diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/strings/str_/contains.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/strings/str_/contains.rs
index 02c3af2e6b..47e7a93bfe 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/strings/str_/contains.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/strings/str_/contains.rs
@@ -17,11 +17,11 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
 
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
         Signature::build("str contains")
-            .required("pattern", SyntaxShape::String, "the pattern to find")
+            .required("string", SyntaxShape::String, "the string to find")
             .rest(
                 "rest",
                 SyntaxShape::CellPath,
-                "optionally check if string contains pattern by column paths",
+                "optionally check if input contains string by column paths",
             )
             .switch("insensitive", "search is case insensitive", Some('i'))
             .switch("not", "does not contain", Some('n'))
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
-        "Checks if string contains pattern"
+        "Checks if input contains string"
     }
 
     fn search_terms(&self) -> Vec<&str> {
-        vec!["pattern", "match", "find", "search"]
+        vec!["substring", "match", "find", "search"]
     }
 
     fn run(
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
     fn examples(&self) -> Vec<Example> {
         vec![
             Example {
-                description: "Check if string contains pattern",
+                description: "Check if input contains string",
                 example: "'my_library.rb' | str contains '.rb'",
                 result: Some(Value::Bool {
                     val: true,
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
                 }),
             },
             Example {
-                description: "Check if string contains pattern case insensitive",
+                description: "Check if input contains string case insensitive",
                 example: "'my_library.rb' | str contains -i '.RB'",
                 result: Some(Value::Bool {
                     val: true,
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
                 }),
             },
             Example {
-                description: "Check if string contains pattern in a table",
+                description: "Check if input contains string in a table",
                 example: " [[ColA ColB]; [test 100]] | str contains 'e' ColA",
                 result: Some(Value::List {
                     vals: vec![Value::Record {
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
                 }),
             },
             Example {
-                description: "Check if string contains pattern in a table",
+                description: "Check if input contains string in a table",
                 example: " [[ColA ColB]; [test 100]] | str contains -i 'E' ColA",
                 result: Some(Value::List {
                     vals: vec![Value::Record {
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
                 }),
             },
             Example {
-                description: "Check if string contains pattern in a table",
+                description: "Check if input contains string in a table",
                 example: " [[ColA ColB]; [test hello]] | str contains 'e' ColA ColB",
                 result: Some(Value::List {
                     vals: vec![Value::Record {
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
                 }),
             },
             Example {
-                description: "Check if string contains pattern",
+                description: "Check if input string contains 'banana'",
                 example: "'hello' | str contains 'banana'",
                 result: Some(Value::Bool {
                     val: false,
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
                 }),
             },
             Example {
-                description: "Check if list contains pattern",
+                description: "Check if list contains string",
                 example: "[one two three] | str contains o",
                 result: Some(Value::List {
                     vals: vec![
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
                 }),
             },
             Example {
-                description: "Check if list does not contain pattern",
+                description: "Check if list does not contain string",
                 example: "[one two three] | str contains -n o",
                 result: Some(Value::List {
                     vals: vec![
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ fn operate(
     input: PipelineData,
 ) -> Result<PipelineData, ShellError> {
     let head = call.head;
-    let pattern: Spanned<String> = call.req(engine_state, stack, 0)?;
+    let substring: Spanned<String> = call.req(engine_state, stack, 0)?;
     let column_paths: Vec<CellPath> = call.rest(engine_state, stack, 1)?;
     let case_insensitive = call.has_flag("insensitive");
     let not_contain = call.has_flag("not");
@@ -190,11 +190,11 @@ fn operate(
     input.map(
         move |v| {
             if column_paths.is_empty() {
-                action(&v, case_insensitive, not_contain, &pattern.item, head)
+                action(&v, case_insensitive, not_contain, &substring.item, head)
             } else {
                 let mut ret = v;
                 for path in &column_paths {
-                    let p = pattern.item.clone();
+                    let p = substring.item.clone();
                     let r = ret.update_cell_path(
                         &path.members,
                         Box::new(move |old| action(old, case_insensitive, not_contain, &p, head)),
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ fn action(
     input: &Value,
     case_insensitive: bool,
     not_contain: bool,
-    pattern: &str,
+    substring: &str,
     head: Span,
 ) -> Value {
     match input {
@@ -222,16 +222,18 @@ fn action(
             val: match case_insensitive {
                 true => {
                     if not_contain {
-                        !val.to_lowercase().contains(pattern.to_lowercase().as_str())
+                        !val.to_lowercase()
+                            .contains(substring.to_lowercase().as_str())
                     } else {
-                        val.to_lowercase().contains(pattern.to_lowercase().as_str())
+                        val.to_lowercase()
+                            .contains(substring.to_lowercase().as_str())
                     }
                 }
                 false => {
                     if not_contain {
-                        !val.contains(pattern)
+                        !val.contains(substring)
                     } else {
-                        val.contains(pattern)
+                        val.contains(substring)
                     }
                 }
             },
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/strings/str_/ends_with.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/strings/str_/ends_with.rs
index 7984f0fe70..1805ad0139 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/strings/str_/ends_with.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/strings/str_/ends_with.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
 
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
         Signature::build("str ends-with")
-            .required("pattern", SyntaxShape::String, "the pattern to match")
+            .required("string", SyntaxShape::String, "the string to match")
             .rest(
                 "rest",
                 SyntaxShape::CellPath,
@@ -26,11 +26,11 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
-        "Check if a string ends with a pattern"
+        "Check if an input ends with a string"
     }
 
     fn search_terms(&self) -> Vec<&str> {
-        vec!["pattern", "match", "find", "search"]
+        vec!["suffix", "match", "find", "search"]
     }
 
     fn run(
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
     fn examples(&self) -> Vec<Example> {
         vec![
             Example {
-                description: "Checks if string ends with '.rb' pattern",
+                description: "Checks if string ends with '.rb'",
                 example: "'my_library.rb' | str ends-with '.rb'",
                 result: Some(Value::Bool {
                     val: true,
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
                 }),
             },
             Example {
-                description: "Checks if string ends with '.txt' pattern",
+                description: "Checks if string ends with '.txt'",
                 example: "'my_library.rb' | str ends-with '.txt'",
                 result: Some(Value::Bool {
                     val: false,
@@ -72,17 +72,17 @@ fn operate(
     input: PipelineData,
 ) -> Result<PipelineData, ShellError> {
     let head = call.head;
-    let pattern: Spanned<String> = call.req(engine_state, stack, 0)?;
+    let substring: Spanned<String> = call.req(engine_state, stack, 0)?;
     let column_paths: Vec<CellPath> = call.rest(engine_state, stack, 1)?;
 
     input.map(
         move |v| {
             if column_paths.is_empty() {
-                action(&v, &pattern.item, head)
+                action(&v, &substring.item, head)
             } else {
                 let mut ret = v;
                 for path in &column_paths {
-                    let p = pattern.item.clone();
+                    let p = substring.item.clone();
                     let r = ret.update_cell_path(
                         &path.members,
                         Box::new(move |old| action(old, &p, head)),
@@ -98,10 +98,10 @@ fn operate(
     )
 }
 
-fn action(input: &Value, pattern: &str, head: Span) -> Value {
+fn action(input: &Value, substring: &str, head: Span) -> Value {
     match input {
         Value::String { val, .. } => Value::Bool {
-            val: val.ends_with(pattern),
+            val: val.ends_with(substring),
             span: head,
         },
         other => Value::Error {
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/strings/str_/index_of.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/strings/str_/index_of.rs
index 0ffd7be814..c68cf3ba6e 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/strings/str_/index_of.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/strings/str_/index_of.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ use std::sync::Arc;
 
 struct Arguments {
     end: bool,
-    pattern: String,
+    substring: String,
     range: Option<Value>,
     column_paths: Vec<CellPath>,
 }
@@ -27,15 +27,11 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
 
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
         Signature::build("str index-of")
-            .required(
-                "pattern",
-                SyntaxShape::String,
-                "the pattern to find index of",
-            )
+            .required("string", SyntaxShape::String, "the string to find index of")
             .rest(
                 "rest",
                 SyntaxShape::CellPath,
-                "optionally returns index of pattern in string by column paths",
+                "optionally returns index of string in input by column paths",
             )
             .named(
                 "range",
@@ -43,16 +39,16 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
                 "optional start and/or end index",
                 Some('r'),
             )
-            .switch("end", "search from the end of the string", Some('e'))
+            .switch("end", "search from the end of the input", Some('e'))
             .category(Category::Strings)
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
-        "Returns start index of first occurrence of pattern in string, or -1 if no match"
+        "Returns start index of first occurrence of string in input, or -1 if no match"
     }
 
     fn search_terms(&self) -> Vec<&str> {
-        vec!["pattern", "match", "find", "search"]
+        vec!["match", "find", "search"]
     }
 
     fn run(
@@ -68,22 +64,22 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
     fn examples(&self) -> Vec<Example> {
         vec![
             Example {
-                description: "Returns index of pattern in string",
+                description: "Returns index of string in input",
                 example: " 'my_library.rb' | str index-of '.rb'",
                 result: Some(Value::test_int(10)),
             },
             Example {
-                description: "Returns index of pattern in string with start index",
+                description: "Returns index of string in input with start index",
                 example: " '.rb.rb' | str index-of '.rb' -r '1,'",
                 result: Some(Value::test_int(3)),
             },
             Example {
-                description: "Returns index of pattern in string with end index",
+                description: "Returns index of string in input with end index",
                 example: " '123456' | str index-of '6' -r ',4'",
                 result: Some(Value::test_int(-1)),
             },
             Example {
-                description: "Returns index of pattern in string with start and end index",
+                description: "Returns index of string in input with start and end index",
                 example: " '123456' | str index-of '3' -r '1,4'",
                 result: Some(Value::test_int(2)),
             },
@@ -93,7 +89,7 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
                 result: Some(Value::test_int(2)),
             },
             Example {
-                description: "Returns index of pattern in string",
+                description: "Returns index of string in input",
                 example: " '/this/is/some/path/file.txt' | str index-of '/' -e",
                 result: Some(Value::test_int(18)),
             },
@@ -107,10 +103,10 @@ fn operate(
     call: &Call,
     input: PipelineData,
 ) -> Result<PipelineData, ShellError> {
-    let pattern: Spanned<String> = call.req(engine_state, stack, 0)?;
+    let substring: Spanned<String> = call.req(engine_state, stack, 0)?;
 
     let options = Arc::new(Arguments {
-        pattern: pattern.item,
+        substring: substring.item,
         range: call.get_flag(engine_state, stack, "range")?,
         end: call.has_flag("end"),
         column_paths: call.rest(engine_state, stack, 1)?,
@@ -142,7 +138,7 @@ fn operate(
 fn action(
     input: &Value,
     Arguments {
-        ref pattern,
+        ref substring,
         range,
         end,
         ..
@@ -167,7 +163,7 @@ fn action(
             };
 
             if *end {
-                if let Some(result) = s[start_index..end_index].rfind(&**pattern) {
+                if let Some(result) = s[start_index..end_index].rfind(&**substring) {
                     Value::Int {
                         val: result as i64 + start_index as i64,
                         span: head,
@@ -178,7 +174,7 @@ fn action(
                         span: head,
                     }
                 }
-            } else if let Some(result) = s[start_index..end_index].find(&**pattern) {
+            } else if let Some(result) = s[start_index..end_index].find(&**substring) {
                 Value::Int {
                     val: result as i64 + start_index as i64,
                     span: head,
@@ -292,7 +288,7 @@ mod tests {
         };
 
         let options = Arguments {
-            pattern: String::from(".tomL"),
+            substring: String::from(".tomL"),
 
             range: Some(Value::String {
                 val: String::from(""),
@@ -314,7 +310,7 @@ mod tests {
         };
 
         let options = Arguments {
-            pattern: String::from("Lm"),
+            substring: String::from("Lm"),
 
             range: Some(Value::String {
                 val: String::from(""),
@@ -337,7 +333,7 @@ mod tests {
         };
 
         let options = Arguments {
-            pattern: String::from("Cargo"),
+            substring: String::from("Cargo"),
 
             range: Some(Value::String {
                 val: String::from("1"),
@@ -359,7 +355,7 @@ mod tests {
         };
 
         let options = Arguments {
-            pattern: String::from("Banana"),
+            substring: String::from("Banana"),
 
             range: Some(Value::String {
                 val: String::from(",5"),
@@ -381,7 +377,7 @@ mod tests {
         };
 
         let options = Arguments {
-            pattern: String::from("123"),
+            substring: String::from("123"),
 
             range: Some(Value::String {
                 val: String::from("2,6"),
@@ -403,7 +399,7 @@ mod tests {
         };
 
         let options = Arguments {
-            pattern: String::from("1"),
+            substring: String::from("1"),
 
             range: Some(Value::String {
                 val: String::from("2,4"),
diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/strings/str_/starts_with.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/strings/str_/starts_with.rs
index 916306e7ae..50aa46e8f9 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/strings/str_/starts_with.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/strings/str_/starts_with.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use nu_protocol::{Example, PipelineData, ShellError, Signature, Span, SyntaxShap
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 struct Arguments {
-    pattern: String,
+    substring: String,
     column_paths: Vec<CellPath>,
 }
 
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
 
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
         Signature::build("str starts-with")
-            .required("pattern", SyntaxShape::String, "the pattern to match")
+            .required("string", SyntaxShape::String, "the string to match")
             .rest(
                 "rest",
                 SyntaxShape::CellPath,
@@ -33,11 +33,11 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
-        "Check if string starts with a pattern"
+        "Check if an input starts with a string"
     }
 
     fn search_terms(&self) -> Vec<&str> {
-        vec!["pattern", "match", "find", "search"]
+        vec!["prefix", "match", "find", "search"]
     }
 
     fn run(
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
     fn examples(&self) -> Vec<Example> {
         vec![
             Example {
-                description: "Checks if string starts with 'my' pattern",
+                description: "Checks if input string starts with 'my'",
                 example: "'my_library.rb' | str starts-with 'my'",
                 result: Some(Value::Bool {
                     val: true,
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
                 }),
             },
             Example {
-                description: "Checks if string starts with 'my' pattern",
+                description: "Checks if input string starts with 'my'",
                 example: "'Cargo.toml' | str starts-with 'Car'",
                 result: Some(Value::Bool {
                     val: true,
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ impl Command for SubCommand {
                 }),
             },
             Example {
-                description: "Checks if string starts with 'my' pattern",
+                description: "Checks if input string starts with 'my'",
                 example: "'Cargo.toml' | str starts-with '.toml'",
                 result: Some(Value::Bool {
                     val: false,
@@ -86,10 +86,10 @@ fn operate(
     call: &Call,
     input: PipelineData,
 ) -> Result<PipelineData, ShellError> {
-    let pattern: Spanned<String> = call.req(engine_state, stack, 0)?;
+    let substring: Spanned<String> = call.req(engine_state, stack, 0)?;
 
     let options = Arc::new(Arguments {
-        pattern: pattern.item,
+        substring: substring.item,
         column_paths: call.rest(engine_state, stack, 1)?,
     });
     let head = call.head;
@@ -116,10 +116,10 @@ fn operate(
     )
 }
 
-fn action(input: &Value, Arguments { pattern, .. }: &Arguments, head: Span) -> Value {
+fn action(input: &Value, Arguments { substring, .. }: &Arguments, head: Span) -> Value {
     match input {
         Value::String { val: s, .. } => {
-            let starts_with = s.starts_with(pattern);
+            let starts_with = s.starts_with(substring);
             Value::Bool {
                 val: starts_with,
                 span: head,