ -107,20 +103,10 @@ has_unit_spacing(u) = true
 has_unit_spacing(u::Units{(Unit{:Degree, NoDims}(0, 1//1),), NoDims}) = false
 
 """
-    show(io::IO, x::Quantity)
+    show(io::IO, mime::MIME"text/plain", x::Quantity)
 Show a unitful quantity by calling [`showval`](@ref) on the numeric value, appending a
 space, and then calling `show` on a units object `U()`.
 """
-function show(io::IO, x::Quantity)
-    if isunitless(unit(x))
-        showval(io, x.val, false)
-    else
-        showval(io, x.val, true)
-        has_unit_spacing(unit(x)) && print(io, ' ')
-        show(io, unit(x))
-    end
-end
-
 function show(io::IO, mime::MIME"text/plain", x::Quantity)
     if isunitless(unit(x))
         showval(io, mime, x.val, false)
@@ -131,42 +117,42 @@ function show(io::IO, mime::MIME"text/plain", x::Quantity)
     end
 end
 
-function show(io::IO, r::StepRange{T}) where T<:Quantity
+function show(io::IO, mime::MIME"text/plain", r::StepRange{T}) where T<:Quantity
     a,s,b = first(r), step(r), last(r)
     U = unit(a)
     V = absoluteunit(U)
     print(io, '(')
     if ustrip(V, s) == 1
-        show(io, ustrip(U, a):ustrip(U, b))
+        show(io, mime, ustrip(U, a):ustrip(U, b))
     else
-        show(io, ustrip(U, a):ustrip(V, s):ustrip(U, b))
+        show(io, mime, ustrip(U, a):ustrip(V, s):ustrip(U, b))
     end
     print(io, ')')
     has_unit_spacing(U) && print(io,' ')
-    show(io, U)
+    show(io, mime, U)
 end
 
-function show(io::IO, r::StepRangeLen{T}) where T<:Quantity
+function show(io::IO, mime::MIME"text/plain", r::StepRangeLen{T}) where T<:Quantity
     a,s,b = first(r), step(r), last(r)
     U = unit(a)
     V = absoluteunit(U)
     print(io, '(')
-    show(io, StepRangeLen(ustrip(U, a), ustrip(V, s), length(r)))
+    show(io, mime, StepRangeLen(ustrip(U, a), ustrip(V, s), length(r)))
     print(io, ')')
     has_unit_spacing(U) && print(io,' ')
-    show(io, U)
+    show(io, mime, U)
 end
 
-function show(io::IO, x::typeof(NoDims))
+function show(io::IO, ::MIME"text/plain", x::typeof(NoDims))
     print(io, "NoDims")
 end
 
 """
-    show(io::IO, x::Unitlike)
+    show(io::IO, ::MIME"text/plain", x::Unitlike)
 Call [`Unitful.showrep`](@ref) on each object in the tuple that is the type
 variable of a [`Unitful.Units`](@ref) or [`Unitful.Dimensions`](@ref) object.
 """
-function show(io::IO, x::Unitlike)
+function show(io::IO, ::MIME"text/plain", x::Unitlike)
     showoperators = get(io, :showoperators, false)
     first = ""
     sep = showoperators ? "*" : " "
@@ -252,3 +238,12 @@ superscript(i::Integer) = map(repr(i)) do c
     c == '0' ? '\u2070' :
     error("unexpected character")
 end
+
+Base.print(io::IO, x::AbstractQuantity) = show(io, "text/plain", x)
+Base.print(io::IO, x::Dimension) = show(io, "text/plain", x)
+Base.print(io::IO, x::Unit) = show(io, "text/plain", x)
+Base.print(io::IO, x::Union{StepRange{T},StepRangeLen{T}}) where T<:Quantity = show(io, "text/plain", x)
+Base.print(io::IO, x::Unitlike) = show(io, "text/plain", x)
+Base.print(io::IO, x::MixedUnits) = show(io, "text/plain", x)
+Base.print(io::IO, x::LogScaled) = show(io, "text/plain", x)
+Base.print(io::IO, x::IsRootPowerRatio) = show(io, "text/plain", x)
diff --git a/src/logarithm.jl b/src/logarithm.jl
index 58d76beb..a9d9daa4 100644
--- a/src/logarithm.jl
+++ b/src/logarithm.jl
@@ -84,11 +84,11 @@ tolog(L,x) = (1+isrootpower(L)) * prefactor(L()) * (logfn(L()))(x)
 fromlog(L,S,x) = unwrap(S) * expfn(L())( x / ((1+isrootpower(S))*prefactor(L())) )
 fromlog(L,x) = expfn(L())( x / ((1+isrootpower(L))*prefactor(L())) )
 
-function Base.show(io::IO, x::MixedUnits{T,U}) where {T,U}
+function Base.show(io::IO, mime::MIME"text/plain", x::MixedUnits{T,U}) where {T,U}
     print(io, abbr(x))
     if x.units != NoUnits
         print(io, " ")
-        show(io, x.units)
+        show(io, mime, x.units)
     end
 end
 
@@ -312,11 +312,11 @@ function Base.promote_rule(::Type{G}, ::Type{N}) where {L,S,T1, G<:Gain{L,S,T1},
 end
 Base.promote_rule(A::Type{G}, B::Type{L}) where {G<:Gain, L2, L<:Level{L2}} = LogScaled{L2}
 
-function Base.show(io::IO, x::Gain)
+function Base.show(io::IO, mime::MIME"text/plain", x::Gain)
     print(io, x.val, " ", abbr(x))
     nothing
 end
-function Base.show(io::IO, x::Level)
+function Base.show(io::IO, mime::MIME"text/plain", x::Level)
     print(io, ustrip(x), " ", abbr(x))
     nothing
 end
diff --git a/src/types.jl b/src/types.jl
index a50dbeb4..58e03b99 100644
--- a/src/types.jl
+++ b/src/types.jl
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ struct IsRootPowerRatio{S,T}
     val::T
 end
 IsRootPowerRatio{S}(x) where {S} = IsRootPowerRatio{S, typeof(x)}(x)
-Base.show(io::IO, x::IsRootPowerRatio{S}) where {S} =
+Base.show(io::IO, ::MIME"text/plain", x::IsRootPowerRatio{S}) where {S} =
     print(io, ifelse(S, "root-power ratio", "power ratio"), " with reference ", x.val)
 const PowerRatio{T} = IsRootPowerRatio{false,T}
 const RootPowerRatio{T} = IsRootPowerRatio{true,T}
diff --git a/src/user.jl b/src/user.jl
index 8df784c9..875fe8d9 100644
--- a/src/user.jl
+++ b/src/user.jl
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ macro affineunit(symb, abbr, offset)
     s = Symbol(symb)
     return esc(quote
         Base.@__doc__ const global $s = $affineunit($offset)
-        $Base.show(io::$IO, ::$genericunit($s)) = $print(io, $abbr)
+        $Base.show(io::$IO, mime::$(MIME"text/plain"), ::$genericunit($s)) = $print(io, $abbr)
     end)
 end
 
diff --git a/src/utils.jl b/src/utils.jl
index c0975ce5..5c8df828 100644
--- a/src/utils.jl
+++ b/src/utils.jl
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ struct DimensionError <: Exception
 end
 
 Base.showerror(io::IO, e::DimensionError) =
-    print(io, "DimensionError: $(e.x) and $(e.y) are not dimensionally compatible.");
+    print(io, "DimensionError: ", e.x, " and ", e.y, " are not dimensionally compatible.");
 
 """
     struct AffineError <: Exception
@@ -245,4 +245,4 @@ struct AffineError <: Exception
     x
 end
 
-Base.showerror(io::IO, e::AffineError) = print(io, "AffineError: $(e.x)")
+Base.showerror(io::IO, e::AffineError) = print(io, "AffineError: ", e.x)
diff --git a/test/runtests.jl b/test/runtests.jl
index 8a707747..c1fda723 100644
--- a/test/runtests.jl
+++ b/test/runtests.jl
@@ -1479,21 +1479,16 @@ end
     withenv("UNITFUL_FANCY_EXPONENTS" => false) do
         @static if VERSION ≥ v"1.6.0-DEV.770"
             @test string(typeof(1.0m/s)) ==
-                "Quantity{Float64, 𝐋 𝐓^-1, FreeUnits{(m, s^-1), 𝐋 𝐓^-1, nothing}}"
+                "Quantity{Float64, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Length}(1//1), Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(-1//1))}(), FreeUnits{(Unitful.Unit{:Meter, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Length}(1//1),)}()}(0, 1//1), Unitful.Unit{:Second, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(1//1),)}()}(0, -1//1)), Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Length}(1//1), Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(-1//1))}(), nothing}}"
             @test string(typeof(m/s)) ==
-                "FreeUnits{(m, s^-1), 𝐋 𝐓^-1, nothing}"
-        else
-            @test string(typeof(1.0m/s)) ==
-                "Quantity{Float64,𝐋 𝐓^-1,FreeUnits{(m, s^-1),𝐋 𝐓^-1,nothing}}"
-            @test string(typeof(m/s)) ==
-                "FreeUnits{(m, s^-1),𝐋 𝐓^-1,nothing}"
+                "FreeUnits{(Unitful.Unit{:Meter, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Length}(1//1),)}()}(0, 1//1), Unitful.Unit{:Second, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(1//1),)}()}(0, -1//1)), Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Length}(1//1), Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(-1//1))}(), nothing}"
         end
         @test string(dimension(1u"m/s")) == "𝐋 𝐓^-1"
         @test string(NoDims) == "NoDims"
     end
     @testset ":fancy_exponent IOContext property" begin
-        @test sprint(io -> show(IOContext(io, :fancy_exponent => true), u"m/s")) == "m s⁻¹"
-        @test sprint(io -> show(IOContext(io, :fancy_exponent => false), u"m/s")) == "m s^-1"
+        @test sprint(print, u"m/s", context = :fancy_exponent => true) == "m s⁻¹"
+        @test sprint(print, u"m/s", context = :fancy_exponent => false) == "m s^-1"
     end
 end
 
@@ -1503,50 +1498,66 @@ Base.show(io::IO, ::MIME"text/plain", ::Foo) = print(io, "42.0")
 
 @testset "Show quantities" begin
     withenv("UNITFUL_FANCY_EXPONENTS" => false) do
-        @test repr(1.0 * u"m * s * kg^-1") == "1.0 m s kg^-1"
+        @static if VERSION ≥ v"1.6.0-DEV.770"
+            @test repr(1.0 * u"m * s * kg^-1") == "Quantity{Float64, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Length}(1//1), Unitful.Dimension{:Mass}(-1//1), Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(1//1))}(), FreeUnits{(Unitful.Unit{:Gram, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Mass}(1//1),)}()}(3, -1//1), Unitful.Unit{:Meter, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Length}(1//1),)}()}(0, 1//1), Unitful.Unit{:Second, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(1//1),)}()}(0, 1//1)), Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Length}(1//1), Unitful.Dimension{:Mass}(-1//1), Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(1//1))}(), nothing}}(1.0)"
+            @test repr(Foo() * u"m * s * kg^-1") == "Quantity{Foo, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Length}(1//1), Unitful.Dimension{:Mass}(-1//1), Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(1//1))}(), FreeUnits{(Unitful.Unit{:Gram, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Mass}(1//1),)}()}(3, -1//1), Unitful.Unit{:Meter, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Length}(1//1),)}()}(0, 1//1), Unitful.Unit{:Second, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(1//1),)}()}(0, 1//1)), Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Length}(1//1), Unitful.Dimension{:Mass}(-1//1), Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(1//1))}(), nothing}}(1)"
+            @test repr((1+2im) * u"m/s") == "Quantity{Complex{Int64}, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Length}(1//1), Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(-1//1))}(), FreeUnits{(Unitful.Unit{:Meter, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Length}(1//1),)}()}(0, 1//1), Unitful.Unit{:Second, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(1//1),)}()}(0, -1//1)), Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Length}(1//1), Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(-1//1))}(), nothing}}(1 + 2im)"
+            @test sprint(show, 1.0°)       == "Quantity{Float64, Unitful.Dimensions{()}(), FreeUnits{(Unitful.Unit{:Degree, Unitful.Dimensions{()}()}(0, 1//1),), Unitful.Dimensions{()}(), nothing}}(1.0)"
+        end
         @test repr("text/plain", 1.0 * u"m * s * kg^-1") == "1.0 m s kg^-1"
-        @test repr(Foo() * u"m * s * kg^-1") == "1 m s kg^-1"
         @test repr("text/plain", Foo() * u"m * s * kg^-1") == "42.0 m s kg^-1"
 
         # Complex quantities
-        @test repr((1+2im) * u"m/s") == "(1 + 2im) m s^-1"
         @test repr("text/plain", (1+2im) * u"m/s") == "(1 + 2im) m s^-1"
 
         # Angular degree printing #253
-        @test sprint(show, 1.0°)       == "1.0°"
         @test repr("text/plain", 1.0°) == "1.0°"
 
         # Concise printing of ranges
-        @test repr((1:10)*u"kg/m^3") == "(1:10) kg m^-3"
-        @test repr((1.0:0.1:10.0)*u"kg/m^3") == "(1.0:0.1:10.0) kg m^-3"
-        @test repr((1:10)*°) == "(1:10)°"
-        @test repr(range(1.0+2.0im, length=5)*u"m") == "(1.0 + 2.0im:1.0 + 0.0im:5.0 + 2.0im) m"
-        @test repr(range(1+2im, step=1+1im, length=5)*u"m") == "(1 + 2im:1 + 1im:5 + 6im) m"
-        @test repr(StepRange((1//1)u"m", 1u"cm", (2//1)u"m")) == "(1//1:1//100:2//1) m"
-        @test repr(StepRangeLen(1.0u"m", 1.0u"cm", 101)) == "(1.0:0.01:2.0) m"
+        @test repr("text/plain", (1:10)*u"kg/m^3") == "(1:10) kg m^-3"
+        @test repr("text/plain", (1.0:0.1:10.0)*u"kg/m^3") == "(1.0:0.1:10.0) kg m^-3"
+        @test repr("text/plain", (1:10)*°) == "(1:10)°"
+        @test repr("text/plain", range(1.0+2.0im, length=5)*u"m") == "(1.0 + 2.0im:1.0 + 0.0im:5.0 + 2.0im) m"
+        @test repr("text/plain", range(1+2im, step=1+1im, length=5)*u"m") == "(1 + 2im:1 + 1im:5 + 6im) m"
+        @test repr("text/plain", StepRange((1//1)u"m", 1u"cm", (2//1)u"m")) == "(1//1:1//100:2//1) m"
+        @test repr("text/plain", StepRangeLen(1.0u"m", 1.0u"cm", 101)) == "(1.0:0.01:2.0) m"
 
         # Concise printing of affine ranges with mixed step unit
-        @test repr(StepRange(1u"°C", 1u"K", 3u"°C")) == "(1:3) °C"
-        @test repr(StepRange(1u"°C", 1.0u"K", 3u"°C")) == "(1:3) °C"
-        @test repr(StepRange(1.0u"°C", 1u"K", 3.0u"°C")) == "(1.0:1.0:3.0) °C"
-        @test repr(StepRange(1.0u"°C", 1.0u"K", 3.0u"°C")) == "(1.0:1.0:3.0) °C"
-        @test repr(StepRange((0//1)u"°F", 1u"K", (9//1)u"°F")) == "(0//1:9//5:9//1) °F"
-        @test repr(StepRangeLen{typeof(1.0u"°C"),typeof(1.0u"°C"),typeof(1u"K")}(1.0u"°C", 1u"K", 3, 1)) == "(1.0:1.0:3.0) °C"
+        @test repr("text/plain", StepRange(1u"°C", 1u"K", 3u"°C")) == "(1:3) °C"
+        @test repr("text/plain", StepRange(1u"°C", 1.0u"K", 3u"°C")) == "(1:3) °C"
+        @test repr("text/plain", StepRange(1.0u"°C", 1u"K", 3.0u"°C")) == "(1.0:1.0:3.0) °C"
+        @test repr("text/plain", StepRange(1.0u"°C", 1.0u"K", 3.0u"°C")) == "(1.0:1.0:3.0) °C"
+        @test repr("text/plain", StepRange((0//1)u"°F", 1u"K", (9//1)u"°F")) == "(0//1:9//5:9//1) °F"
+        @test repr("text/plain", StepRangeLen{typeof(1.0u"°C"),typeof(1.0u"°C"),typeof(1u"K")}(1.0u"°C", 1u"K", 3, 1)) == "(1.0:1.0:3.0) °C"
         @static if VERSION < v"1.5"
             @test_broken repr(StepRangeLen{typeof(1u"°C"),typeof(1u"°C"),typeof(1u"K")}(1u"°C", 1u"K", 3, 1)) == "(1:1:3) °C"
             @test_broken repr(StepRangeLen{typeof(1.0u"°F"),typeof(1.0u"°F"),typeof(1u"K")}(0.0u"°F", 1u"K", 6)) == "(0.0:1.8:9.0) °F"
         else
-            @test repr(StepRangeLen{typeof(1u"°C"),typeof(1u"°C"),typeof(1u"K")}(1u"°C", 1u"K", 3, 1)) == "(1:1:3) °C"
-            @test repr(StepRangeLen{typeof(1.0u"°F"),typeof(1.0u"°F"),typeof(1u"K")}(0.0u"°F", 1u"K", 6)) == "(0.0:1.8:9.0) °F"
+            @test repr("text/plain", StepRangeLen{typeof(1u"°C"),typeof(1u"°C"),typeof(1u"K")}(1u"°C", 1u"K", 3, 1)) == "(1:1:3) °C"
+            @test repr("text/plain", StepRangeLen{typeof(1.0u"°F"),typeof(1.0u"°F"),typeof(1u"K")}(0.0u"°F", 1u"K", 6)) == "(0.0:1.8:9.0) °F"
         end
     end
     withenv("UNITFUL_FANCY_EXPONENTS" => true) do
-        @test repr(1.0 * u"m * s * kg^(-1//2)") == "1.0 m s kg⁻¹ᐟ²"
+        @test repr("text/plain", 1.0 * u"m * s * kg^(-1//2)") == "1.0 m s kg⁻¹ᐟ²"
     end
     withenv("UNITFUL_FANCY_EXPONENTS" => nothing) do
-        @test repr(1.0 * u"m * s * kg^(-1//2)") ==
+        @test repr("text/plain", 1.0 * u"m * s * kg^(-1//2)") ==
             (Sys.isapple() ? "1.0 m s kg⁻¹ᐟ²" : "1.0 m s kg^-1/2")
     end
+
+    @testset "roundtripping show" begin 
+        u = u"m/s"
+        u2 = eval(Meta.parse(repr(u)))
+        @test u == u2 
+
+        q = Quantity(5, u"m")
+        q2 = eval(Meta.parse(repr(q)))
+        @test q == q2 
+        
+        d = u"𝐌*𝐋/𝐓^2"
+        d2 = eval(Meta.parse(repr(d)))
+        @test d == d2 
+    end
 end
 
 @testset "DimensionError message" begin
@@ -1880,7 +1891,9 @@ end
 
     @testset "> Display" begin
         withenv("UNITFUL_FANCY_EXPONENTS" => false) do
-            @test repr(3u"dB/Hz") == "[3 dB] Hz^-1"
+            @static if VERSION ≥ v"1.6.0-DEV.770"
+                @test repr(3u"dB/Hz") == "Quantity{Gain{LogInfo{:Decibel, 10, 10}, :?, Int64}, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(1//1),)}(), FreeUnits{(Unitful.Unit{:Hertz, Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(-1//1),)}()}(0, -1//1),), Unitful.Dimensions{(Unitful.Dimension{:Time}(1//1),)}(), nothing}}(Gain{LogInfo{:Decibel, 10, 10}, :?, Int64}(3))"
+            end
             @test repr("text/plain", 3u"dB/Hz") == "[3 dB] Hz^-1"
         end
         @test Unitful.abbr(3u"dBm") == "dBm"