diff --git a/src/Context.cpp b/src/Context.cpp
index 7ae4315d5..8c69eb637 100644
--- a/src/Context.cpp
+++ b/src/Context.cpp
@@ -534,13 +534,8 @@ bool Context::verbose (const std::string& token)
         verbosity[0]      != "sync"     &&  //
         verbosity[0]      != "filter")      //
     {
-      verbosity.clear ();
-
       // This list emulates rc.verbose=off in version 1.9.4.
-      verbosity.push_back ("blank");
-      verbosity.push_back ("label");
-      verbosity.push_back ("new-id");
-      verbosity.push_back ("edit");
+      verbosity = {"blank", "label", "new-id", "edit"};
     }
   }
 
@@ -765,8 +760,7 @@ void Context::updateVerbosity ()
   if (command != "" &&
       command[0] == '_')
   {
-    verbosity.clear ();
-    verbosity.push_back ("nothing");
+    verbosity = {"nothing"};
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/DOM.cpp b/src/DOM.cpp
index 531443a9f..cf4ce6452 100644
--- a/src/DOM.cpp
+++ b/src/DOM.cpp
@@ -52,16 +52,12 @@ DOM::~DOM ()
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 const std::vector <std::string> DOM::get_references () const
 {
-  std::vector <std::string> refs;
-
-  refs.push_back ("context.program");
-  refs.push_back ("context.args");
-  refs.push_back ("context.width");
-  refs.push_back ("context.height");
-  refs.push_back ("system.version");
-  refs.push_back ("system.os");
-
-  return refs;
+  return {"context.program",
+          "context.args",
+          "context.width",
+          "context.height",
+          "system.version",
+          "system.os"};
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/columns/ColDate.cpp b/src/columns/ColDate.cpp
index a150819c0..f7aa6aea6 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColDate.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColDate.cpp
@@ -43,23 +43,23 @@ ColumnDate::ColumnDate ()
   _style     = "formatted";
   _label     = "";
 
-  _styles.push_back ("formatted");
-  _styles.push_back ("julian");
-  _styles.push_back ("epoch");
-  _styles.push_back ("iso");
-  _styles.push_back ("age");
-  _styles.push_back ("remaining");
-  _styles.push_back ("countdown");
+  _styles = {"formatted",
+             "julian",
+             "epoch", 
+             "iso",
+             "age",
+             "remaining",
+             "countdown"};
 
   Date now;
   now -= 125; // So that "age" is non-zero.
-  _examples.push_back (now.toString (context.config.get ("dateformat")));
-  _examples.push_back (format (now.toJulian (), 13, 12));
-  _examples.push_back (now.toEpochString ());
-  _examples.push_back (now.toISO ());
-  _examples.push_back (Duration (Date () - now).formatCompact ());
-  _examples.push_back ("");
-  _examples.push_back (Duration (Date () - now).format ());
+  _examples = {now.toString (context.config.get ("dateformat")),
+               format (now.toJulian (), 13, 12),
+               now.toEpochString (),
+               now.toISO (),
+               Duration (Date () - now).formatCompact (),
+               "",
+               Duration (Date () - now).format ()};
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/columns/ColDepends.cpp b/src/columns/ColDepends.cpp
index 73b390851..be6d7d8e8 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColDepends.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColDepends.cpp
@@ -43,13 +43,13 @@ ColumnDepends::ColumnDepends ()
   _style = "list";
   _label = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_DEP;
 
-  _styles.push_back ("list");
-  _styles.push_back ("count");
-  _styles.push_back ("indicator");
+  _styles = {"list",
+             "count",
+             "indicator"};
 
-  _examples.push_back ("1 2 10");
-  _examples.push_back ("[3]");
-  _examples.push_back (context.config.get ("dependency.indicator"));
+  _examples = {"1 2 10",
+               "[3]",
+               context.config.get ("dependency.indicator")};
 
   _hyphenate = context.config.getBoolean ("hyphenate");
 }
diff --git a/src/columns/ColDescription.cpp b/src/columns/ColDescription.cpp
index aa0801c29..3e197917d 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColDescription.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColDescription.cpp
@@ -44,12 +44,12 @@ ColumnDescription::ColumnDescription ()
   _style = "combined";
   _label = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_DESC;
 
-  _styles.push_back ("combined");
-  _styles.push_back ("desc");
-  _styles.push_back ("oneline");
-  _styles.push_back ("truncated");
-  _styles.push_back ("count");
-  _styles.push_back ("truncated_count");
+  _styles = {"combined",
+             "desc",
+             "oneline",
+             "truncated",
+             "count",
+             "truncated_count"};
 
   _dateformat = context.config.get ("dateformat.annotation");
   if (_dateformat == "")
@@ -62,20 +62,18 @@ ColumnDescription::ColumnDescription ()
   std::string a3 = STRING_COLUMN_EXAMPLES_ANNO3;
   std::string a4 = STRING_COLUMN_EXAMPLES_ANNO4;
 
-  _examples.push_back (d
-                       + "\n  " + t + " " + a1
-                       + "\n  " + t + " " + a2
-                       + "\n  " + t + " " + a3
-                       + "\n  " + t + " " + a4);
-  _examples.push_back (d);
-  _examples.push_back (d
-                       + " " + t + " " + a1
-                       + " " + t + " " + a2
-                       + " " + t + " " + a3
-                       + " " + t + " " + a4);
-  _examples.push_back (d.substr (0, 20) + "...");
-  _examples.push_back (d + " [4]");
-  _examples.push_back (d.substr (0, 20) + "... [4]");
+  _examples = {d + "\n  " + t + " " + a1
+                 + "\n  " + t + " " + a2
+                 + "\n  " + t + " " + a3
+                 + "\n  " + t + " " + a4,
+               d,
+               d + " " + t + " " + a1
+                 + " " + t + " " + a2
+                 + " " + t + " " + a3
+                 + " " + t + " " + a4,
+               d.substr (0, 20) + "...",
+               d + " [4]",
+               d.substr (0, 20) + "... [4]"};
 
   _hyphenate = context.config.getBoolean ("hyphenate");
 
diff --git a/src/columns/ColDue.cpp b/src/columns/ColDue.cpp
index 3dc29952c..ce62a8694 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColDue.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColDue.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ ColumnDue::ColumnDue ()
 
   Date now;
   now += 125;
-  _examples.push_back (Duration (now - Date ()).formatCompact ());
+  _examples = {Duration (now - Date ()).formatCompact ()};
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/columns/ColID.cpp b/src/columns/ColID.cpp
index ddcec616c..2c07106ff 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColID.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColID.cpp
@@ -41,10 +41,8 @@ ColumnID::ColumnID ()
   _style      = "number";
   _label      = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_ID;
   _modifiable = false;
-
-  _styles.push_back ("number");
-
-  _examples.push_back ("123");
+  _styles     = {"number"};
+  _examples   = {"123"};
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/columns/ColIMask.cpp b/src/columns/ColIMask.cpp
index 880b3c22c..623566552 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColIMask.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColIMask.cpp
@@ -41,10 +41,8 @@ ColumnIMask::ColumnIMask ()
   _style      = "number";
   _label      = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_MASK_IDX;
   _modifiable = false;
-
-  _styles.push_back ("number");
-
-  _examples.push_back ("12");
+  _styles     = {"number"};
+  _examples   = {"12"};
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/columns/ColMask.cpp b/src/columns/ColMask.cpp
index dbb5af298..b0e8c893f 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColMask.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColMask.cpp
@@ -41,10 +41,8 @@ ColumnMask::ColumnMask ()
   _style      = "default";
   _label      = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_MASK;
   _modifiable = false;
-
-  _styles.push_back ("default");
-
-  _examples.push_back ("++++---");
+  _styles     = {"default"};
+  _examples   = {"++++---"};
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/columns/ColParent.cpp b/src/columns/ColParent.cpp
index efc21582d..1d1d0eac3 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColParent.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColParent.cpp
@@ -41,12 +41,8 @@ ColumnParent::ColumnParent ()
   _style      = "long";
   _label      = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_PARENT;
   _modifiable = false;
-
-  _styles.push_back ("long");
-  _styles.push_back ("short");
-
-  _examples.push_back ("f30cb9c3-3fc0-483f-bfb2-3bf134f00694");
-  _examples.push_back ("34f00694");
+  _styles     = {"long", "short"};
+  _examples   = {"f30cb9c3-3fc0-483f-bfb2-3bf134f00694", "34f00694"};
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/columns/ColProject.cpp b/src/columns/ColProject.cpp
index 25371cb5c..8cca278f5 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColProject.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColProject.cpp
@@ -37,19 +37,14 @@ extern Context context;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 ColumnProject::ColumnProject ()
 {
-  _name  = "project";
-  _type  = "string";
-  _style = "full";
-  _label = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_PROJECT;
-
-  _styles.push_back ("full");
-  _styles.push_back ("parent");
-  _styles.push_back ("indented");
-
-  _examples.push_back (STRING_COLUMN_EXAMPLES_PROJ);
-  _examples.push_back (STRING_COLUMN_EXAMPLES_PAR);
-  _examples.push_back (STRING_COLUMN_EXAMPLES_IND);
-
+  _name      = "project";
+  _type      = "string";
+  _style     = "full";
+  _label     = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_PROJECT;
+  _styles    = {"full", "parent", "indented"};
+  _examples  = {STRING_COLUMN_EXAMPLES_PROJ,
+                STRING_COLUMN_EXAMPLES_PAR,
+                STRING_COLUMN_EXAMPLES_IND};
   _hyphenate = context.config.getBoolean ("hyphenate");
 }
 
diff --git a/src/columns/ColRecur.cpp b/src/columns/ColRecur.cpp
index 73436d9c0..9f1534e49 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColRecur.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColRecur.cpp
@@ -37,20 +37,16 @@ extern Context context;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 ColumnRecur::ColumnRecur ()
 {
-  _name  = "recur";
+  _name     = "recur";
 
   // This is 'string', and not 'duration' to force the value to be stored as a
   // raw duration, so that it can be reevaluated every time.
-  _type  = "string";
+  _type     = "string";
 
-  _style = "duration";
-  _label = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_RECUR;
-
-  _styles.push_back ("duration");
-  _styles.push_back ("indicator");
-
-  _examples.push_back ("weekly");
-  _examples.push_back (context.config.get ("recurrence.indicator"));
+  _style    = "duration";
+  _label    = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_RECUR;
+  _styles   = {"duration", "indicator"};
+  _examples = {"weekly", context.config.get ("recurrence.indicator")};
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/columns/ColScheduled.cpp b/src/columns/ColScheduled.cpp
index a90785e68..55d42c523 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColScheduled.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColScheduled.cpp
@@ -38,14 +38,13 @@ extern Context context;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 ColumnScheduled::ColumnScheduled ()
 {
-  _name      = "scheduled";
-  _label     = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_SCHED;
-
-  _styles.push_back ("countdown");
+  _name     = "scheduled";
+  _label    = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_SCHED;
+  _styles   = {"countdown"};
 
   Date now;
   now += 125;
-  _examples.push_back (Duration (now - Date ()).formatCompact ());
+  _examples = {Duration (now - Date ()).formatCompact ()};
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/columns/ColStart.cpp b/src/columns/ColStart.cpp
index ce0ea2fb1..1bb070d74 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColStart.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColStart.cpp
@@ -36,12 +36,10 @@ extern Context context;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 ColumnStart::ColumnStart ()
 {
-  _name  = "start";
-  _label = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_STARTED;
-
-  _styles.push_back ("active");
-
-  _examples.push_back (context.config.get ("active.indicator"));
+  _name     = "start";
+  _label    = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_STARTED;
+  _styles   = {"active"};
+  _examples = {context.config.get ("active.indicator")};
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/columns/ColStatus.cpp b/src/columns/ColStatus.cpp
index f8ea3ed43..01a8d4f52 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColStatus.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColStatus.cpp
@@ -36,16 +36,13 @@ extern Context context;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 ColumnStatus::ColumnStatus ()
 {
-  _name  = "status";
-  _type  = "string";
-  _style = "long";
-  _label = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_STATUS;
-
-  _styles.push_back ("long");
-  _styles.push_back ("short");
-
-  _examples.push_back (STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_STAT_PE);
-  _examples.push_back (STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_STAT_P);
+  _name     = "status";
+  _type     = "string";
+  _style    = "long";
+  _label    = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_STATUS;
+  _styles   = {"long", "short"};
+  _examples = {STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_STAT_PE,
+               STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_STAT_P};
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/columns/ColString.cpp b/src/columns/ColString.cpp
index df825633e..499448989 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColString.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColString.cpp
@@ -35,21 +35,18 @@ extern Context context;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 ColumnString::ColumnString ()
 {
-  _name  = "string";
-  _type  = "string";
-  _style = "left";
-  _label = "";
-
-  _styles.push_back ("left");
-  _styles.push_back ("right");
-  _styles.push_back ("left_fixed");
-  _styles.push_back ("right_fixed");
-
-  _styles.push_back ("Hello (wrapped)           ");
-  _styles.push_back ("           Hello (wrapped)");
-  _styles.push_back ("Hello (no-wrap)           ");
-  _styles.push_back ("           Hello (no-wrap)");
-
+  _name     = "string";
+  _type     = "string";
+  _style    = "left";
+  _label    = "";
+  _styles   = {"left",
+               "right",
+               "left_fixed",
+               "right_fixed"};
+  _examples = {"Hello (wrapped)           ",
+               "           Hello (wrapped)",
+               "Hello (no-wrap)           ",
+               "           Hello (no-wrap)"};
   _hyphenate = context.config.getBoolean ("hyphenate");
 }
 
diff --git a/src/columns/ColTags.cpp b/src/columns/ColTags.cpp
index 9e64d7f18..311bbf33f 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColTags.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColTags.cpp
@@ -37,19 +37,14 @@ extern Context context;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 ColumnTags::ColumnTags ()
 {
-  _name  = "tags";
-  _type  = "string";
-  _style = "list";
-  _label = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_TAGS;
-
-  _styles.push_back ("list");
-  _styles.push_back ("indicator");
-  _styles.push_back ("count");
-
-  _examples.push_back (STRING_COLUMN_EXAMPLES_TAGS);
-  _examples.push_back (context.config.get ("tag.indicator"));
-  _examples.push_back ("[2]");
-
+  _name      = "tags";
+  _type      = "string";
+  _style     = "list";
+  _label     = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_TAGS;
+  _styles    = {"list", "indicator", "count"};
+  _examples  = {STRING_COLUMN_EXAMPLES_TAGS,
+                context.config.get ("tag.indicator"),
+                "[2]"};
   _hyphenate = context.config.getBoolean ("hyphenate");
 }
 
diff --git a/src/columns/ColUDA.cpp b/src/columns/ColUDA.cpp
index 8a72ccb29..d38d1758f 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColUDA.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColUDA.cpp
@@ -39,16 +39,13 @@ extern Context context;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 ColumnUDA::ColumnUDA ()
 {
-  _name  = "<uda>";
-  _type  = "string";
-  _style = "default";
-  _label = "";
-  _uda   = true;
-
+  _name      = "<uda>";
+  _type      = "string";
+  _style     = "default";
+  _label     = "";
+  _uda       = true;
   _hyphenate = (_type == "string") ? true : false;
-
-  _styles.push_back (_style);
-  _styles.push_back ("indicator");
+  _styles    = {_style, "indicator"};
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/columns/ColUUID.cpp b/src/columns/ColUUID.cpp
index f267c0eee..80ed98331 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColUUID.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColUUID.cpp
@@ -41,12 +41,8 @@ ColumnUUID::ColumnUUID ()
   _style      = "long";
   _label      = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_UUID;
   _modifiable = false;
-
-  _styles.push_back ("long");
-  _styles.push_back ("short");
-
-  _examples.push_back ("f30cb9c3-3fc0-483f-bfb2-3bf134f00694");
-  _examples.push_back ("f30cb9c3");
+  _styles     = {"long", "short"};
+  _examples   = {"f30cb9c3-3fc0-483f-bfb2-3bf134f00694", "f30cb9c3"};
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/columns/ColUrgency.cpp b/src/columns/ColUrgency.cpp
index 4b8dc8776..dc47bce3e 100644
--- a/src/columns/ColUrgency.cpp
+++ b/src/columns/ColUrgency.cpp
@@ -35,16 +35,12 @@ extern Context context;
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 ColumnUrgency::ColumnUrgency ()
 {
-  _name  = "urgency";
-  _type  = "numeric";
-  _style = "real";
-  _label = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_URGENCY;
-
-  _styles.push_back ("real");
-  _styles.push_back ("integer");
-
-  _examples.push_back ("4.6");
-  _examples.push_back ("4");
+  _name     = "urgency";
+  _type     = "numeric";
+  _style    = "real";
+  _label    = STRING_COLUMN_LABEL_URGENCY;
+  _styles   = {"real", "integer"};
+  _examples = {"4.6", "4"};
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/util.cpp b/src/util.cpp
index 697db3253..b4c048668 100644
--- a/src/util.cpp
+++ b/src/util.cpp
@@ -65,9 +65,8 @@ extern Context context;
 // std::getline, the newline can be detected, and the prompt re-written.
 bool confirm (const std::string& question)
 {
-  std::vector <std::string> options;
-  options.push_back (STRING_UTIL_CONFIRM_YES);
-  options.push_back (STRING_UTIL_CONFIRM_NO);
+  std::vector <std::string> options {STRING_UTIL_CONFIRM_YES,
+                                     STRING_UTIL_CONFIRM_NO};
 
   std::string answer;
   std::vector <std::string> matches;
@@ -94,13 +93,12 @@ bool confirm (const std::string& question)
 // 3 = quit
 int confirm4 (const std::string& question)
 {
-  std::vector <std::string> options;
-  options.push_back (STRING_UTIL_CONFIRM_YES_U);
-  options.push_back (STRING_UTIL_CONFIRM_YES);
-  options.push_back (STRING_UTIL_CONFIRM_NO);
-  options.push_back (STRING_UTIL_CONFIRM_ALL_U);
-  options.push_back (STRING_UTIL_CONFIRM_ALL);
-  options.push_back (STRING_UTIL_CONFIRM_QUIT);
+  std::vector <std::string> options {STRING_UTIL_CONFIRM_YES_U,
+                                     STRING_UTIL_CONFIRM_YES,
+                                     STRING_UTIL_CONFIRM_NO,
+                                     STRING_UTIL_CONFIRM_ALL_U,
+                                     STRING_UTIL_CONFIRM_ALL,
+                                     STRING_UTIL_CONFIRM_QUIT};
 
   std::string answer;
   std::vector <std::string> matches;
diff --git a/test/autocomplete.t.cpp b/test/autocomplete.t.cpp
index a2b011532..e18dc8d95 100644
--- a/test/autocomplete.t.cpp
+++ b/test/autocomplete.t.cpp
@@ -42,13 +42,7 @@ int main (int argc, char** argv)
   unsetenv ("TASKDATA");
   unsetenv ("TASKRC");
 
-  std::vector <std::string> options;
-  options.push_back ("abc");
-  options.push_back ("abcd");
-  options.push_back ("abcde");
-  options.push_back ("bcdef");
-  options.push_back ("cdefg");
-
+  std::vector <std::string> options {"abc", "abcd", "abcde", "bcdef", "cdefg"};
   std::vector <std::string> matches;
   int result = autoComplete ("", options, matches);
   t.is (result, 0, "no match on empty string");
diff --git a/test/list.t.cpp b/test/list.t.cpp
index 97fa43ff9..5a427f6d7 100644
--- a/test/list.t.cpp
+++ b/test/list.t.cpp
@@ -43,21 +43,9 @@ int main (int argc, char** argv)
   unsetenv ("TASKRC");
 
   // 1,2,3  <=>  2,3,4
-  std::vector <std::string> string_one;
-  string_one.push_back ("1");
-  string_one.push_back ("2");
-  string_one.push_back ("3");
-
-  std::vector <std::string> string_two;
-  string_two.push_back ("2");
-  string_two.push_back ("3");
-  string_two.push_back ("4");
-
-  std::vector <std::string> string_three;
-  string_three.push_back ("2");
-  string_three.push_back ("3");
-  string_three.push_back ("4");
-
+  std::vector <std::string> string_one {"1", "2", "3"};
+  std::vector <std::string> string_two {"2", "3", "4"};
+  std::vector <std::string> string_three {"2", "3", "4"};
   std::vector <std::string> string_four;
 
   // Differences?
@@ -87,21 +75,9 @@ int main (int argc, char** argv)
   // Now do it all again, with integers.
 
   // 1,2,3  <=>  2,3,4
-  std::vector <int> int_one;
-  int_one.push_back (1);
-  int_one.push_back (2);
-  int_one.push_back (3);
-
-  std::vector <int> int_two;
-  int_two.push_back (2);
-  int_two.push_back (3);
-  int_two.push_back (4);
-
-  std::vector <int> int_three;
-  int_three.push_back (2);
-  int_three.push_back (3);
-  int_three.push_back (4);
-
+  std::vector <int> int_one {1, 2, 3};
+  std::vector <int> int_two {2, 3, 4};
+  std::vector <int> int_three {2, 3, 4};
   std::vector <int> int_four;
 
   // Differences?
diff --git a/test/nibbler.t.cpp b/test/nibbler.t.cpp
index 886153b97..29e22a8c4 100644
--- a/test/nibbler.t.cpp
+++ b/test/nibbler.t.cpp
@@ -634,9 +634,7 @@ int main (int argc, char** argv)
 
     // bool getOneOf (const std::vector <std::string>&, std::string&);
     t.diag ("Nibbler::getOneOf");
-    options.push_back ("one");
-    options.push_back ("two");
-    options.push_back ("three");
+    options = {"one", "two", "three"};
     n = Nibbler ("onetwothreefour");
     t.ok    (n.getOneOf (options, s),         "'onetwothreefour':   getOneOf () -> true");
     t.is    (s, "one",                        "'onetwothreefour':   getOneOf () -> one");
diff --git a/test/text.t.cpp b/test/text.t.cpp
index 57c33768d..e4013f86b 100644
--- a/test/text.t.cpp
+++ b/test/text.t.cpp
@@ -171,10 +171,7 @@ int main (int argc, char** argv)
   t.is (joined.length (), (size_t) 0,  "join -> length 0");
   t.is (joined,           "",          "join -> ''");
 
-  unjoined.push_back ("");
-  unjoined.push_back ("a");
-  unjoined.push_back ("bc");
-  unjoined.push_back ("def");
+  unjoined = {"", "a", "bc", "def"};
   join (joined, "", unjoined);
   t.is (joined.length (), (size_t) 6, "join '' 'a' 'bc' 'def' -> length 6");
   t.is (joined,           "abcdef",   "join '' 'a' 'bc' 'def' -> 'abcdef'");
@@ -190,9 +187,7 @@ int main (int argc, char** argv)
   t.is (joined.length (), (size_t) 0, "join -> length 0");
   t.is (joined,           "",         "join -> ''");
 
-  unjoined2.push_back (0);
-  unjoined2.push_back (1);
-  unjoined2.push_back (2);
+  unjoined2 = {0, 1, 2};
   join (joined, "", unjoined2);
   t.is (joined.length (), (size_t) 3, "join 0 1 2 -> length 3");
   t.is (joined,           "012",      "join 0 1 2 -> '012'");