diff --git a/src/lib/commands/budg.c b/src/lib/commands/budg.c
index 9cfeaa1a..2e10abd0 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/budg.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/budg.c
@@ -183,9 +183,9 @@ budg(void)
 	expenses -= mil;
     }
     if (p_sect[SCT_CAPIT][0]) {
-	sprintf(in, "%s maintenance\t\t", dchr[SCT_CAPIT].d_name);
-	in[0] = toupper(in[0]);
-	pr(in);
+	pr("%c%s maintenance\t\t",
+	   toupper(dchr[SCT_CAPIT].d_name[0]),
+	   dchr[SCT_CAPIT].d_name + 1);
 	n = p_sect[SCT_CAPIT][0];
 	sprintf(in, "%d %s", n, dchr[SCT_CAPIT].d_name);
 	plurize(in, sizeof(in), n);
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/look.c b/src/lib/commands/look.c
index 9ffb4577..053b628f 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/look.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/look.c
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ look(void)
 		pr("Your ");
 	    else
 		pr("%s (#%d) ", cname(sect.sct_own), sect.sct_own);
-	    pr(dchr[sect.sct_type].d_name);
+	    pr("%s", dchr[sect.sct_type].d_name);
 	    changed += map_set(player->cnum, x, y,
 			       dchr[sect.sct_type].d_mnem, 0);
 	    pr(" %d%% efficient ", player->owner ? sect.sct_effic :
@@ -223,7 +223,7 @@ llook(void)
 		pr("Your ");
 	    else
 		pr("%s (#%d) ", cname(sect.sct_own), sect.sct_own);
-	    pr(dchr[sect.sct_type].d_name);
+	    pr("%s", dchr[sect.sct_type].d_name);
 	    changed += map_set(player->cnum, x, y,
 			       dchr[sect.sct_type].d_mnem, 0);
 	    pr(" %d%% efficient ", player->owner ? sect.sct_effic :
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/aircombat.c b/src/lib/subs/aircombat.c
index 952c6ff3..e8468c92 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/aircombat.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/aircombat.c
@@ -160,9 +160,9 @@ ac_encounter(struct emp_qelem *bomb_list, struct emp_qelem *esc_list,
 		if (sect.sct_own == plane_owner)
 		    PR(plane_owner, "Your ");
 		else
-		    PR(plane_owner,
-		       "%s (#%d) ", cname(sect.sct_own), sect.sct_own);
-		PR(plane_owner, dchr[sect.sct_type].d_name);
+		    PR(plane_owner, "%s (#%d) ",
+		       cname(sect.sct_own), sect.sct_own);
+		PR(plane_owner, "%s", dchr[sect.sct_type].d_name);
 		changed += map_set(plane_owner,
 				   sect.sct_x, sect.sct_y,
 				   dchr[sect.sct_type].d_mnem, 0);
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/border.c b/src/lib/subs/border.c
index a103a25b..7f069640 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/border.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/border.c
@@ -53,11 +53,11 @@ border(struct range *rp, s_char *prefstr, s_char *sep)
 	    /*
 	     * hundreds
 	     */
-	    pr(prefstr);
+	    pr("%s", prefstr);
 	    for (x = rp->lx, n = 0; n < rp->width; n++, x++) {
 		if (x >= WORLD_X / 2)
 		    x -= WORLD_X;
-		pr(sep);
+		pr("%s", sep);
 		if (x < 0 && x > -100) {
 		    pr("-");
 		} else {
@@ -71,11 +71,11 @@ border(struct range *rp, s_char *prefstr, s_char *sep)
     /*
      * tens
      */
-    pr(prefstr);
+    pr("%s", prefstr);
     for (x = rp->lx, n = 0; n < rp->width; n++, x++) {
 	if (x >= WORLD_X / 2)
 	    x -= WORLD_X;
-	pr(sep);
+	pr("%s", sep);
 	if (x < 0 && x > -10) {
 	    pr("-");
 	} else {
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ border(struct range *rp, s_char *prefstr, s_char *sep)
     /*
      * units...
      */
-    pr(prefstr);
+    pr("%s", prefstr);
     for (x = rp->lx, n = 0; n < rp->width; n++, x++) {
 	if (x >= WORLD_X / 2)
 	    x -= WORLD_X;
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/pr.c b/src/lib/subs/pr.c
index e156c667..15c58b85 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/pr.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/pr.c
@@ -427,12 +427,10 @@ prdate(void)
 void
 prxy(char *format, coord x, coord y, natid country)
 {
-    char buf[255];
     struct natstr *np;
 
     np = getnatp(country);
-    sprintf(buf, format, xrel(np, x), yrel(np, y));
-    pr(buf);
+    pr(format, xrel(np, x), yrel(np, y));
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/src/lib/subs/show.c b/src/lib/subs/show.c
index 5291a0b6..f7bd625b 100644
--- a/src/lib/subs/show.c
+++ b/src/lib/subs/show.c
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ show_nuke_capab(int tlev)
 	    if (NULL != (p = symbol_by_value(bit(i), nuke_chr_flags))) {
 		if (j++ > 0)
 		    pr(" ");
-		pr(p);
+		pr("%s", p);
 	    }
 	}
 	pr("\n");
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ show_ship_capab(int tlev)
 	    if (NULL != (p = symbol_by_value(bit(j), ship_chr_flags))) {
 		if (n++ > 0)
 		    pr(" ");
-		pr(p);
+		pr("%s", p);
 	    }
 	}
 	pr("\n");
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ show_plane_capab(int tlev)
 	    if (NULL != (p = symbol_by_value(bit(i), plane_chr_flags))) {
 		if (n++ > 0)
 		    pr(" ");
-		pr(p);
+		pr("%s", p);
 	    }
 	}
 	pr("\n");
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ show_land_capab(int tlev)
 	    if (NULL != (p = symbol_by_value(bit(j), land_chr_flags))) {
 		if (n++ > 0)
 		    pr(" ");
-		pr(p);
+		pr("%s", p);
 	    }
 	}
 	pr("\n");