diff --git a/examples/gallery/lines/envelope.py b/examples/gallery/lines/envelope.py
index c5d7e578f9c..49df129f6be 100644
--- a/examples/gallery/lines/envelope.py
+++ b/examples/gallery/lines/envelope.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 The ``close`` parameter of the :meth:`pygmt.Figure.plot` method can be used to build a
 symmetrical or an asymmetrical envelope. The user can give either the deviations or the
-bounds in y-direction. For the first case append ``"+d"`` or ``"+D"`` and for the latter
+bounds in y direction. For the first case append ``"+d"`` or ``"+D"`` and for the latter
 case ``"+b"``.
 """
 
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/advanced/cartesian_histograms.py b/examples/tutorials/advanced/cartesian_histograms.py
index 3a547fd92f5..4e3718d07c2 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/advanced/cartesian_histograms.py
+++ b/examples/tutorials/advanced/cartesian_histograms.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@
     # Let ymin and ymax determined automatically by setting both to the same value
     region=[0, 200, 0, 0],
     projection="X10c",  # Cartesian projection with a width of 10 centimeters
-    # Add frame, annotations ("a"), ticks ("f"), and y-axis label ("+l") "Counts"; the
+    # Add frame, annotations ("a"), ticks ("f"), and y axis label ("+l") "Counts"; the
     # numbers give the steps of annotations and ticks
     frame=["WStr", "xaf10", "ya1f1+lCounts"],
     data=data01,
@@ -79,8 +79,8 @@
     fill="red3",
     pen="1p,darkgray,solid",
     histtype=0,
-    # Use horizontal bars. Note that the x- and y-axis are flipped, with the x-axis
-    # plotted vertically and the y-axis plotted horizontally.
+    # Use horizontal bars. Note that the x and y axis are flipped, with the x axis
+    # plotted vertically and the y axis plotted horizontally.
     horizontal=True,
 )
 
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@
     histtype=0,
     # Show cumulative counts
     cumulative=True,
-    # Offset ("+o") the label by 10 points in negative y-direction
+    # Offset ("+o") the label by 10 points in negative y direction
     annotate="+o-10p",
 )
 
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/advanced/subplots.py b/examples/tutorials/advanced/subplots.py
index 1fb43fc02a4..4ed96202844 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/advanced/subplots.py
+++ b/examples/tutorials/advanced/subplots.py
@@ -119,8 +119,8 @@
 #
 # - ``autolabel=True``: Each subplot is automatically labelled 'abcd'.
 # - ``margins=["0.1c", "0.2c"]``: Adjusts the space between adjacent subplots.
-#   In this case, it is set as 0.1 cm in the x-direction and 0.2 cm in the
-#   y-direction.
+#   In this case, it is set as 0.1 cm in the x direction and 0.2 cm in the
+#   y direction.
 # - ``title="My Subplot Heading"``: Adds a title on top of the whole figure.
 #
 # Notice that each subplot was set to use a linear projection ``"X?"``.
diff --git a/pygmt/datatypes/header.py b/pygmt/datatypes/header.py
index 197eaa26e45..69250909de6 100644
--- a/pygmt/datatypes/header.py
+++ b/pygmt/datatypes/header.py
@@ -92,9 +92,9 @@ class _GMT_GRID_HEADER(ctp.Structure):  # noqa: N801
         ("z_scale_factor", ctp.c_double),
         # After scaling, add this offset
         ("z_add_offset", ctp.c_double),
-        # Units in x-directions, in the form "long_name [units]"
+        # Units in x directions, in the form "long_name [units]"
         ("x_units", ctp.c_char * GMT_GRID_UNIT_LEN80),
-        # Units in y-direction, in the form "long_name [units]"
+        # Units in y direction, in the form "long_name [units]"
         ("y_units", ctp.c_char * GMT_GRID_UNIT_LEN80),
         # Grid value units, in the form "long_name [units]"
         ("z_units", ctp.c_char * GMT_GRID_UNIT_LEN80),
@@ -122,9 +122,9 @@ class _GMT_GRID_HEADER(ctp.Structure):  # noqa: N801
         ("type", ctp.c_uint),
         # Number of bands [1]. Used with GMT_IMAGE containers
         ("n_bands", ctp.c_uint),
-        # Actual x-dimension in memory. mx = n_columns + pad[0] + pad[1]
+        # Actual x dimension in memory. mx = n_columns + pad[0] + pad[1]
         ("mx", ctp.c_uint),
-        # Actual y-dimension in memory. my = n_rows + pad[2] + pad[3]
+        # Actual y dimension in memory. my = n_rows + pad[2] + pad[3]
         ("my", ctp.c_uint),
         # Paddings on west, east, south, north sides [2,2,2,2]
         ("pad", ctp.c_uint * 4),
diff --git a/pygmt/src/basemap.py b/pygmt/src/basemap.py
index f9acc949042..e9f0ca855f7 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/basemap.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/basemap.py
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ def basemap(self, **kwargs):
         **+p**\ *pen*. Add **+g**\ *fill* to fill the scale panel [Default is
         no fill]. Append **+c**\ *clearance* where *clearance* is either gap,
         xgap/ygap, or lgap/rgap/bgap/tgap where these items are uniform,
-        separate in x- and y-direction, or individual side spacings between
+        separate in x and y direction, or individual side spacings between
         scale and border. Append **+i** to draw a secondary, inner border as
         well. We use a uniform gap between borders of 2p and the
         :gmt-term:`MAP_DEFAULTS_PEN` unless other values are specified. Append
diff --git a/pygmt/src/coast.py b/pygmt/src/coast.py
index 22ecd018854..a5580a067d2 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/coast.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/coast.py
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def coast(self, **kwargs):
         **+p**\ *pen*. Add **+g**\ *fill* to fill the scale panel [Default is
         no fill]. Append **+c**\ *clearance* where *clearance* is either gap,
         xgap/ygap, or lgap/rgap/bgap/tgap where these items are uniform,
-        separate in x- and y-direction, or individual side spacings between
+        separate in x and y direction, or individual side spacings between
         scale and border. Append **+i** to draw a secondary, inner border as
         well. We use a uniform gap between borders of 2p and the
         :gmt-term:`MAP_DEFAULTS_PEN` unless other values are specified. Append
diff --git a/pygmt/src/colorbar.py b/pygmt/src/colorbar.py
index 501e24c6769..b76524a27df 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/colorbar.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/colorbar.py
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@ def colorbar(self, **kwargs):
         Alternatively, specify a different pen with **+p**\ *pen*. Add
         **+g**\ *fill* to fill the scale panel [Default is no fill]. Append
         **+c**\ *clearance* where *clearance* is either gap, xgap/ygap, or
-        lgap/rgap/bgap/tgap where these items are uniform, separate in x- and
-        y-direction, or individual side spacings between scale and border.
+        lgap/rgap/bgap/tgap where these items are uniform, separate in x and
+        y direction, or individual side spacings between scale and border.
         Append **+i** to draw a secondary, inner border as well. We use a
         uniform gap between borders of 2p and the :gmt-term:`MAP_DEFAULTS_PEN`
         unless other values are specified. Append **+r** to draw rounded
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def colorbar(self, **kwargs):
     >>> fig.colorbar(
     ...     # Set cmap to the "roma" CPT
     ...     cmap="roma",
-    ...     # Label the x-axis "Velocity" and the y-axis "m/s"
+    ...     # Label the x axis "Velocity" and the y axis "m/s"
     ...     frame=["x+lVelocity", "y+lm/s"],
     ... )
     >>> # Show the plot
diff --git a/pygmt/src/inset.py b/pygmt/src/inset.py
index 720cf83a0ba..40367f4a897 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/inset.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/inset.py
@@ -83,8 +83,8 @@ def inset(self, **kwargs):
         [Default is no fill].
         Append **+c**\ *clearance* where *clearance* is either
         *gap*, *xgap*\ /\ *ygap*, or *lgap*\ /\ *rgap*\ /\ *bgap*\ /\
-        *tgap* where these items are uniform, separate in x- and
-        y-directions, or individual side spacings between map embellishment
+        *tgap* where these items are uniform, separate in x and
+        y directions, or individual side spacings between map embellishment
         and border. Append **+i** to draw a secondary, inner border as well.
         We use a uniform *gap* between borders of 2p and the default pen
         unless other values are specified. Append **+r** to draw rounded