diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-cpp11.R b/tests/testthat/test-cpp11.R
index b26be2060..b45e6c909 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-cpp11.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-cpp11.R
@@ -24,10 +24,10 @@ test_that("use_cpp11() creates files/dirs, edits DESCRIPTION and .gitignore", {
   expect_proj_dir("src")
 
   ignores <- read_utf8(proj_path("src", ".gitignore"))
-  expect_true(all(c("*.o", "*.so", "*.dll") %in% ignores))
+  expect_contains(ignores, c("*.o", "*.so", "*.dll"))
 
   namespace <- read_utf8(proj_path("NAMESPACE"))
-  expect_true(any(grepl("useDynLib", namespace)))
+  expect_match(namespace, "useDynLib", all = FALSE)
 })
 
 test_that("check_cpp_register_deps is silent if all installed, emits todo if not", {
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-github-actions.R b/tests/testthat/test-github-actions.R
index 5c6d3b4ba..808f3a173 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-github-actions.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-github-actions.R
@@ -104,10 +104,10 @@ test_that("use_github_action() accepts a name", {
 
   yml <- yaml::yaml.load_file(proj_path(".github/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml"))
   expect_identical(yml$name, "R-CMD-check")
-  expect_identical(names(yml$jobs), "R-CMD-check")
+  expect_named(yml$jobs, "R-CMD-check")
 
   readme_lines <- read_utf8(proj_path("README.md"))
-  expect_true(any(grepl("R-CMD-check", readme_lines)))
+  expect_match(readme_lines, "R-CMD-check", all = FALSE)
 
   # .github has been Rbuildignored
   expect_true(is_build_ignored("^\\.github$"))
@@ -130,17 +130,17 @@ test_that("use_tidy_github_actions() configures the full check and pr commands",
 
   yml <- yaml::yaml.load_file(proj_path(".github/workflows/R-CMD-check.yaml"))
   expect_identical(yml$name, "R-CMD-check")
-  expect_identical(names(yml$jobs), "R-CMD-check")
+  expect_named(yml$jobs, "R-CMD-check")
 
   size_build_matrix <-
     length(yml[["jobs"]][["R-CMD-check"]][["strategy"]][["matrix"]][["config"]])
-  expect_true(size_build_matrix >= 6) # release, r-devel, 4 previous versions
+  expect_gte(size_build_matrix, 6) # release, r-devel, 4 previous versions
 
   expect_proj_file(".github/workflows/pkgdown.yaml")
   expect_proj_file(".github/workflows/test-coverage.yaml")
   expect_proj_file(".github/workflows/pr-commands.yaml")
 
   readme_lines <- read_utf8(proj_path("README.md"))
-  expect_true(any(grepl("R-CMD-check", readme_lines)))
-  expect_true(any(grepl("test coverage", readme_lines)))
+  expect_match(readme_lines, "R-CMD-check", all = FALSE)
+  expect_match(readme_lines, "test coverage", all = FALSE)
 })
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-helpers.R b/tests/testthat/test-helpers.R
index 8afbd90ff..22ceb5cf1 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-helpers.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-helpers.R
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ test_that("use_dependency() upgrades a dependency", {
 
   expect_message(use_dependency("usethis", "Imports"), "Moving 'usethis'")
   expect_match(desc::desc_get("Imports"), "usethis")
-  expect_false(grepl("usethis", desc::desc_get("Suggests")))
+  expect_no_match(desc::desc_get("Suggests"), "usethis")
 })
 
 ## https://github.com/r-lib/usethis/issues/99
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ test_that("use_dependency() declines to downgrade a dependency", {
 
   expect_warning(use_dependency("usethis", "Suggests"), "no change")
   expect_match(desc::desc_get("Imports"), "usethis")
-  expect_false(grepl("usethis", desc::desc_get("Suggests")))
+  expect_no_match( desc::desc_get("Suggests"), "usethis")
 })
 
 test_that("can add LinkingTo dependency if other dependency already exists", {
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ test_that("can add LinkingTo dependency if other dependency already exists", {
   )
   deps <- proj_deps()
   expect_setequal(deps$type, c("Imports", "LinkingTo"))
-  expect_true(all(deps$package == "rlang"))
+  expect_setequal(deps$package, "rlang")
 })
 
 test_that("use_dependency() does not fall over on 2nd LinkingTo request", {
@@ -121,6 +121,6 @@ test_that("use_dependency() can level up a LinkingTo dependency", {
   expect_snapshot(use_package("rlang"))
   deps <- proj_deps()
   expect_setequal(deps$type, c("Imports", "LinkingTo"))
-  expect_true(all(deps$package == "rlang"))
+  expect_setequal(deps$package, "rlang")
 })
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-use_standalone.R b/tests/testthat/test-use_standalone.R
index ba4ee9cab..638411c27 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-use_standalone.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-use_standalone.R
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ test_that("can import standalone file with dependencies", {
 
   desc <- proj_desc()
   imports <- proj_desc()$get_field("Imports")
-  expect_true(grepl("rlang \\(", imports))
+  expect_length(imports, 1)
+  expect_match(imports, "rlang")
 })
 
 test_that("can use full github url", {