diff --git a/plugins/dirhistory/dirhistory.plugin.zsh b/plugins/dirhistory/dirhistory.plugin.zsh
index 504d7ec1..d101cfca 100644
--- a/plugins/dirhistory/dirhistory.plugin.zsh
+++ b/plugins/dirhistory/dirhistory.plugin.zsh
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 #   that the user has changed to in the past, and ALT-RIGHT undoes ALT-LEFT.
 # 
 
-dirhistory_past=(`pwd`)
+dirhistory_past=($PWD)
 dirhistory_future=()
 export dirhistory_past
 export dirhistory_future
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ function push_future() {
 
 # Called by zsh when directory changes
 function chpwd() {
-  push_past `pwd`
+  push_past $PWD
   # If DIRHISTORY_CD is not set...
   if [[ -z "${DIRHISTORY_CD+x}" ]]; then
     # ... clear future.
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ function dirhistory_back() {
   pop_past cw 
   if [[ "" == "$cw" ]]; then
     # Someone overwrote our variable. Recover it.
-    dirhistory_past=(`pwd`)
+    dirhistory_past=($PWD)
     return
   fi
 
diff --git a/plugins/jump/jump.plugin.zsh b/plugins/jump/jump.plugin.zsh
index 1b23b5d4..b16814fe 100644
--- a/plugins/jump/jump.plugin.zsh
+++ b/plugins/jump/jump.plugin.zsh
@@ -14,12 +14,12 @@ jump() {
 
 mark() {
 	if (( $# == 0 )); then
-		MARK=$(basename "$(pwd)")
+		MARK=$(basename "$PWD")
 	else
 		MARK="$1"
 	fi
-	if read -q \?"Mark $(pwd) as ${MARK}? (y/n) "; then
-		mkdir -p "$MARKPATH"; ln -s "$(pwd)" "$MARKPATH/$MARK"
+	if read -q \?"Mark $PWD as ${MARK}? (y/n) "; then
+		mkdir -p "$MARKPATH"; ln -s "$PWD" "$MARKPATH/$MARK"
 	fi
 }
 
diff --git a/plugins/pow/pow.plugin.zsh b/plugins/pow/pow.plugin.zsh
index d85c8877..ded3336a 100644
--- a/plugins/pow/pow.plugin.zsh
+++ b/plugins/pow/pow.plugin.zsh
@@ -21,13 +21,13 @@
 
 rack_root(){
   setopt chaselinks
-  local orgdir="$(pwd)"
-  local basedir="$(pwd)"
+  local orgdir="$PWD"
+  local basedir="$PWD"
 
   while [[ $basedir != '/' ]]; do
     test -e "$basedir/config.ru" && break
     builtin cd ".." 2>/dev/null
-    basedir="$(pwd)"
+    basedir="$PWD"
   done
 
   builtin cd "$orgdir" 2>/dev/null
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ kapow(){
 compctl -W ~/.pow -/ kapow
 
 powit(){
-  local basedir="$(pwd)"
+  local basedir="$PWD"
   local vhost=$1
   [ ! -n "$vhost" ] && vhost=$(rack_root_detect)
   if [ ! -h ~/.pow/$vhost ]
diff --git a/plugins/svn/svn.plugin.zsh b/plugins/svn/svn.plugin.zsh
index ef6da5bd..ba281d79 100644
--- a/plugins/svn/svn.plugin.zsh
+++ b/plugins/svn/svn.plugin.zsh
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ function svn_dirty() {
 
 function svn_dirty_choose_pwd () {
   if in_svn; then
-    root=`pwd`
+    root=$PWD
     if $(svn status $root 2> /dev/null | grep -Eq '^\s*[ACDIM!?L]'); then
       # Grep exits with 0 when "One or more lines were selected", return "dirty".
       echo $1
diff --git a/plugins/systemadmin/systemadmin.plugin.zsh b/plugins/systemadmin/systemadmin.plugin.zsh
index e0b1773a..4ae70dfa 100644
--- a/plugins/systemadmin/systemadmin.plugin.zsh
+++ b/plugins/systemadmin/systemadmin.plugin.zsh
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ function retlog() {
 }
 
 alias ping='ping -c 5'
-alias clr='clear;echo "Currently logged in on $(tty), as $USER in directory $(pwd)."'
+alias clr='clear;echo "Currently logged in on $(tty), as $USER in directory $PWD."'
 alias path='echo -e ${PATH//:/\\n}'
 alias mkdir='mkdir -pv'
 # get top process eating memory
diff --git a/plugins/vim-interaction/vim-interaction.plugin.zsh b/plugins/vim-interaction/vim-interaction.plugin.zsh
index 5142f1f9..b0b9414c 100644
--- a/plugins/vim-interaction/vim-interaction.plugin.zsh
+++ b/plugins/vim-interaction/vim-interaction.plugin.zsh
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ function resolveFile
   if [ -f "$1" ]; then
     echo $(readlink -f "$1")
   elif [[ "${1#/}" == "$1" ]]; then
-    echo "$(pwd)/$1"
+    echo "$PWD/$1"
   else
     echo $1
   fi