diff --git a/src/builder.ts b/src/builder.ts
index ee84aa46..30eac51d 100644
--- a/src/builder.ts
+++ b/src/builder.ts
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ export class SchemaBuilder {
   constructor(protected config: BuilderConfig) {
     this.nonNullDefaults = {
       input: false,
-      output: true,
+      output: false,
       ...config.nonNullDefaults,
     }
     this.plugins = config.plugins || [fieldAuthorizePlugin()]
@@ -1147,7 +1147,7 @@ export class SchemaBuilder {
   protected decorateList<T extends GraphQLOutputType | GraphQLInputType>(type: T, list: true | boolean[]): T {
     let finalType = type
     if (!Array.isArray(list)) {
-      return GraphQLList(GraphQLNonNull(type)) as T
+      return GraphQLList(type) as T
     }
     if (Array.isArray(list)) {
       for (let i = 0; i < list.length; i++) {
diff --git a/src/definitions/_types.ts b/src/definitions/_types.ts
index d7b8ccf2..e90c2d4b 100644
--- a/src/definitions/_types.ts
+++ b/src/definitions/_types.ts
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ export interface NonNullConfig {
    *   otherField: [String!]!
    * }
    *
-   * @default true
+   * @default false
    */
   output?: boolean
   /**
diff --git a/src/plugins/nullabilityGuardPlugin.ts b/src/plugins/nullabilityGuardPlugin.ts
index ccc4546e..b8434daf 100644
--- a/src/plugins/nullabilityGuardPlugin.ts
+++ b/src/plugins/nullabilityGuardPlugin.ts
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ const fieldDefTypes = printedGenTyping({
   optional: true,
   type: 'boolean',
   description: `
-    The nullability guard can be helpful, but is also a pottentially expensive operation for lists.
+    The nullability guard can be helpful, but is also a potentially expensive operation for lists.
     We need to iterate the entire list to check for null items to guard against. Set this to true
     to skip the null guard on a specific field if you know there's no potential for unsafe types.
   `,
diff --git a/tests/__snapshots__/definitions.spec.ts.snap b/tests/__snapshots__/definitions.spec.ts.snap
index cb5e7a52..0082bfed 100644
--- a/tests/__snapshots__/definitions.spec.ts.snap
+++ b/tests/__snapshots__/definitions.spec.ts.snap
@@ -16,6 +16,6 @@ Array [
 
 exports[`inputObjectType should output lists properly, #33 1`] = `
 "input AddToBasketInput {
-  extras: [ExtraBasketInput!]
+  extras: [ExtraBasketInput]
 }"
 `;
diff --git a/tests/__snapshots__/makeSchema.spec.ts.snap b/tests/__snapshots__/makeSchema.spec.ts.snap
index ae44219d..07fc5111 100644
--- a/tests/__snapshots__/makeSchema.spec.ts.snap
+++ b/tests/__snapshots__/makeSchema.spec.ts.snap
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ exports[`makeSchema shouldExitAfterGenerateArtifacts accepts a customPrintSchema
 
 type Query {
   # Example boolean field
-  ok: Boolean!
+  ok: Boolean
 }
 "
 `;
diff --git a/tests/__snapshots__/plugin.spec.ts.snap b/tests/__snapshots__/plugin.spec.ts.snap
index 770cbb80..acb59aaa 100644
--- a/tests/__snapshots__/plugin.spec.ts.snap
+++ b/tests/__snapshots__/plugin.spec.ts.snap
@@ -26,26 +26,26 @@ Array [
 
 exports[`plugin has an onMissingType, which will be called in order when we encounter a missing type 1`] = `
 "type User {
-  id: ID!
+  id: ID
 }
 
 type Query {
-  users: UserConnection!
+  users: UserConnection
 }
 
 type UserConnection {
-  edges: [UserEdge!]!
-  connectionInfo: ConnectionInfo!
+  edges: [UserEdge]
+  connectionInfo: ConnectionInfo
 }
 
 type UserEdge {
-  cursor: String!
-  node: User!
+  cursor: String
+  node: User
 }
 
 type ConnectionInfo {
-  hasNextPage: Boolean!
-  hasPrevPage: Boolean!
+  hasNextPage: Boolean
+  hasPrevPage: Boolean
 }
 "
 `;
diff --git a/tests/__snapshots__/plugins.spec.ts.snap b/tests/__snapshots__/plugins.spec.ts.snap
index 442bc267..dd1044e7 100644
--- a/tests/__snapshots__/plugins.spec.ts.snap
+++ b/tests/__snapshots__/plugins.spec.ts.snap
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 exports[`onInstall plugins does not have access to inline types 1`] = `
 "type Query {
-  bar(inline: Inline): String!
+  bar(inline: Inline): String
 }
 
 input Inline {
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ exports[`onInstall plugins does not see fallback ok-query 1`] = `
 
 exports[`onInstall plugins has access to top-level types 1`] = `
 "type foo {
-  bar: String!
+  bar: String
 }
 
 type Query {
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ type Query {
 
 exports[`onInstall plugins may contribute types 1`] = `
 "type Query {
-  something: String!
+  something: String
 }
 "
 `;
diff --git a/tests/definitions.spec.ts b/tests/definitions.spec.ts
index b4500e29..eab00046 100644
--- a/tests/definitions.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/definitions.spec.ts
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ describe('objectType', () => {
     const typeMap = buildTypes<{ Account: GraphQLObjectType }>([Account])
     const fields = typeMap.Account.getFields()
     expect(Object.keys(fields).sort()).toEqual(['email', 'id', 'name', 'nestedList'])
-    expect(fields.nestedList.type.toString()).toEqual('[[String]!]!')
+    expect(fields.nestedList.type.toString()).toEqual('[[String]!]')
   })
 })
 
diff --git a/tests/integration/_app.typegen.ts b/tests/integration/_app.typegen.ts
index 03ad6583..817c39fd 100644
--- a/tests/integration/_app.typegen.ts
+++ b/tests/integration/_app.typegen.ts
@@ -3,20 +3,20 @@
  * Do not make changes to this file directly
  */
 
-import { core } from "../..";
+import { core } from '../..'
 declare global {
   interface NexusGenCustomInputMethods<TypeName extends string> {
-    title(...args: any): void;
+    title(...args: any): void
   }
 }
 declare global {
   interface NexusGenCustomOutputMethods<TypeName extends string> {
-    title(options: { escape: boolean }): void;
+    title(options: { escape: boolean }): void
   }
 }
 declare global {
   interface NexusGenCustomOutputProperties<TypeName extends string> {
-    body: any;
+    body: any
   }
 }
 
@@ -27,136 +27,128 @@ declare global {
 export interface NexusGenInputs {
   PostSearchInput: {
     // input type
-    body?: string | null; // String
-    title?: string | null; // String
-  };
+    body?: string | null // String
+    title?: string | null // String
+  }
 }
 
 export interface NexusGenEnums {}
 
 export interface NexusGenScalars {
-  String: string;
-  Int: number;
-  Float: number;
-  Boolean: boolean;
-  ID: string;
+  String: string
+  Int: number
+  Float: number
+  Boolean: boolean
+  ID: string
 }
 
 export interface NexusGenRootTypes {
-  Mutation: {};
+  Mutation: {}
   Post: {
     // root type
-    body: string; // String!
-    title: string; // String!
-  };
-  Query: {};
-  User: { firstName: string; lastName: string };
+    body?: string | null // String
+    title?: string | null // String
+  }
+  Query: {}
+  User: { firstName: string; lastName: string }
 }
 
 export interface NexusGenAllTypes extends NexusGenRootTypes {
-  PostSearchInput: NexusGenInputs["PostSearchInput"];
-  String: NexusGenScalars["String"];
-  Int: NexusGenScalars["Int"];
-  Float: NexusGenScalars["Float"];
-  Boolean: NexusGenScalars["Boolean"];
-  ID: NexusGenScalars["ID"];
+  PostSearchInput: NexusGenInputs['PostSearchInput']
+  String: NexusGenScalars['String']
+  Int: NexusGenScalars['Int']
+  Float: NexusGenScalars['Float']
+  Boolean: NexusGenScalars['Boolean']
+  ID: NexusGenScalars['ID']
 }
 
 export interface NexusGenFieldTypes {
   Mutation: {
     // field return type
-    createUser: NexusGenRootTypes["User"]; // User!
-  };
+    createUser: NexusGenRootTypes['User'] | null // User
+  }
   Post: {
     // field return type
-    body: string; // String!
-    title: string; // String!
-  };
+    body: string | null // String
+    title: string | null // String
+  }
   Query: {
     // field return type
-    foo: string; // String!
-    searchPosts: NexusGenRootTypes["Post"][]; // [Post!]!
-    user: NexusGenRootTypes["User"]; // User!
-  };
+    foo: string | null // String
+    searchPosts: Array<NexusGenRootTypes['Post'] | null> | null // [Post]
+    user: NexusGenRootTypes['User'] | null // User
+  }
   User: {
     // field return type
-    firstName: string; // String!
-    lastName: string; // String!
-  };
+    firstName: string | null // String
+    lastName: string | null // String
+  }
 }
 
 export interface NexusGenArgTypes {
   Mutation: {
     createUser: {
       // args
-      firstName?: string | null; // String
-      lastName?: string | null; // String
-    };
-  };
+      firstName?: string | null // String
+      lastName?: string | null // String
+    }
+  }
   Query: {
     searchPosts: {
       // args
-      input?: NexusGenInputs["PostSearchInput"] | null; // PostSearchInput
-    };
+      input?: NexusGenInputs['PostSearchInput'] | null // PostSearchInput
+    }
     user: {
       // args
-      id?: string | null; // ID
-    };
-  };
+      id?: string | null // ID
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 export interface NexusGenAbstractResolveReturnTypes {}
 
 export interface NexusGenInheritedFields {}
 
-export type NexusGenObjectNames = "Mutation" | "Post" | "Query" | "User";
+export type NexusGenObjectNames = 'Mutation' | 'Post' | 'Query' | 'User'
 
-export type NexusGenInputNames = "PostSearchInput";
+export type NexusGenInputNames = 'PostSearchInput'
 
-export type NexusGenEnumNames = never;
+export type NexusGenEnumNames = never
 
-export type NexusGenInterfaceNames = never;
+export type NexusGenInterfaceNames = never
 
-export type NexusGenScalarNames = "Boolean" | "Float" | "ID" | "Int" | "String";
+export type NexusGenScalarNames = 'Boolean' | 'Float' | 'ID' | 'Int' | 'String'
 
-export type NexusGenUnionNames = never;
+export type NexusGenUnionNames = never
 
 export interface NexusGenTypes {
-  context: any;
-  inputTypes: NexusGenInputs;
-  rootTypes: NexusGenRootTypes;
-  argTypes: NexusGenArgTypes;
-  fieldTypes: NexusGenFieldTypes;
-  allTypes: NexusGenAllTypes;
-  inheritedFields: NexusGenInheritedFields;
-  objectNames: NexusGenObjectNames;
-  inputNames: NexusGenInputNames;
-  enumNames: NexusGenEnumNames;
-  interfaceNames: NexusGenInterfaceNames;
-  scalarNames: NexusGenScalarNames;
-  unionNames: NexusGenUnionNames;
-  allInputTypes:
-    | NexusGenTypes["inputNames"]
-    | NexusGenTypes["enumNames"]
-    | NexusGenTypes["scalarNames"];
+  context: any
+  inputTypes: NexusGenInputs
+  rootTypes: NexusGenRootTypes
+  argTypes: NexusGenArgTypes
+  fieldTypes: NexusGenFieldTypes
+  allTypes: NexusGenAllTypes
+  inheritedFields: NexusGenInheritedFields
+  objectNames: NexusGenObjectNames
+  inputNames: NexusGenInputNames
+  enumNames: NexusGenEnumNames
+  interfaceNames: NexusGenInterfaceNames
+  scalarNames: NexusGenScalarNames
+  unionNames: NexusGenUnionNames
+  allInputTypes: NexusGenTypes['inputNames'] | NexusGenTypes['enumNames'] | NexusGenTypes['scalarNames']
   allOutputTypes:
-    | NexusGenTypes["objectNames"]
-    | NexusGenTypes["enumNames"]
-    | NexusGenTypes["unionNames"]
-    | NexusGenTypes["interfaceNames"]
-    | NexusGenTypes["scalarNames"];
-  allNamedTypes:
-    | NexusGenTypes["allInputTypes"]
-    | NexusGenTypes["allOutputTypes"];
-  abstractTypes: NexusGenTypes["interfaceNames"] | NexusGenTypes["unionNames"];
-  abstractResolveReturn: NexusGenAbstractResolveReturnTypes;
+    | NexusGenTypes['objectNames']
+    | NexusGenTypes['enumNames']
+    | NexusGenTypes['unionNames']
+    | NexusGenTypes['interfaceNames']
+    | NexusGenTypes['scalarNames']
+  allNamedTypes: NexusGenTypes['allInputTypes'] | NexusGenTypes['allOutputTypes']
+  abstractTypes: NexusGenTypes['interfaceNames'] | NexusGenTypes['unionNames']
+  abstractResolveReturn: NexusGenAbstractResolveReturnTypes
 }
 
 declare global {
   interface NexusGenPluginTypeConfig<TypeName extends string> {}
-  interface NexusGenPluginFieldConfig<
-    TypeName extends string,
-    FieldName extends string
-  > {}
+  interface NexusGenPluginFieldConfig<TypeName extends string, FieldName extends string> {}
   interface NexusGenPluginSchemaConfig {}
 }
diff --git a/tests/plugins/__snapshots__/fieldAuthorizePlugin.spec.ts.snap b/tests/plugins/__snapshots__/fieldAuthorizePlugin.spec.ts.snap
index a077b369..5f8b9639 100644
--- a/tests/plugins/__snapshots__/fieldAuthorizePlugin.spec.ts.snap
+++ b/tests/plugins/__snapshots__/fieldAuthorizePlugin.spec.ts.snap
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ export interface NexusGenAllTypes extends NexusGenRootTypes {
 
 export interface NexusGenFieldTypes {
   Query: { // field return type
-    ok: boolean; // Boolean!
+    ok: boolean | null; // Boolean
   }
 }
 
@@ -159,6 +159,6 @@ Array [
 
 exports[`fieldAuthorizePlugin warns when a field has a non-function authorize prop 1`] = `
 Array [
-  [Error: The authorize property provided to incorrectFieldConfig with type User! should be a function, saw number],
+  [Error: The authorize property provided to incorrectFieldConfig with type User should be a function, saw number],
 ]
 `;
diff --git a/tests/plugins/__snapshots__/queryComplexityPlugin.spec.ts.snap b/tests/plugins/__snapshots__/queryComplexityPlugin.spec.ts.snap
index 0ff67514..45011a17 100644
--- a/tests/plugins/__snapshots__/queryComplexityPlugin.spec.ts.snap
+++ b/tests/plugins/__snapshots__/queryComplexityPlugin.spec.ts.snap
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ export interface NexusGenAllTypes extends NexusGenRootTypes {
 
 export interface NexusGenFieldTypes {
   Query: { // field return type
-    ok: boolean; // Boolean!
+    ok: boolean | null; // Boolean
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/plugins/fieldAuthorizePlugin.spec.ts b/tests/plugins/fieldAuthorizePlugin.spec.ts
index 9f0930e6..09a43f67 100644
--- a/tests/plugins/fieldAuthorizePlugin.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/plugins/fieldAuthorizePlugin.spec.ts
@@ -72,6 +72,9 @@ describe('fieldAuthorizePlugin', () => {
   const testSchema = makeSchema({
     outputs: false,
     types: schemaTypes,
+    nonNullDefaults: {
+      output: true,
+    },
     plugins: [
       fieldAuthorizePlugin({
         formatError({ error, root, args, ctx, info }) {
@@ -169,6 +172,9 @@ describe('fieldAuthorizePlugin', () => {
     const schema = makeSchema({
       outputs: false,
       types: schemaTypes,
+      nonNullDefaults: {
+        output: true,
+      },
       plugins: [fieldAuthorizePlugin()],
     })
     const { data, errors = [] } = await testField('userFalse', false, schema)
@@ -181,6 +187,9 @@ describe('fieldAuthorizePlugin', () => {
   test('always throws an error, even when formatError is wrong', async () => {
     const schema = makeSchema({
       outputs: false,
+      nonNullDefaults: {
+        output: true,
+      },
       types: schemaTypes,
       plugins: [
         // @ts-ignore
@@ -222,6 +231,9 @@ describe('fieldAuthorizePlugin', () => {
   test('warns and adds the authorize plugin when a schema has an authorize prop but no plugins', async () => {
     const schema = makeSchema({
       outputs: false,
+      nonNullDefaults: {
+        output: true,
+      },
       types: [
         schemaTypes,
         queryField('shouldWarn', {
diff --git a/tests/plugins/nullabilityGuardPlugin.spec.ts b/tests/plugins/nullabilityGuardPlugin.spec.ts
index 60e891d8..236623e1 100644
--- a/tests/plugins/nullabilityGuardPlugin.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/plugins/nullabilityGuardPlugin.spec.ts
@@ -92,12 +92,12 @@ const types = [
   }),
   queryField('intList', {
     type: 'Int',
-    list: true,
+    list: [true],
     resolve: () => [1, 2, null],
   }),
   queryField('userList', {
     type: 'User',
-    list: true,
+    list: [true],
     resolve: () => [null, Promise.resolve(null), null],
   }),
   queryField('interfaceType', {
@@ -122,6 +122,9 @@ const defaultSchema = makeSchema({
   types,
   plugins: [nullPlugin()],
   outputs: false,
+  nonNullDefaults: {
+    output: true,
+  },
 })
 
 describe('nullabilityGuardPlugin', () => {
@@ -230,6 +233,9 @@ describe('nullabilityGuardPlugin', () => {
     const { errors = [], data } = await graphql(
       makeSchema({
         outputs: false,
+        nonNullDefaults: {
+          output: true,
+        },
         types: [
           types,
           unionType({
@@ -290,6 +296,9 @@ describe('nullabilityGuardPlugin', () => {
     const warnSpy = jest.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementationOnce(() => {})
     const schema = makeSchema({
       outputs: false,
+      nonNullDefaults: {
+        output: true,
+      },
       types,
       plugins: [nullPlugin({ onGuarded: undefined })],
     })
@@ -312,6 +321,9 @@ describe('nullabilityGuardPlugin', () => {
   it('should not catch by default unless the env is production', async () => {
     const schema = makeSchema({
       types,
+      nonNullDefaults: {
+        output: true,
+      },
       plugins: [nullPlugin({ shouldGuard: undefined })],
     })
     const { errors = [], data } = await graphql(
@@ -330,6 +342,9 @@ describe('nullabilityGuardPlugin', () => {
     process.env.NODE_ENV = 'production'
     const schema2 = makeSchema({
       types,
+      nonNullDefaults: {
+        output: true,
+      },
       plugins: [nullPlugin({ shouldGuard: undefined })],
     })
     const { errors: errors2 = [], data: data2 } = await graphql(
@@ -402,7 +417,7 @@ describe('nullabilityGuardPlugin', () => {
         types: [
           queryField('nullableList', {
             type: 'String',
-            list: true,
+            list: [true],
             nullable: true,
             resolve: async () => null,
           }),
diff --git a/tests/subscriptionField.spec.ts b/tests/subscriptionField.spec.ts
index 8b1c0cdd..e859f463 100644
--- a/tests/subscriptionField.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/subscriptionField.spec.ts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ it('defines a field on the mutation type as shorthand', async () => {
     }
 
     type Subscription {
-      someField: Int!
+      someField: Int
     }
     "
   `)
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ it('can be defined as a thunk', async () => {
     }
 
     type Subscription {
-      someField: Int!
+      someField: Int
     }
     "
   `)
diff --git a/tests/subscriptionType.spec.ts b/tests/subscriptionType.spec.ts
index 6f99dd29..b5084140 100644
--- a/tests/subscriptionType.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/subscriptionType.spec.ts
@@ -64,12 +64,12 @@ it('defines a field on the mutation type as shorthand', async () => {
 
   expect(GQL.printSchema(schema)).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
     "type Subscription {
-      someField: Int!
-      someInt: Int!
-      someString: String!
-      someFloat: Float!
-      someBoolean: Boolean!
-      someID: ID!
+      someField: Int
+      someInt: Int
+      someString: String
+      someFloat: Float
+      someBoolean: Boolean
+      someID: ID
     }
 
     type Query {