diff --git a/cqlengine/statements.py b/cqlengine/statements.py
index 31d1ff08..8a92fb66 100644
--- a/cqlengine/statements.py
+++ b/cqlengine/statements.py
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class WhereClause(BaseClause):
 
     def __unicode__(self):
         field = ('"{}"' if self.quote_field else '{}').format(self.field)
-        return u'{} {} {}'.format(field, self.operator, unicode(self.query_value))
+        return u'{} {} ?'.format(field, self.operator)
 
     def __hash__(self):
         return super(WhereClause, self).__hash__() ^ hash(self.operator)
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class AssignmentClause(BaseClause):
     """ a single variable st statement """
 
     def __unicode__(self):
-        return u'"{}" = :{}'.format(self.field, self.context_id)
+        return u'"{}" = ?'.format(self.field)
 
     def insert_tuple(self):
         return self.field, self.context_id
@@ -170,15 +170,15 @@ class SetUpdateClause(ContainerUpdateClause):
         qs = []
         ctx_id = self.context_id
         if self.previous is None and not (self._assignments or self._additions or self._removals):
-            qs += ['"{}" = :{}'.format(self.field, ctx_id)]
+            qs += ['"{}" = ?'.format(self.field)]
         if self._assignments:
-            qs += ['"{}" = :{}'.format(self.field, ctx_id)]
+            qs += ['"{}" = ?'.format(self.field)]
             ctx_id += 1
         if self._additions:
-            qs += ['"{0}" = "{0}" + :{1}'.format(self.field, ctx_id)]
+            qs += ['"{0}" = "{0}" + ?'.format(self.field)]
             ctx_id += 1
         if self._removals:
-            qs += ['"{0}" = "{0}" - :{1}'.format(self.field, ctx_id)]
+            qs += ['"{0}" = "{0}" - ?'.format(self.field)]
 
         return ', '.join(qs)
 
@@ -232,15 +232,15 @@ class ListUpdateClause(ContainerUpdateClause):
         qs = []
         ctx_id = self.context_id
         if self._assignments is not None:
-            qs += ['"{}" = :{}'.format(self.field, ctx_id)]
+            qs += ['"{}" = ?'.format(self.field)]
             ctx_id += 1
 
         if self._prepend:
-            qs += ['"{0}" = :{1} + "{0}"'.format(self.field, ctx_id)]
+            qs += ['"{0}" = ? + "{0}"'.format(self.field)]
             ctx_id += 1
 
         if self._append:
-            qs += ['"{0}" = "{0}" + :{1}'.format(self.field, ctx_id)]
+            qs += ['"{0}" = "{0}" + ?'.format(self.field)]
 
         return ', '.join(qs)
 
@@ -356,10 +356,10 @@ class MapUpdateClause(ContainerUpdateClause):
 
         ctx_id = self.context_id
         if self.previous is None and not self._updates:
-            qs += ['"int_map" = :1']
+            qs += ['"int_map" = ?']
         else:
             for _ in self._updates or []:
-                qs += ['"{}"[:{}] = :{}'.format(self.field, ctx_id, ctx_id + 1)]
+                qs += ['"{}"[?] = ?'.format(self.field)]
                 ctx_id += 2
 
         return ', '.join(qs)
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ class CounterUpdateClause(ContainerUpdateClause):
     def __unicode__(self):
         delta = self.value - self.previous
         sign = '-' if delta < 0 else '+'
-        return '"{0}" = "{0}" {1} :{2}'.format(self.field, sign, self.context_id)
+        return '"{0}" = "{0}" {1} ?'.format(self.field, sign)
 
 
 class BaseDeleteClause(BaseClause):
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ class MapDeleteClause(BaseDeleteClause):
 
     def __unicode__(self):
         if not self._analyzed: self._analyze()
-        return ', '.join(['"{}"[:{}]'.format(self.field, self.context_id + i) for i in range(len(self._removals))])
+        return ', '.join(['"{}"[?]'.format(self.field) for i in range(len(self._removals))])
 
 
 class BaseCQLStatement(object):
@@ -626,7 +626,7 @@ class InsertStatement(AssignmentStatement):
 
         qs += ["({})".format(', '.join(['"{}"'.format(c) for c in columns]))]
         qs += ['VALUES']
-        qs += ["({})".format(', '.join([':{}'.format(v) for v in values]))]
+        qs += ["({})".format(', '.join(['?' for v in values]))]
 
         if self.ttl:
             qs += ["USING TTL {}".format(self.ttl)]
diff --git a/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_assignment_clauses.py b/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_assignment_clauses.py
index 126dd986..48f58edc 100644
--- a/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_assignment_clauses.py
+++ b/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_assignment_clauses.py
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ class SetUpdateClauseTests(TestCase):
         self.assertIsNone(c._removals)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = :0')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = ?')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class SetUpdateClauseTests(TestCase):
         self.assertIsNone(c._removals)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = "s" + :0')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = "s" + ?')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ class SetUpdateClauseTests(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(c._removals, {3})
 
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = "s" - :0')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = "s" - ?')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ class SetUpdateClauseTests(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(c._removals, {1})
 
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 2)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = "s" + :0, "s" = "s" - :1')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = "s" + ?, "s" = "s" - ?')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ class ListUpdateClauseTests(TestCase):
         self.assertIsNone(c._prepend)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = :0')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = ?')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ class ListUpdateClauseTests(TestCase):
         self.assertIsNone(c._prepend)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = :0')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = ?')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ class ListUpdateClauseTests(TestCase):
         self.assertIsNone(c._prepend)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = :0')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = ?')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ class ListUpdateClauseTests(TestCase):
         self.assertIsNone(c._prepend)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = "s" + :0')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = "s" + ?')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@ class ListUpdateClauseTests(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(c._prepend, [1, 2])
 
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = :0 + "s"')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = ? + "s"')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ class ListUpdateClauseTests(TestCase):
         self.assertEqual(c._prepend, [1, 2])
 
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 2)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = :0 + "s", "s" = "s" + :1')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = ? + "s", "s" = "s" + ?')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ class ListUpdateClauseTests(TestCase):
         self.assertIsNone(c._prepend)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = :0')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s" = ?')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ class MapUpdateTests(TestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(c._updates, [3, 5])
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 4)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s"[:0] = :1, "s"[:2] = :3')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s"[?] = ?, "s"[?] = ?')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ class MapUpdateTests(TestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(c._updates, [3, 5])
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 4)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s"[:0] = :1, "s"[:2] = :3')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s"[?] = ?, "s"[?] = ?')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ class CounterUpdateTests(TestCase):
         c.set_context_id(5)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"a" = "a" + :5')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"a" = "a" + ?')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ class CounterUpdateTests(TestCase):
         c.set_context_id(3)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"a" = "a" - :3')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"a" = "a" - ?')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ class CounterUpdateTests(TestCase):
         c.set_context_id(5)
 
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 1)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"a" = "a" + :5')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"a" = "a" + ?')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
@@ -313,7 +313,7 @@ class MapDeleteTests(TestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(c._removals, [1, 5])
         self.assertEqual(c.get_context_size(), 2)
-        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s"[:0], "s"[:1]')
+        self.assertEqual(str(c), '"s"[?], "s"[?]')
 
         ctx = {}
         c.update_context(ctx)
diff --git a/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_delete_statement.py b/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_delete_statement.py
index 9ac95543..ada5b720 100644
--- a/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_delete_statement.py
+++ b/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_delete_statement.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class DeleteStatementTests(TestCase):
     def test_where_clause_rendering(self):
         ds = DeleteStatement('table', None)
         ds.add_where_clause(WhereClause('a', EqualsOperator(), 'b'))
-        self.assertEqual(unicode(ds), 'DELETE FROM table WHERE "a" = :0', unicode(ds))
+        self.assertEqual(unicode(ds), 'DELETE FROM table WHERE "a" = ?', unicode(ds))
 
     def test_context_update(self):
         ds = DeleteStatement('table', None)
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class DeleteStatementTests(TestCase):
         ds.add_where_clause(WhereClause('a', EqualsOperator(), 'b'))
 
         ds.update_context_id(7)
-        self.assertEqual(unicode(ds), 'DELETE "d"[:8] FROM table WHERE "a" = :7')
+        self.assertEqual(unicode(ds), 'DELETE "d"[?] FROM table WHERE "a" = ?')
         self.assertEqual(ds.get_context(), {'7': 'b', '8': 3})
 
     def test_context(self):
diff --git a/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_insert_statement.py b/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_insert_statement.py
index 5e22d7d9..eeffe556 100644
--- a/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_insert_statement.py
+++ b/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_insert_statement.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class InsertStatementTests(TestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(
             unicode(ist),
-            'INSERT INTO table ("a", "c") VALUES (:0, :1)'
+            'INSERT INTO table ("a", "c") VALUES (?, ?)'
         )
 
     def test_context_update(self):
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ class InsertStatementTests(TestCase):
         ist.update_context_id(4)
         self.assertEqual(
             unicode(ist),
-            'INSERT INTO table ("a", "c") VALUES (:4, :5)'
+            'INSERT INTO table ("a", "c") VALUES (?, ?)'
         )
         ctx = ist.get_context()
         self.assertEqual(ctx, {'4': 'b', '5': 'd'})
diff --git a/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_update_statement.py b/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_update_statement.py
index 86dbc8be..9fe32a1a 100644
--- a/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_update_statement.py
+++ b/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_update_statement.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ class UpdateStatementTests(TestCase):
         us.add_assignment_clause(AssignmentClause('a', 'b'))
         us.add_assignment_clause(AssignmentClause('c', 'd'))
         us.add_where_clause(WhereClause('a', EqualsOperator(), 'x'))
-        self.assertEqual(unicode(us), 'UPDATE table SET "a" = :0, "c" = :1 WHERE "a" = :2', unicode(us))
+        self.assertEqual(unicode(us), 'UPDATE table SET "a" = ?, "c" = ? WHERE "a" = ?', unicode(us))
 
     def test_context(self):
         us = UpdateStatement('table')
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ class UpdateStatementTests(TestCase):
         us.add_assignment_clause(AssignmentClause('c', 'd'))
         us.add_where_clause(WhereClause('a', EqualsOperator(), 'x'))
         us.update_context_id(3)
-        self.assertEqual(unicode(us), 'UPDATE table SET "a" = :4, "c" = :5 WHERE "a" = :3')
+        self.assertEqual(unicode(us), 'UPDATE table SET "a" = ?, "c" = ? WHERE "a" = ?')
         self.assertEqual(us.get_context(), {'4': 'b', '5': 'd', '3': 'x'})
 
     def test_additional_rendering(self):
diff --git a/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_where_clause.py b/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_where_clause.py
index 938a2b49..083f1542 100644
--- a/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_where_clause.py
+++ b/cqlengine/tests/statements/test_where_clause.py
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ class TestWhereClause(TestCase):
         """ tests that where clauses are rendered properly """
         wc = WhereClause('a', EqualsOperator(), 'c')
         wc.set_context_id(5)
-        self.assertEqual('"a" = :5', unicode(wc))
-        self.assertEqual('"a" = :5', str(wc))
+        self.assertEqual('"a" = ?', unicode(wc))
+        self.assertEqual('"a" = ?', str(wc))
 
     def test_equality_method(self):
         """ tests that 2 identical where clauses evaluate as == """