diff --git a/include/verilated.cpp b/include/verilated.cpp
index 948e1ca57..68dfc00eb 100644
--- a/include/verilated.cpp
+++ b/include/verilated.cpp
@@ -943,7 +943,7 @@ void _vl_vsformat(std::string& output, const std::string& format, va_list ap) VL
                         if (VL_SIGN_E(lbits, lwp[VL_WORDS_I(lbits) - 1])) {
                             VlWide<VL_VALUE_STRING_MAX_WIDTH / 4 + 2> neg;
                             VL_NEGATE_W(VL_WORDS_I(lbits), neg, lwp);
-                            append = std::string{"-"} + VL_DECIMAL_NW(lbits, neg);
+                            append = "-"s + VL_DECIMAL_NW(lbits, neg);
                         } else {
                             append = VL_DECIMAL_NW(lbits, lwp);
                         }
@@ -1085,7 +1085,7 @@ void _vl_vsformat(std::string& output, const std::string& format, va_list ap) VL
                     }
                     break;
                 default: {  // LCOV_EXCL_START
-                    const std::string msg = std::string{"Unknown _vl_vsformat code: "} + pos[0];
+                    const std::string msg = "Unknown _vl_vsformat code: "s + pos[0];
                     VL_FATAL_MT(__FILE__, __LINE__, "", msg.c_str());
                     break;
                 }  // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
@@ -1367,7 +1367,7 @@ IData _vl_vsscanf(FILE* fp,  // If a fscanf
                     break;
                 }
                 default: {  // LCOV_EXCL_START
-                    const std::string msg = std::string{"Unknown _vl_vsscanf code: "} + pos[0];
+                    const std::string msg = "Unknown _vl_vsscanf code: "s + pos[0];
                     VL_FATAL_MT(__FILE__, __LINE__, "", msg.c_str());
                     break;
                 }  // LCOV_EXCL_STOP
@@ -1727,7 +1727,7 @@ std::string VL_STACKTRACE_N() VL_MT_SAFE {
     if (!strings) return "Unable to backtrace\n";
 
     std::string result = "Backtrace:\n";
-    for (int j = 0; j < nptrs; j++) result += std::string{strings[j]} + std::string{"\n"};
+    for (int j = 0; j < nptrs; j++) result += std::string{strings[j]} + "\n"s;
     free(strings);
     return result;
 }
@@ -2990,7 +2990,7 @@ void Verilated::nullPointerError(const char* filename, int linenum) VL_MT_SAFE {
 
 void Verilated::overWidthError(const char* signame) VL_MT_SAFE {
     // Slowpath - Called only when signal sets too high of a bit
-    const std::string msg = (std::string{"Testbench C set input '"} + signame
+    const std::string msg = ("Testbench C set input '"s + signame
                              + "' to value that overflows what the signal's width can fit");
     VL_FATAL_MT("unknown", 0, "", msg.c_str());
     VL_UNREACHABLE;
@@ -3212,8 +3212,7 @@ void VerilatedScope::varInsert(int finalize, const char* namep, void* datap, boo
         } else {
             // We could have a linked list of ranges, but really this whole thing needs
             // to be generalized to support structs and unions, etc.
-            const std::string msg
-                = std::string{"Unsupported multi-dimensional public varInsert: "} + namep;
+            const std::string msg = "Unsupported multi-dimensional public varInsert: "s + namep;
             VL_FATAL_MT(__FILE__, __LINE__, "", msg.c_str());
         }
     }
@@ -3233,10 +3232,9 @@ VerilatedVar* VerilatedScope::varFind(const char* namep) const VL_MT_SAFE_POSTIN
 
 void* VerilatedScope::exportFindNullError(int funcnum) VL_MT_SAFE {
     // Slowpath - Called only when find has failed
-    const std::string msg
-        = (std::string{"Testbench C called '"} + VerilatedImp::exportName(funcnum)
-           + "' but scope wasn't set, perhaps due to dpi import call without "
-           + "'context', or missing svSetScope. See IEEE 1800-2017 35.5.3.");
+    const std::string msg = ("Testbench C called '"s + VerilatedImp::exportName(funcnum)
+                             + "' but scope wasn't set, perhaps due to dpi import call without "
+                             + "'context', or missing svSetScope. See IEEE 1800-2017 35.5.3.");
     VL_FATAL_MT("unknown", 0, "", msg.c_str());
     return nullptr;
 }
@@ -3244,7 +3242,7 @@ void* VerilatedScope::exportFindNullError(int funcnum) VL_MT_SAFE {
 void* VerilatedScope::exportFindError(int funcnum) const VL_MT_SAFE {
     // Slowpath - Called only when find has failed
     const std::string msg
-        = (std::string{"Testbench C called '"} + VerilatedImp::exportName(funcnum)
+        = ("Testbench C called '"s + VerilatedImp::exportName(funcnum)
            + "' but this DPI export function exists only in other scopes, not scope '" + name()
            + "'");
     VL_FATAL_MT("unknown", 0, "", msg.c_str());
diff --git a/include/verilated_cov.cpp b/include/verilated_cov.cpp
index 269597508..ad6ca97d9 100644
--- a/include/verilated_cov.cpp
+++ b/include/verilated_cov.cpp
@@ -168,11 +168,11 @@ private:
                                          const std::string& value) VL_PURE {
         std::string name;
         if (key.length() == 1 && std::isalpha(key[0])) {
-            name += std::string{"\001"} + key;
+            name += "\001"s + key;
         } else {
-            name += std::string{"\001"} + dequote(key);
+            name += "\001"s + dequote(key);
         }
-        name += std::string{"\002"} + dequote(value);
+        name += "\002"s + dequote(value);
         return name;
     }
     static std::string combineHier(const std::string& old, const std::string& add) VL_PURE {
@@ -364,7 +364,7 @@ public:
 
         std::ofstream os{filename};
         if (os.fail()) {
-            const std::string msg = std::string{"%Error: Can't write '"} + filename + "'";
+            const std::string msg = "%Error: Can't write '"s + filename + "'";
             VL_FATAL_MT("", 0, "", msg.c_str());
             return;
         }
diff --git a/include/verilated_imp.h b/include/verilated_imp.h
index 3066ba44d..c3e369e17 100644
--- a/include/verilated_imp.h
+++ b/include/verilated_imp.h
@@ -552,7 +552,7 @@ public:
         const VerilatedLockGuard lock{s().m_exportMutex};
         const auto& it = s().m_exportMap.find(namep);
         if (VL_LIKELY(it != s().m_exportMap.end())) return it->second;
-        const std::string msg = (std::string{"%Error: Testbench C called "} + namep
+        const std::string msg = ("%Error: Testbench C called "s + namep
                                  + " but no such DPI export function name exists in ANY model");
         VL_FATAL_MT("unknown", 0, "", msg.c_str());
         return -1;
diff --git a/include/verilated_save.cpp b/include/verilated_save.cpp
index 53518278e..361f80091 100644
--- a/include/verilated_save.cpp
+++ b/include/verilated_save.cpp
@@ -114,8 +114,7 @@ void VerilatedDeserialize::trailer() VL_MT_UNSAFE_ONE {
     if (VL_UNLIKELY(os.readDiffers(VLTSAVE_TRAILER_STR, std::strlen(VLTSAVE_TRAILER_STR)))) {
         const std::string fn = filename();
         const std::string msg
-            = std::string{"Can't deserialize; file has wrong end-of-file signature: "}
-              + filename();
+            = "Can't deserialize; file has wrong end-of-file signature: "s + filename();
         VL_FATAL_MT(fn.c_str(), 0, "", msg.c_str());
         // Die before we close() as close would infinite loop
     }
diff --git a/include/verilated_types.h b/include/verilated_types.h
index 5f33d9869..6ee53a26a 100644
--- a/include/verilated_types.h
+++ b/include/verilated_types.h
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ public:
 inline std::string VL_TO_STRING(const VlEventBase& e);
 
 inline std::string VL_TO_STRING(const VlEvent& e) {
-    return std::string{"triggered="} + (e.isTriggered() ? "true" : "false");
+    return "triggered="s + (e.isTriggered() ? "true" : "false");
 }
 
 inline std::string VL_TO_STRING(const VlAssignableEvent& e) {
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ inline std::string VL_TO_STRING(const VlEventBase& e) {
     if (const VlAssignableEvent& assignable = dynamic_cast<const VlAssignableEvent&>(e)) {
         return VL_TO_STRING(assignable);
     }
-    return std::string{"triggered="} + (e.isTriggered() ? "true" : "false");
+    return "triggered="s + (e.isTriggered() ? "true" : "false");
 }
 
 //===================================================================
diff --git a/include/verilated_vcd_c.cpp b/include/verilated_vcd_c.cpp
index 4de1aa9af..4f6e10854 100644
--- a/include/verilated_vcd_c.cpp
+++ b/include/verilated_vcd_c.cpp
@@ -282,8 +282,7 @@ void VerilatedVcd::bufferFlush() VL_MT_UNSAFE_ONE {
             if (VL_UNCOVERABLE(errno != EAGAIN && errno != EINTR)) {
                 // LCOV_EXCL_START
                 // write failed, presume error (perhaps out of disk space)
-                const std::string msg
-                    = std::string{"VerilatedVcd::bufferFlush: "} + std::strerror(errno);
+                const std::string msg = "VerilatedVcd::bufferFlush: "s + std::strerror(errno);
                 VL_FATAL_MT("", 0, "", msg.c_str());
                 closeErr();
                 break;
diff --git a/include/verilated_vpi.cpp b/include/verilated_vpi.cpp
index 789065e8b..a129cdf3c 100644
--- a/include/verilated_vpi.cpp
+++ b/include/verilated_vpi.cpp
@@ -1402,8 +1402,7 @@ const char* VerilatedVpiError::strFromVpiConstType(PLI_INT32 constType) VL_PURE
 
 #define SELF_CHECK_RESULT_CSTR(got, exp) \
     if (0 != std::strcmp((got), (exp))) { \
-        const std::string msg \
-            = std::string{"%Error: "} + "GOT = '" + (got) + "'" + "  EXP = '" + (exp) + "'"; \
+        const std::string msg = "%Error: GOT = '"s + (got) + "'" + "  EXP = '" + (exp) + "'"; \
         VL_FATAL_MT(__FILE__, __LINE__, "", msg.c_str()); \
     }
 
diff --git a/src/V3Ast.h b/src/V3Ast.h
index f40cd3774..29f7b4151 100644
--- a/src/V3Ast.h
+++ b/src/V3Ast.h
@@ -1972,7 +1972,7 @@ public:
     static string prettyName(const string& namein) VL_PURE;  // Name for printing out to the user
     static string vpiName(const string& namein);  // Name for vpi access
     static string prettyNameQ(const string& namein) {  // Quoted pretty name (for errors)
-        return std::string{"'"} + prettyName(namein) + "'";
+        return "'"s + prettyName(namein) + "'";
     }
     // Encode user name into internal C representation
     static string encodeName(const string& namein);
diff --git a/src/V3Common.cpp b/src/V3Common.cpp
index 47a5451ec..57a489487 100644
--- a/src/V3Common.cpp
+++ b/src/V3Common.cpp
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ static void makeToString(AstClass* nodep) {
     funcp->isStatic(false);
     funcp->protect(false);
     AstCExpr* const exprp
-        = new AstCExpr{nodep->fileline(), R"(std::string{"'{"} + to_string_middle() + "}")", 0};
+        = new AstCExpr{nodep->fileline(), R"("'{"s + to_string_middle() + "}")", 0};
     exprp->dtypeSetString();
     funcp->addStmtsp(new AstCReturn{nodep->fileline(), exprp});
     nodep->addStmtsp(funcp);
diff --git a/src/V3Coverage.cpp b/src/V3Coverage.cpp
index 9b9e119ed..34b2c8595 100644
--- a/src/V3Coverage.cpp
+++ b/src/V3Coverage.cpp
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ class CoverageVisitor final : public VNVisitor {
                 //      We'll do this, and make the if(...) coverinc later.
 
                 // Add signal to hold the old value
-                const string newvarname = std::string{"__Vtogcov__"} + nodep->shortName();
+                const string newvarname = "__Vtogcov__"s + nodep->shortName();
                 FileLine* const fl_nowarn = new FileLine{nodep->fileline()};
                 fl_nowarn->modifyWarnOff(V3ErrorCode::UNUSEDSIGNAL, true);
                 AstVar* const chgVarp
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ class CoverageVisitor final : public VNVisitor {
                 // This is necessarily an O(n^2) expansion, which is why
                 // we limit coverage to signals with < 256 bits.
 
-                ToggleEnt newvec{std::string{""}, new AstVarRef{fl_nowarn, nodep, VAccess::READ},
+                ToggleEnt newvec{""s, new AstVarRef{fl_nowarn, nodep, VAccess::READ},
                                  new AstVarRef{fl_nowarn, chgVarp, VAccess::WRITE}};
                 toggleVarRecurse(nodep->dtypeSkipRefp(), 0, newvec, nodep, chgVarp);
                 newvec.cleanup();
@@ -308,8 +308,7 @@ class CoverageVisitor final : public VNVisitor {
                 for (int index_docs = bdtypep->lo(); index_docs < bdtypep->hi() + 1;
                      ++index_docs) {
                     const int index_code = index_docs - bdtypep->lo();
-                    ToggleEnt newent{above.m_comment + std::string{"["} + cvtToStr(index_docs)
-                                         + "]",
+                    ToggleEnt newent{above.m_comment + "["s + cvtToStr(index_docs) + "]",
                                      new AstSel{varp->fileline(), above.m_varRefp->cloneTree(true),
                                                 index_code, 1},
                                      new AstSel{varp->fileline(), above.m_chgRefp->cloneTree(true),
@@ -323,7 +322,7 @@ class CoverageVisitor final : public VNVisitor {
         } else if (const AstUnpackArrayDType* const adtypep = VN_CAST(dtypep, UnpackArrayDType)) {
             for (int index_docs = adtypep->lo(); index_docs <= adtypep->hi(); ++index_docs) {
                 const int index_code = index_docs - adtypep->lo();
-                ToggleEnt newent{above.m_comment + std::string{"["} + cvtToStr(index_docs) + "]",
+                ToggleEnt newent{above.m_comment + "["s + cvtToStr(index_docs) + "]",
                                  new AstArraySel{varp->fileline(),
                                                  above.m_varRefp->cloneTree(true), index_code},
                                  new AstArraySel{varp->fileline(),
@@ -336,7 +335,7 @@ class CoverageVisitor final : public VNVisitor {
             for (int index_docs = adtypep->lo(); index_docs <= adtypep->hi(); ++index_docs) {
                 const AstNodeDType* const subtypep = adtypep->subDTypep()->skipRefp();
                 const int index_code = index_docs - adtypep->lo();
-                ToggleEnt newent{above.m_comment + std::string{"["} + cvtToStr(index_docs) + "]",
+                ToggleEnt newent{above.m_comment + "["s + cvtToStr(index_docs) + "]",
                                  new AstSel{varp->fileline(), above.m_varRefp->cloneTree(true),
                                             index_code * subtypep->width(), subtypep->width()},
                                  new AstSel{varp->fileline(), above.m_chgRefp->cloneTree(true),
@@ -351,7 +350,7 @@ class CoverageVisitor final : public VNVisitor {
                      itemp = VN_AS(itemp->nextp(), MemberDType)) {
                     AstNodeDType* const subtypep = itemp->subDTypep()->skipRefp();
                     const int index_code = itemp->lsb();
-                    ToggleEnt newent{above.m_comment + std::string{"."} + itemp->name(),
+                    ToggleEnt newent{above.m_comment + "."s + itemp->name(),
                                      new AstSel{varp->fileline(), above.m_varRefp->cloneTree(true),
                                                 index_code, subtypep->width()},
                                      new AstSel{varp->fileline(), above.m_chgRefp->cloneTree(true),
@@ -369,8 +368,7 @@ class CoverageVisitor final : public VNVisitor {
                         varp->fileline(), above.m_varRefp->cloneTree(true), itemp->name()};
                     varRefp->dtypep(subtypep);
                     chgRefp->dtypep(subtypep);
-                    ToggleEnt newent{above.m_comment + std::string{"."} + itemp->name(), varRefp,
-                                     chgRefp};
+                    ToggleEnt newent{above.m_comment + "."s + itemp->name(), varRefp, chgRefp};
                     toggleVarRecurse(subtypep, depth + 1, newent, varp, chgVarp);
                     newent.cleanup();
                 }
@@ -379,7 +377,7 @@ class CoverageVisitor final : public VNVisitor {
             // Arbitrarily handle only the first member of the union
             if (const AstMemberDType* const itemp = adtypep->membersp()) {
                 AstNodeDType* const subtypep = itemp->subDTypep()->skipRefp();
-                ToggleEnt newent{above.m_comment + std::string{"."} + itemp->name(),
+                ToggleEnt newent{above.m_comment + "."s + itemp->name(),
                                  above.m_varRefp->cloneTree(true),
                                  above.m_chgRefp->cloneTree(true)};
                 toggleVarRecurse(subtypep, depth + 1, newent, varp, chgVarp);
diff --git a/src/V3EmitCModel.cpp b/src/V3EmitCModel.cpp
index c4334fd21..8ed37cbbc 100644
--- a/src/V3EmitCModel.cpp
+++ b/src/V3EmitCModel.cpp
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ class EmitCModel final : public EmitCFunc {
                             const int vecnum = vects++;
                             UASSERT_OBJ(arrayp->hi() >= arrayp->lo(), varp,
                                         "Should have swapped msb & lsb earlier.");
-                            const string ivar = std::string{"__Vi"} + cvtToStr(vecnum);
+                            const string ivar = "__Vi"s + cvtToStr(vecnum);
                             putns(varp, "for (int __Vi" + cvtToStr(vecnum) + " = "
                                             + cvtToStr(arrayp->lo()));
                             puts("; " + ivar + " <= " + cvtToStr(arrayp->hi()));
diff --git a/src/V3EmitV.cpp b/src/V3EmitV.cpp
index d3486d0c1..af875dbe5 100644
--- a/src/V3EmitV.cpp
+++ b/src/V3EmitV.cpp
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ class EmitVBaseVisitorConst VL_NOT_FINAL : public EmitCBaseVisitorConst {
         putqs(nodep, "end\n");
     }
     void visit(AstComment* nodep) override {
-        puts(std::string{"// "} + nodep->name() + "\n");
+        puts("// "s + nodep->name() + "\n");
         iterateChildrenConst(nodep);
     }
     void visit(AstContinue*) override {
@@ -747,7 +747,7 @@ class EmitVBaseVisitorConst VL_NOT_FINAL : public EmitCBaseVisitorConst {
     void visit(AstCell*) override {}  // Handled outside the Visit class
     // Default
     void visit(AstNode* nodep) override {
-        puts(std::string{"\n???? // "} + nodep->prettyTypeName() + "\n");
+        puts("\n???? // "s + nodep->prettyTypeName() + "\n");
         iterateChildrenConst(nodep);
         // Not v3fatalSrc so we keep processing
         if (!m_suppressUnknown) {
diff --git a/src/V3Error.cpp b/src/V3Error.cpp
index 8c0eb6935..ed1cdc6c7 100644
--- a/src/V3Error.cpp
+++ b/src/V3Error.cpp
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ string V3ErrorGuarded::warnMore() VL_REQUIRES(m_mutex) { return string(msgPrefix
 
 void V3ErrorGuarded::suppressThisWarning() VL_REQUIRES(m_mutex) {
 #ifndef V3ERROR_NO_GLOBAL_
-    V3Stats::addStatSum(std::string{"Warnings, Suppressed "} + errorCode().ascii(), 1);
+    V3Stats::addStatSum("Warnings, Suppressed "s + errorCode().ascii(), 1);
 #endif
     errorSuppressed(true);
 }
diff --git a/src/V3File.cpp b/src/V3File.cpp
index 8f2446c15..a597b704e 100644
--- a/src/V3File.cpp
+++ b/src/V3File.cpp
@@ -877,26 +877,26 @@ string V3OutFormatter::quoteNameControls(const string& namein,
         // Encode chars into XML string
         for (const char c : namein) {
             if (c == '"') {
-                out += std::string{"&quot;"};
+                out += "&quot;"s;
             } else if (c == '\'') {
-                out += std::string{"&apos;"};
+                out += "&apos;"s;
             } else if (c == '<') {
-                out += std::string{"&lt;"};
+                out += "&lt;"s;
             } else if (c == '>') {
-                out += std::string{"&gt;"};
+                out += "&gt;"s;
             } else if (c == '&') {
-                out += std::string{"&amp;"};
+                out += "&amp;"s;
             } else if (std::isprint(c)) {
                 out += c;
             } else {
-                out += std::string{"&#"} + cvtToStr((unsigned int)(c & 0xff)) + ";";
+                out += "&#"s + cvtToStr((unsigned int)(c & 0xff)) + ";";
             }
         }
     } else {
         // Encode control chars into C style escapes
         for (const char c : namein) {
             if (c == '\\' || c == '"') {
-                out += std::string{"\\"} + c;
+                out += "\\"s + c;
             } else if (c == '\n') {
                 out += "\\n";
             } else if (c == '\r') {
@@ -907,8 +907,8 @@ string V3OutFormatter::quoteNameControls(const string& namein,
                 out += c;
             } else {
                 // This will also cover \a etc
-                const string octal = std::string{"\\"} + cvtToStr((c >> 6) & 3)
-                                     + cvtToStr((c >> 3) & 7) + cvtToStr(c & 7);
+                const string octal
+                    = "\\"s + cvtToStr((c >> 6) & 3) + cvtToStr((c >> 3) & 7) + cvtToStr(c & 7);
                 out += octal;
             }
         }
@@ -955,8 +955,7 @@ void V3OutFile::putsForceIncs() {
 void V3OutCFile::putsGuard() {
     UASSERT(!m_guard, "Already called putsGuard in emit file");
     m_guard = true;
-    string var
-        = VString::upcase(std::string{"VERILATED_"} + V3Os::filenameNonDir(filename()) + "_");
+    string var = VString::upcase("VERILATED_"s + V3Os::filenameNonDir(filename()) + "_");
     for (char& c : var) {
         if (!std::isalnum(c)) c = '_';
     }
diff --git a/src/V3FileLine.cpp b/src/V3FileLine.cpp
index d3ab82d47..ba4fd33cc 100644
--- a/src/V3FileLine.cpp
+++ b/src/V3FileLine.cpp
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ string FileLine::xmlDetailedLocation() const {
 }
 
 string FileLine::lineDirectiveStrg(int enterExit) const {
-    return std::string{"`line "} + cvtToStr(lastLineno()) + " \""
+    return "`line "s + cvtToStr(lastLineno()) + " \""
            + V3OutFormatter::quoteNameControls(filename()) + "\" " + cvtToStr(enterExit) + "\n";
 }
 
diff --git a/src/V3HierBlock.cpp b/src/V3HierBlock.cpp
index cffa77359..26aa791d4 100644
--- a/src/V3HierBlock.cpp
+++ b/src/V3HierBlock.cpp
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ class HierBlockUsageCollectVisitor final : public VNVisitorConst {
         // Don't visit twice
         if (nodep->user1SetOnce()) return;
         UINFO(5, "Checking " << nodep->prettyNameQ() << " from "
-                             << (m_hierBlockp ? m_hierBlockp->prettyNameQ() : std::string{"null"})
+                             << (m_hierBlockp ? m_hierBlockp->prettyNameQ() : "null"s)
                              << std::endl);
         VL_RESTORER(m_modp);
         AstModule* const prevHierBlockp = m_hierBlockp;
diff --git a/src/V3Inline.cpp b/src/V3Inline.cpp
index b7152fa80..f38865a43 100644
--- a/src/V3Inline.cpp
+++ b/src/V3Inline.cpp
@@ -421,13 +421,11 @@ class InlineRelinkVisitor final : public VNVisitor {
         // To keep correct visual order, must add before other Text's
         AstText* afterp = nodep->scopeAttrp();
         if (afterp) afterp->unlinkFrBackWithNext();
-        nodep->addScopeAttrp(
-            new AstText{nodep->fileline(), std::string{"__DOT__"} + m_cellp->name()});
+        nodep->addScopeAttrp(new AstText{nodep->fileline(), "__DOT__"s + m_cellp->name()});
         if (afterp) nodep->addScopeAttrp(afterp);
         afterp = nodep->scopeEntrp();
         if (afterp) afterp->unlinkFrBackWithNext();
-        nodep->addScopeEntrp(
-            new AstText{nodep->fileline(), std::string{"__DOT__"} + m_cellp->name()});
+        nodep->addScopeEntrp(new AstText{nodep->fileline(), "__DOT__"s + m_cellp->name()});
         if (afterp) nodep->addScopeEntrp(afterp);
         iterateChildren(nodep);
     }
diff --git a/src/V3Name.cpp b/src/V3Name.cpp
index 4631c145e..ac0579c3d 100644
--- a/src/V3Name.cpp
+++ b/src/V3Name.cpp
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class NameVisitor final : public VNVisitorConst {
     void rename(AstNode* nodep, bool addPvt) {
         if (!nodep->user1()) {  // Not already done
             if (addPvt) {
-                const string newname = std::string{"__PVT__"} + nodep->name();
+                const string newname = "__PVT__"s + nodep->name();
                 nodep->name(newname);
                 nodep->editCountInc();
             } else if (VN_IS(nodep, CFunc) && VN_AS(nodep, CFunc)->isConstructor()) {
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ class NameVisitor final : public VNVisitorConst {
                 if (rsvd != "") {
                     nodep->v3warn(SYMRSVDWORD,
                                   "Symbol matches " + rsvd + ": " << nodep->prettyNameQ());
-                    const string newname = std::string{"__SYM__"} + nodep->name();
+                    const string newname = "__SYM__"s + nodep->name();
                     nodep->name(newname);
                     nodep->editCountInc();
                 }
diff --git a/src/V3Number.cpp b/src/V3Number.cpp
index 21d4a1e9d..4b4430a60 100644
--- a/src/V3Number.cpp
+++ b/src/V3Number.cpp
@@ -851,7 +851,7 @@ string V3Number::toDecimalS() const VL_MT_STABLE {
     if (isNegative()) {
         V3Number lhsNoSign = *this;
         lhsNoSign.opNegate(*this);
-        return std::string{"-"} + lhsNoSign.toDecimalU();
+        return "-"s + lhsNoSign.toDecimalU();
     } else {
         return toDecimalU();
     }
diff --git a/src/V3OptionParser.cpp b/src/V3OptionParser.cpp
index caec1c707..b1855c462 100644
--- a/src/V3OptionParser.cpp
+++ b/src/V3OptionParser.cpp
@@ -145,9 +145,7 @@ V3OptionParser::ActionIfs* V3OptionParser::find(const char* optp) {
         if (act.second->isOnOffAllowed()) {  // Find starts with "-no"
             if (const char* const nop
                 = VString::startsWith(optp, "-no") ? (optp + std::strlen("-no")) : nullptr) {
-                if (act.first == nop || act.first == (std::string{"-"} + nop)) {
-                    return act.second.get();
-                }
+                if (act.first == nop || act.first == ("-"s + nop)) { return act.second.get(); }
             }
         } else if (act.second->isPartialMatchAllowed()) {
             if (VString::startsWith(optp, act.first)) return act.second.get();
diff --git a/src/V3Options.cpp b/src/V3Options.cpp
index 4f3b3d9f4..0d589364c 100644
--- a/src/V3Options.cpp
+++ b/src/V3Options.cpp
@@ -1584,7 +1584,7 @@ void V3Options::parseOptsList(FileLine* fl, const string& optdir, int argc,
     });
     DECL_OPTION("-Wno-", CbPartialMatch, [fl, &parser](const char* optp) VL_MT_DISABLED {
         if (!FileLine::globalWarnOff(optp, true)) {
-            const string fullopt = std::string{"-Wno-"} + optp;
+            const string fullopt = "-Wno-"s + optp;
             fl->v3fatal("Unknown warning specified: " << fullopt
                                                       << parser.getSuggestion(fullopt.c_str()));
         }
@@ -1606,7 +1606,7 @@ void V3Options::parseOptsList(FileLine* fl, const string& optdir, int argc,
         const V3ErrorCode code{optp};
         if (code == V3ErrorCode::EC_ERROR) {
             if (!isFuture(optp)) {
-                const string fullopt = std::string{"-Wwarn-"} + optp;
+                const string fullopt = "-Wwarn-"s + optp;
                 fl->v3fatal("Unknown warning specified: "
                             << fullopt << parser.getSuggestion(fullopt.c_str()));
             }
diff --git a/src/V3Param.cpp b/src/V3Param.cpp
index 57de34d20..8bcb1d2d6 100644
--- a/src/V3Param.cpp
+++ b/src/V3Param.cpp
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ class ParamProcessor final {
         const auto pair = m_valueMap.emplace(hash, 0);
         if (pair.second) pair.first->second = m_nextValue++;
         num = pair.first->second;
-        return std::string{"z"} + cvtToStr(num);
+        return "z"s + cvtToStr(num);
     }
     string moduleCalcName(const AstNodeModule* srcModp, const string& longname) {
         string newname = longname;
diff --git a/src/V3ParseSym.h b/src/V3ParseSym.h
index a0a31ee60..9342c2b8a 100644
--- a/src/V3ParseSym.h
+++ b/src/V3ParseSym.h
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ public:
     void reinsert(AstNode* nodep, VSymEnt* parentp, string name) {
         if (!parentp) parentp = symCurrentp();
         if (name == "") {  // New name with space in name so can't collide with users
-            name = std::string{" anon"} + nodep->type().ascii() + cvtToStr(++s_anonNum);
+            name = " anon"s + nodep->type().ascii() + cvtToStr(++s_anonNum);
         }
         parentp->reinsert(name, findNewTable(nodep));
     }
diff --git a/src/V3PartitionGraph.h b/src/V3PartitionGraph.h
index 2f55cc10e..dd41f2618 100644
--- a/src/V3PartitionGraph.h
+++ b/src/V3PartitionGraph.h
@@ -84,9 +84,9 @@ public:
     uint64_t profilerId() const { return m_profilerId; }
     string cFuncName() const {
         // If this MTask maps to a C function, this should be the name
-        return std::string{"__Vmtask"} + "__" + cvtToStr(m_id);
+        return "__Vmtask"s + "__" + cvtToStr(m_id);
     }
-    string name() const override VL_MT_STABLE { return std::string{"mt"} + cvtToStr(id()); }
+    string name() const override VL_MT_STABLE { return "mt"s + cvtToStr(id()); }
     string hashName() const { return m_hashName; }
     void hashName(const string& name) { m_hashName = name; }
     void dump(std::ostream& str) const {
diff --git a/src/V3PreProc.cpp b/src/V3PreProc.cpp
index 4a8c103f3..5582c2f8f 100644
--- a/src/V3PreProc.cpp
+++ b/src/V3PreProc.cpp
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ FileLine* V3PreProcImp::defFileline(const string& name) {
 void V3PreProcImp::define(FileLine* fl, const string& name, const string& value,
                           const string& params, bool cmdline) {
     UINFO(4, "DEFINE '" << name << "' as '" << value << "' params '" << params << "'" << endl);
-    if (!V3LanguageWords::isKeyword(std::string{"`"} + name).empty()) {
+    if (!V3LanguageWords::isKeyword("`"s + name).empty()) {
         fl->v3error("Attempting to define built-in directive: '`" << name
                                                                   << "' (IEEE 1800-2017 22.5.1)");
     } else {
@@ -887,7 +887,7 @@ void V3PreProcImp::dumpDefines(std::ostream& os) {
 
 void V3PreProcImp::candidateDefines(VSpellCheck* spellerp) {
     for (DefinesMap::const_iterator it = m_defines.begin(); it != m_defines.end(); ++it) {
-        spellerp->pushCandidate(std::string{"`"} + it->first);
+        spellerp->pushCandidate("`"s + it->first);
     }
 }
 
@@ -1107,7 +1107,7 @@ int V3PreProcImp::getStateToken() {
                 // IE, `ifdef `MACRO(x): Substitute and come back here when state pops.
                 break;
             } else {
-                error(std::string{"Expecting define name. Found: "} + tokenName(tok) + "\n");
+                error("Expecting define name. Found: "s + tokenName(tok) + "\n");
                 goto next_tok;
             }
         }
@@ -1128,8 +1128,7 @@ int V3PreProcImp::getStateToken() {
                     goto next_tok;
                 }
             } else {
-                error(std::string{"Expecting define formal arguments. Found: "} + tokenName(tok)
-                      + "\n");
+                error("Expecting define formal arguments. Found: "s + tokenName(tok) + "\n");
                 goto next_tok;
             }
         }
@@ -1165,8 +1164,7 @@ int V3PreProcImp::getStateToken() {
                     define(fileline(), m_lastSym, value, formals, false);
                 }
             } else {
-                const string msg
-                    = std::string{"Bad define text, unexpected "} + tokenName(tok) + "\n";
+                const string msg = "Bad define text, unexpected "s + tokenName(tok) + "\n";
                 v3fatalSrc(msg);
             }
             statePop();
@@ -1182,8 +1180,8 @@ int V3PreProcImp::getStateToken() {
             } else {
                 UASSERT(!m_defRefs.empty(), "Shouldn't be in DEFPAREN w/o active defref");
                 const VDefineRef* const refp = &(m_defRefs.top());
-                error(std::string{"Expecting ( to begin argument list for define reference `"}
-                      + refp->name() + "\n");
+                error("Expecting ( to begin argument list for define reference `"s + refp->name()
+                      + "\n");
                 statePop();
                 goto next_tok;
             }
@@ -1282,7 +1280,7 @@ int V3PreProcImp::getStateToken() {
                 break;
             } else {
                 statePop();
-                error(std::string{"Expecting include filename. Found: "} + tokenName(tok) + "\n");
+                error("Expecting include filename. Found: "s + tokenName(tok) + "\n");
                 goto next_tok;
             }
         }
@@ -1295,7 +1293,7 @@ int V3PreProcImp::getStateToken() {
                 statePop();
                 goto next_tok;
             } else {
-                error(std::string{"Expecting `error string. Found: "} + tokenName(tok) + "\n");
+                error("Expecting `error string. Found: "s + tokenName(tok) + "\n");
                 statePop();
                 goto next_tok;
             }
@@ -1338,7 +1336,7 @@ int V3PreProcImp::getStateToken() {
                 // multiline "..." without \ escapes.
                 // The spec is silent about this either way; simulators vary
                 std::replace(out.begin(), out.end(), '\n', ' ');
-                unputString(std::string{"\""} + out + "\"");
+                unputString("\""s + out + "\"");
                 statePop();
                 goto next_tok;
             } else if (tok == VP_EOF) {
@@ -1422,7 +1420,7 @@ int V3PreProcImp::getStateToken() {
                 } else {
                     // We want final text of `name, but that would cause
                     // recursion, so use a special character to get it through
-                    unputDefrefString(std::string{"`\032"} + name);
+                    unputDefrefString("`\032"s + name);
                     goto next_tok;
                 }
             } else {
@@ -1510,7 +1508,7 @@ int V3PreProcImp::getStateToken() {
         case VP_DEFFORM:  // Handled by state=ps_DEFFORM;
         case VP_DEFVALUE:  // Handled by state=ps_DEFVALUE;
         default:  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
-            v3fatalSrc(std::string{"Internal error: Unexpected token "} + tokenName(tok) + "\n");
+            v3fatalSrc("Internal error: Unexpected token "s + tokenName(tok) + "\n");
             break;  // LCOV_EXCL_LINE
         }
         return tok;
diff --git a/src/V3PreShell.cpp b/src/V3PreShell.cpp
index 44d6a8ff8..fba2ea6ed 100644
--- a/src/V3PreShell.cpp
+++ b/src/V3PreShell.cpp
@@ -102,8 +102,8 @@ protected:
             // intervening +<lang>ext+ options since it was first encountered.
             FileLine* const modfileline = new FileLine{modfilename};
             modfileline->language(v3Global.opt.fileLanguage(modfilename));
-            V3Parse::ppPushText(parsep, (std::string{"`begin_keywords \""}
-                                         + modfileline->language().ascii() + "\"\n"));
+            V3Parse::ppPushText(
+                parsep, ("`begin_keywords \""s + modfileline->language().ascii() + "\"\n"));
             // FileLine tracks and frees modfileline
         }
 
diff --git a/src/V3ProtectLib.cpp b/src/V3ProtectLib.cpp
index 9d1efe086..1c43b9658 100644
--- a/src/V3ProtectLib.cpp
+++ b/src/V3ProtectLib.cpp
@@ -149,18 +149,16 @@ class ProtectVisitor final : public VNVisitor {
         // Timescale
         if (v3Global.opt.hierChild() && v3Global.rootp()->timescaleSpecified()) {
             // Emit timescale for hierarchical Verilation if input HDL specifies timespec
-            txtp->addText(fl, std::string{"timeunit "} + modp->timeunit().ascii() + ";\n");
-            txtp->addText(fl, std::string{"timeprecision "}
-                                  + +v3Global.rootp()->timeprecision().ascii() + ";\n");
+            txtp->addText(fl, "timeunit "s + modp->timeunit().ascii() + ";\n");
+            txtp->addText(fl,
+                          "timeprecision "s + +v3Global.rootp()->timeprecision().ascii() + ";\n");
         } else {
             addComment(txtp, fl,
                        "Precision of submodule"
                        " (commented out to avoid requiring timescale on all modules)");
+            addComment(txtp, fl, "timeunit "s + v3Global.rootp()->timeunit().ascii() + ";");
             addComment(txtp, fl,
-                       std::string{"timeunit "} + v3Global.rootp()->timeunit().ascii() + ";");
-            addComment(txtp, fl,
-                       std::string{"timeprecision "} + v3Global.rootp()->timeprecision().ascii()
-                           + ";\n");
+                       "timeprecision "s + v3Global.rootp()->timeprecision().ascii() + ";\n");
         }
 
         // DPI declarations
diff --git a/src/V3Scope.cpp b/src/V3Scope.cpp
index 6436b9932..0d597cb42 100644
--- a/src/V3Scope.cpp
+++ b/src/V3Scope.cpp
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ class ScopeVisitor final : public VNVisitor {
     }
     void visit(AstScopeName* nodep) override {
         // If there's a %m in the display text, we add a special node that will contain the name()
-        const string prefix = std::string{"__DOT__"} + m_scopep->name();
+        const string prefix = "__DOT__"s + m_scopep->name();
         // TOP and above will be the user's name().
         // Note 'TOP.' is stripped by scopePrettyName
         // To keep correct visual order, must add before other Text's
diff --git a/src/V3Simulate.h b/src/V3Simulate.h
index 10de98e53..35f0077a6 100644
--- a/src/V3Simulate.h
+++ b/src/V3Simulate.h
@@ -366,7 +366,7 @@ private:
         // Call for node types we know we can't handle
         checkNodeInfo(nodep);
         if (optimizable()) {
-            clearOptimizable(nodep, std::string{"Known unhandled node type "} + nodep->typeName());
+            clearOptimizable(nodep, "Known unhandled node type "s + nodep->typeName());
         }
     }
     void badNodeType(AstNode* nodep) {
@@ -1130,7 +1130,7 @@ private:
                                 nodep, "Argument for $display like statement is not constant");
                             break;
                         }
-                        const string pformat = std::string{"%"} + width + pos[0];
+                        const string pformat = "%"s + width + pos[0];
                         result += constp->num().displayed(nodep, pformat);
                     } else {
                         switch (std::tolower(pos[0])) {
diff --git a/src/V3Stats.cpp b/src/V3Stats.cpp
index f133f6776..0312c6458 100644
--- a/src/V3Stats.cpp
+++ b/src/V3Stats.cpp
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ public:
         // Branch predictions
         for (int t = 0; t < VBranchPred::_ENUM_END; ++t) {
             if (const uint64_t c = m_counters.m_statPred[t]) {
-                addStat(std::string{"Branch prediction, "} + VBranchPred{t}.ascii(), c);
+                addStat("Branch prediction, "s + VBranchPred{t}.ascii(), c);
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/V3String.h b/src/V3String.h
index 0fc795399..5c2f007de 100644
--- a/src/V3String.h
+++ b/src/V3String.h
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ public:
         if (candidate.empty()) {
             return "";
         } else {
-            return std::string{"... Suggested alternative: '"} + candidate + "'";
+            return "... Suggested alternative: '"s + candidate + "'";
         }
     }
     static void selfTest();
diff --git a/src/V3Trace.cpp b/src/V3Trace.cpp
index 44d7e807d..5fc03e40a 100644
--- a/src/V3Trace.cpp
+++ b/src/V3Trace.cpp
@@ -714,8 +714,8 @@ class TraceVisitor final : public VNVisitor {
         m_regFuncp->addStmtsp(new AstText{fl, ", vlSelf);\n", true});
 
         // Clear global activity flag
-        cleanupFuncp->addStmtsp(new AstCStmt{m_topScopep->fileline(),
-                                             std::string{"vlSymsp->__Vm_activity = false;\n"}});
+        cleanupFuncp->addStmtsp(
+            new AstCStmt{m_topScopep->fileline(), "vlSymsp->__Vm_activity = false;\n"s});
 
         // Clear fine grained activity flags
         for (uint32_t i = 0; i < m_activityNumber; ++i) {
diff --git a/src/V3TraceDecl.cpp b/src/V3TraceDecl.cpp
index 088573c84..1ccba54aa 100644
--- a/src/V3TraceDecl.cpp
+++ b/src/V3TraceDecl.cpp
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ class TraceDeclVisitor final : public VNVisitor {
 
     void addIgnore(const char* why) {
         ++m_statIgnSigs;
-        std::string cmt = std::string{"Tracing: "} + m_traName + " // Ignored: " + why;
+        std::string cmt = "Tracing: "s + m_traName + " // Ignored: " + why;
         if (debug() > 3 && m_traVscp) std::cout << "- " << m_traVscp->fileline() << cmt << endl;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/V3Unroll.cpp b/src/V3Unroll.cpp
index b7bc3ab9c..b19fec241 100644
--- a/src/V3Unroll.cpp
+++ b/src/V3Unroll.cpp
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ class UnrollVisitor final : public VNVisitor {
             nodep->v3warn(E_UNSUPPORTED, "Unsupported: Can't unroll generate for; " << reason);
         UINFO(3, "   Can't Unroll: " << reason << " :" << nodep << endl);
         // if (debug() >= 9) nodep->dumpTree("-  cant: ");
-        V3Stats::addStatSum(std::string{"Unrolling gave up, "} + reason, 1);
+        V3Stats::addStatSum("Unrolling gave up, "s + reason, 1);
         return false;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/config_build.h b/src/config_build.h
index ca5c9bd7e..770ad2c95 100644
--- a/src/config_build.h
+++ b/src/config_build.h
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@
 using string = std::string;
 using std::cout;
 using std::endl;
+using namespace std::literals;  // "<std::string literal>"s; see SF.7 core guideline
 
 //**********************************************************************
 //**** OS and compiler specifics
diff --git a/src/verilog.y b/src/verilog.y
index 2fe59b719..877da1b5e 100644
--- a/src/verilog.y
+++ b/src/verilog.y
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ int V3ParseGrammar::s_modTypeImpNum = 0;
 static void ERRSVKWD(FileLine* fileline, const string& tokname) {
     static int toldonce = 0;
     fileline->v3error(
-        std::string{"Unexpected '"} + tokname + "': '" + tokname
+        "Unexpected '"s + tokname + "': '" + tokname
         + "' is a SystemVerilog keyword misused as an identifier."
         + (!toldonce++ ? "\n" + fileline->warnMore()
                              + "... Suggest modify the Verilog-2001 code to avoid SV keywords,"
diff --git a/test_regress/t/t_dpi_var.cpp b/test_regress/t/t_dpi_var.cpp
index 13c3020e0..6da1a12e6 100644
--- a/test_regress/t/t_dpi_var.cpp
+++ b/test_regress/t/t_dpi_var.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ void mon_class_name(const char* namep) {
 #endif
     // Check the C's calling name of "" doesn't lead to extra dots in the name()
     if (namep && namep[0] == '.')
-        vl_fatal(__FILE__, __LINE__, "", (std::string{"Unexp class name "} + namep).c_str());
+        vl_fatal(__FILE__, __LINE__, "", ("Unexp class name "s + namep).c_str());
 }
 
 extern "C" void mon_scope_name(const char* namep);
@@ -61,9 +61,9 @@ void mon_scope_name(const char* namep) {
     VL_PRINTF("-     mon_scope_name('%s', \"%s\");\n", modp, namep);
 #endif
     if (std::strcmp(namep, "t.sub"))
-        vl_fatal(__FILE__, __LINE__, "", (std::string{"Unexp scope name "} + namep).c_str());
+        vl_fatal(__FILE__, __LINE__, "", ("Unexp scope name "s + namep).c_str());
     if (std::strcmp(modp, "t.sub"))
-        vl_fatal(__FILE__, __LINE__, "", (std::string{"Unexp dpiscope name "} + modp).c_str());
+        vl_fatal(__FILE__, __LINE__, "", ("Unexp dpiscope name "s + modp).c_str());
 }
 
 extern "C" void mon_register_b(const char* namep, int isOut);
diff --git a/test_regress/t/t_vpi_zero_time_cb.cpp b/test_regress/t/t_vpi_zero_time_cb.cpp
index 32cf2fe6a..e19bd7f38 100644
--- a/test_regress/t/t_vpi_zero_time_cb.cpp
+++ b/test_regress/t/t_vpi_zero_time_cb.cpp
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv) {
         void* lib = dlopen(filenamep, RTLD_LAZY);
         void* bootstrap = dlsym(lib, "vpi_compat_bootstrap");
         if (!bootstrap) {
-            const std::string msg = std::string{"%Error: Could not dlopen "} + filenamep;
+            const std::string msg = "%Error: Could not dlopen "s + filenamep;
             vl_fatal(__FILE__, __LINE__, "main", msg.c_str());
         }
         ((void (*)(void))bootstrap)();