diff --git a/colored_pentagon_reduction/example.py b/colored_pentagon_reduction/example.py
index c494637..25f3e94 100644
--- a/colored_pentagon_reduction/example.py
+++ b/colored_pentagon_reduction/example.py
@@ -217,17 +217,17 @@ def squish(g: Graph, coloring: VertexColoring, v0: Any) -> tuple[Graph, VertexCo
     return g_prime, coloring_prime, v1, v2
 
 
-Step = SquishOperation | PluckOperation
+ReduceOperation = SquishOperation | PluckOperation
 
 def reduce(
     g: Graph,
     coloring: VertexColoring,
     before_cid: ColoredGraphId,
-    steps: list[Step] | None = None,
-) -> list[Step]:
+    op_sequence: list[ReduceOperation] | None = None,
+) -> list[ReduceOperation]:
     """Repeatedly apply pluck/squish reductions until no candidates remain."""
-    if steps is None:
-        steps = []
+    if op_sequence is None:
+        op_sequence = []
 
     print(f"Coloring: {coloring}")
 
@@ -239,8 +239,8 @@ def reduce(
             g_prime, coloring_prime = pluck(g, coloring, v)
             print(f"\nG' (after pluck v0={v}): {g_prime.order()} vertices, {g_prime.size()} edges")
             _, _, after_cid = save_colored_graph(g_prime, coloring_prime)
-            steps.append(PluckOperation(name='pluck', meta=PluckMeta(v0=v), g=g, g_prime=g_prime, coloring_prime=coloring_prime, before=before_cid, after=after_cid))
-            return reduce(g_prime, coloring_prime, after_cid, steps)
+            op_sequence.append(PluckOperation(name='pluck', meta=PluckMeta(v0=v), g=g, g_prime=g_prime, coloring_prime=coloring_prime, before=before_cid, after=after_cid))
+            return reduce(g_prime, coloring_prime, after_cid, op_sequence)
         if g.degree(v) == 4 and _neighbors_form_cycle(g, v):
             degree_4_candidates.append(v)
         elif g.degree(v) == 5 and _neighbors_form_cycle(g, v):
@@ -252,8 +252,8 @@ def reduce(
         print(f"Shared-color neighbors: v1={v1}, v2={v2}  (color {coloring[v1]})")
         print(f"\nG' (after squish v0={v0}): {g_prime.order()} vertices, {g_prime.size()} edges")
         _, _, after_cid = save_colored_graph(g_prime, coloring_prime)
-        steps.append(SquishOperation(name='squish', meta=SquishMeta(v0=v0, v_merged=[v1, v2]), g=g, g_prime=g_prime, coloring_prime=coloring_prime, before=before_cid, after=after_cid))
-        return reduce(g_prime, coloring_prime, after_cid, steps)
+        op_sequence.append(SquishOperation(name='squish', meta=SquishMeta(v0=v0, v_merged=[v1, v2]), g=g, g_prime=g_prime, coloring_prime=coloring_prime, before=before_cid, after=after_cid))
+        return reduce(g_prime, coloring_prime, after_cid, op_sequence)
 
     if degree_5_candidates:
         v0 = degree_5_candidates[0]
@@ -261,11 +261,11 @@ def reduce(
         print(f"Shared-color neighbors: v1={v1}, v2={v2}  (color {coloring[v1]})")
         print(f"\nG' (after squish v0={v0}): {g_prime.order()} vertices, {g_prime.size()} edges")
         _, _, after_cid = save_colored_graph(g_prime, coloring_prime)
-        steps.append(SquishOperation(name='squish', meta=SquishMeta(v0=v0, v_merged=[v1, v2]), g=g, g_prime=g_prime, coloring_prime=coloring_prime, before=before_cid, after=after_cid))
-        return reduce(g_prime, coloring_prime, after_cid, steps)
+        op_sequence.append(SquishOperation(name='squish', meta=SquishMeta(v0=v0, v_merged=[v1, v2]), g=g, g_prime=g_prime, coloring_prime=coloring_prime, before=before_cid, after=after_cid))
+        return reduce(g_prime, coloring_prime, after_cid, op_sequence)
 
     print("DONE")
-    return steps
+    return op_sequence
 
 
 G = next(graphs.planar_graphs(20, minimum_degree=5))
@@ -296,20 +296,20 @@ def plot_to_data_uri(g: Graph, coloring: VertexColoring) -> str:
         png_bytes = Path(f.name).read_bytes()
     return f"data:image/png;base64,{base64.b64encode(png_bytes).decode()}"
 
-def save_operation_sequence(steps: list[Step], g: Graph, coloring: VertexColoring) -> str:
-    """Save steps as JSON and Markdown under data/operations/<seq_id>. Returns the sequence id."""
-    op_seq_id = operation_sequence_id(steps)
+def save_operation_sequence(op_sequence: list[ReduceOperation], g: Graph, coloring: VertexColoring) -> str:
+    """Save op_sequence as JSON and Markdown under data/operations/<seq_id>. Returns the sequence id."""
+    op_seq_id = operation_sequence_id(op_sequence)
     op_dir = DIR / "data" / "operations" / op_seq_id
     op_dir.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
-    (op_dir / "colored_pentagon_contractions.json").write_text(json.dumps(strip_graphs(steps), indent=2))
+    (op_dir / "colored_pentagon_contractions.json").write_text(json.dumps(strip_graphs(op_sequence), indent=2))
     md_lines = [f"## start\n\n![start]({plot_to_data_uri(g, coloring)})"]
-    for step in steps:
-        meta_json = json.dumps(step['meta'])
-        md_lines.append(f"## {step['name']} {meta_json}\n\n![b]({plot_to_data_uri(step['g_prime'], step['coloring_prime'])})")
+    for op in op_sequence:
+        meta_json = json.dumps(op['meta'])
+        md_lines.append(f"## {op['name']} {meta_json}\n\n![b]({plot_to_data_uri(op['g_prime'], op['coloring_prime'])})")
     (op_dir / "colored_pentagon_contractions.md").write_text("\n".join(md_lines) + "\n")
     return op_seq_id
 
-steps = reduce(G, starting_coloring, initial_cid)
-print("\nSteps:")
-print(json.dumps(strip_graphs(steps), indent=2))
-save_operation_sequence(steps, G, starting_coloring)
+op_sequence = reduce(G, starting_coloring, initial_cid)
+print("\nOp sequence:")
+print(json.dumps(strip_graphs(op_sequence), indent=2))
+save_operation_sequence(op_sequence, G, starting_coloring)