diff --git a/src/app.rs b/src/app.rs
index 6e682f2..a3c45a3 100644
--- a/src/app.rs
+++ b/src/app.rs
@@ -705,7 +705,7 @@ impl App {
             &self.schema_cache,
         )?;
         let idx = start_idx % comp.candidates.len();
-        let inserted = format!("{} ", comp.candidates[idx]);
+        let inserted = format!("{} ", comp.candidates[idx].text);
         let original_text =
             self.input[comp.replaced_range.0..comp.replaced_range.1].to_string();
         self.input
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ impl App {
         memo: crate::completion::LastCompletion,
         idx: usize,
     ) -> crate::completion::LastCompletion {
-        let new_inserted = format!("{} ", memo.candidates[idx]);
+        let new_inserted = format!("{} ", memo.candidates[idx].text);
         let (start, end) = memo.inserted_range;
         self.input.replace_range(start..end, &new_inserted);
         let new_end = start + new_inserted.len();
diff --git a/src/completion.rs b/src/completion.rs
index 6dd1bd9..bdb1de5 100644
--- a/src/completion.rs
+++ b/src/completion.rs
@@ -46,6 +46,23 @@ impl SchemaCache {
     }
 }
 
+/// A single Tab-insertable item with its source (so the
+/// renderer can colour keywords differently from schema
+/// identifiers, and so the ordering can group keywords first).
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub struct Candidate {
+    pub text: String,
+    pub kind: CandidateKind,
+}
+
+#[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, PartialEq, Eq)]
+pub enum CandidateKind {
+    /// One of the parser's expected keywords.
+    Keyword,
+    /// A schema entity (table, column, relationship).
+    Identifier,
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub struct Completion {
     /// Byte range in `input` to be replaced when a candidate
@@ -55,10 +72,9 @@ pub struct Completion {
     /// Partial prefix the user has typed at the cursor. Empty
     /// when the cursor is at a token boundary.
     pub partial_prefix: String,
-    /// Fitting candidates, alphabetised, deduplicated. Each
-    /// candidate is the bare keyword text (no backticks). When
-    /// inserted, the renderer adds a trailing space.
-    pub candidates: Vec<String>,
+    /// Fitting candidates, ordered keywords-first then
+    /// identifiers, alphabetised within each group, deduplicated.
+    pub candidates: Vec<Candidate>,
 }
 
 /// Compute what would happen if the user pressed Tab right
@@ -107,26 +123,47 @@ pub fn candidates_at_cursor(
     }
 
     let lowered_prefix = partial_prefix.to_lowercase();
+    let matches_prefix = |s: &str| s.to_lowercase().starts_with(&lowered_prefix);
 
-    // Source 1: keyword candidates.
-    let keyword_iter = expected
+    // Source 1: keyword candidates from the parser's
+    // expected-set.
+    let mut keywords: Vec<String> = expected
         .iter()
         .filter_map(|item| strip_backticks(item))
-        .filter_map(|name| Keyword::from_word(name).map(|_| name.to_string()));
-
-    // Source 2: schema identifiers (TableName / Column /
-    // RelationshipName slots). We collect across all matching
-    // slots. `NewName` slots return empty lists from the cache.
-    let schema_iter = expected.iter().filter_map(|item| {
-        IdentSlot::from_expected_label(item).map(|slot| cache.for_slot(slot))
-    });
-
-    let mut candidates: Vec<String> = keyword_iter
-        .chain(schema_iter.flat_map(|names| names.iter().cloned()))
-        .filter(|name| name.to_lowercase().starts_with(&lowered_prefix))
+        .filter_map(|name| Keyword::from_word(name).map(|_| name.to_string()))
+        .filter(|name| matches_prefix(name))
         .collect();
-    candidates.sort();
-    candidates.dedup();
+    keywords.sort();
+    keywords.dedup();
+
+    // Source 2: schema identifiers — accumulated across every
+    // matching known-set slot. `NewName` slots return `&[]`.
+    let mut identifiers: Vec<String> = expected
+        .iter()
+        .filter_map(|item| IdentSlot::from_expected_label(item))
+        .flat_map(|slot| cache.for_slot(slot).iter().cloned())
+        .filter(|name| matches_prefix(name))
+        .collect();
+    identifiers.sort();
+    identifiers.dedup();
+    // If an identifier shares its name with a keyword candidate
+    // (rare in practice), the keyword wins — keywords are
+    // grammar; the user can name a table the same thing but
+    // resolving collisions in the user's favour would create
+    // ambiguity in the live render.
+    identifiers.retain(|name| !keywords.contains(name));
+
+    // Keywords first (grammar parts read before content),
+    // identifiers after. Within each group, alphabetical.
+    let mut candidates: Vec<Candidate> = Vec::with_capacity(keywords.len() + identifiers.len());
+    candidates.extend(keywords.into_iter().map(|text| Candidate {
+        text,
+        kind: CandidateKind::Keyword,
+    }));
+    candidates.extend(identifiers.into_iter().map(|text| Candidate {
+        text,
+        kind: CandidateKind::Identifier,
+    }));
 
     if candidates.is_empty() {
         return None;
@@ -253,8 +290,11 @@ pub struct LastCompletion {
     /// The text that was at `inserted_range` *before* any
     /// completion was applied — restored by Esc / Backspace.
     pub original_text: String,
-    /// Cycle list, fixed at memo-creation time.
-    pub candidates: Vec<String>,
+    /// Cycle list, fixed at memo-creation time. Each candidate
+    /// carries its kind so the hint panel keeps the
+    /// keyword-vs-identifier colour coding stable across cycle
+    /// transitions.
+    pub candidates: Vec<Candidate>,
     /// Which `candidates[i]` is currently visible.
     pub selection_idx: usize,
 }
@@ -280,12 +320,25 @@ mod tests {
 
     fn cands(input: &str, cursor: usize) -> Vec<String> {
         candidates_at_cursor(input, cursor, &SchemaCache::default())
-            .map_or_else(Vec::new, |c| c.candidates)
+            .map_or_else(Vec::new, |c| c.candidates.into_iter().map(|c| c.text).collect())
     }
 
     fn cands_with(input: &str, cursor: usize, cache: &SchemaCache) -> Vec<String> {
         candidates_at_cursor(input, cursor, cache)
-            .map_or_else(Vec::new, |c| c.candidates)
+            .map_or_else(Vec::new, |c| c.candidates.into_iter().map(|c| c.text).collect())
+    }
+
+    fn cand_kinds_with(
+        input: &str,
+        cursor: usize,
+        cache: &SchemaCache,
+    ) -> Vec<(String, CandidateKind)> {
+        candidates_at_cursor(input, cursor, cache).map_or_else(Vec::new, |c| {
+            c.candidates
+                .into_iter()
+                .map(|c| (c.text, c.kind))
+                .collect()
+        })
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -377,7 +430,9 @@ mod tests {
             .expect("some completion");
         assert_eq!(comp.replaced_range, (0, 3));
         assert_eq!(comp.partial_prefix, "cre");
-        assert_eq!(comp.candidates, vec!["create".to_string()]);
+        assert_eq!(comp.candidates.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(comp.candidates[0].text, "create");
+        assert_eq!(comp.candidates[0].kind, CandidateKind::Keyword);
     }
 
     #[test]
@@ -388,6 +443,48 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(comp.partial_prefix, "");
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn keywords_come_before_identifiers_in_candidate_order() {
+        // "add column " has both keyword candidates (`to`,
+        // `table`) and schema-identifier candidates. Per the
+        // user feedback after stage 8: keywords first
+        // (alphabetical within), identifiers second
+        // (alphabetical within).
+        let cache = SchemaCache {
+            tables: vec!["Customers".to_string(), "Orders".to_string()],
+            ..SchemaCache::default()
+        };
+        let kinds = cand_kinds_with("add column ", 11, &cache);
+        // Expect: ["table", "to"] keywords, then ["Customers",
+        // "Orders"] identifiers.
+        assert_eq!(
+            kinds,
+            vec![
+                ("table".to_string(), CandidateKind::Keyword),
+                ("to".to_string(), CandidateKind::Keyword),
+                ("Customers".to_string(), CandidateKind::Identifier),
+                ("Orders".to_string(), CandidateKind::Identifier),
+            ],
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn keyword_wins_when_keyword_text_collides_with_schema_name() {
+        // Pathological: a table named "table". Keywords
+        // dominate the slot — the user can still reference
+        // their table via different syntax.
+        let cache = SchemaCache {
+            tables: vec!["table".to_string(), "Customers".to_string()],
+            ..SchemaCache::default()
+        };
+        let kinds = cand_kinds_with("add column ", 11, &cache);
+        // `table` appears once, as a keyword (not duplicated
+        // as identifier).
+        let table_entries: Vec<_> = kinds.iter().filter(|(t, _)| t == "table").collect();
+        assert_eq!(table_entries.len(), 1);
+        assert_eq!(table_entries[0].1, CandidateKind::Keyword);
+    }
+
     // ---- SchemaCache + identifier completion (stage 8c) ----
 
     #[test]
@@ -526,12 +623,19 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(cs.is_empty(), "got {cs:?}");
     }
 
+    fn keyword_cand(text: &str) -> Candidate {
+        Candidate {
+            text: text.to_string(),
+            kind: CandidateKind::Keyword,
+        }
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn last_completion_next_idx_wraps_around() {
         let mut memo = LastCompletion {
             inserted_range: (0, 0),
             original_text: String::new(),
-            candidates: vec!["a".into(), "b".into(), "c".into()],
+            candidates: vec![keyword_cand("a"), keyword_cand("b"), keyword_cand("c")],
             selection_idx: 0,
         };
         assert_eq!(memo.next_idx(), 1);
@@ -546,7 +650,7 @@ mod tests {
         let mut memo = LastCompletion {
             inserted_range: (0, 0),
             original_text: String::new(),
-            candidates: vec!["a".into(), "b".into(), "c".into()],
+            candidates: vec![keyword_cand("a"), keyword_cand("b"), keyword_cand("c")],
             selection_idx: 0,
         };
         assert_eq!(memo.prev_idx(), 2);
diff --git a/src/input_render.rs b/src/input_render.rs
index e646c2d..f2671a7 100644
--- a/src/input_render.rs
+++ b/src/input_render.rs
@@ -133,13 +133,15 @@ pub enum AmbientHint {
     /// identifier or punctuation slot), and definite-error
     /// states with optional usage template.
     Prose(String),
-    /// Multi-candidate (or single-candidate keyword)
-    /// completion at the cursor. Stage 8b renders these as
-    /// styled spans with the selected item highlighted (if
-    /// any) and `<` / `>` scroll markers when items overflow
-    /// the panel width.
+    /// Multi-candidate (or single-candidate) completion at
+    /// the cursor. Each item carries its kind so the
+    /// renderer can colour keywords differently from
+    /// schema-identifiers (post-stage-8 user feedback).
+    /// The selected item — if any — gets bold + brighter
+    /// colour; `<` / `>` markers appear at the edges when
+    /// items overflow the panel width.
     Candidates {
-        items: Vec<String>,
+        items: Vec<crate::completion::Candidate>,
         /// Index into `items` of the currently-inserted Tab
         /// candidate (per the live `LastCompletion` memo), or
         /// `None` if the user hasn't pressed Tab yet.
@@ -162,16 +164,28 @@ pub fn ambient_hint(
     if input.trim().is_empty() {
         return None;
     }
-    // First check for candidates at the cursor (keywords +
-    // schema identifiers). When any exist the user can Tab to
-    // insert one, and the panel surfaces them directly — this
-    // wins over the prose IncompleteAtEof framing because the
-    // candidate list is more actionable.
+    // Mid-cycle through Tab candidates: the memo carries the
+    // candidate list captured when Tab was first pressed, plus
+    // the current selection_idx. While the memo is alive the
+    // hint shows that exact list — recomputing at the
+    // post-insert cursor would whiplash the panel through "what
+    // comes next at the new cursor" between cycles. Closes
+    // the user-reported #4 in stage-8 testing.
+    if let Some(m) = memo {
+        return Some(AmbientHint::Candidates {
+            items: m.candidates.clone(),
+            selected: Some(m.selection_idx),
+        });
+    }
+    // No memo: fall back to candidates_at_cursor. When any
+    // exist the user can Tab to insert one, and the panel
+    // surfaces them directly — this wins over the prose
+    // IncompleteAtEof framing because the candidate list is
+    // more actionable.
     if let Some(comp) = crate::completion::candidates_at_cursor(input, cursor, cache) {
-        let selected = memo.map(|m| m.selection_idx);
         return Some(AmbientHint::Candidates {
             items: comp.candidates,
-            selected,
+            selected: None,
         });
     }
     // Invalid identifier: cursor sits in a known-set slot but
@@ -471,7 +485,9 @@ mod tests {
 
     fn cands_hint(input: &str, cursor: usize) -> Option<Vec<String>> {
         match ambient_hint(input, cursor, None, &empty_cache()) {
-            Some(AmbientHint::Candidates { items, .. }) => Some(items),
+            Some(AmbientHint::Candidates { items, .. }) => {
+                Some(items.into_iter().map(|c| c.text).collect())
+            }
             _ => None,
         }
     }
@@ -562,27 +578,61 @@ mod tests {
 
     #[test]
     fn ambient_hint_with_memo_carries_selected_index() {
-        use crate::completion::LastCompletion;
-        // Simulate the post-Tab state at "show " — but with
-        // the original word still pending (cursor placed
-        // after `show ` to expose the multi-candidate slot).
-        // The memo's selection_idx is what the renderer uses
-        // to highlight one of the items.
+        use crate::completion::{Candidate, CandidateKind, LastCompletion};
         let memo = LastCompletion {
             inserted_range: (5, 5),
             original_text: String::new(),
-            candidates: vec!["data".to_string(), "table".to_string()],
+            candidates: vec![
+                Candidate { text: "data".to_string(), kind: CandidateKind::Keyword },
+                Candidate { text: "table".to_string(), kind: CandidateKind::Keyword },
+            ],
             selection_idx: 1,
         };
         match ambient_hint("show ", 5, Some(&memo), &empty_cache()) {
             Some(AmbientHint::Candidates { items, selected }) => {
-                assert_eq!(items, vec!["data".to_string(), "table".to_string()]);
+                assert_eq!(items.len(), 2);
+                assert_eq!(items[0].text, "data");
+                assert_eq!(items[1].text, "table");
                 assert_eq!(selected, Some(1));
             }
             other => panic!("expected Candidates, got {other:?}"),
         }
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn ambient_hint_during_cycling_shows_memo_list_not_recomputed() {
+        // Stage-8 user-reported #4: cycling through candidates
+        // moves the cursor; the panel should NOT shift to "what
+        // comes next at the new cursor position" — it should
+        // keep showing the memo's candidate list with the
+        // updated selection. Without the memo short-circuit,
+        // ambient_hint would recompute candidates_at_cursor
+        // post-Tab and produce a different list.
+        use crate::completion::{Candidate, CandidateKind, LastCompletion};
+        let memo = LastCompletion {
+            inserted_range: (5, 11),
+            original_text: String::new(),
+            // Include candidates whose order would NOT match
+            // what candidates_at_cursor("show table ", 11) would
+            // produce — proves the memo's list is being used,
+            // not a recomputed one.
+            candidates: vec![
+                Candidate { text: "data".to_string(), kind: CandidateKind::Keyword },
+                Candidate { text: "table".to_string(), kind: CandidateKind::Keyword },
+            ],
+            selection_idx: 1,
+        };
+        match ambient_hint("show table ", 11, Some(&memo), &empty_cache()) {
+            Some(AmbientHint::Candidates { items, selected }) => {
+                assert_eq!(items.len(), 2);
+                assert_eq!(items[0].text, "data");
+                assert_eq!(items[1].text, "table");
+                assert_eq!(selected, Some(1));
+            }
+            other => panic!("expected Candidates from memo, got {other:?}"),
+        }
+    }
+
     // ---- classify_input + error overlay (stage 4) ----
 
     #[test]
diff --git a/src/theme.rs b/src/theme.rs
index a51764b..d9c46f5 100644
--- a/src/theme.rs
+++ b/src/theme.rs
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ impl Theme {
             // accent tones; keyword takes a cool accent tone
             // distinct from the mode-banner blue.
             tok_keyword: Color::Rgb(0xC7, 0x92, 0xEA),    // muted purple
-            tok_identifier: Color::Rgb(0xE6, 0xE6, 0xE6), // == fg
+            tok_identifier: Color::Rgb(0xAB, 0xB2, 0xBF), // cool grey-blue (distinct from fg)
             tok_number: Color::Rgb(0xF7, 0x8C, 0x6C),     // warm orange
             tok_string: Color::Rgb(0xC3, 0xE8, 0x8D),     // soft green
             tok_punct: Color::Rgb(0x8B, 0x90, 0x9A),      // == muted
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ impl Theme {
             // identifier/punct close to fg/muted; warm tones for
             // literals + flags; cool accent for keyword.
             tok_keyword: Color::Rgb(0x6F, 0x42, 0xC1),    // royal purple
-            tok_identifier: Color::Rgb(0x1A, 0x1F, 0x2C), // == fg
+            tok_identifier: Color::Rgb(0x3F, 0x47, 0x57), // dark steel-blue (distinct from fg)
             tok_number: Color::Rgb(0xBC, 0x4F, 0x1F),     // burnt orange
             tok_string: Color::Rgb(0x22, 0x86, 0x3A),     // forest green
             tok_punct: Color::Rgb(0x60, 0x66, 0x73),      // == muted
diff --git a/src/ui.rs b/src/ui.rs
index b999bf8..48d3f57 100644
--- a/src/ui.rs
+++ b/src/ui.rs
@@ -730,16 +730,20 @@ fn render_hint_panel(app: &App, theme: &Theme, frame: &mut Frame<'_>, area: Rect
 }
 
 /// Render the candidate-list line for the hint panel
-/// (ADR-0022 §7 + the user's #2). Items are space-separated;
-/// the selected item (if any) gets a brighter colour + bold;
-/// when the items overflow `width`, a window centred on the
-/// selected (or starting at item 0 with no selection) shows
-/// scroll markers `<` / `>` at the edges.
+/// (ADR-0022 §7 + the user's #2). Items are space-separated.
+/// Each candidate is colour-coded by kind — keywords in
+/// `tok_keyword`, identifiers in `tok_identifier` — so the
+/// user can tell command grammar apart from schema names at
+/// a glance (post-stage-8 user feedback). The selected item
+/// (if any) gets bolded; when the items overflow `width`,
+/// scroll markers `<` / `>` appear at the edges with the
+/// window centred on the selection (or item 0 with no
+/// selection).
 ///
 /// Returns `Line<'static>` (each item cloned into its span)
 /// so the caller doesn't have to manage the items' lifetime.
 fn render_candidate_line(
-    items: &[String],
+    items: &[crate::completion::Candidate],
     selected: Option<usize>,
     width: usize,
     theme: &Theme,
@@ -747,29 +751,32 @@ fn render_candidate_line(
     if items.is_empty() {
         return Line::default();
     }
-    let item_style = Style::default().fg(theme.muted);
-    let selected_style = Style::default()
-        .fg(theme.fg)
-        .add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD);
+    let separator_style = Style::default().fg(theme.muted);
     let marker_style = Style::default().fg(theme.fg);
+    let style_for = |i: usize| {
+        let base_fg = match items[i].kind {
+            crate::completion::CandidateKind::Keyword => theme.tok_keyword,
+            crate::completion::CandidateKind::Identifier => theme.tok_identifier,
+        };
+        let mut s = Style::default().fg(base_fg);
+        if Some(i) == selected {
+            s = s.add_modifier(Modifier::BOLD);
+        }
+        s
+    };
 
     let total_width: usize = items
         .iter()
-        .map(|s| s.len() + 1)
+        .map(|c| c.text.len() + 1)
         .sum::<usize>()
         .saturating_sub(1);
     if total_width <= width {
         let mut spans: Vec<Span<'static>> = Vec::with_capacity(items.len() * 2);
         for (i, item) in items.iter().enumerate() {
             if i > 0 {
-                spans.push(Span::styled(" ".to_string(), item_style));
+                spans.push(Span::styled(" ".to_string(), separator_style));
             }
-            let style = if Some(i) == selected {
-                selected_style
-            } else {
-                item_style
-            };
-            spans.push(Span::styled(item.clone(), style));
+            spans.push(Span::styled(item.text.clone(), style_for(i)));
         }
         return Line::from(spans);
     }
@@ -780,12 +787,11 @@ fn render_candidate_line(
     let center = selected.unwrap_or(0);
     let mut left = center;
     let mut right = center;
-    let mut used = items[center].len();
+    let mut used = items[center].text.len();
     let avail = width.saturating_sub(4);
     while (left > 0 || right + 1 < items.len()) && used < avail {
-        // Expand right first, then left.
         if right + 1 < items.len() {
-            let cost = items[right + 1].len() + 1;
+            let cost = items[right + 1].text.len() + 1;
             if used + cost <= avail {
                 right += 1;
                 used += cost;
@@ -793,7 +799,7 @@ fn render_candidate_line(
             }
         }
         if left > 0 {
-            let cost = items[left - 1].len() + 1;
+            let cost = items[left - 1].text.len() + 1;
             if used + cost <= avail {
                 left -= 1;
                 used += cost;
@@ -811,14 +817,9 @@ fn render_candidate_line(
     }
     for (offset, item) in items[left..=right].iter().enumerate() {
         if offset > 0 {
-            spans.push(Span::styled(" ".to_string(), item_style));
+            spans.push(Span::styled(" ".to_string(), separator_style));
         }
-        let style = if Some(left + offset) == selected {
-            selected_style
-        } else {
-            item_style
-        };
-        spans.push(Span::styled(item.clone(), style));
+        spans.push(Span::styled(item.text.clone(), style_for(left + offset)));
     }
     if need_right_marker {
         spans.push(Span::styled(" >".to_string(), marker_style));