diff --git a/tmac/tests/e_chapter-titles-work.sh b/tmac/tests/e_chapter-titles-work.sh
index 949796871..3c7c6c1d5 100755
--- a/tmac/tests/e_chapter-titles-work.sh
+++ b/tmac/tests/e_chapter-titles-work.sh
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ groff="${abs_top_builddir:-.}/test-groff"
 # localization rigamarole.
 
 input='.de $C
-.  tm $C: \\\\$@
+.  tm $C: \\$@
 ..
 .++ C
 .+c "The Boy Sickens"
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ wail () {
     fail=YES
 }
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -me 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -me 2>&1)
 
 echo "checking for correct arguments given to \$C hook macro (1)" >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '$C: "Chapter" "1" "The Boy Sickens"' || wail
diff --git a/tmac/tests/e_ld-works.sh b/tmac/tests/e_ld-works.sh
index 70ff97a33..1c315a857 100755
--- a/tmac/tests/e_ld-works.sh
+++ b/tmac/tests/e_ld-works.sh
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ input='.nr yr 108
 .++ C
 .+c "Fleeing the Impoverished, Drunken Countryside for Dublin"
 .pp
-The day was \\*(dw, \\*(td.
+The day was \*(dw, \*(td.
 .++ A
 .+c "How to Write for The Toast"
 .pp
@@ -43,12 +43,12 @@ wail () {
     fail=YES
 }
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -me)
-output_cs=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tutf8 -P-cbou -me -mcs)
-output_de=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tutf8 -P-cbou -me -mde)
-output_fr=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tutf8 -P-cbou -me -mfr)
-output_it=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tutf8 -P-cbou -me -mit)
-output_sv=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tutf8 -P-cbou -me -msv)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -me)
+output_cs=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tutf8 -P-cbou -me -mcs)
+output_de=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tutf8 -P-cbou -me -mde)
+output_fr=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tutf8 -P-cbou -me -mfr)
+output_it=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tutf8 -P-cbou -me -mit)
+output_sv=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tutf8 -P-cbou -me -msv)
 
 echo 'checking that `td` string updated correctly for English' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -q 'The day was Monday, December 15, 2008\.$' \
diff --git a/tmac/tests/localization-works.sh b/tmac/tests/localization-works.sh
index 0463a118d..d80701804 100755
--- a/tmac/tests/localization-works.sh
+++ b/tmac/tests/localization-works.sh
@@ -27,128 +27,128 @@ wail () {
     fail=YES
 }
 
-input='.tm .hy=\\n[.hy]'
+input='.tm .hy=\n[.hy]'
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -mcs 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -mcs 2>&1)
 echo 'checking raw troff with -mcs' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=1' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -mde 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -mde 2>&1)
 echo 'checking raw troff with -mde' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=1' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -men 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -men 2>&1)
 echo 'checking raw troff with -men' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=4' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -mfr 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -mfr 2>&1)
 echo 'checking raw troff with -mfr' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=4' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -mit 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -mit 2>&1)
 echo 'checking raw troff with -mit' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=1' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -msv 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -msv 2>&1)
 echo 'checking raw troff with -msv' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=32' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -me -mcs 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -me -mcs 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -me with -mcs' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=2' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -me -mde 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -me -mde 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -me with -mde' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=2' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -me -men 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -me -men 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -me with -men' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=6' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -me -mfr 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -me -mfr 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -me with -mfr' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=6' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -me -mit 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -me -mit 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -me with -mit' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=2' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -me -msv 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -me -msv 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -me with -msv' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=34' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -ms -mcs 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -ms -mcs 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -ms with -mcs' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=2' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -ms -mde 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -ms -mde 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -ms with -mde' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=2' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -ms -men 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -ms -men 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -ms with -men' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=6' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -ms -mfr 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -ms -mfr 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -ms with -mfr' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=6' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -ms -mit 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -ms -mit 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -ms with -mit' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=2' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -ms -msv 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -ms -msv 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -ms with -msv' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=34' || wail
 
 input='.TH foo 1 2022-01-06 "groff test suite"
-.tm .hy=\\n[.hy]'
+.tm .hy=\n[.hy]'
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=0 -man -mcs 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=0 -man -mcs 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -man with -rcR=0 -mcs' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=2' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=0 -man -mde 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=0 -man -mde 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -man with -rcR=0 -mde' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=2' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=0 -man -men 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=0 -man -men 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -man with -rcR=0 -men' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=6' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=0 -man -mfr 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=0 -man -mfr 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -man with -rcR=0 -mfr' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=6' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=0 -man -mit 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=0 -man -mit 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -man with -rcR=0 -mit' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=2' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=0 -man -msv 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=0 -man -msv 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -man with -rcR=0 -msv' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=34' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=1 -man -mcs 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=1 -man -mcs 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -man with -rcR=1 -mcs' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=1' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=1 -man -mde 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=1 -man -mde 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -man with -rcR=1 -mde' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=1' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=1 -man -men 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=1 -man -men 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -man with -rcR=1 -men' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=4' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=1 -man -mfr 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=1 -man -mfr 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -man with -rcR=1 -mfr' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=4' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=1 -man -mit 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=1 -man -mit 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -man with -rcR=1 -mit' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=1' || wail
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=1 -man -msv 2>&1)
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=1 -man -msv 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -man with -rcR=1 -msv' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=32' || wail
 
@@ -163,9 +163,9 @@ foo \- APT 用選択制御ファイル
 .TH bar 1 2022-04-09 "groff test suite"
 .SH Name
 bar \- three subjects walk into this
-.tm .hy=\\n[.hy]'
+.tm .hy=\n[.hy]'
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=0 -man -mja \
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=0 -man -mja \
   -men 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -man with -rcR=0 -mja -men' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=6' || wail
@@ -177,9 +177,9 @@ foo \- 解析 man 手册页的头部信息
 .TH bar 1 2022-04-09 "groff test suite"
 .SH Name
 bar \- three subjects walk into this
-.tm .hy=\\n[.hy]'
+.tm .hy=\n[.hy]'
 
-output=$(echo "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=0 -man -mzh \
+output=$(printf "%s\n" "$input" | "$groff" -Tascii -P-cbou -rcR=0 -man -mzh \
   -men 2>&1)
 echo 'checking -man with -rcR=0 -mzh -men' >&2
 echo "$output" | grep -Fqx '.hy=6' || wail