diff --git a/sh/connect b/sh/connect
index d0e721f..c37240d 100755
--- a/sh/connect
+++ b/sh/connect
@@ -1,36 +1,37 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
-[ "$(ps -aux | grep -c NetworkManager)" -eq 2 ] && \
-	printf "NetworkManager is already running!" && \
+[ "$(pgrep -c NetworkManager)" -eq 1 ] &&
+	printf "NetworkManager is already running!\n" &&
 	exit
 
 case $1 in
 	"c"*)
 		wpa_supplicant -iwlp3s0 -c/etc/wpa_supplicant/wpa_supplicant.conf -B
 		dhcpcd wlp3s0
-		tor & disown
+		# make tor and nohup shut up in a posix-compliant way
+		nohup tor >/dev/null 2>&1
 		;;
 	"d"*)
 		killall -15 wpa_supplicant dhcpcd tor
 		;;
 	"r"*)
-		sh $0 d
-		sh $0 c
+		sh "$0" d
+		sh "$0" c
 		;;
 	"t"*)
-		[ $(ps aux | grep wpa_supplicant | wc -l) -eq 2 ] && sh $0 d && exit
-		sh $0 c
+		[ "$(pgrep -c wpa_supplicant)" -eq 1 ] && sh "$0" d && exit
+		sh "$0" c
 		;;
 	"l"*)
 		iw dev wlp3s0 scan | \
 			grep 'SSID\|signal' | \
-			grep -v '* SSID List' | \
+			grep -v 'SSID List' | \
 			awk -F': ' '{print $2}' | \
 			sed 'N;s/\n/ /' | \
 			grep -v '\x00'
 		;;
 	*)
-		printf "\
+		echo "
 simple wrapper for connecting to a network
 ${0} toggle to toggle wifi connection
 ${0} restart to restart wifi
diff --git a/sh/disp b/sh/disp
index 9e20d57..026da93 100755
--- a/sh/disp
+++ b/sh/disp
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
 exists() {
-	xrandr | grep ' connected' | grep "${1}" | wc -l
+	xrandr | grep ' connected' | grep -c "${1}"
 }
 
 bspc monitor -d 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
 
-if [ $(exists "HDMI-2") -eq 1 ] && [ $(exists "LVDS-1") -eq 1 ]; then
+if [ "$(exists "HDMI-2")" -eq 1 ] && [ "$(exists "LVDS-1")" -eq 1 ]; then
 	printf "two"
 	xrandr --output HDMI-2 --right-of LVDS-1 --auto
 	xrandr --output VGA-1 --off --auto
diff --git a/sh/fire b/sh/fire
index 60903bf..298f915 100755
--- a/sh/fire
+++ b/sh/fire
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
-HOME="/home/usr/.local/share/firefox" firefox $@
+HOME="/home/usr/.local/share/firefox" firefox "$@"
diff --git a/sh/git-survey b/sh/git-survey
index 2dac26c..8f6b862 100755
--- a/sh/git-survey
+++ b/sh/git-survey
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
-for i in $(ls); do
-	cd $i
+for i in *; do
+	cd "$i" || continue
 	exists=$(
-		git status |\
-		grep 'Your branch is ahead of ' |\
-		wc -l
+		git status |
+		grep -c 'Your branch is ahead of '
 	)
 
 	[ "$exists" -eq 0 ] || printf "> %s\n" "$i"
diff --git a/sh/net b/sh/net
index 70b74a5..e79c8f9 100755
--- a/sh/net
+++ b/sh/net
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 # designed to be called from sxhkd (x session)
 
-[ "$(pgrep NetworkManager)" ] && st -e nmtui
+pgrep NetworkManager && st -e nmtui
diff --git a/sh/nws b/sh/nws
index b0f415e..056d52c 100755
--- a/sh/nws
+++ b/sh/nws
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 [ -z "${XDG_CONFIG_DIR}" ] && XDG_CONFIG_DIR="${HOME}/.config"
 [ -z "${NWS_CONFIG}" ] && NWS_CONFIG="${XDG_CONFIG_DIR}/nws"
 [ -n "${NWS_ZONE}" ] || \
-  [ -e ${NWS_CONFIG} ] && NWS_ZONE=$(cat ${NWS_CONFIG}) || \
-  NWS_ZONE="KGYX"
+  [ -e "${NWS_CONFIG}" ] && NWS_ZONE=$(cat "${NWS_CONFIG}") ||
+	NWS_ZONE="KGYX"
 [ -z "${NWS_GIF}" ] && NWS_GIF="mpv --loop"
 [ -z "${NWS_TORIFY}" ] && NWS_TORIFY=""
 
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ Torify wrapper:     export NWS_TORIFY=<command>
 "
 }
 err () {
-	printf "err: %s\n" ${1}
+	printf "err: %s\n" "${1}"
 	[ -z "${2}" ] && exit 1
-	exit ${2}
+	exit "${2}"
 }
 kstrip () {
 	printf %s "$1" | sed 's/^K\(.*\)/\1/'
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ mosaic () {
 	${NWS_GIF} "https://radar.weather.gov/ridge/lite/${1}_loop.gif"
 }
 setzone () {
-	printf "%s" "${1}" > ${NWS_CONFIG}
+	printf "%s" "${1}" > "${NWS_CONFIG}"
 }
 river () {
 	textmessage "RVA"
@@ -66,36 +66,39 @@ textmessage () {
 case $1 in
 	"n"*)
 		national
-		exit 0
 		;;
 	"l"*)
 		localradar
-		exit 0
 		;;
 	"r"*)
 		river
-		exit 0
 		;;
 	"w"*)
 		weather
-		exit 0
 		;;
 	"m"*)
-		[ $# -eq 2 ] && mosaid $2 || \
+		if [ "$#" -eq 2 ]; then
+			mosaid "$2"
+		else
 		  err "two args required"
+		fi
 		;;
 	"s"*)
-		[ $# -eq 2 ] && setzone $2 || \
+		if [ "$#" -eq 2 ]; then
+			setzone "$2"
+		else
 		  err "two args required"
-		exit 0
+		fi
 		;;
 	"t"*)
-		[ $# -eq 2 ] && textmessage $2 || \
+		if [ "$#" -eq 2 ]; then
+			textmessage "$2"
+		else
 		  err "two args required"
+		fi
 		;;
 	*)
 		info
-		exit 0
 		;;
 esac
 exit 0
diff --git a/sh/pash-dmenu b/sh/pash-dmenu
index 2aa92ba..3929379 100755
--- a/sh/pash-dmenu
+++ b/sh/pash-dmenu
@@ -4,4 +4,4 @@ sel="$(pash l | tmenu)"
 [ "$?" -eq 1 ] && exit 0
 
 # requires bspc rule -a st-gpg-menu state=floating
-st -c st-gpg-menu -e pash-dmenu-backend $sel
+st -c st-gpg-menu -e pash-dmenu-backend "$sel"
diff --git a/sh/sfeed_yt_add b/sh/sfeed_yt_add
index 43c8a95..4cd2937 100755
--- a/sh/sfeed_yt_add
+++ b/sh/sfeed_yt_add
@@ -5,15 +5,13 @@
 
 printf "[info] this utility is used for adding youtube urls as rss feeds\n"
 
-feed="$(curl ${1} -s | \
+feed="$(curl "$1" -s | \
 	grep 'youtube/www\.youtube\.com/channel/.\{24\}' -o | \
 	awk -F'/' '{print "https://www.youtube.com/feeds/videos.xml?channel_id=" $NF}' | \
 	sed 1q)"
 
 [ -z "$feed" ] && printf "[err] error processing the feed. are you sure it's *www*.youtube.com and not youtube.com?\n" && exit 1
 
-tmp="$(mktemp)"
-
 sfeedrc="$HOME/.config/sfeed/sfeedrc"
 
 ed "$sfeedrc" <<EOF
diff --git a/sh/status b/sh/status
index a4b71b8..53b2c62 100755
--- a/sh/status
+++ b/sh/status
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ power_prefix="/sys/class/power_supply/"
 [ -d "${power_prefix}sbs-20-000b" ] && bat="sbs-20-000b"
 [ -d "${power_prefix}BAT0" ] && bat="BAT0"
 
-[ "$(ps aux | grep pulseaudio | wc -l)" -eq 2 ] && ss="pulse" || ss="alsa"
+[ "$(pgrep -c pulseaudio)" -eq 1 ] && ss="pulse" || ss="alsa"
 
 mod_bspwm () {
 	used_desk=$(bspc query -D -d .occupied --names | tr '\n' ' ')
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ echo_bar () {
 	printf "\033[2J\033[H%s" "$left"
 
 	# print right side
-	printf "\033[1;%if%s" "$(($width - $rightwidth + 1))" "$right"
+	printf "\033[1;%if%s" "$((width - rightwidth + 1))" "$right"
 }
 
 register_sigs () {
@@ -94,5 +94,5 @@ while true; do
 	sleep 0.25
 	[ "$i" -eq $((29 * 4)) ] && update_all && i=0
 	echo_bar
-	i="$(($i + 1))"
+	i="$((i + 1))"
 done
diff --git a/sh/statusbar b/sh/statusbar
index 8230919..5854c6e 100755
--- a/sh/statusbar
+++ b/sh/statusbar
@@ -3,10 +3,12 @@
 barwidth=20
 
 # remove all current statusbars
+# pgrep doesn't handle arguments for running commands
+# shellcheck disable=2009
 processes="$(ps aux | grep 'st -c' | grep 'status' | awk -F' ' '{print $2}')"
 for i in $processes; do
-	pkill -P "$i" 2>&1 > /dev/null
-	kill $i
+	pkill -P "$i" >/dev/null 2>&1
+	kill "$i"
 done
 
 # get all screens
@@ -16,6 +18,6 @@ screens="$(xrandr | grep ' connected' | sed 's/ primary//g' | awk -F' ' '{print
 IFS="
 "
 for i in $screens; do
-	screenstring=$(echo $i | awk -v a="$barwidth" -F'[ x+]' '{print $2 "x" a "+" $4 "+" $5}')
+	screenstring=$(echo "$i" | awk -v a="$barwidth" -F'[ x+]' '{print $2 "x" a "+" $4 "+" $5}')
 	st -c statusbar -p -g "$screenstring" -e status &
 done
diff --git a/sh/tmenu-backend b/sh/tmenu-backend
index 28b755b..02289d2 100755
--- a/sh/tmenu-backend
+++ b/sh/tmenu-backend
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
-printf "%s" $1
+printf "%s" "$1"
 
-fzy $2 < "$1" > "${1}a"
-mv ${1}a ${1}
+fzy "$2" < "$1" > "${1}a"
+mv "${1}a" "${1}"
diff --git a/sh/tmenu_run b/sh/tmenu_run
index 1b57921..cc42dca 100755
--- a/sh/tmenu_run
+++ b/sh/tmenu_run
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ tmenu_path () {
     IFS=" :"
     for i in $PATH; do
         for j in "$i"/*; do
-            [ -f $j ] && [ -x $j ] && printf "%s\n" $j
+            [ -f "$j" ] && [ -x "$j" ] && printf "%s\n" "$j"
         done
     done
 }
diff --git a/sh/vim-swap-handler b/sh/vim-swap-handler
index bf39d6c..06082af 100755
--- a/sh/vim-swap-handler
+++ b/sh/vim-swap-handler
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ desk=$(
 )
 
 [ "$desk" = "none" ] && exit 1
-desk=$(($desk + 1))
+desk=$((desk + 1))
 
 bspc desktop -f "^${desk}"
 killall -10 simplestatus
diff --git a/sh/vol b/sh/vol
index 0cd2572..7bcd832 100755
--- a/sh/vol
+++ b/sh/vol
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
-pulse=$(ps aux | grep pulseaudio | wc -l)
+pulse=$(pgrep -c pulseaudio)
 
 [ "$1" = "inc" ] && sign="+"
 [ "$1" = "dec" ] && sign="-"
 
 [ "$#" -eq 0 ] && exit 1
 
-if [ "$pulse" -eq 2 ]; then
-	for SINK in `pacmd list-sinks | grep 'index:' | cut -b12-`
+if [ "$pulse" -eq 1 ]; then
+	for SINK in $(pacmd list-sinks | grep 'index:' | cut -b12-)
 	do
-		pactl set-sink-volume $SINK "${sign}5%"
+		pactl set-sink-volume "$SINK" "${sign}5%"
 	done
 else
 	amixer -c 0 set Master "5%${sign}"
diff --git a/sh/wallpaper b/sh/wallpaper
index 83fe25d..2b519eb 100755
--- a/sh/wallpaper
+++ b/sh/wallpaper
@@ -1,12 +1,11 @@
 #!/bin/sh
 
 WALLDIR="${HOME}/.local/share/wallpapers"
-TEEFILE="${WALLDIR}/.hist"
 BASECMD="feh --no-fehbg --bg-fill"
 
 generate_wall () {
   GENWALL=$( \
-    ls $WALLDIR | \
+    ls "$WALLDIR" | \
     grep "." | \
     shuf -n 1
   )
@@ -19,26 +18,15 @@ wall () {
   done
 }
 displays () {
-  displays=$(xrandr | grep ' connected' | wc -l)
-}
-check () {
-  which $1 &>/dev/null
+	displays=$(xrandr | grep -c ' connected')
 }
 
 cmd=""
-check "feh" || exit 1
-if check "xrandr"; then
-  displays
-  for i in $(seq 1 $displays); do
-    wall ${tmp}
-    tmp=${GENWALL}
-    echo ${GENWALL} ${i} | tee $TEEFILE
-    cmd="${cmd} ${GENWALL}"
-  done
-  eval ${BASECMD} ${cmd}
-else
-  generate_wall
-  eval ${BASECMD} ${GENWALL}
-fi
-unset GENWALL BASECMD tmp cmd displays i
+displays
+for i in $(seq 1 "$displays"); do
+  wall "${tmp}"
+  tmp="${GENWALL}"
+  cmd="${cmd} ${GENWALL}"
+done
+eval "${BASECMD}" "${cmd}"
 exit 0