patch, 144 partscheck-builtins.sh: use the $( ... ) construct for command substitution

diff --git a/check-builtins.sh b/check-builtins.sh
index d6fe6cf..07cff69 100755
--- a/check-builtins.sh
+++ b/check-builtins.sh
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ sort |
     bad=0
     while read builtin
     do
-	base=`expr "$builtin" : 'git-\(.*\)'`
-	x=`sed -ne 's/.*{ "'$base'", \(cmd_[^, ]*\).*/'$base'	\1/p' git.c`
+	base=$(expr "$builtin" : 'git-\(.*\)')
+	x=$(sed -ne 's/.*{ "'$base'", \(cmd_[^, ]*\).*/'$base'	\1/p' git.c)
 	if test -z "$x"
 	then
 		echo "$base is builtin but not listed in git.c command list"

diff --git a/git-am.sh b/git-am.sh
index 78517f2..1b638e8 100755
--- a/git-am.sh
+++ b/git-am.sh
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ cannot_fallback () {
 }
 
 fall_back_3way () {
-    O_OBJECT=`cd "$GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY" && pwd`
+    O_OBJECT=$(cd "$GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY" && pwd)
 
     rm -fr "$dotest"/patch-merge-*
     mkdir "$dotest/patch-merge-tmp-dir"
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ split_patches () {
 		then
 			clean_abort "$(gettext "Only one StGIT patch series can be applied at once")"
 		fi
-		series_dir=`dirname "$1"`
+		series_dir=$(dirname "$1")
 		series_file="$1"
 		shift
 		{
@@ -298,8 +298,8 @@ split_patches () {
 		this=0
 		for stgit in "$@"
 		do
-			this=`expr "$this" + 1`
-			msgnum=`printf "%0${prec}d" $this`
+			this=$(expr "$this" + 1)
+			msgnum=$(printf "%0${prec}d" $this)
 			# Perl version of StGIT parse_patch. The first nonemptyline
 			# not starting with Author, From or Date is the
 			# subject, and the body starts with the next nonempty
@@ -644,26 +644,26 @@ fi
 git_apply_opt=$(cat "$dotest/apply-opt")
 if test "$(cat "$dotest/sign")" = t
 then
-	SIGNOFF=`git var GIT_COMMITTER_IDENT | sed -e '
+	SIGNOFF=$(git var GIT_COMMITTER_IDENT | sed -e '
 			s/>.*/>/
 			s/^/Signed-off-by: /'
-		`
+		)
 else
 	SIGNOFF=
 fi
 
-last=`cat "$dotest/last"`
-this=`cat "$dotest/next"`
+last=$(cat "$dotest/last")
+this=$(cat "$dotest/next")
 if test "$skip" = t
 then
-	this=`expr "$this" + 1`
+	this=$(expr "$this" + 1)
 	resume=
 fi
 
 while test "$this" -le "$last"
 do
-	msgnum=`printf "%0${prec}d" $this`
-	next=`expr "$this" + 1`
+	msgnum=$(printf "%0${prec}d" $this)
+	next=$(expr "$this" + 1)
 	test -f "$dotest/$msgnum" || {
 		resume=
 		go_next
@@ -739,16 +739,16 @@ To restore the original branch and stop patching run \"\$cmdline --abort\"."
 	'')
 	    if test '' != "$SIGNOFF"
 	    then
-		LAST_SIGNED_OFF_BY=`
+		LAST_SIGNED_OFF_BY=$(
 		    sed -ne '/^Signed-off-by: /p' \
 		    "$dotest/msg-clean" |
 		    sed -ne '$p'
-		`
-		ADD_SIGNOFF=`
+		)
+		ADD_SIGNOFF=$(
 		    test "$LAST_SIGNED_OFF_BY" = "$SIGNOFF" || {
 		    test '' = "$LAST_SIGNED_OFF_BY" && echo
 		    echo "$SIGNOFF"
-		}`
+		})
 	    else
 		ADD_SIGNOFF=
 	    fi

diff --git a/git-pull.sh b/git-pull.sh
index 6cd8ebc..cfc589d 100755
--- a/git-pull.sh
+++ b/git-pull.sh
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ do
 	-s|--s|--st|--str|--stra|--strat|--strate|--strateg|--strategy)
 		case "$#,$1" in
 		*,*=*)
-			strategy=`expr "z$1" : 'z-[^=]*=\(.*\)'` ;;
+			strategy=$(expr "z$1" : 'z-[^=]*=\(.*\)') ;;
 		1,*)
 			usage ;;
 		*)

diff --git a/git-rebase--merge.sh b/git-rebase--merge.sh
index 5381857..dc064f8 100644
--- a/git-rebase--merge.sh
+++ b/git-rebase--merge.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ continue_merge () {
 		die "$resolvemsg"
 	fi
 
-	cmt=`cat "$state_dir/current"`
+	cmt=$(cat "$state_dir/current")
 	if ! git diff-index --quiet --ignore-submodules HEAD --
 	then
 		if ! git commit ${gpg_sign_opt:+"$gpg_sign_opt"} --no-verify -C "$cmt"
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ echo "$onto_name" > "$state_dir/onto_name"
 write_basic_state
 
 msgnum=0
-for cmt in `git rev-list --reverse --no-merges "$revisions"`
+for cmt in $(git rev-list --reverse --no-merges "$revisions")
 do
 	msgnum=$(($msgnum + 1))
 	echo "$cmt" > "$state_dir/cmt.$msgnum"

diff --git a/git-rebase.sh b/git-rebase.sh
index 5f6732b..a209ab9 100755
--- a/git-rebase.sh
+++ b/git-rebase.sh
@@ -462,8 +462,8 @@ then
 else
 	if test -z "$onto"
 	then
-		empty_tree=`git hash-object -t tree /dev/null`
-		onto=`git commit-tree $empty_tree </dev/null`
+		empty_tree=$(git hash-object -t tree /dev/null)
+		onto=$(git commit-tree $empty_tree </dev/null)
 		squash_onto="$onto"
 	fi
 	unset upstream_name
@@ -521,10 +521,10 @@ case "$#" in
 	;;
 0)
 	# Do not need to switch branches, we are already on it.
-	if branch_name=`git symbolic-ref -q HEAD`
+	if branch_name=$(git symbolic-ref -q HEAD)
 	then
 		head_name=$branch_name
-		branch_name=`expr "z$branch_name" : 'zrefs/heads/\(.*\)'`
+		branch_name=$(expr "z$branch_name" : 'zrefs/heads/\(.*\)')
 	else
 		head_name="detached HEAD"
 		branch_name=HEAD ;# detached

diff --git a/git-stash.sh b/git-stash.sh
index 4798bcf..af549c7 100755
--- a/git-stash.sh
+++ b/git-stash.sh
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ USAGE="list [<options>]
 
 SUBDIRECTORY_OK=Yes
 OPTIONS_SPEC=
-START_DIR=`pwd`
+START_DIR=$(pwd)
 . git-sh-setup
 . git-sh-i18n
 require_work_tree

diff --git a/git-web--browse.sh b/git-web--browse.sh
index ebdfba6..ae15253 100755
--- a/git-web--browse.sh
+++ b/git-web--browse.sh
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ do
 	-b|--browser*|-t|--tool*)
 		case "$#,$1" in
 		*,*=*)
-			browser=`expr "z$1" : 'z-[^=]*=\(.*\)'`
+			browser=$(expr "z$1" : 'z-[^=]*=\(.*\)')
 			;;
 		1,*)
 			usage ;;
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ do
 	-c|--config*)
 		case "$#,$1" in
 		*,*=*)
-			conf=`expr "z$1" : 'z-[^=]*=\(.*\)'`
+			conf=$(expr "z$1" : 'z-[^=]*=\(.*\)')
 			;;
 		1,*)
 			usage ;;
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ then
 	for opt in "$conf" "web.browser"
 	do
 		test -z "$opt" && continue
-		browser="`git config $opt`"
+		browser="$(git config $opt)"
 		test -z "$browser" || break
 	done
 	if test -n "$browser" && ! valid_tool "$browser"; then

diff --git a/unimplemented.sh b/unimplemented.sh
index 5252de4..fee21d2 100644
--- a/unimplemented.sh
+++ b/unimplemented.sh
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
-echo >&2 "fatal: git was built without support for `basename $0` (@@REASON@@)."
+echo >&2 "fatal: git was built without support for $(basename $0) (@@REASON@@)."
 exit 128

diff --git a/t/t0001-init.sh b/t/t0001-init.sh
index 9fb582b..32821fe 100755
--- a/t/t0001-init.sh
+++ b/t/t0001-init.sh
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ test_expect_success 'init --bare/--shared overrides system/global config' '
 	) &&
 	check_config init-bare-shared-override true unset &&
 	test x0666 = \
-	x`git config -f init-bare-shared-override/config core.sharedRepository`
+	x$(git config -f init-bare-shared-override/config core.sharedRepository)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'init honors global core.sharedRepository' '
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ test_expect_success 'init honors global core.sharedRepository' '
 		git init
 	) &&
 	test x0666 = \
-	x`git config -f shared-honor-global/.git/config core.sharedRepository`
+	x$(git config -f shared-honor-global/.git/config core.sharedRepository)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'init rejects insanely long --template' '
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ test_expect_success 'init prefers command line to GIT_DIR' '
 test_expect_success 'init with separate gitdir' '
 	rm -rf newdir &&
 	git init --separate-git-dir realgitdir newdir &&
-	echo "gitdir: `pwd`/realgitdir" >expected &&
+	echo "gitdir: $(pwd)/realgitdir" >expected &&
 	test_cmp expected newdir/.git &&
 	test -d realgitdir/refs
 '
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ test_expect_success 're-init to update git link' '
 	cd newdir &&
 	git init --separate-git-dir ../surrealgitdir
 	) &&
-	echo "gitdir: `pwd`/surrealgitdir" >expected &&
+	echo "gitdir: $(pwd)/surrealgitdir" >expected &&
 	test_cmp expected newdir/.git &&
 	test -d surrealgitdir/refs &&
 	! test -d realgitdir/refs
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ test_expect_success 're-init to move gitdir' '
 	cd newdir &&
 	git init --separate-git-dir ../realgitdir
 	) &&
-	echo "gitdir: `pwd`/realgitdir" >expected &&
+	echo "gitdir: $(pwd)/realgitdir" >expected &&
 	test_cmp expected newdir/.git &&
 	test -d realgitdir/refs
 '
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ test_expect_success SYMLINKS 're-init to move gitdir symlink' '
 	ln -s here .git &&
 	git init --separate-git-dir ../realgitdir
 	) &&
-	echo "gitdir: `pwd`/realgitdir" >expected &&
+	echo "gitdir: $(pwd)/realgitdir" >expected &&
 	test_cmp expected newdir/.git &&
 	test -d realgitdir/refs &&
 	! test -d newdir/here

diff --git a/t/t0010-racy-git.sh b/t/t0010-racy-git.sh
index e45a9e4..5657c5a 100755
--- a/t/t0010-racy-git.sh
+++ b/t/t0010-racy-git.sh
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ do
 	git update-index --add infocom
 	echo xyzzy >infocom
 
-	files=`git diff-files -p`
+	files=$(git diff-files -p)
 	test_expect_success \
 	"Racy GIT trial #$trial part A" \
 	'test "" != "$files"'
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ do
 	echo xyzzy >cornerstone
 	git update-index --add cornerstone
 
-	files=`git diff-files -p`
+	files=$(git diff-files -p)
 	test_expect_success \
 	"Racy GIT trial #$trial part B" \
 	'test "" != "$files"'

diff --git a/t/t0020-crlf.sh b/t/t0020-crlf.sh
index e526184..d2e51a8 100755
--- a/t/t0020-crlf.sh
+++ b/t/t0020-crlf.sh
@@ -20,14 +20,14 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 
 	git commit -m initial &&
 
-	one=`git rev-parse HEAD:one` &&
-	dir=`git rev-parse HEAD:dir` &&
-	two=`git rev-parse HEAD:dir/two` &&
-	three=`git rev-parse HEAD:three` &&
+	one=$(git rev-parse HEAD:one) &&
+	dir=$(git rev-parse HEAD:dir) &&
+	two=$(git rev-parse HEAD:dir/two) &&
+	three=$(git rev-parse HEAD:three) &&
 
 	for w in Some extra lines here; do echo $w; done >>one &&
 	git diff >patch.file &&
-	patched=`git hash-object --stdin <one` &&
+	patched=$(git hash-object --stdin <one) &&
 	git read-tree --reset -u HEAD &&
 
 	echo happy.
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ test_expect_success 'update with autocrlf=input' '
 		}
 	done &&
 
-	differs=`git diff-index --cached HEAD` &&
+	differs=$(git diff-index --cached HEAD) &&
 	test -z "$differs" || {
 		echo Oops "$differs"
 		false
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ test_expect_success 'update with autocrlf=true' '
 		}
 	done &&
 
-	differs=`git diff-index --cached HEAD` &&
+	differs=$(git diff-index --cached HEAD) &&
 	test -z "$differs" || {
 		echo Oops "$differs"
 		false
@@ -158,9 +158,9 @@ test_expect_success 'checkout with autocrlf=true' '
 			break
 		}
 	done &&
-	test "$one" = `git hash-object --stdin <one` &&
-	test "$two" = `git hash-object --stdin <dir/two` &&
-	differs=`git diff-index --cached HEAD` &&
+	test "$one" = $(git hash-object --stdin <one) &&
+	test "$two" = $(git hash-object --stdin <dir/two) &&
+	differs=$(git diff-index --cached HEAD) &&
 	test -z "$differs" || {
 		echo Oops "$differs"
 		false
@@ -184,9 +184,9 @@ test_expect_success 'checkout with autocrlf=input' '
 			git update-index -- $f
 		fi
 	done &&
-	test "$one" = `git hash-object --stdin <one` &&
-	test "$two" = `git hash-object --stdin <dir/two` &&
-	differs=`git diff-index --cached HEAD` &&
+	test "$one" = $(git hash-object --stdin <one) &&
+	test "$two" = $(git hash-object --stdin <dir/two) &&
+	differs=$(git diff-index --cached HEAD) &&
 	test -z "$differs" || {
 		echo Oops "$differs"
 		false
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ test_expect_success 'apply patch (autocrlf=input)' '
 	git read-tree --reset -u HEAD &&
 
 	git apply patch.file &&
-	test "$patched" = "`git hash-object --stdin <one`" || {
+	test "$patched" = "$(git hash-object --stdin <one)" || {
 		echo "Eh?  apply without index"
 		false
 	}
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ test_expect_success 'apply patch --cached (autocrlf=input)' '
 	git read-tree --reset -u HEAD &&
 
 	git apply --cached patch.file &&
-	test "$patched" = `git rev-parse :one` || {
+	test "$patched" = $(git rev-parse :one) || {
 		echo "Eh?  apply with --cached"
 		false
 	}
@@ -226,8 +226,8 @@ test_expect_success 'apply patch --index (autocrlf=input)' '
 	git read-tree --reset -u HEAD &&
 
 	git apply --index patch.file &&
-	test "$patched" = `git rev-parse :one` &&
-	test "$patched" = `git hash-object --stdin <one` || {
+	test "$patched" = $(git rev-parse :one) &&
+	test "$patched" = $(git hash-object --stdin <one) || {
 		echo "Eh?  apply with --index"
 		false
 	}
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ test_expect_success 'apply patch (autocrlf=true)' '
 	git read-tree --reset -u HEAD &&
 
 	git apply patch.file &&
-	test "$patched" = "`remove_cr <one | git hash-object --stdin`" || {
+	test "$patched" = "$(remove_cr <one | git hash-object --stdin)" || {
 		echo "Eh?  apply without index"
 		false
 	}
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ test_expect_success 'apply patch --cached (autocrlf=true)' '
 	git read-tree --reset -u HEAD &&
 
 	git apply --cached patch.file &&
-	test "$patched" = `git rev-parse :one` || {
+	test "$patched" = $(git rev-parse :one) || {
 		echo "Eh?  apply without index"
 		false
 	}
@@ -266,8 +266,8 @@ test_expect_success 'apply patch --index (autocrlf=true)' '
 	git read-tree --reset -u HEAD &&
 
 	git apply --index patch.file &&
-	test "$patched" = `git rev-parse :one` &&
-	test "$patched" = "`remove_cr <one | git hash-object --stdin`" || {
+	test "$patched" = $(git rev-parse :one) &&
+	test "$patched" = "$(remove_cr <one | git hash-object --stdin)" || {
 		echo "Eh?  apply with --index"
 		false
 	}

diff --git a/t/t0025-crlf-auto.sh b/t/t0025-crlf-auto.sh
index f5f67a6..b0e5694 100755
--- a/t/t0025-crlf-auto.sh
+++ b/t/t0025-crlf-auto.sh
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 
 	git commit -m initial &&
 
-	one=`git rev-parse HEAD:one` &&
-	two=`git rev-parse HEAD:two` &&
-	three=`git rev-parse HEAD:three` &&
+	one=$(git rev-parse HEAD:one) &&
+	two=$(git rev-parse HEAD:two) &&
+	three=$(git rev-parse HEAD:three) &&
 
 	echo happy.
 '
@@ -33,9 +33,9 @@ test_expect_success 'default settings cause no changes' '
 
 	! has_cr one &&
 	has_cr two &&
-	onediff=`git diff one` &&
-	twodiff=`git diff two` &&
-	threediff=`git diff three` &&
+	onediff=$(git diff one) &&
+	twodiff=$(git diff two) &&
+	threediff=$(git diff three) &&
 	test -z "$onediff" -a -z "$twodiff" -a -z "$threediff"
 '
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ test_expect_success 'crlf=true causes a CRLF file to be normalized' '
 
 	# Note, "normalized" means that git will normalize it if added
 	has_cr two &&
-	twodiff=`git diff two` &&
+	twodiff=$(git diff two) &&
 	test -n "$twodiff"
 '
 
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ test_expect_success 'text=true causes a CRLF file to be normalized' '
 
 	# Note, "normalized" means that git will normalize it if added
 	has_cr two &&
-	twodiff=`git diff two` &&
+	twodiff=$(git diff two) &&
 	test -n "$twodiff"
 '
 
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ test_expect_success 'eol=crlf gives a normalized file CRLFs with autocrlf=false'
 	git read-tree --reset -u HEAD &&
 
 	has_cr one &&
-	onediff=`git diff one` &&
+	onediff=$(git diff one) &&
 	test -z "$onediff"
 '
 
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ test_expect_success 'eol=crlf gives a normalized file CRLFs with autocrlf=input'
 	git read-tree --reset -u HEAD &&
 
 	has_cr one &&
-	onediff=`git diff one` &&
+	onediff=$(git diff one) &&
 	test -z "$onediff"
 '
 
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ test_expect_success 'eol=lf gives a normalized file LFs with autocrlf=true' '
 	git read-tree --reset -u HEAD &&
 
 	! has_cr one &&
-	onediff=`git diff one` &&
+	onediff=$(git diff one) &&
 	test -z "$onediff"
 '
 
@@ -108,9 +108,9 @@ test_expect_success 'autocrlf=true does not normalize CRLF files' '
 
 	has_cr one &&
 	has_cr two &&
-	onediff=`git diff one` &&
-	twodiff=`git diff two` &&
-	threediff=`git diff three` &&
+	onediff=$(git diff one) &&
+	twodiff=$(git diff two) &&
+	threediff=$(git diff three) &&
 	test -z "$onediff" -a -z "$twodiff" -a -z "$threediff"
 '
 
@@ -123,9 +123,9 @@ test_expect_success 'text=auto, autocrlf=true _does_ normalize CRLF files' '
 
 	has_cr one &&
 	has_cr two &&
-	onediff=`git diff one` &&
-	twodiff=`git diff two` &&
-	threediff=`git diff three` &&
+	onediff=$(git diff one) &&
+	twodiff=$(git diff two) &&
+	threediff=$(git diff three) &&
 	test -z "$onediff" -a -n "$twodiff" -a -z "$threediff"
 '
 
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ test_expect_success 'text=auto, autocrlf=true does not normalize binary files' '
 	git read-tree --reset -u HEAD &&
 
 	! has_cr three &&
-	threediff=`git diff three` &&
+	threediff=$(git diff three) &&
 	test -z "$threediff"
 '
 
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ test_expect_success 'eol=crlf _does_ normalize binary files' '
 	git read-tree --reset -u HEAD &&
 
 	has_cr three &&
-	threediff=`git diff three` &&
+	threediff=$(git diff three) &&
 	test -z "$threediff"
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t0026-eol-config.sh b/t/t0026-eol-config.sh
index fe0164b..e1126aa 100755
--- a/t/t0026-eol-config.sh
+++ b/t/t0026-eol-config.sh
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 
 	git commit -m initial &&
 
-	one=`git rev-parse HEAD:one` &&
-	two=`git rev-parse HEAD:two` &&
+	one=$(git rev-parse HEAD:one) &&
+	two=$(git rev-parse HEAD:two) &&
 
 	echo happy.
 '
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ test_expect_success 'eol=lf puts LFs in normalized file' '
 
 	! has_cr one &&
 	! has_cr two &&
-	onediff=`git diff one` &&
-	twodiff=`git diff two` &&
+	onediff=$(git diff one) &&
+	twodiff=$(git diff two) &&
 	test -z "$onediff" -a -z "$twodiff"
 '
 
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ test_expect_success 'eol=crlf puts CRLFs in normalized file' '
 
 	has_cr one &&
 	! has_cr two &&
-	onediff=`git diff one` &&
-	twodiff=`git diff two` &&
+	onediff=$(git diff one) &&
+	twodiff=$(git diff two) &&
 	test -z "$onediff" -a -z "$twodiff"
 '
 
@@ -61,8 +61,8 @@ test_expect_success 'autocrlf=true overrides eol=lf' '
 
 	has_cr one &&
 	has_cr two &&
-	onediff=`git diff one` &&
-	twodiff=`git diff two` &&
+	onediff=$(git diff one) &&
+	twodiff=$(git diff two) &&
 	test -z "$onediff" -a -z "$twodiff"
 '
 
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ test_expect_success 'autocrlf=true overrides unset eol' '
 
 	has_cr one &&
 	has_cr two &&
-	onediff=`git diff one` &&
-	twodiff=`git diff two` &&
+	onediff=$(git diff one) &&
+	twodiff=$(git diff two) &&
 	test -z "$onediff" -a -z "$twodiff"
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t0030-stripspace.sh b/t/t0030-stripspace.sh
index a8e84d8..0333dd9 100755
--- a/t/t0030-stripspace.sh
+++ b/t/t0030-stripspace.sh
@@ -225,22 +225,22 @@ test_expect_success \
 
 test_expect_success \
     'text without newline at end should end with newline' '
-    test `printf "$ttt" | git stripspace | wc -l` -gt 0 &&
-    test `printf "$ttt$ttt" | git stripspace | wc -l` -gt 0 &&
-    test `printf "$ttt$ttt$ttt" | git stripspace | wc -l` -gt 0 &&
-    test `printf "$ttt$ttt$ttt$ttt" | git stripspace | wc -l` -gt 0
+    test $(printf "$ttt" | git stripspace | wc -l) -gt 0 &&
+    test $(printf "$ttt$ttt" | git stripspace | wc -l) -gt 0 &&
+    test $(printf "$ttt$ttt$ttt" | git stripspace | wc -l) -gt 0 &&
+    test $(printf "$ttt$ttt$ttt$ttt" | git stripspace | wc -l) -gt 0
 '
 
 # text plus spaces at the end:
 
 test_expect_success \
     'text plus spaces without newline at end should end with newline' '
-    test `printf "$ttt$sss" | git stripspace | wc -l` -gt 0 &&
-    test `printf "$ttt$ttt$sss" | git stripspace | wc -l` -gt 0 &&
-    test `printf "$ttt$ttt$ttt$sss" | git stripspace | wc -l` -gt 0 &&
-    test `printf "$ttt$sss$sss" | git stripspace | wc -l` -gt 0 &&
-    test `printf "$ttt$ttt$sss$sss" | git stripspace | wc -l` -gt 0 &&
-    test `printf "$ttt$sss$sss$sss" | git stripspace | wc -l` -gt 0
+    test $(printf "$ttt$sss" | git stripspace | wc -l) -gt 0 &&
+    test $(printf "$ttt$ttt$sss" | git stripspace | wc -l) -gt 0 &&
+    test $(printf "$ttt$ttt$ttt$sss" | git stripspace | wc -l) -gt 0 &&
+    test $(printf "$ttt$sss$sss" | git stripspace | wc -l) -gt 0 &&
+    test $(printf "$ttt$ttt$sss$sss" | git stripspace | wc -l) -gt 0 &&
+    test $(printf "$ttt$sss$sss$sss" | git stripspace | wc -l) -gt 0
 '
 
 test_expect_success \

diff --git a/t/t0204-gettext-reencode-sanity.sh b/t/t0204-gettext-reencode-sanity.sh
index 8437e51..fc9f21e 100755
--- a/t/t0204-gettext-reencode-sanity.sh
+++ b/t/t0204-gettext-reencode-sanity.sh
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ test_expect_success GETTEXT_LOCALE 'gettext: Fetching a UTF-8 msgid -> UTF-8' '
 # How these quotes get transliterated depends on the gettext implementation:
 #
 #   Debian:  ,einfaldar' og ,,tvöfaldar" [GNU libintl]
-#   FreeBSD: `einfaldar` og "tvöfaldar"  [GNU libintl]
+#   FreeBSD: $(einfaldar) og "tvöfaldar"  [GNU libintl]
 #   Solaris: ?einfaldar? og ?tvöfaldar?  [Solaris libintl]
 #
 # Just make sure the contents are transliterated, and don't use grep -q

diff --git a/t/t0300-credentials.sh b/t/t0300-credentials.sh
index 538ea5f..57ea5a1 100755
--- a/t/t0300-credentials.sh
+++ b/t/t0300-credentials.sh
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ test_description='basic credential helper tests'
 
 test_expect_success 'setup helper scripts' '
 	cat >dump <<-\EOF &&
-	whoami=`echo $0 | sed s/.*git-credential-//`
+	whoami=$(echo $0 | sed s/.*git-credential-//)
 	echo >&2 "$whoami: $*"
 	OIFS=$IFS
 	IFS==

diff --git a/t/t1000-read-tree-m-3way.sh b/t/t1000-read-tree-m-3way.sh
index babcdd2..a0b79b4 100755
--- a/t/t1000-read-tree-m-3way.sh
+++ b/t/t1000-read-tree-m-3way.sh
@@ -519,10 +519,10 @@ test_expect_success \
     'rm -f .git/index F16 &&
     echo F16 >F16 &&
     git update-index --add F16 &&
-    tree0=`git write-tree` &&
+    tree0=$(git write-tree) &&
     echo E16 >F16 &&
     git update-index F16 &&
-    tree1=`git write-tree` &&
+    tree1=$(git write-tree) &&
     read_tree_must_succeed -m $tree0 $tree1 $tree1 $tree0 &&
     git ls-files --stage'
 

diff --git a/t/t1001-read-tree-m-2way.sh b/t/t1001-read-tree-m-2way.sh
index acaab07..f0d8eb9 100755
--- a/t/t1001-read-tree-m-2way.sh
+++ b/t/t1001-read-tree-m-2way.sh
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ compare_change () {
 }
 
 check_cache_at () {
-	clean_if_empty=`git diff-files -- "$1"`
+	clean_if_empty=$(git diff-files -- "$1")
 	case "$clean_if_empty" in
 	'')  echo "$1: clean" ;;
 	?*)  echo "$1: dirty" ;;
@@ -68,14 +68,14 @@ test_expect_success \
      echo rezrov >rezrov &&
      echo yomin >yomin &&
      git update-index --add nitfol bozbar rezrov &&
-     treeH=`git write-tree` &&
+     treeH=$(git write-tree) &&
      echo treeH $treeH &&
      git ls-tree $treeH &&
 
      cat bozbar-new >bozbar &&
      git update-index --add frotz bozbar --force-remove rezrov &&
      git ls-files --stage >M.out &&
-     treeM=`git write-tree` &&
+     treeM=$(git write-tree) &&
      echo treeM $treeM &&
      git ls-tree $treeM &&
      git diff-tree $treeH $treeM'
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ test_expect_success \
     'rm -f .git/index &&
      echo DF >DF &&
      git update-index --add DF &&
-     treeDF=`git write-tree` &&
+     treeDF=$(git write-tree) &&
      echo treeDF $treeDF &&
      git ls-tree $treeDF &&
 
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ test_expect_success \
      mkdir DF &&
      echo DF/DF >DF/DF &&
      git update-index --add --remove DF DF/DF &&
-     treeDFDF=`git write-tree` &&
+     treeDFDF=$(git write-tree) &&
      echo treeDFDF $treeDFDF &&
      git ls-tree $treeDFDF &&
      git ls-files --stage >DFDF.out'
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ test_expect_success \
     'rm -f .git/index &&
      : >a &&
      git update-index --add a &&
-     treeM=`git write-tree` &&
+     treeM=$(git write-tree) &&
      echo treeM $treeM &&
      git ls-tree $treeM &&
      git ls-files --stage >treeM.out &&
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ test_expect_success \
      git update-index --remove a &&
      mkdir a &&
      : >a/b &&
-     treeH=`git write-tree` &&
+     treeH=$(git write-tree) &&
      echo treeH $treeH &&
      git ls-tree $treeH'
 
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ test_expect_success \
      mkdir c &&
      : >c/d &&
      git update-index --add a c/d &&
-     treeM=`git write-tree` &&
+     treeM=$(git write-tree) &&
      echo treeM $treeM &&
      git ls-tree $treeM &&
      git ls-files --stage >treeM.out &&
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ test_expect_success \
      mkdir a &&
      : >a/b &&
      git update-index --add --remove a a/b &&
-     treeH=`git write-tree` &&
+     treeH=$(git write-tree) &&
      echo treeH $treeH &&
      git ls-tree $treeH'
 

diff --git a/t/t1002-read-tree-m-u-2way.sh b/t/t1002-read-tree-m-u-2way.sh
index a847709..fed877b 100755
--- a/t/t1002-read-tree-m-u-2way.sh
+++ b/t/t1002-read-tree-m-u-2way.sh
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ compare_change () {
 }
 
 check_cache_at () {
-	clean_if_empty=`git diff-files -- "$1"`
+	clean_if_empty=$(git diff-files -- "$1")
 	case "$clean_if_empty" in
 	'')  echo "$1: clean" ;;
 	?*)  echo "$1: dirty" ;;
@@ -41,14 +41,14 @@ test_expect_success \
      echo bozbar >bozbar &&
      echo rezrov >rezrov &&
      git update-index --add nitfol bozbar rezrov &&
-     treeH=`git write-tree` &&
+     treeH=$(git write-tree) &&
      echo treeH $treeH &&
      git ls-tree $treeH &&
 
      echo gnusto >bozbar &&
      git update-index --add frotz bozbar --force-remove rezrov &&
      git ls-files --stage >M.out &&
-     treeM=`git write-tree` &&
+     treeM=$(git write-tree) &&
      echo treeM $treeM &&
      git ls-tree $treeM &&
      sum bozbar frotz nitfol >M.sum &&
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ test_expect_success \
     'rm -f .git/index &&
      echo DF >DF &&
      git update-index --add DF &&
-     treeDF=`git write-tree` &&
+     treeDF=$(git write-tree) &&
      echo treeDF $treeDF &&
      git ls-tree $treeDF &&
 
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ test_expect_success \
      mkdir DF &&
      echo DF/DF >DF/DF &&
      git update-index --add --remove DF DF/DF &&
-     treeDFDF=`git write-tree` &&
+     treeDFDF=$(git write-tree) &&
      echo treeDFDF $treeDFDF &&
      git ls-tree $treeDFDF &&
      git ls-files --stage >DFDF.out'

diff --git a/t/t1003-read-tree-prefix.sh b/t/t1003-read-tree-prefix.sh
index 8c6d67e..b6111cd 100755
--- a/t/t1003-read-tree-prefix.sh
+++ b/t/t1003-read-tree-prefix.sh
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ test_description='git read-tree --prefix test.
 test_expect_success setup '
 	echo hello >one &&
 	git update-index --add one &&
-	tree=`git write-tree` &&
+	tree=$(git write-tree) &&
 	echo tree is $tree
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t1004-read-tree-m-u-wf.sh b/t/t1004-read-tree-m-u-wf.sh
index 3e72aff..c70cf42 100755
--- a/t/t1004-read-tree-m-u-wf.sh
+++ b/t/t1004-read-tree-m-u-wf.sh
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ test_expect_success 'two-way not clobbering' '
 
 	echo >file2 master creates untracked file2 &&
 	echo >subdir/file2 master creates untracked subdir/file2 &&
-	if err=`read_tree_u_must_succeed -m -u master side 2>&1`
+	if err=$(read_tree_u_must_succeed -m -u master side 2>&1)
 	then
 		echo should have complained
 		false
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ echo file2 >.gitignore
 
 test_expect_success 'two-way with incorrect --exclude-per-directory (1)' '
 
-	if err=`read_tree_u_must_succeed -m --exclude-per-directory=.gitignore master side 2>&1`
+	if err=$(read_tree_u_must_succeed -m --exclude-per-directory=.gitignore master side 2>&1)
 	then
 		echo should have complained
 		false
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ test_expect_success 'two-way with incorrect --exclude-per-directory (1)' '
 
 test_expect_success 'two-way with incorrect --exclude-per-directory (2)' '
 
-	if err=`read_tree_u_must_succeed -m -u --exclude-per-directory=foo --exclude-per-directory=.gitignore master side 2>&1`
+	if err=$(read_tree_u_must_succeed -m -u --exclude-per-directory=foo --exclude-per-directory=.gitignore master side 2>&1)
 	then
 		echo should have complained
 		false
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ test_expect_success 'three-way not clobbering a working tree file' '
 	git checkout master &&
 	echo >file3 file three created in master, untracked &&
 	echo >subdir/file3 file three created in master, untracked &&
-	if err=`read_tree_u_must_succeed -m -u branch-point master side 2>&1`
+	if err=$(read_tree_u_must_succeed -m -u branch-point master side 2>&1)
 	then
 		echo should have complained
 		false

diff --git a/t/t1020-subdirectory.sh b/t/t1020-subdirectory.sh
index 6902320..62c0d25 100755
--- a/t/t1020-subdirectory.sh
+++ b/t/t1020-subdirectory.sh
@@ -20,27 +20,27 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 
 test_expect_success 'update-index and ls-files' '
 	git update-index --add one &&
-	case "`git ls-files`" in
+	case "$(git ls-files)" in
 	one) echo pass one ;;
 	*) echo bad one; exit 1 ;;
 	esac &&
 	(
 		cd dir &&
 		git update-index --add two &&
-		case "`git ls-files`" in
+		case "$(git ls-files)" in
 		two) echo pass two ;;
 		*) echo bad two; exit 1 ;;
 		esac
 	) &&
-	case "`git ls-files`" in
+	case "$(git ls-files)" in
 	dir/two"$LF"one) echo pass both ;;
 	*) echo bad; exit 1 ;;
 	esac
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'cat-file' '
-	two=`git ls-files -s dir/two` &&
-	two=`expr "$two" : "[0-7]* \\([0-9a-f]*\\)"` &&
+	two=$(git ls-files -s dir/two) &&
+	two=$(expr "$two" : "[0-7]* \\([0-9a-f]*\\)") &&
 	echo "$two" &&
 	git cat-file -p "$two" >actual &&
 	cmp dir/two actual &&
@@ -55,18 +55,18 @@ rm -f actual dir/actual
 test_expect_success 'diff-files' '
 	echo a >>one &&
 	echo d >>dir/two &&
-	case "`git diff-files --name-only`" in
+	case "$(git diff-files --name-only)" in
 	dir/two"$LF"one) echo pass top ;;
 	*) echo bad top; exit 1 ;;
 	esac &&
 	# diff should not omit leading paths
 	(
 		cd dir &&
-		case "`git diff-files --name-only`" in
+		case "$(git diff-files --name-only)" in
 		dir/two"$LF"one) echo pass subdir ;;
 		*) echo bad subdir; exit 1 ;;
 		esac &&
-		case "`git diff-files --name-only .`" in
+		case "$(git diff-files --name-only .)" in
 		dir/two) echo pass subdir limited ;;
 		*) echo bad subdir limited; exit 1 ;;
 		esac
@@ -74,11 +74,11 @@ test_expect_success 'diff-files' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'write-tree' '
-	top=`git write-tree` &&
+	top=$(git write-tree) &&
 	echo $top &&
 	(
 		cd dir &&
-		sub=`git write-tree` &&
+		sub=$(git write-tree) &&
 		echo $sub &&
 		test "z$top" = "z$sub"
 	)
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ test_expect_success 'checkout-index' '
 
 test_expect_success 'read-tree' '
 	rm -f one dir/two &&
-	tree=`git write-tree` &&
+	tree=$(git write-tree) &&
 	read_tree_u_must_succeed --reset -u "$tree" &&
 	cmp one original.one &&
 	cmp dir/two original.two &&

diff --git a/t/t1050-large.sh b/t/t1050-large.sh
index fd10528..aea4936 100755
--- a/t/t1050-large.sh
+++ b/t/t1050-large.sh
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ test_expect_success 'git-show a large file' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'index-pack' '
-	git clone file://"`pwd`"/.git foo &&
+	git clone file://"$(pwd)"/.git foo &&
 	GIT_DIR=non-existent git index-pack --strict --verify foo/.git/objects/pack/*.pack
 '
 
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ test_expect_success 'repack' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'pack-objects with large loose object' '
-	SHA1=`git hash-object huge` &&
+	SHA1=$(git hash-object huge) &&
 	test_create_repo loose &&
 	echo $SHA1 | git pack-objects --stdout |
 		GIT_ALLOC_LIMIT=0 GIT_DIR=loose/.git git unpack-objects &&

diff --git a/t/t1100-commit-tree-options.sh b/t/t1100-commit-tree-options.sh
index f8457f9..b7e9b4fc 100755
--- a/t/t1100-commit-tree-options.sh
+++ b/t/t1100-commit-tree-options.sh
@@ -35,11 +35,11 @@ test_expect_success \
      GIT_COMMITTER_NAME="Committer Name" \
      GIT_COMMITTER_EMAIL="committer@email" \
      GIT_COMMITTER_DATE="2005-05-26 23:30" \
-     TZ=GMT git commit-tree `cat treeid` >commitid 2>/dev/null'
+     TZ=GMT git commit-tree $(cat treeid) >commitid 2>/dev/null'
 
 test_expect_success \
     'read commit' \
-    'git cat-file commit `cat commitid` >commit'
+    'git cat-file commit $(cat commitid) >commit'
 
 test_expect_success \
     'compare commit' \

diff --git a/t/t1401-symbolic-ref.sh b/t/t1401-symbolic-ref.sh
index 36378b0..6ea8985 100755
--- a/t/t1401-symbolic-ref.sh
+++ b/t/t1401-symbolic-ref.sh
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ reset_to_sane
 
 test_expect_success 'symbolic-ref refuses bare sha1' '
 	echo content >file && git add file && git commit -m one &&
-	test_must_fail git symbolic-ref HEAD `git rev-parse HEAD`
+	test_must_fail git symbolic-ref HEAD $(git rev-parse HEAD)
 '
 reset_to_sane
 

diff --git a/t/t1410-reflog.sh b/t/t1410-reflog.sh
index 236b13a..0a9502a 100755
--- a/t/t1410-reflog.sh
+++ b/t/t1410-reflog.sh
@@ -62,18 +62,18 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 	git add . &&
 
 	test_tick && git commit -m rabbit &&
-	H=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD` &&
-	A=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD:A` &&
-	B=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD:A/B` &&
-	C=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD:C` &&
-	D=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD:A/D` &&
-	E=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD:A/B/E` &&
+	H=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD) &&
+	A=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD:A) &&
+	B=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD:A/B) &&
+	C=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD:C) &&
+	D=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD:A/D) &&
+	E=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD:A/B/E) &&
 	check_fsck &&
 
 	test_chmod +x C &&
 	git add C &&
 	test_tick && git commit -m dragon &&
-	L=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD` &&
+	L=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD) &&
 	check_fsck &&
 
 	rm -f C A/B/E &&
@@ -81,15 +81,15 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 	echo horse >A/G &&
 	git add F A/G &&
 	test_tick && git commit -a -m sheep &&
-	F=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD:F` &&
-	G=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD:A/G` &&
-	I=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD:A` &&
-	J=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD` &&
+	F=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD:F) &&
+	G=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD:A/G) &&
+	I=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD:A) &&
+	J=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD) &&
 	check_fsck &&
 
 	rm -f A/G &&
 	test_tick && git commit -a -m monkey &&
-	K=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD` &&
+	K=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD) &&
 	check_fsck &&
 
 	check_have A B C D E F G H I J K L &&

diff --git a/t/t1511-rev-parse-caret.sh b/t/t1511-rev-parse-caret.sh
index 15973f2..7043ba7 100755
--- a/t/t1511-rev-parse-caret.sh
+++ b/t/t1511-rev-parse-caret.sh
@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@ test_description='tests for ref^{stuff}'
 
 test_expect_success 'setup' '
 	echo blob >a-blob &&
-	git tag -a -m blob blob-tag `git hash-object -w a-blob` &&
+	git tag -a -m blob blob-tag $(git hash-object -w a-blob) &&
 	mkdir a-tree &&
 	echo moreblobs >a-tree/another-blob &&
 	git add . &&
-	TREE_SHA1=`git write-tree` &&
+	TREE_SHA1=$(git write-tree) &&
 	git tag -a -m tree tree-tag "$TREE_SHA1" &&
 	git commit -m Initial &&
 	git tag -a -m commit commit-tag &&

diff --git a/t/t1512-rev-parse-disambiguation.sh b/t/t1512-rev-parse-disambiguation.sh
index 4a155c8..e221167 100755
--- a/t/t1512-rev-parse-disambiguation.sh
+++ b/t/t1512-rev-parse-disambiguation.sh
@@ -275,19 +275,19 @@ test_expect_success 'rev-parse --disambiguate' '
 
 test_expect_success 'ambiguous 40-hex ref' '
 	TREE=$(git mktree </dev/null) &&
-	REF=`git rev-parse HEAD` &&
+	REF=$(git rev-parse HEAD) &&
 	VAL=$(git commit-tree $TREE </dev/null) &&
 	git update-ref refs/heads/$REF $VAL &&
-	test `git rev-parse $REF 2>err` = $REF &&
+	test $(git rev-parse $REF 2>err) = $REF &&
 	grep "refname.*${REF}.*ambiguous" err
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'ambiguous short sha1 ref' '
 	TREE=$(git mktree </dev/null) &&
-	REF=`git rev-parse --short HEAD` &&
+	REF=$(git rev-parse --short HEAD) &&
 	VAL=$(git commit-tree $TREE </dev/null) &&
 	git update-ref refs/heads/$REF $VAL &&
-	test `git rev-parse $REF 2>err` = $VAL &&
+	test $(git rev-parse $REF 2>err) = $VAL &&
 	grep "refname.*${REF}.*ambiguous" err
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t2102-update-index-symlinks.sh b/t/t2102-update-index-symlinks.sh
index 4d0d0a3..22f2c73 100755
--- a/t/t2102-update-index-symlinks.sh
+++ b/t/t2102-update-index-symlinks.sh
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ git update-index symlink'
 
 test_expect_success \
 'the index entry must still be a symbolic link' '
-case "`git ls-files --stage --cached symlink`" in
+case "$(git ls-files --stage --cached symlink)" in
 120000" "*symlink) echo pass;;
 *) echo fail; git ls-files --stage --cached symlink; (exit 1);;
 esac'

diff --git a/t/t3030-merge-recursive.sh b/t/t3030-merge-recursive.sh
index 82e1854..e9757c4 100755
--- a/t/t3030-merge-recursive.sh
+++ b/t/t3030-merge-recursive.sh
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup 8' '
 	test_ln_s_add e a &&
 	test_tick &&
 	git commit -m "rename a->e, symlink a->e" &&
-	oln=`printf e | git hash-object --stdin`
+	oln=$(printf e | git hash-object --stdin)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'setup 9' '

diff --git a/t/t3100-ls-tree-restrict.sh b/t/t3100-ls-tree-restrict.sh
index eb73c06..325114f 100755
--- a/t/t3100-ls-tree-restrict.sh
+++ b/t/t3100-ls-tree-restrict.sh
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ test_expect_success \
      echo Mi >path2/baz/b &&
      find path? \( -type f -o -type l \) -print |
      xargs git update-index --add &&
-     tree=`git write-tree` &&
+     tree=$(git write-tree) &&
      echo $tree'
 
 test_output () {

diff --git a/t/t3101-ls-tree-dirname.sh b/t/t3101-ls-tree-dirname.sh
index 026f9f8..425d858 100755
--- a/t/t3101-ls-tree-dirname.sh
+++ b/t/t3101-ls-tree-dirname.sh
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup' '
 	echo 222 >path3/2.txt &&
 	find *.txt path* \( -type f -o -type l \) -print |
 	xargs git update-index --add &&
-	tree=`git write-tree` &&
+	tree=$(git write-tree) &&
 	echo $tree
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t3210-pack-refs.sh b/t/t3210-pack-refs.sh
index 1a2080e..b0eaf22 100755
--- a/t/t3210-pack-refs.sh
+++ b/t/t3210-pack-refs.sh
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ SHA1=
 test_expect_success \
     'see if git show-ref works as expected' \
     'git branch a &&
-     SHA1=`cat .git/refs/heads/a` &&
+     SHA1=$(cat .git/refs/heads/a) &&
      echo "$SHA1 refs/heads/a" >expect &&
      git show-ref a >result &&
      test_cmp expect result'

diff --git a/t/t3403-rebase-skip.sh b/t/t3403-rebase-skip.sh
index 3968020..1f5122b 100755
--- a/t/t3403-rebase-skip.sh
+++ b/t/t3403-rebase-skip.sh
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ test_expect_success 'rebase --skip with --merge' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'merge and reference trees equal' '
-	test -z "`git diff-tree skip-merge skip-reference`"
+	test -z "$(git diff-tree skip-merge skip-reference)"
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'moved back to branch correctly' '

diff --git a/t/t3511-cherry-pick-x.sh b/t/t3511-cherry-pick-x.sh
index f977279..f60a037 100755
--- a/t/t3511-cherry-pick-x.sh
+++ b/t/t3511-cherry-pick-x.sh
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 
 test_expect_success 'cherry-pick -x inserts blank line after one line subject' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	sha1=`git rev-parse mesg-one-line^0` &&
+	sha1=$(git rev-parse mesg-one-line^0) &&
 	git cherry-pick -x mesg-one-line &&
 	cat <<-EOF >expect &&
 		$mesg_one_line
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick -s inserts blank line after non-conforming foot
 
 test_expect_success 'cherry-pick -x inserts blank line when conforming footer not found' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	sha1=`git rev-parse mesg-no-footer^0` &&
+	sha1=$(git rev-parse mesg-no-footer^0) &&
 	git cherry-pick -x mesg-no-footer &&
 	cat <<-EOF >expect &&
 		$mesg_no_footer
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick -s inserts blank line when conforming footer no
 
 test_expect_success 'cherry-pick -x -s inserts blank line when conforming footer not found' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	sha1=`git rev-parse mesg-no-footer^0` &&
+	sha1=$(git rev-parse mesg-no-footer^0) &&
 	git cherry-pick -x -s mesg-no-footer &&
 	cat <<-EOF >expect &&
 		$mesg_no_footer
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick -s adds sob when last sob doesnt match committe
 
 test_expect_success 'cherry-pick -x -s adds sob when last sob doesnt match committer' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	sha1=`git rev-parse mesg-with-footer^0` &&
+	sha1=$(git rev-parse mesg-with-footer^0) &&
 	git cherry-pick -x -s mesg-with-footer &&
 	cat <<-EOF >expect &&
 		$mesg_with_footer
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick -s refrains from adding duplicate trailing sob'
 
 test_expect_success 'cherry-pick -x -s adds sob even when trailing sob exists for committer' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	sha1=`git rev-parse mesg-with-footer-sob^0` &&
+	sha1=$(git rev-parse mesg-with-footer-sob^0) &&
 	git cherry-pick -x -s mesg-with-footer-sob &&
 	cat <<-EOF >expect &&
 		$mesg_with_footer_sob
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick -x -s adds sob even when trailing sob exists fo
 
 test_expect_success 'cherry-pick -x treats "(cherry picked from..." line as part of footer' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	sha1=`git rev-parse mesg-with-cherry-footer^0` &&
+	sha1=$(git rev-parse mesg-with-cherry-footer^0) &&
 	git cherry-pick -x mesg-with-cherry-footer &&
 	cat <<-EOF >expect &&
 		$mesg_with_cherry_footer
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ test_expect_success 'cherry-pick -s treats "(cherry picked from..." line as part
 
 test_expect_success 'cherry-pick -x -s treats "(cherry picked from..." line as part of footer' '
 	pristine_detach initial &&
-	sha1=`git rev-parse mesg-with-cherry-footer^0` &&
+	sha1=$(git rev-parse mesg-with-cherry-footer^0) &&
 	git cherry-pick -x -s mesg-with-cherry-footer &&
 	cat <<-EOF >expect &&
 		$mesg_with_cherry_footer

diff --git a/t/t3600-rm.sh b/t/t3600-rm.sh
index 3d30581..96f7949 100755
--- a/t/t3600-rm.sh
+++ b/t/t3600-rm.sh
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ test_expect_success '"rm" command printed' '
 	git add test-file &&
 	git commit -m "add file for rm test" &&
 	git rm test-file > rm-output &&
-	test `grep "^rm " rm-output | wc -l` = 1 &&
+	test $(grep "^rm " rm-output | wc -l) = 1 &&
 	rm -f test-file rm-output &&
 	git commit -m "remove file from rm test"
 '
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ test_expect_success '"rm" command suppressed with --quiet' '
 	git add test-file &&
 	git commit -m "add file for rm --quiet test" &&
 	git rm --quiet test-file > rm-output &&
-	test `wc -l < rm-output` = 0 &&
+	test $(wc -l < rm-output) = 0 &&
 	rm -f test-file rm-output &&
 	git commit -m "remove file from rm --quiet test"
 '

diff --git a/t/t3700-add.sh b/t/t3700-add.sh
index fe274e2..95eb234 100755
--- a/t/t3700-add.sh
+++ b/t/t3700-add.sh
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ test_expect_success \
 	 echo foo >xfoo1 &&
 	 chmod 755 xfoo1 &&
 	 git add xfoo1 &&
-	 case "`git ls-files --stage xfoo1`" in
+	 case "$(git ls-files --stage xfoo1)" in
 	 100644" "*xfoo1) echo pass;;
 	 *) echo fail; git ls-files --stage xfoo1; (exit 1);;
 	 esac'
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ test_expect_success \
 test_expect_success 'git add: filemode=0 should not get confused by symlink' '
 	rm -f xfoo1 &&
 	test_ln_s_add foo xfoo1 &&
-	case "`git ls-files --stage xfoo1`" in
+	case "$(git ls-files --stage xfoo1)" in
 	120000" "*xfoo1) echo pass;;
 	*) echo fail; git ls-files --stage xfoo1; (exit 1);;
 	esac
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ test_expect_success \
 	 echo foo >xfoo2 &&
 	 chmod 755 xfoo2 &&
 	 git update-index --add xfoo2 &&
-	 case "`git ls-files --stage xfoo2`" in
+	 case "$(git ls-files --stage xfoo2)" in
 	 100644" "*xfoo2) echo pass;;
 	 *) echo fail; git ls-files --stage xfoo2; (exit 1);;
 	 esac'
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ test_expect_success \
 test_expect_success 'git add: filemode=0 should not get confused by symlink' '
 	rm -f xfoo2 &&
 	test_ln_s_add foo xfoo2 &&
-	case "`git ls-files --stage xfoo2`" in
+	case "$(git ls-files --stage xfoo2)" in
 	120000" "*xfoo2) echo pass;;
 	*) echo fail; git ls-files --stage xfoo2; (exit 1);;
 	esac
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ test_expect_success \
 	'git update-index --add: Test that executable bit is not used...' \
 	'git config core.filemode 0 &&
 	 test_ln_s_add xfoo2 xfoo3 &&	# runs git update-index --add
-	 case "`git ls-files --stage xfoo3`" in
+	 case "$(git ls-files --stage xfoo3)" in
 	 120000" "*xfoo3) echo pass;;
 	 *) echo fail; git ls-files --stage xfoo3; (exit 1);;
 	 esac'
@@ -166,14 +166,14 @@ test_expect_success 'git add with filemode=0, symlinks=0 prefers stage 2 over st
 
 test_expect_success 'git add --refresh' '
 	>foo && git add foo && git commit -a -m "commit all" &&
-	test -z "`git diff-index HEAD -- foo`" &&
+	test -z "$(git diff-index HEAD -- foo)" &&
 	git read-tree HEAD &&
-	case "`git diff-index HEAD -- foo`" in
+	case "$(git diff-index HEAD -- foo)" in
 	:100644" "*"M	foo") echo pass;;
 	*) echo fail; (exit 1);;
 	esac &&
 	git add --refresh -- foo &&
-	test -z "`git diff-index HEAD -- foo`"
+	test -z "$(git diff-index HEAD -- foo)"
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'git add --refresh with pathspec' '

diff --git a/t/t3905-stash-include-untracked.sh b/t/t3905-stash-include-untracked.sh
index a5e7e6b..f372fc8 100755
--- a/t/t3905-stash-include-untracked.sh
+++ b/t/t3905-stash-include-untracked.sh
@@ -96,8 +96,8 @@ test_expect_success 'stash pop after save --include-untracked leaves files untra
 	git stash pop &&
 	git status --porcelain >actual &&
 	test_cmp expect actual &&
-	test "1" = "`cat file2`" &&
-	test untracked = "`cat untracked/untracked`"
+	test "1" = "$(cat file2)" &&
+	test untracked = "$(cat untracked/untracked)"
 '
 
 git clean --force --quiet -d

diff --git a/t/t3910-mac-os-precompose.sh b/t/t3910-mac-os-precompose.sh
index e4ba601..96941e9 100755
--- a/t/t3910-mac-os-precompose.sh
+++ b/t/t3910-mac-os-precompose.sh
@@ -14,13 +14,13 @@ then
 fi
 
 # create utf-8 variables
-Adiarnfc=`printf '\303\204'`
-Adiarnfd=`printf 'A\314\210'`
+Adiarnfc=$(printf '\303\204')
+Adiarnfd=$(printf 'A\314\210')
 
-Odiarnfc=`printf '\303\226'`
-Odiarnfd=`printf 'O\314\210'`
-AEligatu=`printf '\303\206'`
-Invalidu=`printf '\303\377'`
+Odiarnfc=$(printf '\303\226')
+Odiarnfd=$(printf 'O\314\210')
+AEligatu=$(printf '\303\206')
+Invalidu=$(printf '\303\377')
 
 
 #Create a string with 255 bytes (decomposed)
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ Alongc=$Alongc$Alongc$Alongc$Alongc$Alongc           #250 Byte
 Alongc=$Alongc$AEligatu$AEligatu                     #254 Byte
 
 test_expect_success "detect if nfd needed" '
-	precomposeunicode=`git config core.precomposeunicode` &&
+	precomposeunicode=$(git config core.precomposeunicode) &&
 	test "$precomposeunicode" = true &&
 	git config core.precomposeunicode true
 '
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ test_expect_success "respect git config --global core.precomposeunicode" '
 	git config --global core.precomposeunicode true &&
 	rm -rf .git &&
 	git init &&
-	precomposeunicode=`git config core.precomposeunicode` &&
+	precomposeunicode=$(git config core.precomposeunicode) &&
 	test "$precomposeunicode" = "true"
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t4006-diff-mode.sh b/t/t4006-diff-mode.sh
index 0591149..76f643b 100755
--- a/t/t4006-diff-mode.sh
+++ b/t/t4006-diff-mode.sh
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ sed_script='s/\(:100644 100755\) \('"$_x40"'\) \2 /\1 X X /'
 test_expect_success 'setup' '
 	echo frotz >rezrov &&
 	git update-index --add rezrov &&
-	tree=`git write-tree` &&
+	tree=$(git write-tree) &&
 	echo $tree
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t4010-diff-pathspec.sh b/t/t4010-diff-pathspec.sh
index 2bb9736..bf07841 100755
--- a/t/t4010-diff-pathspec.sh
+++ b/t/t4010-diff-pathspec.sh
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ test_expect_success \
      mkdir path1 &&
      echo rezrov >path1/file1 &&
      git update-index --add file0 path1/file1 &&
-     tree=`git write-tree` &&
+     tree=$(git write-tree) &&
      echo "$tree" &&
      echo nitfol >file0 &&
      echo yomin >path1/file1 &&
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ test_expect_success 'diff multiple wildcard pathspecs' '
 	mkdir path2 &&
 	echo rezrov >path2/file1 &&
 	git update-index --add path2/file1 &&
-	tree3=`git write-tree` &&
+	tree3=$(git write-tree) &&
 	git diff --name-only $tree $tree3 -- "path2*1" "path1*1" >actual &&
 	cat <<-\EOF >expect &&
 	path1/file1

diff --git a/t/t4012-diff-binary.sh b/t/t4012-diff-binary.sh
index 1215ae5..643d729 100755
--- a/t/t4012-diff-binary.sh
+++ b/t/t4012-diff-binary.sh
@@ -67,18 +67,18 @@ test_expect_success C_LOCALE_OUTPUT 'apply detecting corrupt patch correctly' '
 	git diff >output &&
 	sed -e "s/-CIT/xCIT/" <output >broken &&
 	test_must_fail git apply --stat --summary broken 2>detected &&
-	detected=`cat detected` &&
-	detected=`expr "$detected" : "fatal.*at line \\([0-9]*\\)\$"` &&
-	detected=`sed -ne "${detected}p" broken` &&
+	detected=$(cat detected) &&
+	detected=$(expr "$detected" : "fatal.*at line \\([0-9]*\\)\$") &&
+	detected=$(sed -ne "${detected}p" broken) &&
 	test "$detected" = xCIT
 '
 
 test_expect_success C_LOCALE_OUTPUT 'apply detecting corrupt patch correctly' '
 	git diff --binary | sed -e "s/-CIT/xCIT/" >broken &&
 	test_must_fail git apply --stat --summary broken 2>detected &&
-	detected=`cat detected` &&
-	detected=`expr "$detected" : "fatal.*at line \\([0-9]*\\)\$"` &&
-	detected=`sed -ne "${detected}p" broken` &&
+	detected=$(cat detected) &&
+	detected=$(expr "$detected" : "fatal.*at line \\([0-9]*\\)\$") &&
+	detected=$(sed -ne "${detected}p" broken) &&
 	test "$detected" = xCIT
 '
 
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ test_expect_success 'initial commit' 'git commit -a -m initial'
 test_expect_success 'diff-index with --binary' '
 	echo AIT >a && mv b e && echo CIT >c && cat e >d &&
 	git update-index --add --remove a b c d e &&
-	tree0=`git write-tree` &&
+	tree0=$(git write-tree) &&
 	git diff --cached --binary >current &&
 	git apply --stat --summary current
 '
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ test_expect_success 'diff-index with --binary' '
 test_expect_success 'apply binary patch' '
 	git reset --hard &&
 	git apply --binary --index <current &&
-	tree1=`git write-tree` &&
+	tree1=$(git write-tree) &&
 	test "$tree1" = "$tree0"
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t4013-diff-various.sh b/t/t4013-diff-various.sh
index e77c09c..805b055 100755
--- a/t/t4013-diff-various.sh
+++ b/t/t4013-diff-various.sh
@@ -107,14 +107,14 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 +*++ [initial] Initial
 EOF
 
-V=`git version | sed -e 's/^git version //' -e 's/\./\\./g'`
+V=$(git version | sed -e 's/^git version //' -e 's/\./\\./g')
 while read cmd
 do
 	case "$cmd" in
 	'' | '#'*) continue ;;
 	esac
-	test=`echo "$cmd" | sed -e 's|[/ ][/ ]*|_|g'`
-	pfx=`printf "%04d" $test_count`
+	test=$(echo "$cmd" | sed -e 's|[/ ][/ ]*|_|g')
+	pfx=$(printf "%04d" $test_count)
 	expect="$TEST_DIRECTORY/t4013/diff.$test"
 	actual="$pfx-diff.$test"
 

diff --git a/t/t4014-format-patch.sh b/t/t4014-format-patch.sh
index 73194b2..f9ed598 100755
--- a/t/t4014-format-patch.sh
+++ b/t/t4014-format-patch.sh
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 test_expect_success "format-patch --ignore-if-in-upstream" '
 
 	git format-patch --stdout master..side >patch0 &&
-	cnt=`grep "^From " patch0 | wc -l` &&
+	cnt=$(grep "^From " patch0 | wc -l) &&
 	test $cnt = 3
 
 '
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ test_expect_success "format-patch --ignore-if-in-upstream" '
 
 	git format-patch --stdout \
 		--ignore-if-in-upstream master..side >patch1 &&
-	cnt=`grep "^From " patch1 | wc -l` &&
+	cnt=$(grep "^From " patch1 | wc -l) &&
 	test $cnt = 2
 
 '
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ test_expect_success "format-patch doesn't consider merge commits" '
 	git checkout -b merger master &&
 	test_tick &&
 	git merge --no-ff slave &&
-	cnt=`git format-patch -3 --stdout | grep "^From " | wc -l` &&
+	cnt=$(git format-patch -3 --stdout | grep "^From " | wc -l) &&
 	test $cnt = 3
 '
 
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ test_expect_success "format-patch result applies" '
 
 	git checkout -b rebuild-0 master &&
 	git am -3 patch0 &&
-	cnt=`git rev-list master.. | wc -l` &&
+	cnt=$(git rev-list master.. | wc -l) &&
 	test $cnt = 2
 '
 
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ test_expect_success "format-patch --ignore-if-in-upstream result applies" '
 
 	git checkout -b rebuild-1 master &&
 	git am -3 patch1 &&
-	cnt=`git rev-list master.. | wc -l` &&
+	cnt=$(git rev-list master.. | wc -l) &&
 	test $cnt = 2
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t4036-format-patch-signer-mime.sh b/t/t4036-format-patch-signer-mime.sh
index ba43f18..98d9713 100755
--- a/t/t4036-format-patch-signer-mime.sh
+++ b/t/t4036-format-patch-signer-mime.sh
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ test_expect_success 'attach and signoff do not duplicate mime headers' '
 
 	GIT_COMMITTER_NAME="はまの ふにおう" \
 	git format-patch -s --stdout -1 --attach >output &&
-	test `grep -ci ^MIME-Version: output` = 1
+	test $(grep -ci ^MIME-Version: output) = 1
 
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t4038-diff-combined.sh b/t/t4038-diff-combined.sh
index 1019d7b..41913c3 100755
--- a/t/t4038-diff-combined.sh
+++ b/t/t4038-diff-combined.sh
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup for --cc --raw' '
 	blob=$(echo file | git hash-object --stdin -w) &&
 	base_tree=$(echo "100644 blob $blob	file" | git mktree) &&
 	trees= &&
-	for i in `test_seq 1 40`
+	for i in $(test_seq 1 40)
 	do
 		blob=$(echo file$i | git hash-object --stdin -w) &&
 		trees="$trees$(echo "100644 blob $blob	file" | git mktree)$LF"

diff --git a/t/t4057-diff-combined-paths.sh b/t/t4057-diff-combined-paths.sh
index 097e632..dff36b7 100755
--- a/t/t4057-diff-combined-paths.sh
+++ b/t/t4057-diff-combined-paths.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ test_description='combined diff show only paths that are different to all parent
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
 # verify that diffc.expect matches output of
-# `git diff -c --name-only HEAD HEAD^ HEAD^2`
+# $(git diff -c --name-only HEAD HEAD^ HEAD^2)
 diffc_verify () {
 	git diff -c --name-only HEAD HEAD^ HEAD^2 >diffc.actual &&
 	test_cmp diffc.expect diffc.actual

diff --git a/t/t4116-apply-reverse.sh b/t/t4116-apply-reverse.sh
index 1e4d438..ce8567f 100755
--- a/t/t4116-apply-reverse.sh
+++ b/t/t4116-apply-reverse.sh
@@ -30,10 +30,10 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 
 test_expect_success 'apply in forward' '
 
-	T0=`git rev-parse "second^{tree}"` &&
+	T0=$(git rev-parse "second^{tree}") &&
 	git reset --hard initial &&
 	git apply --index --binary patch &&
-	T1=`git write-tree` &&
+	T1=$(git write-tree) &&
 	test "$T0" = "$T1"
 '
 
@@ -62,22 +62,22 @@ test_expect_success 'setup separate repository lacking postimage' '
 
 test_expect_success 'apply in forward without postimage' '
 
-	T0=`git rev-parse "second^{tree}"` &&
+	T0=$(git rev-parse "second^{tree}") &&
 	(
 		cd initial &&
 		git apply --index --binary ../patch &&
-		T1=`git write-tree` &&
+		T1=$(git write-tree) &&
 		test "$T0" = "$T1"
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'apply in reverse without postimage' '
 
-	T0=`git rev-parse "initial^{tree}"` &&
+	T0=$(git rev-parse "initial^{tree}") &&
 	(
 		cd second &&
 		git apply --index --binary --reverse ../patch &&
-		T1=`git write-tree` &&
+		T1=$(git write-tree) &&
 		test "$T0" = "$T1"
 	)
 '

diff --git a/t/t4119-apply-config.sh b/t/t4119-apply-config.sh
index 3d0384d..c393be6 100755
--- a/t/t4119-apply-config.sh
+++ b/t/t4119-apply-config.sh
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ test_expect_success 'apply --whitespace=strip from config' '
 	check_result sub/file1
 '
 
-D=`pwd`
+D=$(pwd)
 
 test_expect_success 'apply --whitespace=strip in subdir' '
 

diff --git a/t/t4204-patch-id.sh b/t/t4204-patch-id.sh
index d2c930d..7940f6f 100755
--- a/t/t4204-patch-id.sh
+++ b/t/t4204-patch-id.sh
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ test_expect_success 'patch-id supports git-format-patch output' '
 	git checkout same &&
 	git format-patch -1 --stdout | calc_patch_id same &&
 	test_cmp patch-id_master patch-id_same &&
-	set `git format-patch -1 --stdout | git patch-id` &&
-	test "$2" = `git rev-parse HEAD`
+	set $(git format-patch -1 --stdout | git patch-id) &&
+	test "$2" = $(git rev-parse HEAD)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'whitespace is irrelevant in footer' '

diff --git a/t/t5000-tar-tree.sh b/t/t5000-tar-tree.sh
index 1cf0a4e..74fc5a8 100755
--- a/t/t5000-tar-tree.sh
+++ b/t/t5000-tar-tree.sh
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ test_expect_success \
     'add files to repository' \
     'find a -type f | xargs git update-index --add &&
      find a -type l | xargs git update-index --add &&
-     treeid=`git write-tree` &&
+     treeid=$(git write-tree) &&
      echo $treeid >treeid &&
      git update-ref HEAD $(TZ=GMT GIT_COMMITTER_DATE="2005-05-27 22:00:00" \
      git commit-tree $treeid </dev/null)'
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ test_expect_success \
 
 test_expect_success 'clients cannot access unreachable commits' '
 	test_commit unreachable &&
-	sha1=`git rev-parse HEAD` &&
+	sha1=$(git rev-parse HEAD) &&
 	git reset --hard HEAD^ &&
 	git archive $sha1 >remote.tar &&
 	test_must_fail git archive --remote=. $sha1 >remote.tar
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ test_expect_success 'clients cannot access unreachable commits' '
 
 test_expect_success 'upload-archive can allow unreachable commits' '
 	test_commit unreachable1 &&
-	sha1=`git rev-parse HEAD` &&
+	sha1=$(git rev-parse HEAD) &&
 	git reset --hard HEAD^ &&
 	git archive $sha1 >remote.tar &&
 	test_config uploadarchive.allowUnreachable true &&

diff --git a/t/t5003-archive-zip.sh b/t/t5003-archive-zip.sh
index c72f71e..8f04a56 100755
--- a/t/t5003-archive-zip.sh
+++ b/t/t5003-archive-zip.sh
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ test_expect_success \
     'add files to repository' \
     'find a -type f | xargs git update-index --add &&
      find a -type l | xargs git update-index --add &&
-     treeid=`git write-tree` &&
+     treeid=$(git write-tree) &&
      echo $treeid >treeid &&
      git update-ref HEAD $(TZ=GMT GIT_COMMITTER_DATE="2005-05-27 22:00:00" \
      git commit-tree $treeid </dev/null)'

diff --git a/t/t5100-mailinfo.sh b/t/t5100-mailinfo.sh
index 3e64a7a..c279410 100755
--- a/t/t5100-mailinfo.sh
+++ b/t/t5100-mailinfo.sh
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ test_description='git mailinfo and git mailsplit test'
 
 test_expect_success 'split sample box' \
 	'git mailsplit -o. "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/t5100/sample.mbox >last &&
-	last=`cat last` &&
+	last=$(cat last) &&
 	echo total is $last &&
-	test `cat last` = 17'
+	test $(cat last) = 17'
 
 check_mailinfo () {
 	mail=$1 opt=$2
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ check_mailinfo () {
 }
 
 
-for mail in `echo 00*`
+for mail in $(echo 00*)
 do
 	test_expect_success "mailinfo $mail" '
 		check_mailinfo $mail "" &&
@@ -43,11 +43,11 @@ test_expect_success 'split box with rfc2047 samples' \
 	'mkdir rfc2047 &&
 	git mailsplit -orfc2047 "$TEST_DIRECTORY"/t5100/rfc2047-samples.mbox \
 	  >rfc2047/last &&
-	last=`cat rfc2047/last` &&
+	last=$(cat rfc2047/last) &&
 	echo total is $last &&
-	test `cat rfc2047/last` = 11'
+	test $(cat rfc2047/last) = 11'
 
-for mail in `echo rfc2047/00*`
+for mail in $(echo rfc2047/00*)
 do
 	test_expect_success "mailinfo $mail" '
 		git mailinfo -u $mail-msg $mail-patch <$mail >$mail-info &&

diff --git a/t/t5300-pack-object.sh b/t/t5300-pack-object.sh
index 20c1961..fc2be63 100755
--- a/t/t5300-pack-object.sh
+++ b/t/t5300-pack-object.sh
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ test_description='git pack-object
 '
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-TRASH=`pwd`
+TRASH=$(pwd)
 
 test_expect_success \
     'setup' \
@@ -20,8 +20,8 @@ test_expect_success \
      test-genrandom "seed b" 2097152 > b_big &&
      git update-index --add a a_big b b_big c &&
      cat c >d && echo foo >>d && git update-index --add d &&
-     tree=`git write-tree` &&
-     commit=`git commit-tree $tree </dev/null` && {
+     tree=$(git write-tree) &&
+     commit=$(git commit-tree $tree </dev/null) && {
 	 echo $tree &&
 	 echo $commit &&
 	 git ls-tree $tree | sed -e "s/.* \\([0-9a-f]*\\)	.*/\\1/"
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ test_expect_success \
 	 git diff-tree --root -p $commit &&
 	 while read object
 	 do
-	    t=`git cat-file -t $object` &&
+	    t=$(git cat-file -t $object) &&
 	    git cat-file $t $object || return 1
 	 done <obj-list
      } >expect'
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ test_expect_success \
 	 git diff-tree --root -p $commit &&
 	 while read object
 	 do
-	    t=`git cat-file -t $object` &&
+	    t=$(git cat-file -t $object) &&
 	    git cat-file $t $object || return 1
 	 done <obj-list
     } >current &&
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ test_expect_success \
 	 git diff-tree --root -p $commit &&
 	 while read object
 	 do
-	    t=`git cat-file -t $object` &&
+	    t=$(git cat-file -t $object) &&
 	    git cat-file $t $object || return 1
 	 done <obj-list
     } >current &&
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ test_expect_success \
 	 git diff-tree --root -p $commit &&
 	 while read object
 	 do
-	    t=`git cat-file -t $object` &&
+	    t=$(git cat-file -t $object) &&
 	    git cat-file $t $object || return 1
 	 done <obj-list
     } >current &&
@@ -252,8 +252,8 @@ test_expect_success \
 
 test_expect_success \
     'verify-pack catches a corrupted sum of the index file itself' \
-    'l=`wc -c <test-3.idx` &&
-     l=`expr $l - 20` &&
+    'l=$(wc -c <test-3.idx) &&
+     l=$(expr $l - 20) &&
      cat test-1-${packname_1}.pack >test-3.pack &&
      printf "%20s" "" | dd of=test-3.idx count=20 bs=1 conv=notrunc seek=$l &&
      if git verify-pack test-3.pack

diff --git a/t/t5301-sliding-window.sh b/t/t5301-sliding-window.sh
index 2fc5af6..cae8c2e 100755
--- a/t/t5301-sliding-window.sh
+++ b/t/t5301-sliding-window.sh
@@ -16,12 +16,12 @@ test_expect_success \
          git update-index --add $i || return 1
      done &&
      echo d >d && cat c >>d && git update-index --add d &&
-     tree=`git write-tree` &&
-     commit1=`git commit-tree $tree </dev/null` &&
+     tree=$(git write-tree) &&
+     commit1=$(git commit-tree $tree </dev/null) &&
      git update-ref HEAD $commit1 &&
      git repack -a -d &&
-     test "`git count-objects`" = "0 objects, 0 kilobytes" &&
-     pack1=`ls .git/objects/pack/*.pack` &&
+     test "$(git count-objects)" = "0 objects, 0 kilobytes" &&
+     pack1=$(ls .git/objects/pack/*.pack) &&
      test -f "$pack1"'
 
 test_expect_success \
@@ -43,11 +43,11 @@ test_expect_success \
     'repack -a -d, packedGit{WindowSize,Limit} == 1 page' \
     'git config core.packedGitWindowSize 512 &&
      git config core.packedGitLimit 512 &&
-     commit2=`git commit-tree $tree -p $commit1 </dev/null` &&
+     commit2=$(git commit-tree $tree -p $commit1 </dev/null) &&
      git update-ref HEAD $commit2 &&
      git repack -a -d &&
-     test "`git count-objects`" = "0 objects, 0 kilobytes" &&
-     pack2=`ls .git/objects/pack/*.pack` &&
+     test "$(git count-objects)" = "0 objects, 0 kilobytes" &&
+     pack2=$(ls .git/objects/pack/*.pack) &&
      test -f "$pack2" &&
      test "$pack1" \!= "$pack2"'
 

diff --git a/t/t5302-pack-index.sh b/t/t5302-pack-index.sh
index 4bbb718..442ee5c 100755
--- a/t/t5302-pack-index.sh
+++ b/t/t5302-pack-index.sh
@@ -14,21 +14,21 @@ test_expect_success \
      i=1 &&
      while test $i -le 100
      do
-         iii=`printf '%03i' $i`
+         iii=$(printf '%03i' $i)
          test-genrandom "bar" 200 > wide_delta_$iii &&
          test-genrandom "baz $iii" 50 >> wide_delta_$iii &&
          test-genrandom "foo"$i 100 > deep_delta_$iii &&
-         test-genrandom "foo"`expr $i + 1` 100 >> deep_delta_$iii &&
-         test-genrandom "foo"`expr $i + 2` 100 >> deep_delta_$iii &&
+         test-genrandom "foo"$(expr $i + 1) 100 >> deep_delta_$iii &&
+         test-genrandom "foo"$(expr $i + 2) 100 >> deep_delta_$iii &&
          echo $iii >file_$iii &&
          test-genrandom "$iii" 8192 >>file_$iii &&
          git update-index --add file_$iii deep_delta_$iii wide_delta_$iii &&
-         i=`expr $i + 1` || return 1
+         i=$(expr $i + 1) || return 1
      done &&
      { echo 101 && test-genrandom 100 8192; } >file_101 &&
      git update-index --add file_101 &&
-     tree=`git write-tree` &&
-     commit=`git commit-tree $tree </dev/null` && {
+     tree=$(git write-tree) &&
+     commit=$(git commit-tree $tree </dev/null) && {
 	 echo $tree &&
 	 git ls-tree $tree | sed -e "s/.* \\([0-9a-f]*\\)	.*/\\1/"
      } >obj-list &&
@@ -152,10 +152,10 @@ test_expect_success \
     '[index v1] 2) create a stealth corruption in a delta base reference' \
     '# This test assumes file_101 is a delta smaller than 16 bytes.
      # It should be against file_100 but we substitute its base for file_099
-     sha1_101=`git hash-object file_101` &&
-     sha1_099=`git hash-object file_099` &&
-     offs_101=`index_obj_offset 1.idx $sha1_101` &&
-     nr_099=`index_obj_nr 1.idx $sha1_099` &&
+     sha1_101=$(git hash-object file_101) &&
+     sha1_099=$(git hash-object file_099) &&
+     offs_101=$(index_obj_offset 1.idx $sha1_101) &&
+     nr_099=$(index_obj_nr 1.idx $sha1_099) &&
      chmod +w ".git/objects/pack/pack-${pack1}.pack" &&
      dd of=".git/objects/pack/pack-${pack1}.pack" seek=$(($offs_101 + 1)) \
         if=".git/objects/pack/pack-${pack1}.idx" \
@@ -193,10 +193,10 @@ test_expect_success \
     '[index v2] 2) create a stealth corruption in a delta base reference' \
     '# This test assumes file_101 is a delta smaller than 16 bytes.
      # It should be against file_100 but we substitute its base for file_099
-     sha1_101=`git hash-object file_101` &&
-     sha1_099=`git hash-object file_099` &&
-     offs_101=`index_obj_offset 1.idx $sha1_101` &&
-     nr_099=`index_obj_nr 1.idx $sha1_099` &&
+     sha1_101=$(git hash-object file_101) &&
+     sha1_099=$(git hash-object file_099) &&
+     offs_101=$(index_obj_offset 1.idx $sha1_101) &&
+     nr_099=$(index_obj_nr 1.idx $sha1_099) &&
      chmod +w ".git/objects/pack/pack-${pack1}.pack" &&
      dd of=".git/objects/pack/pack-${pack1}.pack" seek=$(($offs_101 + 1)) \
         if=".git/objects/pack/pack-${pack1}.idx" \
@@ -222,11 +222,11 @@ test_expect_success \
     'rm -f .git/objects/pack/* &&
      git index-pack --index-version=2 --stdin < "test-1-${pack1}.pack" &&
      git verify-pack ".git/objects/pack/pack-${pack1}.pack" &&
-     obj=`git hash-object file_001` &&
-     nr=`index_obj_nr ".git/objects/pack/pack-${pack1}.idx" $obj` &&
+     obj=$(git hash-object file_001) &&
+     nr=$(index_obj_nr ".git/objects/pack/pack-${pack1}.idx" $obj) &&
      chmod +w ".git/objects/pack/pack-${pack1}.idx" &&
      printf xxxx | dd of=".git/objects/pack/pack-${pack1}.idx" conv=notrunc \
-        bs=1 count=4 seek=$((8 + 256 * 4 + `wc -l <obj-list` * 20 + $nr * 4)) &&
+        bs=1 count=4 seek=$((8 + 256 * 4 + $(wc -l <obj-list) * 20 + $nr * 4)) &&
      ( while read obj
        do git cat-file -p $obj >/dev/null || exit 1
        done <obj-list ) &&

diff --git a/t/t5303-pack-corruption-resilience.sh b/t/t5303-pack-corruption-resilience.sh
index 663b02b..98bed18 100755
--- a/t/t5303-pack-corruption-resilience.sh
+++ b/t/t5303-pack-corruption-resilience.sh
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ create_test_files() {
 create_new_pack() {
     rm -rf .git &&
     git init &&
-    blob_1=`git hash-object -t blob -w file_1` &&
-    blob_2=`git hash-object -t blob -w file_2` &&
-    blob_3=`git hash-object -t blob -w file_3` &&
+    blob_1=$(git hash-object -t blob -w file_1) &&
+    blob_2=$(git hash-object -t blob -w file_2) &&
+    blob_3=$(git hash-object -t blob -w file_3) &&
     pack=`printf "$blob_1\n$blob_2\n$blob_3\n" |
           git pack-objects $@ .git/objects/pack/pack` &&
     pack=".git/objects/pack/pack-${pack}" &&
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ do_repack() {
 }
 
 do_corrupt_object() {
-    ofs=`git show-index < ${pack}.idx | grep $1 | cut -f1 -d" "` &&
+    ofs=$(git show-index < ${pack}.idx | grep $1 | cut -f1 -d" ") &&
     ofs=$(($ofs + $2)) &&
     chmod +w ${pack}.pack &&
     dd of=${pack}.pack bs=1 conv=notrunc seek=$ofs &&

diff --git a/t/t5304-prune.sh b/t/t5304-prune.sh
index 66c9a41..84501a5 100755
--- a/t/t5304-prune.sh
+++ b/t/t5304-prune.sh
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ EOF
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'prune .git/shallow' '
-	SHA1=`echo hi|git commit-tree HEAD^{tree}` &&
+	SHA1=$(echo hi|git commit-tree HEAD^{tree}) &&
 	echo $SHA1 >.git/shallow &&
 	git prune --dry-run >out &&
 	grep $SHA1 .git/shallow &&

diff --git a/t/t5305-include-tag.sh b/t/t5305-include-tag.sh
index b061864..74b4a03 100755
--- a/t/t5305-include-tag.sh
+++ b/t/t5305-include-tag.sh
@@ -3,20 +3,20 @@
 test_description='git pack-object --include-tag'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-TRASH=`pwd`
+TRASH=$(pwd)
 
 test_expect_success setup '
 	echo c >d &&
 	git update-index --add d &&
-	tree=`git write-tree` &&
-	commit=`git commit-tree $tree </dev/null` &&
+	tree=$(git write-tree) &&
+	commit=$(git commit-tree $tree </dev/null) &&
 	echo "object $commit" >sig &&
 	echo "type commit" >>sig &&
 	echo "tag mytag" >>sig &&
 	echo "tagger $(git var GIT_COMMITTER_IDENT)" >>sig &&
 	echo >>sig &&
 	echo "our test tag" >>sig &&
-	tag=`git mktag <sig` &&
+	tag=$(git mktag <sig) &&
 	rm d sig &&
 	git update-ref refs/tags/mytag $tag && {
 		echo $tree &&

diff --git a/t/t5500-fetch-pack.sh b/t/t5500-fetch-pack.sh
index 5b2b1c2..99b81e2 100755
--- a/t/t5500-fetch-pack.sh
+++ b/t/t5500-fetch-pack.sh
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ test_description='Testing multi_ack pack fetching'
 add () {
 	name=$1 &&
 	text="$@" &&
-	branch=`echo $name | sed -e 's/^\(.\).*$/\1/'` &&
+	branch=$(echo $name | sed -e 's/^\(.\).*$/\1/') &&
 	parents="" &&
 
 	shift &&
@@ -56,12 +56,12 @@ pull_to_client () {
 			git fsck --full &&
 
 			mv .git/objects/pack/pack-* . &&
-			p=`ls -1 pack-*.pack` &&
+			p=$(ls -1 pack-*.pack) &&
 			git unpack-objects <$p &&
 			git fsck --full &&
 
-			idx=`echo pack-*.idx` &&
-			pack_count=`git show-index <$idx | wc -l` &&
+			idx=$(echo pack-*.idx) &&
+			pack_count=$(git show-index <$idx | wc -l) &&
 			test $pack_count = $count &&
 			rm -f pack-*
 		)
@@ -132,13 +132,13 @@ test_expect_success 'single given branch clone' '
 
 test_expect_success 'clone shallow depth 1' '
 	git clone --no-single-branch --depth 1 "file://$(pwd)/." shallow0 &&
-	test "`git --git-dir=shallow0/.git rev-list --count HEAD`" = 1
+	test "$(git --git-dir=shallow0/.git rev-list --count HEAD)" = 1
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'clone shallow depth 1 with fsck' '
 	git config --global fetch.fsckobjects true &&
 	git clone --no-single-branch --depth 1 "file://$(pwd)/." shallow0fsck &&
-	test "`git --git-dir=shallow0fsck/.git rev-list --count HEAD`" = 1 &&
+	test "$(git --git-dir=shallow0fsck/.git rev-list --count HEAD)" = 1 &&
 	git config --global --unset fetch.fsckobjects
 '
 
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ test_expect_success 'clone shallow' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'clone shallow depth count' '
-	test "`git --git-dir=shallow/.git rev-list --count HEAD`" = 2
+	test "$(git --git-dir=shallow/.git rev-list --count HEAD)" = 2
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'clone shallow object count' '
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ test_expect_success 'additional simple shallow deepenings' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'clone shallow depth count' '
-	test "`git --git-dir=shallow/.git rev-list --count HEAD`" = 11
+	test "$(git --git-dir=shallow/.git rev-list --count HEAD)" = 11
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'clone shallow object count' '

diff --git a/t/t5505-remote.sh b/t/t5505-remote.sh
index ac79dd9..366a583 100755
--- a/t/t5505-remote.sh
+++ b/t/t5505-remote.sh
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ test_expect_success C_LOCALE_OUTPUT 'check remote-tracking' '
 test_expect_success 'remote forces tracking branches' '
 	(
 		cd test &&
-		case `git config remote.second.fetch` in
+		case $(git config remote.second.fetch) in
 		+*) true ;;
 		 *) false ;;
 		esac

diff --git a/t/t5506-remote-groups.sh b/t/t5506-remote-groups.sh
index 530b016..83d5558 100755
--- a/t/t5506-remote-groups.sh
+++ b/t/t5506-remote-groups.sh
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ update_repos() {
 }
 
 repo_fetched() {
-	if test "`git log -1 --pretty=format:%s $1 --`" = "`cat mark`"; then
+	if test "$(git log -1 --pretty=format:%s $1 --)" = "$(cat mark)"; then
 		echo >&2 "repo was fetched: $1"
 		return 0
 	fi

diff --git a/t/t5510-fetch.sh b/t/t5510-fetch.sh
index ab28594..31b185e 100755
--- a/t/t5510-fetch.sh
+++ b/t/t5510-fetch.sh
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ test_description='Per branch config variables affects "git fetch".
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-D=`pwd`
+D=$(pwd)
 
 test_bundle_object_count () {
 	git verify-pack -v "$1" >verify.out &&
@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ test_expect_success "fetch test" '
 	cd two &&
 	git fetch &&
 	test -f .git/refs/heads/one &&
-	mine=`git rev-parse refs/heads/one` &&
-	his=`cd ../one && git rev-parse refs/heads/master` &&
+	mine=$(git rev-parse refs/heads/one) &&
+	his=$(cd ../one && git rev-parse refs/heads/master) &&
 	test "z$mine" = "z$his"
 '
 
@@ -75,8 +75,8 @@ test_expect_success "fetch test for-merge" '
 	git fetch &&
 	test -f .git/refs/heads/two &&
 	test -f .git/refs/heads/one &&
-	master_in_two=`cd ../two && git rev-parse master` &&
-	one_in_two=`cd ../two && git rev-parse one` &&
+	master_in_two=$(cd ../two && git rev-parse master) &&
+	one_in_two=$(cd ../two && git rev-parse one) &&
 	{
 		echo "$one_in_two	"
 		echo "$master_in_two	not-for-merge"

diff --git a/t/t5515-fetch-merge-logic.sh b/t/t5515-fetch-merge-logic.sh
index dbb927d..36b0dbc 100755
--- a/t/t5515-fetch-merge-logic.sh
+++ b/t/t5515-fetch-merge-logic.sh
@@ -128,8 +128,8 @@ do
 	case "$cmd" in
 	'' | '#'*) continue ;;
 	esac
-	test=`echo "$cmd" | sed -e 's|[/ ][/ ]*|_|g'`
-	pfx=`printf "%04d" $test_count`
+	test=$(echo "$cmd" | sed -e 's|[/ ][/ ]*|_|g')
+	pfx=$(printf "%04d" $test_count)
 	expect_f="$TEST_DIRECTORY/t5515/fetch.$test"
 	actual_f="$pfx-fetch.$test"
 	expect_r="$TEST_DIRECTORY/t5515/refs.$test"

diff --git a/t/t5516-fetch-push.sh b/t/t5516-fetch-push.sh
index 67e0ab3..a9ed84e 100755
--- a/t/t5516-fetch-push.sh
+++ b/t/t5516-fetch-push.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ This test checks the following functionality:
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-D=`pwd`
+D=$(pwd)
 
 mk_empty () {
 	repo_name="$1"
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ test_expect_success 'push tag with non-existent, incomplete dest' '
 test_expect_success 'push sha1 with non-existent, incomplete dest' '
 
 	mk_test testrepo &&
-	test_must_fail git push testrepo `git rev-parse master`:foo
+	test_must_fail git push testrepo $(git rev-parse master):foo
 
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5517-push-mirror.sh b/t/t5517-push-mirror.sh
index 12a5dfb..02f160a 100755
--- a/t/t5517-push-mirror.sh
+++ b/t/t5517-push-mirror.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ test_description='pushing to a mirror repository'
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-D=`pwd`
+D=$(pwd)
 
 invert () {
 	if "$@"; then

diff --git a/t/t5520-pull.sh b/t/t5520-pull.sh
index 227d293..a68c099 100755
--- a/t/t5520-pull.sh
+++ b/t/t5520-pull.sh
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ modify () {
 	mv "$2.x" "$2"
 }
 
-D=`pwd`
+D=$(pwd)
 
 test_expect_success setup '
 
@@ -94,9 +94,9 @@ test_expect_success 'test . as a remote' '
 	echo updated >file &&
 	git commit -a -m updated &&
 	git checkout copy &&
-	test `cat file` = file &&
+	test $(cat file) = file &&
 	git pull &&
-	test `cat file` = updated
+	test $(cat file) = updated
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'the default remote . should not break explicit pull' '
@@ -105,9 +105,9 @@ test_expect_success 'the default remote . should not break explicit pull' '
 	git commit -a -m modified &&
 	git checkout copy &&
 	git reset --hard HEAD^ &&
-	test `cat file` = file &&
+	test $(cat file) = file &&
 	git pull . second &&
-	test `cat file` = modified
+	test $(cat file) = modified
 '
 
 test_expect_success '--rebase' '

diff --git a/t/t5522-pull-symlink.sh b/t/t5522-pull-symlink.sh
index 8e9b204..bcff460 100755
--- a/t/t5522-pull-symlink.sh
+++ b/t/t5522-pull-symlink.sh
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ test_expect_success SYMLINKS 'pulling from real subdir' '
 # git rev-parse --show-cdup printed a path relative to
 # clone-repo/subdir/, not subdir-link/.  Git rev-parse --show-cdup
 # used the correct .git, but when the git pull shell script did
-# "cd `git rev-parse --show-cdup`", it ended up in the wrong
+# "cd $(git rev-parse --show-cdup)", it ended up in the wrong
 # directory.  A POSIX shell's "cd" works a little differently
 # than chdir() in C; "cd -P" is much closer to chdir().
 #

diff --git a/t/t5530-upload-pack-error.sh b/t/t5530-upload-pack-error.sh
index 3932e79..4f6e32b 100755
--- a/t/t5530-upload-pack-error.sh
+++ b/t/t5530-upload-pack-error.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ test_description='errors in upload-pack'
 
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-D=`pwd`
+D=$(pwd)
 
 corrupt_repo () {
 	object_sha1=$(git rev-parse "$1") &&

diff --git a/t/t5537-fetch-shallow.sh b/t/t5537-fetch-shallow.sh
index be951a4..d9ea98a 100755
--- a/t/t5537-fetch-shallow.sh
+++ b/t/t5537-fetch-shallow.sh
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ EOF
 test_expect_success 'fetch something upstream has but hidden by clients shallow boundaries' '
 	# the blob "1" is available in .git but hidden by the
 	# shallow2/.git/shallow and it should be resent
-	! git --git-dir=shallow2/.git cat-file blob `echo 1|git hash-object --stdin` >/dev/null &&
+	! git --git-dir=shallow2/.git cat-file blob $(echo 1|git hash-object --stdin) >/dev/null &&
 	echo 1 >1.t &&
 	git add 1.t &&
 	git commit -m add-1-back &&
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ add-1-back
 EOF
 	test_cmp expect actual
 	) &&
-	git --git-dir=shallow2/.git cat-file blob `echo 1|git hash-object --stdin` >/dev/null
+	git --git-dir=shallow2/.git cat-file blob $(echo 1|git hash-object --stdin) >/dev/null
 
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5538-push-shallow.sh b/t/t5538-push-shallow.sh
index 8e54ac5..23a729a 100755
--- a/t/t5538-push-shallow.sh
+++ b/t/t5538-push-shallow.sh
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ EOF
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'push from full to shallow' '
-	! git --git-dir=shallow2/.git cat-file blob `echo 1|git hash-object --stdin` &&
+	! git --git-dir=shallow2/.git cat-file blob $(echo 1|git hash-object --stdin) &&
 	commit 1 &&
 	git push shallow2/.git +master:refs/remotes/top/master &&
 	(
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ test_expect_success 'push from full to shallow' '
 3
 EOF
 	test_cmp expect actual &&
-	git cat-file blob `echo 1|git hash-object --stdin` >/dev/null
+	git cat-file blob $(echo 1|git hash-object --stdin) >/dev/null
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5550-http-fetch-dumb.sh b/t/t5550-http-fetch-dumb.sh
index 1a3a2b6..5ccb271 100755
--- a/t/t5550-http-fetch-dumb.sh
+++ b/t/t5550-http-fetch-dumb.sh
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fetch packed objects' '
 test_expect_success 'fetch notices corrupt pack' '
 	cp -R "$HTTPD_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH"/repo_pack.git "$HTTPD_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH"/repo_bad1.git &&
 	(cd "$HTTPD_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH"/repo_bad1.git &&
-	 p=`ls objects/pack/pack-*.pack` &&
+	 p=$(ls objects/pack/pack-*.pack) &&
 	 chmod u+w $p &&
 	 printf %0256d 0 | dd of=$p bs=256 count=1 seek=1 conv=notrunc
 	) &&
@@ -146,14 +146,14 @@ test_expect_success 'fetch notices corrupt pack' '
 	(cd repo_bad1.git &&
 	 git --bare init &&
 	 test_must_fail git --bare fetch $HTTPD_URL/dumb/repo_bad1.git &&
-	 test 0 = `ls objects/pack/pack-*.pack | wc -l`
+	 test 0 = $(ls objects/pack/pack-*.pack | wc -l)
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fetch notices corrupt idx' '
 	cp -R "$HTTPD_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH"/repo_pack.git "$HTTPD_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH"/repo_bad2.git &&
 	(cd "$HTTPD_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH"/repo_bad2.git &&
-	 p=`ls objects/pack/pack-*.idx` &&
+	 p=$(ls objects/pack/pack-*.idx) &&
 	 chmod u+w $p &&
 	 printf %0256d 0 | dd of=$p bs=256 count=1 seek=1 conv=notrunc
 	) &&
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fetch notices corrupt idx' '
 	(cd repo_bad2.git &&
 	 git --bare init &&
 	 test_must_fail git --bare fetch $HTTPD_URL/dumb/repo_bad2.git &&
-	 test 0 = `ls objects/pack | wc -l`
+	 test 0 = $(ls objects/pack | wc -l)
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5551-http-fetch-smart.sh b/t/t5551-http-fetch-smart.sh
index e07eaf3..232c5ac 100755
--- a/t/t5551-http-fetch-smart.sh
+++ b/t/t5551-http-fetch-smart.sh
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ test -n "$GIT_TEST_LONG" && test_set_prereq EXPENSIVE
 test_expect_success EXPENSIVE 'create 50,000 tags in the repo' '
 	(
 	cd "$HTTPD_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH/repo.git" &&
-	for i in `test_seq 50000`
+	for i in $(test_seq 50000)
 	do
 		echo "commit refs/heads/too-many-refs"
 		echo "mark :$i"

diff --git a/t/t5570-git-daemon.sh b/t/t5570-git-daemon.sh
index 6b16379..eb07dbe 100755
--- a/t/t5570-git-daemon.sh
+++ b/t/t5570-git-daemon.sh
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ test_expect_success 'prepare pack objects' '
 test_expect_success 'fetch notices corrupt pack' '
 	cp -R "$GIT_DAEMON_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH"/repo_pack.git "$GIT_DAEMON_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH"/repo_bad1.git &&
 	(cd "$GIT_DAEMON_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH"/repo_bad1.git &&
-	 p=`ls objects/pack/pack-*.pack` &&
+	 p=$(ls objects/pack/pack-*.pack) &&
 	 chmod u+w $p &&
 	 printf %0256d 0 | dd of=$p bs=256 count=1 seek=1 conv=notrunc
 	) &&
@@ -65,14 +65,14 @@ test_expect_success 'fetch notices corrupt pack' '
 	(cd repo_bad1.git &&
 	 git --bare init &&
 	 test_must_fail git --bare fetch "$GIT_DAEMON_URL/repo_bad1.git" &&
-	 test 0 = `ls objects/pack/pack-*.pack | wc -l`
+	 test 0 = $(ls objects/pack/pack-*.pack | wc -l)
 	)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'fetch notices corrupt idx' '
 	cp -R "$GIT_DAEMON_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH"/repo_pack.git "$GIT_DAEMON_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH"/repo_bad2.git &&
 	(cd "$GIT_DAEMON_DOCUMENT_ROOT_PATH"/repo_bad2.git &&
-	 p=`ls objects/pack/pack-*.idx` &&
+	 p=$(ls objects/pack/pack-*.idx) &&
 	 chmod u+w $p &&
 	 printf %0256d 0 | dd of=$p bs=256 count=1 seek=1 conv=notrunc
 	) &&
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ test_expect_success 'fetch notices corrupt idx' '
 	(cd repo_bad2.git &&
 	 git --bare init &&
 	 test_must_fail git --bare fetch "$GIT_DAEMON_URL/repo_bad2.git" &&
-	 test 0 = `ls objects/pack | wc -l`
+	 test 0 = $(ls objects/pack | wc -l)
 	)
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5601-clone.sh b/t/t5601-clone.sh
index 5e67035..fbe83a1 100755
--- a/t/t5601-clone.sh
+++ b/t/t5601-clone.sh
@@ -221,7 +221,7 @@ test_expect_success 'clone separate gitdir' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'clone separate gitdir: output' '
-	echo "gitdir: `pwd`/realgitdir" >expected &&
+	echo "gitdir: $(pwd)/realgitdir" >expected &&
 	test_cmp expected dst/.git
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t5700-clone-reference.sh b/t/t5700-clone-reference.sh
index 6537911..571aee4 100755
--- a/t/t5700-clone-reference.sh
+++ b/t/t5700-clone-reference.sh
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 test_description='test clone --reference'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-base_dir=`pwd`
+base_dir=$(pwd)
 
 U=$base_dir/UPLOAD_LOG
 

diff --git a/t/t5710-info-alternate.sh b/t/t5710-info-alternate.sh
index 5a6e49d..9cd2626 100755
--- a/t/t5710-info-alternate.sh
+++ b/t/t5710-info-alternate.sh
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ test_valid_repo() {
 	test_line_count = 0 fsck.log
 }
 
-base_dir=`pwd`
+base_dir=$(pwd)
 
 test_expect_success 'preparing first repository' \
 'test_create_repo A && cd A &&

diff --git a/t/t5900-repo-selection.sh b/t/t5900-repo-selection.sh
index 3d5b418..14e59c5 100755
--- a/t/t5900-repo-selection.sh
+++ b/t/t5900-repo-selection.sh
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ make_tree() {
 make_bare() {
 	git init --bare "$1" &&
 	(cd "$1" &&
-	 tree=`git hash-object -w -t tree /dev/null` &&
+	 tree=$(git hash-object -w -t tree /dev/null) &&
 	 commit=$(echo "$1" | git commit-tree $tree) &&
 	 git update-ref HEAD $commit
 	)

diff --git a/t/t6001-rev-list-graft.sh b/t/t6001-rev-list-graft.sh
index 8efcd13..05ddc69 100755
--- a/t/t6001-rev-list-graft.sh
+++ b/t/t6001-rev-list-graft.sh
@@ -10,15 +10,15 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 	echo >subdir/fileB fileB &&
 	git add fileA subdir/fileB &&
 	git commit -a -m "Initial in one history." &&
-	A0=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD` &&
+	A0=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD) &&
 
 	echo >fileA fileA modified &&
 	git commit -a -m "Second in one history." &&
-	A1=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD` &&
+	A1=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD) &&
 
 	echo >subdir/fileB fileB modified &&
 	git commit -a -m "Third in one history." &&
-	A2=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD` &&
+	A2=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD) &&
 
 	rm -f .git/refs/heads/master .git/index &&
 
@@ -26,15 +26,15 @@ test_expect_success setup '
 	echo >subdir/fileB fileB again &&
 	git add fileA subdir/fileB &&
 	git commit -a -m "Initial in alternate history." &&
-	B0=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD` &&
+	B0=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD) &&
 
 	echo >fileA fileA modified in alternate history &&
 	git commit -a -m "Second in alternate history." &&
-	B1=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD` &&
+	B1=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD) &&
 
 	echo >subdir/fileB fileB modified in alternate history &&
 	git commit -a -m "Third in alternate history." &&
-	B2=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD` &&
+	B2=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD) &&
 	: done
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t6002-rev-list-bisect.sh b/t/t6002-rev-list-bisect.sh
index 43ad772..3bf2759 100755
--- a/t/t6002-rev-list-bisect.sh
+++ b/t/t6002-rev-list-bisect.sh
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ test_bisection_diff()
 	# Test if bisection size is close to half of list size within
 	# tolerance.
 	#
-	_bisect_err=`expr $_list_size - $_bisection_size \* 2`
-	test "$_bisect_err" -lt 0 && _bisect_err=`expr 0 - $_bisect_err`
-	_bisect_err=`expr $_bisect_err / 2` ; # floor
+	_bisect_err=$(expr $_list_size - $_bisection_size \* 2)
+	test "$_bisect_err" -lt 0 && _bisect_err=$(expr 0 - $_bisect_err)
+	_bisect_err=$(expr $_bisect_err / 2) ; # floor
 
 	test_expect_success \
 	"bisection diff $_bisect_option $_head $* <= $_max_diff" \

diff --git a/t/t6015-rev-list-show-all-parents.sh b/t/t6015-rev-list-show-all-parents.sh
index 8b146fb..3c73c93 100755
--- a/t/t6015-rev-list-show-all-parents.sh
+++ b/t/t6015-rev-list-show-all-parents.sh
@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@ test_description='--show-all --parents does not rewrite TREESAME commits'
 
 test_expect_success 'set up --show-all --parents test' '
 	test_commit one foo.txt &&
-	commit1=`git rev-list -1 HEAD` &&
+	commit1=$(git rev-list -1 HEAD) &&
 	test_commit two bar.txt &&
-	commit2=`git rev-list -1 HEAD` &&
+	commit2=$(git rev-list -1 HEAD) &&
 	test_commit three foo.txt &&
-	commit3=`git rev-list -1 HEAD`
+	commit3=$(git rev-list -1 HEAD)
 	'
 
 test_expect_success '--parents rewrites TREESAME parents correctly' '

diff --git a/t/t6032-merge-large-rename.sh b/t/t6032-merge-large-rename.sh
index 15beecc..36019df 100755
--- a/t/t6032-merge-large-rename.sh
+++ b/t/t6032-merge-large-rename.sh
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup (initial)' '
 
 make_text() {
 	echo $1: $2
-	for i in `count 20`; do
+	for i in $(count 20); do
 		echo $1: $i
 	done
 	echo $1: $3

diff --git a/t/t6034-merge-rename-nocruft.sh b/t/t6034-merge-rename-nocruft.sh
index 65be95f..34f17be 100755
--- a/t/t6034-merge-rename-nocruft.sh
+++ b/t/t6034-merge-rename-nocruft.sh
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ test_expect_success 'merge blue into white (A->B, mod A, A untracked)' \
 		echo "BAD: A does not exist in working directory"
 		return 1
 	}
-	test `cat A` = dirty || {
+	test $(cat A) = dirty || {
 		echo "BAD: A content is wrong"
 		return 1
 	}

diff --git a/t/t6111-rev-list-treesame.sh b/t/t6111-rev-list-treesame.sh
index 88b84df..3971c31 100755
--- a/t/t6111-rev-list-treesame.sh
+++ b/t/t6111-rev-list-treesame.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 #       /        \ /             \*
 # *A--*B---D--*F-*G---------K-*L-*M
 #   \     /*       \       /
-#    `-C-'          `-*I-*J
+#    $(-C-'          )-*I-*J
 #
 # A creates "file", B and F change it.
 # Odd merge G takes the old version from B.

diff --git a/t/t6132-pathspec-exclude.sh b/t/t6132-pathspec-exclude.sh
index 62049be..801afae 100755
--- a/t/t6132-pathspec-exclude.sh
+++ b/t/t6132-pathspec-exclude.sh
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ test_description='test case exclude pathspec'
 test_expect_success 'setup' '
 	for p in file sub/file sub/sub/file sub/file2 sub/sub/sub/file sub2/file; do
 		if echo $p | grep /; then
-			mkdir -p `dirname $p`
+			mkdir -p $(dirname $p)
 		fi &&
 		: >$p &&
 		git add $p &&

diff --git a/t/t7001-mv.sh b/t/t7001-mv.sh
index e3c8c2c..23564bf 100755
--- a/t/t7001-mv.sh
+++ b/t/t7001-mv.sh
@@ -156,11 +156,11 @@ test_expect_success "Michael Cassar's test case" '
 	echo b > partA/outline.txt &&
 	echo c > papers/unsorted/_another &&
 	git add papers partA &&
-	T1=`git write-tree` &&
+	T1=$(git write-tree) &&
 
 	git mv papers/unsorted/Thesis.pdf papers/all-papers/moo-blah.pdf &&
 
-	T=`git write-tree` &&
+	T=$(git write-tree) &&
 	git ls-tree -r $T | grep partA/outline.txt || {
 		git ls-tree -r $T
 		(exit 1)

diff --git a/t/t7003-filter-branch.sh b/t/t7003-filter-branch.sh
index 9496736..87459a5 100755
--- a/t/t7003-filter-branch.sh
+++ b/t/t7003-filter-branch.sh
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup submodule' '
 	git branch original HEAD
 '
 
-orig_head=`git show-ref --hash --head HEAD`
+orig_head=$(git show-ref --hash --head HEAD)
 
 test_expect_success 'rewrite submodule with another content' '
 	git filter-branch --tree-filter "test -d submod && {
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ test_expect_success 'rewrite submodule with another content' '
 					 mkdir submod &&
 					 : > submod/file
 					 } || :" HEAD &&
-	test $orig_head != `git show-ref --hash --head HEAD`
+	test $orig_head != $(git show-ref --hash --head HEAD)
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'replace submodule revision' '
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ test_expect_success 'replace submodule revision' '
 	    "if git ls-files --error-unmatch -- submod > /dev/null 2>&1
 	     then git update-index --cacheinfo 160000 0123456789012345678901234567890123456789 submod
 	     fi" HEAD &&
-	test $orig_head != `git show-ref --hash --head HEAD`
+	test $orig_head != $(git show-ref --hash --head HEAD)
 '
 
 test_done

diff --git a/t/t7004-tag.sh b/t/t7004-tag.sh
index 143a8ea..2ed8fc0 100755
--- a/t/t7004-tag.sh
+++ b/t/t7004-tag.sh
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ test_expect_success 'listing all tags in an empty tree should succeed' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'listing all tags in an empty tree should output nothing' '
-	test `git tag -l | wc -l` -eq 0 &&
-	test `git tag | wc -l` -eq 0
+	test $(git tag -l | wc -l) -eq 0 &&
+	test $(git tag | wc -l) -eq 0
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'looking for a tag in an empty tree should fail' \
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ test_expect_success 'listing all tags if one exists should succeed' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'listing all tags if one exists should output that tag' '
-	test `git tag -l` = mytag &&
-	test `git tag` = mytag
+	test $(git tag -l) = mytag &&
+	test $(git tag) = mytag
 '
 
 # pattern matching:
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ test_expect_success 'listing a tag using a matching pattern should succeed' \
 
 test_expect_success \
 	'listing a tag using a matching pattern should output that tag' \
-	'test `git tag -l mytag` = mytag'
+	'test $(git tag -l mytag) = mytag'
 
 # todo: git tag -l now returns always zero, when fixed, change this test
 test_expect_success \
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ test_expect_success \
 
 test_expect_success \
 	'listing tags using a non-matching pattern should output nothing' \
-	'test `git tag -l xxx | wc -l` -eq 0'
+	'test $(git tag -l xxx | wc -l) -eq 0'
 
 # special cases for creating tags:
 
@@ -90,13 +90,13 @@ test_expect_success \
 
 test_expect_success \
 	'trying to create a tag with a non-valid name should fail' '
-	test `git tag -l | wc -l` -eq 1 &&
+	test $(git tag -l | wc -l) -eq 1 &&
 	test_must_fail git tag "" &&
 	test_must_fail git tag .othertag &&
 	test_must_fail git tag "other tag" &&
 	test_must_fail git tag "othertag^" &&
 	test_must_fail git tag "other~tag" &&
-	test `git tag -l | wc -l` -eq 1
+	test $(git tag -l | wc -l) -eq 1
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'creating a tag using HEAD directly should succeed' '

diff --git a/t/t7006-pager.sh b/t/t7006-pager.sh
index b9365b4..7576fa9 100755
--- a/t/t7006-pager.sh
+++ b/t/t7006-pager.sh
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ test_expect_success TTY 'command-specific pager works for external commands' '
 	echo "foo:initial" >expect &&
 	>actual &&
 	test_config pager.external "sed s/^/foo:/ >actual" &&
-	test_terminal git --exec-path="`pwd`" external log --format=%s -1 &&
+	test_terminal git --exec-path="$(pwd)" external log --format=%s -1 &&
 	test_cmp expect actual
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t7103-reset-bare.sh b/t/t7103-reset-bare.sh
index 1eef93c..afe36a5 100755
--- a/t/t7103-reset-bare.sh
+++ b/t/t7103-reset-bare.sh
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ test_expect_success '"mixed" reset is not allowed in bare' '
 
 test_expect_success '"soft" reset is allowed in bare' '
 	git reset --soft HEAD^ &&
-	test "`git show --pretty=format:%s | head -n 1`" = "one"
+	test "$(git show --pretty=format:%s | head -n 1)" = "one"
 '
 
 test_done

diff --git a/t/t7406-submodule-update.sh b/t/t7406-submodule-update.sh
index 28ca763..294a4a6 100755
--- a/t/t7406-submodule-update.sh
+++ b/t/t7406-submodule-update.sh
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ submodule and "git submodule update --rebase/--merge" does not detach the HEAD.
 
 compare_head()
 {
-    sha_master=`git rev-list --max-count=1 master`
-    sha_head=`git rev-list --max-count=1 HEAD`
+    sha_master=$(git rev-list --max-count=1 master)
+    sha_head=$(git rev-list --max-count=1 HEAD)
 
     test "$sha_master" = "$sha_head"
 }

diff --git a/t/t7408-submodule-reference.sh b/t/t7408-submodule-reference.sh
index b770b2f..eaea19b 100755
--- a/t/t7408-submodule-reference.sh
+++ b/t/t7408-submodule-reference.sh
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 test_description='test clone --reference'
 . ./test-lib.sh
 
-base_dir=`pwd`
+base_dir=$(pwd)
 
 U=$base_dir/UPLOAD_LOG
 

diff --git a/t/t7504-commit-msg-hook.sh b/t/t7504-commit-msg-hook.sh
index 1f53ea8..8728db6 100755
--- a/t/t7504-commit-msg-hook.sh
+++ b/t/t7504-commit-msg-hook.sh
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ EOF
 chmod +x "$HOOK"
 
 commit_msg_is () {
-	test "`git log --pretty=format:%s%b -1`" = "$1"
+	test "$(git log --pretty=format:%s%b -1)" = "$1"
 }
 
 test_expect_success 'hook edits commit message' '

diff --git a/t/t7505-prepare-commit-msg-hook.sh b/t/t7505-prepare-commit-msg-hook.sh
index 3573751..e3baf16 100755
--- a/t/t7505-prepare-commit-msg-hook.sh
+++ b/t/t7505-prepare-commit-msg-hook.sh
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ test_expect_success 'with hook (-m)' '
 	echo "more" >> file &&
 	git add file &&
 	git commit -m "more" &&
-	test "`git log -1 --pretty=format:%s`" = "message (no editor)"
+	test "$(git log -1 --pretty=format:%s)" = "message (no editor)"
 
 '
 
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ test_expect_success 'with hook (-m editor)' '
 	echo "more" >> file &&
 	git add file &&
 	GIT_EDITOR="\"\$FAKE_EDITOR\"" git commit -e -m "more more" &&
-	test "`git log -1 --pretty=format:%s`" = message
+	test "$(git log -1 --pretty=format:%s)" = message
 
 '
 
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ test_expect_success 'with hook (-t)' '
 	echo "more" >> file &&
 	git add file &&
 	git commit -t "$(git rev-parse --git-dir)/template" &&
-	test "`git log -1 --pretty=format:%s`" = template
+	test "$(git log -1 --pretty=format:%s)" = template
 
 '
 
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ test_expect_success 'with hook (-F)' '
 	echo "more" >> file &&
 	git add file &&
 	(echo more | git commit -F -) &&
-	test "`git log -1 --pretty=format:%s`" = "message (no editor)"
+	test "$(git log -1 --pretty=format:%s)" = "message (no editor)"
 
 '
 
@@ -89,17 +89,17 @@ test_expect_success 'with hook (-F editor)' '
 	echo "more" >> file &&
 	git add file &&
 	(echo more more | GIT_EDITOR="\"\$FAKE_EDITOR\"" git commit -e -F -) &&
-	test "`git log -1 --pretty=format:%s`" = message
+	test "$(git log -1 --pretty=format:%s)" = message
 
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'with hook (-C)' '
 
-	head=`git rev-parse HEAD` &&
+	head=$(git rev-parse HEAD) &&
 	echo "more" >> file &&
 	git add file &&
 	git commit -C $head &&
-	test "`git log -1 --pretty=format:%s`" = "$head (no editor)"
+	test "$(git log -1 --pretty=format:%s)" = "$head (no editor)"
 
 '
 
@@ -108,40 +108,40 @@ test_expect_success 'with hook (editor)' '
 	echo "more more" >> file &&
 	git add file &&
 	GIT_EDITOR="\"\$FAKE_EDITOR\"" git commit &&
-	test "`git log -1 --pretty=format:%s`" = default
+	test "$(git log -1 --pretty=format:%s)" = default
 
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'with hook (--amend)' '
 
-	head=`git rev-parse HEAD` &&
+	head=$(git rev-parse HEAD) &&
 	echo "more" >> file &&
 	git add file &&
 	GIT_EDITOR="\"\$FAKE_EDITOR\"" git commit --amend &&
-	test "`git log -1 --pretty=format:%s`" = "$head"
+	test "$(git log -1 --pretty=format:%s)" = "$head"
 
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'with hook (-c)' '
 
-	head=`git rev-parse HEAD` &&
+	head=$(git rev-parse HEAD) &&
 	echo "more" >> file &&
 	git add file &&
 	GIT_EDITOR="\"\$FAKE_EDITOR\"" git commit -c $head &&
-	test "`git log -1 --pretty=format:%s`" = "$head"
+	test "$(git log -1 --pretty=format:%s)" = "$head"
 
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'with hook (merge)' '
 
-	head=`git rev-parse HEAD` &&
+	head=$(git rev-parse HEAD) &&
 	git checkout -b other HEAD@{1} &&
 	echo "more" >> file &&
 	git add file &&
 	git commit -m other &&
 	git checkout - &&
 	git merge other &&
-	test "`git log -1 --pretty=format:%s`" = merge
+	test "$(git log -1 --pretty=format:%s)" = merge
 '
 
 cat > "$HOOK" <<'EOF'
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ EOF
 
 test_expect_success 'with failing hook' '
 
-	head=`git rev-parse HEAD` &&
+	head=$(git rev-parse HEAD) &&
 	echo "more" >> file &&
 	git add file &&
 	! GIT_EDITOR="\"\$FAKE_EDITOR\"" git commit -c $head
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ test_expect_success 'with failing hook' '
 
 test_expect_success 'with failing hook (--no-verify)' '
 
-	head=`git rev-parse HEAD` &&
+	head=$(git rev-parse HEAD) &&
 	echo "more" >> file &&
 	git add file &&
 	! GIT_EDITOR="\"\$FAKE_EDITOR\"" git commit --no-verify -c $head

diff --git a/t/t7602-merge-octopus-many.sh b/t/t7602-merge-octopus-many.sh
index 955f09f..6abe441 100755
--- a/t/t7602-merge-octopus-many.sh
+++ b/t/t7602-merge-octopus-many.sh
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ test_expect_success 'setup' '
 		git add c$i.c &&
 		git commit -m c$i &&
 		git tag c$i &&
-		i=`expr $i + 1` || return 1
+		i=$(expr $i + 1) || return 1
 	done
 '
 
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ test_expect_success 'merge c1 with c2, c3, c4, ... c29' '
 	while test $i -le 30
 	do
 		refs="$refs c$i"
-		i=`expr $i + 1`
+		i=$(expr $i + 1)
 	done &&
 	git merge $refs &&
 	test "$(git rev-parse c1)" != "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" &&
@@ -38,14 +38,14 @@ test_expect_success 'merge c1 with c2, c3, c4, ... c29' '
 	while test $i -le 30
 	do
 		test "$(git rev-parse c$i)" = "$(git rev-parse HEAD^$i)" &&
-		i=`expr $i + 1` || return 1
+		i=$(expr $i + 1) || return 1
 	done &&
 	git diff --exit-code &&
 	i=1 &&
 	while test $i -le 30
 	do
 		test -f c$i.c &&
-		i=`expr $i + 1` || return 1
+		i=$(expr $i + 1) || return 1
 	done
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t7700-repack.sh b/t/t7700-repack.sh
index 284018e..ced4417 100755
--- a/t/t7700-repack.sh
+++ b/t/t7700-repack.sh
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ test_expect_success 'writing bitmaps can duplicate .keep objects' '
 
 test_expect_success 'loose objects in alternate ODB are not repacked' '
 	mkdir alt_objects &&
-	echo `pwd`/alt_objects > .git/objects/info/alternates &&
+	echo $(pwd)/alt_objects > .git/objects/info/alternates &&
 	echo content3 > file3 &&
 	objsha1=$(GIT_OBJECT_DIRECTORY=alt_objects git hash-object -w file3) &&
 	git add file3 &&
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ test_expect_success 'packed unreachable obs in alternate ODB are not loosened' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'local packed unreachable obs that exist in alternate ODB are not loosened' '
-	echo `pwd`/alt_objects > .git/objects/info/alternates &&
+	echo $(pwd)/alt_objects > .git/objects/info/alternates &&
 	echo "$csha1" | git pack-objects --non-empty --all --reflog pack &&
 	rm -f .git/objects/pack/* &&
 	mv pack-* .git/objects/pack/ &&

diff --git a/t/t8003-blame-corner-cases.sh b/t/t8003-blame-corner-cases.sh
index e7cac1d..4216d08 100755
--- a/t/t8003-blame-corner-cases.sh
+++ b/t/t8003-blame-corner-cases.sh
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ test_expect_success 'blame path that used to be a directory' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success 'blame to a commit with no author name' '
-  TREE=`git rev-parse HEAD:`
+  TREE=$(git rev-parse HEAD:)
   cat >badcommit <<EOF
 tree $TREE
 author <noname> 1234567890 +0000
@@ -161,7 +161,7 @@ committer David Reiss <dreiss@facebook.com> 1234567890 +0000
 
 some message
 EOF
-  COMMIT=`git hash-object -t commit -w badcommit`
+  COMMIT=$(git hash-object -t commit -w badcommit)
   git --no-pager blame $COMMIT -- uno >/dev/null
 '
 

diff --git a/t/t9001-send-email.sh b/t/t9001-send-email.sh
index 1ecdacb..149a5b1 100755
--- a/t/t9001-send-email.sh
+++ b/t/t9001-send-email.sh
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ clean_fake_sendmail() {
 }
 
 test_expect_success $PREREQ 'Extract patches' '
-    patches=`git format-patch -s --cc="One <one@example.com>" --cc=two@example.com -n HEAD^1`
+    patches=$(git format-patch -s --cc="One <one@example.com>" --cc=two@example.com -n HEAD^1)
 '
 
 # Test no confirm early to ensure remaining tests will not hang
@@ -1158,7 +1158,7 @@ test_expect_success $PREREQ '--no-bcc overrides sendemail.bcc' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success $PREREQ 'patches To headers are used by default' '
-	patch=`git format-patch -1 --to="bodies@example.com"` &&
+	patch=$(git format-patch -1 --to="bodies@example.com") &&
 	test_when_finished "rm $patch" &&
 	git send-email \
 		--dry-run \
@@ -1169,7 +1169,7 @@ test_expect_success $PREREQ 'patches To headers are used by default' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success $PREREQ 'patches To headers are appended to' '
-	patch=`git format-patch -1 --to="bodies@example.com"` &&
+	patch=$(git format-patch -1 --to="bodies@example.com") &&
 	test_when_finished "rm $patch" &&
 	git send-email \
 		--dry-run \
@@ -1182,8 +1182,8 @@ test_expect_success $PREREQ 'patches To headers are appended to' '
 '
 
 test_expect_success $PREREQ 'To headers from files reset each patch' '
-	patch1=`git format-patch -1 --to="bodies@example.com"` &&
-	patch2=`git format-patch -1 --to="other@example.com" HEAD~` &&
+	patch1=$(git format-patch -1 --to="bodies@example.com") &&
+	patch2=$(git format-patch -1 --to="other@example.com" HEAD~) &&
 	test_when_finished "rm $patch1 && rm $patch2" &&
 	git send-email \
 		--dry-run \

diff --git a/t/t9101-git-svn-props.sh b/t/t9101-git-svn-props.sh
index 8869f50..e8173d5 100755
--- a/t/t9101-git-svn-props.sh
+++ b/t/t9101-git-svn-props.sh
@@ -26,27 +26,27 @@ cd import
 EOF
 
 	printf "Hello\r\nWorld\r\n" > crlf
-	a_crlf=`git hash-object -w crlf`
+	a_crlf=$(git hash-object -w crlf)
 	printf "Hello\rWorld\r" > cr
-	a_cr=`git hash-object -w cr`
+	a_cr=$(git hash-object -w cr)
 	printf "Hello\nWorld\n" > lf
-	a_lf=`git hash-object -w lf`
+	a_lf=$(git hash-object -w lf)
 
 	printf "Hello\r\nWorld" > ne_crlf
-	a_ne_crlf=`git hash-object -w ne_crlf`
+	a_ne_crlf=$(git hash-object -w ne_crlf)
 	printf "Hello\nWorld" > ne_lf
-	a_ne_lf=`git hash-object -w ne_lf`
+	a_ne_lf=$(git hash-object -w ne_lf)
 	printf "Hello\rWorld" > ne_cr
-	a_ne_cr=`git hash-object -w ne_cr`
+	a_ne_cr=$(git hash-object -w ne_cr)
 
 	touch empty
-	a_empty=`git hash-object -w empty`
+	a_empty=$(git hash-object -w empty)
 	printf "\n" > empty_lf
-	a_empty_lf=`git hash-object -w empty_lf`
+	a_empty_lf=$(git hash-object -w empty_lf)
 	printf "\r" > empty_cr
-	a_empty_cr=`git hash-object -w empty_cr`
+	a_empty_cr=$(git hash-object -w empty_cr)
 	printf "\r\n" > empty_crlf
-	a_empty_crlf=`git hash-object -w empty_crlf`
+	a_empty_crlf=$(git hash-object -w empty_crlf)
 
 	svn_cmd import --no-auto-props -m 'import for git svn' . "$svnrepo" >/dev/null
 cd ..
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ test_expect_success "$name" \
 	git pull . ${remotes_git_svn}'
 
 expect='/* $Id$ */'
-got="`sed -ne 2p kw.c`"
+got="$(sed -ne 2p kw.c)"
 test_expect_success 'raw $Id$ found in kw.c' "test '$expect' = '$got'"
 
 test_expect_success "propset CR on crlf files" '
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ done
 cd test_wc
 	printf '$Id$\rHello\rWorld\r' > cr
 	printf '$Id$\rHello\rWorld' > ne_cr
-	a_cr=`printf '$Id$\r\nHello\r\nWorld\r\n' | git hash-object --stdin`
-	a_ne_cr=`printf '$Id$\r\nHello\r\nWorld' | git hash-object --stdin`
+	a_cr=$(printf '$Id$\r\nHello\r\nWorld\r\n' | git hash-object --stdin)
+	a_ne_cr=$(printf '$Id$\r\nHello\r\nWorld' | git hash-object --stdin)
 	test_expect_success 'Set CRLF on cr files' \
 	'svn_cmd propset svn:eol-style CRLF cr &&
 	 svn_cmd propset svn:eol-style CRLF ne_cr &&
@@ -119,8 +119,8 @@ cd ..
 test_expect_success 'fetch and pull latest from svn' \
 	'git svn fetch && git pull . ${remotes_git_svn}'
 
-b_cr="`git hash-object cr`"
-b_ne_cr="`git hash-object ne_cr`"
+b_cr="$(git hash-object cr)"
+b_ne_cr="$(git hash-object ne_cr)"
 
 test_expect_success 'CRLF + $Id$' "test '$a_cr' = '$b_cr'"
 test_expect_success 'CRLF + $Id$ (no newline)' "test '$a_ne_cr' = '$b_ne_cr'"

diff --git a/t/t9104-git-svn-follow-parent.sh b/t/t9104-git-svn-follow-parent.sh
index 13b179e..101f545 100755
--- a/t/t9104-git-svn-follow-parent.sh
+++ b/t/t9104-git-svn-follow-parent.sh
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ test_expect_success 'initialize repo' '
 test_expect_success 'init and fetch a moved directory' '
 	git svn init --minimize-url -i thunk "$svnrepo"/thunk &&
 	git svn fetch -i thunk &&
-	test "`git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/thunk@2`" \
-           = "`git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/thunk~1`" &&
+	test "$(git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/thunk@2)" \
+           = "$(git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/thunk~1)" &&
         test "`git cat-file blob refs/remotes/thunk:readme |\
                  sed -n -e "3p"`" = goodbye &&
 	test -z "`git config --get svn-remote.svn.fetch \
@@ -46,8 +46,8 @@ test_expect_success 'init and fetch from one svn-remote' '
         git config --add svn-remote.svn.fetch \
           thunk:refs/remotes/svn/thunk &&
         git svn fetch -i svn/thunk &&
-	test "`git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/svn/trunk`" \
-           = "`git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/svn/thunk~1`" &&
+	test "$(git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/svn/trunk)" \
+           = "$(git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/svn/thunk~1)" &&
         test "`git cat-file blob refs/remotes/svn/thunk:readme |\
                  sed -n -e "3p"`" = goodbye
         '
@@ -61,9 +61,9 @@ test_expect_success 'follow deleted parent' '
           junk:refs/remotes/svn/junk &&
         git svn fetch -i svn/thunk &&
         git svn fetch -i svn/junk &&
-        test -z "`git diff svn/junk svn/trunk`" &&
-        test "`git merge-base svn/junk svn/trunk`" \
-           = "`git rev-parse svn/trunk`"
+        test -z "$(git diff svn/junk svn/trunk)" &&
+        test "$(git merge-base svn/junk svn/trunk)" \
+           = "$(git rev-parse svn/trunk)"
         '
 
 test_expect_success 'follow larger parent' '
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ test_expect_success 'follow larger parent' '
         test "`git merge-base \
                  refs/remotes/larger-parent/trunk/thunk/bump/thud \
                  refs/remotes/larger`" = \
-             "`git rev-parse refs/remotes/larger`"
+             "$(git rev-parse refs/remotes/larger)"
         true
         '
 
@@ -104,8 +104,8 @@ test_expect_success 'follow deleted directory' '
 	svn_cmd rm -m "remove glob" "$svnrepo"/glob &&
 	git svn init --minimize-url -i glob "$svnrepo"/glob &&
 	git svn fetch -i glob &&
-	test "`git cat-file blob refs/remotes/glob:blob/bye`" = hi &&
-	test "`git ls-tree refs/remotes/glob | wc -l `" -eq 1
+	test "$(git cat-file blob refs/remotes/glob:blob/bye)" = hi &&
+	test "$(git ls-tree refs/remotes/glob | wc -l )" -eq 1
 	'
 
 # ref: r9270 of the Subversion repository: (http://svn.collab.net/repos/svn)
@@ -140,9 +140,9 @@ test_expect_success 'follow-parent avoids deleting relevant info' '
 	git svn init --minimize-url -i r9270-t \
 	  "$svnrepo"/r9270/trunk/subversion/bindings/swig/perl/native/t &&
 	git svn fetch -i r9270-t &&
-	test `git rev-list r9270-t | wc -l` -eq 2 &&
-	test "`git ls-tree --name-only r9270-t~1`" = \
-	     "`git ls-tree --name-only r9270-t`"
+	test $(git rev-list r9270-t | wc -l) -eq 2 &&
+	test "$(git ls-tree --name-only r9270-t~1)" = \
+	     "$(git ls-tree --name-only r9270-t)"
 	'
 
 test_expect_success "track initial change if it was only made to parent" '
@@ -150,11 +150,11 @@ test_expect_success "track initial change if it was only made to parent" '
 	git svn init --minimize-url -i r9270-d \
 	  "$svnrepo"/r9270/drunk/subversion/bindings/swig/perl/native/t &&
 	git svn fetch -i r9270-d &&
-	test `git rev-list r9270-d | wc -l` -eq 3 &&
-	test "`git ls-tree --name-only r9270-t`" = \
-	     "`git ls-tree --name-only r9270-d`" &&
-	test "`git rev-parse r9270-t`" = \
-	     "`git rev-parse r9270-d~1`"
+	test $(git rev-list r9270-d | wc -l) -eq 3 &&
+	test "$(git ls-tree --name-only r9270-t)" = \
+	     "$(git ls-tree --name-only r9270-d)" &&
+	test "$(git rev-parse r9270-t)" = \
+	     "$(git rev-parse r9270-d~1)"
 	'
 
 test_expect_success "follow-parent is atomic" '
@@ -191,12 +191,12 @@ test_expect_success "follow-parent is atomic" '
 	git svn fetch -i stunk &&
 	git svn init --minimize-url -i flunked "$svnrepo"/flunked &&
 	git svn fetch -i flunked &&
-	test "`git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/flunk@18`" \
-	   = "`git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/stunk`" &&
-	test "`git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/flunk~1`" \
-	   = "`git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/stunk`" &&
-	test "`git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/flunked~1`" \
-	   = "`git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/stunk~1`"
+	test "$(git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/flunk@18)" \
+	   = "$(git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/stunk)" &&
+	test "$(git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/flunk~1)" \
+	   = "$(git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/stunk)" &&
+	test "$(git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/flunked~1)" \
+	   = "$(git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/stunk~1)"
 	'
 
 test_expect_success "track multi-parent paths" '

diff --git a/t/t9105-git-svn-commit-diff.sh b/t/t9105-git-svn-commit-diff.sh
index 5d0afea..6ed5f74 100755
--- a/t/t9105-git-svn-commit-diff.sh
+++ b/t/t9105-git-svn-commit-diff.sh
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ test_expect_success 'initialize repo' '
 	git commit -a -m "another"
 	'
 
-head=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD^0`
-prev=`git rev-parse --verify HEAD^1`
+head=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD^0)
+prev=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD^1)
 
 # the internals of the commit-diff command are the same as the regular
 # commit, so only a basic test of functionality is needed since we've

diff --git a/t/t9107-git-svn-migrate.sh b/t/t9107-git-svn-migrate.sh
index ee73013..8cb9c2b 100755
--- a/t/t9107-git-svn-migrate.sh
+++ b/t/t9107-git-svn-migrate.sh
@@ -24,10 +24,10 @@ test_expect_success 'setup old-looking metadata' '
 	git update-ref -d refs/${remotes_git_svn} refs/${remotes_git_svn}
 	'
 
-head=`git rev-parse --verify refs/heads/git-svn-HEAD^0`
+head=$(git rev-parse --verify refs/heads/git-svn-HEAD^0)
 test_expect_success 'git-svn-HEAD is a real HEAD' "test -n '$head'"
 
-svnrepo_escaped=`echo $svnrepo | sed 's/ /%20/'`
+svnrepo_escaped=$(echo $svnrepo | sed 's/ /%20/')
 
 test_expect_success 'initialize old-style (v0) git svn layout' '
 	mkdir -p "$GIT_DIR"/git-svn/info "$GIT_DIR"/svn/info &&
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ test_expect_success 'initialize old-style (v0) git svn layout' '
 	git rev-parse --verify refs/${remotes_git_svn}^0 &&
 	git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/svn^0 &&
 	test "$(git config --get svn-remote.svn.url)" = "$svnrepo_escaped" &&
-	test `git config --get svn-remote.svn.fetch` = \
+	test $(git config --get svn-remote.svn.fetch) = \
              ":refs/${remotes_git_svn}"
 	'
 
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ test_expect_success 'multi-fetch works on partial urls + paths' "
 	for i in trunk a b tags/0.1 tags/0.2 tags/0.3; do
 		git rev-parse --verify refs/remotes/\$i^0 >> refs.out || exit 1;
 	    done &&
-	test -z \"\`sort < refs.out | uniq -d\`\" &&
+	test -z \"\$(sort < refs.out | uniq -d\)\" &&
 	for i in trunk a b tags/0.1 tags/0.2 tags/0.3; do
 	  for j in trunk a b tags/0.1 tags/0.2 tags/0.3; do
 		if test \$j != \$i; then continue; fi
@@ -87,16 +87,16 @@ test_expect_success 'migrate --minimize on old inited layout' '
 	git config --unset-all svn-remote.svn.fetch &&
 	git config --unset-all svn-remote.svn.url &&
 	rm -rf "$GIT_DIR"/svn &&
-	for i in `cat fetch.out`; do
-		path=`expr $i : "\([^:]*\):.*$"`
-		ref=`expr $i : "[^:]*:\(refs/remotes/.*\)$"`
+	for i in $(cat fetch.out); do
+		path=$(expr $i : "\([^:]*\):.*$")
+		ref=$(expr $i : "[^:]*:\(refs/remotes/.*\)$")
 		if test -z "$ref"; then continue; fi
 		if test -n "$path"; then path="/$path"; fi
 		( mkdir -p "$GIT_DIR"/svn/$ref/info/ &&
 		echo "$svnrepo"$path > "$GIT_DIR"/svn/$ref/info/url ) || exit 1;
 	done &&
 	git svn migrate --minimize &&
-	test -z "`git config -l | grep "^svn-remote\.git-svn\."`" &&
+	test -z "$(git config -l | grep "^svn-remote\.git-svn\.")" &&
 	git config --get-all svn-remote.svn.fetch > fetch.out &&
 	grep "^trunk:refs/remotes/trunk$" fetch.out &&
 	grep "^branches/a:refs/remotes/a$" fetch.out &&

diff --git a/t/t9108-git-svn-glob.sh b/t/t9108-git-svn-glob.sh
index d732d31..a526d60 100755
--- a/t/t9108-git-svn-glob.sh
+++ b/t/t9108-git-svn-glob.sh
@@ -50,10 +50,10 @@ test_expect_success 'test refspec globbing' '
 	git log --pretty=oneline refs/remotes/tags/end | \
 	    sed -e "s/^.\{41\}//" > output.end &&
 	test_cmp expect.end output.end &&
-	test "`git rev-parse refs/remotes/tags/end~1`" = \
-		"`git rev-parse refs/remotes/branches/start`" &&
-	test "`git rev-parse refs/remotes/branches/start~2`" = \
-		"`git rev-parse refs/remotes/trunk`" &&
+	test "$(git rev-parse refs/remotes/tags/end~1)" = \
+		"$(git rev-parse refs/remotes/branches/start)" &&
+	test "$(git rev-parse refs/remotes/branches/start~2)" = \
+		"$(git rev-parse refs/remotes/trunk)" &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse refs/remotes/tags/end@3
 	'
 
@@ -75,12 +75,12 @@ test_expect_success 'test left-hand-side only globbing' '
 		svn_cmd commit -m "try to try"
 	) &&
 	git svn fetch two &&
-	test `git rev-list refs/remotes/two/tags/end | wc -l` -eq 6 &&
-	test `git rev-list refs/remotes/two/branches/start | wc -l` -eq 3 &&
-	test `git rev-parse refs/remotes/two/branches/start~2` = \
-	     `git rev-parse refs/remotes/two/trunk` &&
-	test `git rev-parse refs/remotes/two/tags/end~3` = \
-	     `git rev-parse refs/remotes/two/branches/start` &&
+	test $(git rev-list refs/remotes/two/tags/end | wc -l) -eq 6 &&
+	test $(git rev-list refs/remotes/two/branches/start | wc -l) -eq 3 &&
+	test $(git rev-parse refs/remotes/two/branches/start~2) = \
+	     $(git rev-parse refs/remotes/two/trunk) &&
+	test $(git rev-parse refs/remotes/two/tags/end~3) = \
+	     $(git rev-parse refs/remotes/two/branches/start) &&
 	git log --pretty=oneline refs/remotes/two/tags/end | \
 	    sed -e "s/^.\{41\}//" > output.two &&
 	test_cmp expect.two output.two

diff --git a/t/t9109-git-svn-multi-glob.sh b/t/t9109-git-svn-multi-glob.sh
index c318f9f..f36b749 100755
--- a/t/t9109-git-svn-multi-glob.sh
+++ b/t/t9109-git-svn-multi-glob.sh
@@ -50,10 +50,10 @@ test_expect_success 'test refspec globbing' '
 	git log --pretty=oneline refs/remotes/tags/end | \
 	    sed -e "s/^.\{41\}//" > output.end &&
 	test_cmp expect.end output.end &&
-	test "`git rev-parse refs/remotes/tags/end~1`" = \
-		"`git rev-parse refs/remotes/branches/v1/start`" &&
-	test "`git rev-parse refs/remotes/branches/v1/start~2`" = \
-		"`git rev-parse refs/remotes/trunk`" &&
+	test "$(git rev-parse refs/remotes/tags/end~1)" = \
+		"$(git rev-parse refs/remotes/branches/v1/start)" &&
+	test "$(git rev-parse refs/remotes/branches/v1/start~2)" = \
+		"$(git rev-parse refs/remotes/trunk)" &&
 	test_must_fail git rev-parse refs/remotes/tags/end@3
 	'
 
@@ -75,12 +75,12 @@ test_expect_success 'test left-hand-side only globbing' '
 		svn_cmd commit -m "try to try"
 	) &&
 	git svn fetch two &&
-	test `git rev-list refs/remotes/two/tags/end | wc -l` -eq 6 &&
-	test `git rev-list refs/remotes/two/branches/v1/start | wc -l` -eq 3 &&
-	test `git rev-parse refs/remotes/two/branches/v1/start~2` = \
-	     `git rev-parse refs/remotes/two/trunk` &&
-	test `git rev-parse refs/remotes/two/tags/end~3` = \
-	     `git rev-parse refs/remotes/two/branches/v1/start` &&
+	test $(git rev-list refs/remotes/two/tags/end | wc -l) -eq 6 &&
+	test $(git rev-list refs/remotes/two/branches/v1/start | wc -l) -eq 3 &&
+	test $(git rev-parse refs/remotes/two/branches/v1/start~2) = \
+	     $(git rev-parse refs/remotes/two/trunk) &&
+	test $(git rev-parse refs/remotes/two/tags/end~3) = \
+	     $(git rev-parse refs/remotes/two/branches/v1/start) &&
 	git log --pretty=oneline refs/remotes/two/tags/end | \
 	    sed -e "s/^.\{41\}//" > output.two &&
 	test_cmp expect.two output.two
@@ -124,12 +124,12 @@ test_expect_success 'test another branch' '
 	git config --add svn-remote.four.tags \
 	                 "tags/*:refs/remotes/four/tags/*" &&
 	git svn fetch four &&
-	test `git rev-list refs/remotes/four/tags/next | wc -l` -eq 5 &&
-	test `git rev-list refs/remotes/four/branches/v2/start | wc -l` -eq 3 &&
-	test `git rev-parse refs/remotes/four/branches/v2/start~2` = \
-	     `git rev-parse refs/remotes/four/trunk` &&
-	test `git rev-parse refs/remotes/four/tags/next~2` = \
-	     `git rev-parse refs/remotes/four/branches/v2/start` &&
+	test $(git rev-list refs/remotes/four/tags/next | wc -l) -eq 5 &&
+	test $(git rev-list refs/remotes/four/branches/v2/start | wc -l) -eq 3 &&
+	test $(git rev-parse refs/remotes/four/branches/v2/start~2) = \
+	     $(git rev-parse refs/remotes/four/trunk) &&
+	test $(git rev-parse refs/remotes/four/tags/next~2) = \
+	     $(git rev-parse refs/remotes/four/branches/v2/start) &&
 	git log --pretty=oneline refs/remotes/four/tags/next | \
 	    sed -e "s/^.\{41\}//" > output.four &&
 	test_cmp expect.four output.four

diff --git a/t/t9110-git-svn-use-svm-props.sh b/t/t9110-git-svn-use-svm-props.sh
index a06e4c5..29fbdfd 100755
--- a/t/t9110-git-svn-use-svm-props.sh
+++ b/t/t9110-git-svn-use-svm-props.sh
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ test_expect_success 'verify metadata for /dir' "
 
 test_expect_success 'find commit based on SVN revision number' "
         git svn find-rev r12 |
-	    grep `git rev-parse HEAD`
+	    grep $(git rev-parse HEAD)
         "
 
 test_expect_success 'empty rebase' "