diff --git a/test/test_unit_score_file.py b/test/test_unit_score_file.py
index 1cfdb8c..7999810 100644
--- a/test/test_unit_score_file.py
+++ b/test/test_unit_score_file.py
@@ -329,16 +329,19 @@ def test_negative_class_condition(runner, yadm):
         score=0
         local_class="testclass"
         local_classes=("testclass")
-        # Negative condition with matching value should yield delta -1 and zero the score.
-        score_file "filename##!class.testclass" "dest"
+        
+        # 0
+        score_file "filename##~class.testclass" "dest"
         echo "score: $score"
-        # Negative condition with non-matching value should yield delta 16.
+
+        # 1000 + 16
         score=0
-        score_file "filename##!class.badclass" "dest"
+        score_file "filename##~class.badclass" "dest"
         echo "score2: $score"
-        # Check class shorthand (c) as well.
+
+        # 0
         score=0
-        score_file "filename##!c.testclass" "dest"
+        score_file "filename##~c.badclass" "dest"
         echo "score3: $score"
     """
     run = runner(command=["bash"], inp=script)
@@ -346,7 +349,7 @@ def test_negative_class_condition(runner, yadm):
     output = run.out.strip().splitlines()
     assert output[0] == "score: 0"
     assert output[1] == "score2: 1016"
-    assert output[2] == "score3: 0"
+    assert output[2] == "score3: 1016"
 
 def test_negative_combined_conditions(runner, yadm):
     """Test negative conditions for multiple alt types: returns 0 when matching and proper score when not matching."""
@@ -359,7 +362,7 @@ def test_negative_combined_conditions(runner, yadm):
 
         # 0 + 0 = 0
         score=0
-        score_file "filename##!class.testclass,!distro.testdistro" "dest"
+        score_file "filename##~class.testclass,~distro.testdistro" "dest"
         echo "score: $score"
 
         # 1000 * 2 + 16 + 4 = 2020
@@ -369,17 +372,17 @@ def test_negative_combined_conditions(runner, yadm):
 
         # 0 (negated class condition)
         score=0
-        score_file "filename##!class.badclass,!distro.testdistro" "dest"
+        score_file "filename##~class.badclass,~distro.testdistro" "dest"
         echo "score3: $score"
 
         # 1000 + 16 + 1000 + 4 = 2020
         score=0
-        score_file "filename##class.testclass,!distro.baddistro" "dest"
+        score_file "filename##class.testclass,~distro.baddistro" "dest"
         echo "score4: $score"
 
         # 1000 + 16 + 1000 + 16 = 2032
         score=0
-        score_file "filename##class.testclass,!class.badclass" "dest"
+        score_file "filename##class.testclass,~class.badclass" "dest"
         echo "score5: $score"
     """
     run = runner(command=["bash"], inp=script)
diff --git a/yadm b/yadm
index 0a529d6..a4d0662 100755
--- a/yadm
+++ b/yadm
@@ -179,9 +179,9 @@ function score_file() {
     local value=${field#*.}
     [ "$field" = "$label" ] && value="" # when .value is omitted
 
-    # Check for negative condition prefix (e.g., "!<label>")
+    # Check for negative condition prefix (e.g., "~<label>")
     local negate=0
-    if [[ "$label" == !* ]]; then
+    if [[ "$label" == ~* ]]; then
       negate=1
       label="${label:1}"
     fi
@@ -193,55 +193,28 @@ function score_file() {
         delta=0
         ;;
       a | arch)
-        if [[ "$value" = "$local_arch" ]]; then
-          (( negate )) && delta=-1 || delta=1
-        else
-          (( negate )) && delta=1
-        fi
+        [[ "$value" = "$local_arch" ]] && delta=1 || delta=-1
         ;;
       o | os)
-        if [[ "$value" = "$local_system" ]]; then
-          (( negate )) && delta=-1 || delta=2
-        else
-          (( negate )) && delta=2
-        fi
+        [[ "$value" = "$local_system" ]] && delta=2 || delta=-2
         ;;
       d | distro)
-        if [[ "${value// /_}" = "${local_distro// /_}" ]]; then
-          (( negate )) && delta=-1 || delta=4
-        else
-          (( negate )) && delta=4
-        fi
+        [[ "${value// /_}" = "${local_distro// /_}" ]] && delta=4 || delta=-4
         ;;
       f | distro_family)
-        if [[ "${value// /_}" = "${local_distro_family// /_}" ]]; then
-          (( negate )) && delta=-1 || delta=8
-        else
-          (( negate )) && delta=8
-        fi
+        [[ "${value// /_}" = "${local_distro_family// /_}" ]] && delta=8 || delta=-8
         ;;
       c | class)
-        if in_list "$value" "${local_classes[@]}"; then
-          (( negate )) && delta=-1 || delta=16
-        else
-          (( negate )) && delta=16
-        fi
+        in_list "$value" "${local_classes[@]}" && delta=16 || delta=-16
         ;;
       h | hostname)
-        if [[ "$value" = "$local_host" ]]; then
-          (( negate )) && delta=-1 || delta=32
-        else
-          (( negate )) && delta=32
-        fi
+        [[ "$value" = "$local_host" ]] && delta=32 || delta=-32
         ;;
       u | user)
-        if [[ "$value" = "$local_user" ]]; then
-          (( negate )) && delta=-1 || delta=64
-        else
-          (( negate )) && delta=64
-        fi
+        [[ "$value" = "$local_user" ]] && delta=64 || delta=-64
         ;;
       e | extension)
+        # extension isn't a condition and doesn't affect the score
         continue
         ;;
       t | template | yadm)
@@ -264,6 +237,7 @@ function score_file() {
     esac
     shopt -u nocasematch
 
+    (( negate )) && delta=$((-delta))
     if ((delta < 0)); then
       score=0
       return