diff --git a/recipes/brewiarz.recipe b/recipes/brewiarz.recipe
index 4e9552ba51..bccc858010 100644
--- a/recipes/brewiarz.recipe
+++ b/recipes/brewiarz.recipe
@@ -92,8 +92,7 @@ class brewiarz(BasicNewsRecipe):
                     for sublink in sublinks:
                         link_title = self.tag_to_string(
                             link) + ' - ' + self.tag_to_string(sublink)
-                        link_url_print = re.sub(
-                            'php3', 'php3?kr=_druk&wr=lg&', sublink['href'])
+                        link_url_print = sublink['href'].replace('php3', 'php3?kr=_druk&wr=lg&')
                         link_url = url[:-10] + link_url_print
                         current_articles.append({'title': link_title,
                                                  'url': link_url, 'description': '', 'date': ''})
@@ -102,8 +101,7 @@ class brewiarz(BasicNewsRecipe):
                         continue
                     else:
                         link_title = self.tag_to_string(link)
-                        link_url_print = re.sub(
-                            'php3', 'php3?kr=_druk&wr=lg&', link['href'])
+                        link_url_print = link['href'].replace('php3', 'php3?kr=_druk&wr=lg&')
                         link_url = url[:-10] + link_url_print
                         current_articles.append({'title': link_title,
                                                  'url': link_url, 'description': '', 'date': ''})
diff --git a/recipes/calgary_herald.recipe b/recipes/calgary_herald.recipe
index e74af9365a..981558e25d 100644
--- a/recipes/calgary_herald.recipe
+++ b/recipes/calgary_herald.recipe
@@ -170,18 +170,18 @@ class CanWestPaper(BasicNewsRecipe):
 
     def fixChars(self, string):
         # Replace lsquo (\x91)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x91', '‘', string)
+        fixed = string.replace('\x91', '‘')
         # Replace rsquo (\x92)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x92', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x92', '’')
         # Replace ldquo (\x93)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x93', '“', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x93', '“')
         # Replace rdquo (\x94)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x94', '”', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x94', '”')
         # Replace ndash (\x96)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x96', '–', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x96', '–')
         # Replace mdash (\x97)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x97', '—', fixed)
-        fixed = re.sub('’', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x97', '—')
+        fixed = fixed.replace('’', '’')
         return fixed
 
     def massageNCXText(self, description):
diff --git a/recipes/edmonton_journal.recipe b/recipes/edmonton_journal.recipe
index 2c43582ad0..5800a552d5 100644
--- a/recipes/edmonton_journal.recipe
+++ b/recipes/edmonton_journal.recipe
@@ -170,18 +170,18 @@ class CanWestPaper(BasicNewsRecipe):
 
     def fixChars(self, string):
         # Replace lsquo (\x91)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x91', '‘', string)
+        fixed = string.replace('\x91', '‘')
         # Replace rsquo (\x92)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x92', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x92', '’')
         # Replace ldquo (\x93)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x93', '“', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x93', '“')
         # Replace rdquo (\x94)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x94', '”', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x94', '”')
         # Replace ndash (\x96)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x96', '–', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x96', '–')
         # Replace mdash (\x97)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x97', '—', fixed)
-        fixed = re.sub('’', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x97', '—')
+        fixed = fixed.replace('’', '’')
         return fixed
 
     def massageNCXText(self, description):
diff --git a/recipes/montreal_gazette.recipe b/recipes/montreal_gazette.recipe
index cc3633e2a2..6d8a65cb03 100644
--- a/recipes/montreal_gazette.recipe
+++ b/recipes/montreal_gazette.recipe
@@ -170,18 +170,18 @@ class CanWestPaper(BasicNewsRecipe):
 
     def fixChars(self, string):
         # Replace lsquo (\x91)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x91', '‘', string)
+        fixed = string.replace('\x91', '‘')
         # Replace rsquo (\x92)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x92', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x92', '’')
         # Replace ldquo (\x93)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x93', '“', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x93', '“')
         # Replace rdquo (\x94)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x94', '”', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x94', '”')
         # Replace ndash (\x96)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x96', '–', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x96', '–')
         # Replace mdash (\x97)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x97', '—', fixed)
-        fixed = re.sub('’', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x97', '—')
+        fixed = fixed.replace('’', '’')
         return fixed
 
     def massageNCXText(self, description):
diff --git a/recipes/nikkei_news.recipe b/recipes/nikkei_news.recipe
index 28dfdff1c9..bd493cf260 100644
--- a/recipes/nikkei_news.recipe
+++ b/recipes/nikkei_news.recipe
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ class NikkeiNet_paper_subscription(BasicNewsRecipe):
             sect_title = sect_title.contents[0]
             sect_result = []
             url = sect.a['href']
-            url = re.sub('/article/', '/print-article/', url)
+            url = url.replace('/article/', '/print-article/')
             url = 'http://www.nikkei.com' + url
             sect_result.append(dict(title=sect_title, url=url, date='',description='', content=''))
             result.append([sect_title, sect_result])
diff --git a/recipes/ottawa_citizen.recipe b/recipes/ottawa_citizen.recipe
index 0154d55758..21af4a8d5e 100644
--- a/recipes/ottawa_citizen.recipe
+++ b/recipes/ottawa_citizen.recipe
@@ -170,18 +170,18 @@ class CanWestPaper(BasicNewsRecipe):
 
     def fixChars(self, string):
         # Replace lsquo (\x91)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x91', '‘', string)
+        fixed = string.replace('\x91', '‘')
         # Replace rsquo (\x92)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x92', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x92', '’')
         # Replace ldquo (\x93)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x93', '“', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x93', '“')
         # Replace rdquo (\x94)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x94', '”', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x94', '”')
         # Replace ndash (\x96)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x96', '–', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x96', '–')
         # Replace mdash (\x97)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x97', '—', fixed)
-        fixed = re.sub('’', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x97', '—')
+        fixed = fixed.replace('’', '’')
         return fixed
 
     def massageNCXText(self, description):
diff --git a/recipes/regina_leader_post.recipe b/recipes/regina_leader_post.recipe
index d9b37fc9bc..c3bb4625a2 100644
--- a/recipes/regina_leader_post.recipe
+++ b/recipes/regina_leader_post.recipe
@@ -129,18 +129,18 @@ class CanWestPaper(BasicNewsRecipe):
 
     def fixChars(self, string):
         # Replace lsquo (\x91)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x91', '‘', string)
+        fixed = string.replace('\x91', '‘')
         # Replace rsquo (\x92)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x92', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x92', '’')
         # Replace ldquo (\x93)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x93', '“', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x93', '“')
         # Replace rdquo (\x94)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x94', '”', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x94', '”')
         # Replace ndash (\x96)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x96', '–', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x96', '–')
         # Replace mdash (\x97)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x97', '—', fixed)
-        fixed = re.sub('’', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x97', '—')
+        fixed = fixed.replace('’', '’')
         return fixed
 
     def massageNCXText(self, description):
diff --git a/recipes/respekt_magazine.recipe b/recipes/respekt_magazine.recipe
index ecb9cae42b..d8da4aa66f 100644
--- a/recipes/respekt_magazine.recipe
+++ b/recipes/respekt_magazine.recipe
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class respektRecipe(BasicNewsRecipe):
     def preprocess_raw_html(self, raw_html, url):
         root = lxml.html.fromstring(raw_html)
         if root.xpath('//title')[0].text == (u'Respekt • Despekt • RESPEKT'):
-            raw_html = re.sub('h2','h1',raw_html)
+            raw_html = raw_html.replace('h2', 'h1')
         return raw_html
 
     def parse_index(self):
diff --git a/recipes/saskatoon_star_phoenix.recipe b/recipes/saskatoon_star_phoenix.recipe
index 6b89e889c7..b6e94ace43 100644
--- a/recipes/saskatoon_star_phoenix.recipe
+++ b/recipes/saskatoon_star_phoenix.recipe
@@ -129,18 +129,18 @@ class CanWestPaper(BasicNewsRecipe):
 
     def fixChars(self, string):
         # Replace lsquo (\x91)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x91', '‘', string)
+        fixed = string.replace('\x91', '‘')
         # Replace rsquo (\x92)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x92', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x92', '’')
         # Replace ldquo (\x93)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x93', '“', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x93', '“')
         # Replace rdquo (\x94)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x94', '”', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x94', '”')
         # Replace ndash (\x96)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x96', '–', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x96', '–')
         # Replace mdash (\x97)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x97', '—', fixed)
-        fixed = re.sub('’', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x97', '—')
+        fixed = fixed.replace('’', '’')
         return fixed
 
     def massageNCXText(self, description):
diff --git a/recipes/vancouver_province.recipe b/recipes/vancouver_province.recipe
index f6281b62e6..7e2e354bc2 100644
--- a/recipes/vancouver_province.recipe
+++ b/recipes/vancouver_province.recipe
@@ -183,18 +183,18 @@ class CanWestPaper(BasicNewsRecipe):
 
     def fixChars(self, string):
         # Replace lsquo (\x91)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x91', '‘', string)
+        fixed = string.replace('\x91', '‘')
         # Replace rsquo (\x92)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x92', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x92', '’')
         # Replace ldquo (\x93)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x93', '“', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x93', '“')
         # Replace rdquo (\x94)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x94', '”', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x94', '”')
         # Replace ndash (\x96)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x96', '–', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x96', '–')
         # Replace mdash (\x97)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x97', '—', fixed)
-        fixed = re.sub('’', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x97', '—')
+        fixed = fixed.replace('’', '’')
         return fixed
 
     def massageNCXText(self, description):
diff --git a/recipes/vancouver_sun.recipe b/recipes/vancouver_sun.recipe
index 5326e44731..03016d6e25 100644
--- a/recipes/vancouver_sun.recipe
+++ b/recipes/vancouver_sun.recipe
@@ -171,18 +171,18 @@ class CanWestPaper(BasicNewsRecipe):
 
     def fixChars(self, string):
         # Replace lsquo (\x91)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x91', '‘', string)
+        fixed = string.replace('\x91', '‘')
         # Replace rsquo (\x92)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x92', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x92', '’')
         # Replace ldquo (\x93)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x93', '“', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x93', '“')
         # Replace rdquo (\x94)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x94', '”', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x94', '”')
         # Replace ndash (\x96)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x96', '–', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x96', '–')
         # Replace mdash (\x97)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x97', '—', fixed)
-        fixed = re.sub('’', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x97', '—')
+        fixed = fixed.replace('’', '’')
         return fixed
 
     def massageNCXText(self, description):
diff --git a/recipes/vic_times.recipe b/recipes/vic_times.recipe
index dcadbe8c18..c4893c606b 100644
--- a/recipes/vic_times.recipe
+++ b/recipes/vic_times.recipe
@@ -133,18 +133,18 @@ class TimesColonist(BasicNewsRecipe):
 
     def fixChars(self, string):
         # Replace lsquo (\x91)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x91', '‘', string)
+        fixed = string.replace('\x91', '‘')
         # Replace rsquo (\x92)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x92', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x92', '’')
         # Replace ldquo (\x93)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x93', '“', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x93', '“')
         # Replace rdquo (\x94)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x94', '”', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x94', '”')
         # Replace ndash (\x96)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x96', '–', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x96', '–')
         # Replace mdash (\x97)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x97', '—', fixed)
-        fixed = re.sub('’', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x97', '—')
+        fixed = fixed.replace('’', '’')
         return fixed
 
     def massageNCXText(self, description):
diff --git a/recipes/windsor_star.recipe b/recipes/windsor_star.recipe
index c28eebe4f6..db20312efe 100644
--- a/recipes/windsor_star.recipe
+++ b/recipes/windsor_star.recipe
@@ -129,18 +129,18 @@ class CanWestPaper(BasicNewsRecipe):
 
     def fixChars(self, string):
         # Replace lsquo (\x91)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x91', '‘', string)
+        fixed = string.replace('\x91', '‘')
         # Replace rsquo (\x92)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x92', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x92', '’')
         # Replace ldquo (\x93)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x93', '“', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x93', '“')
         # Replace rdquo (\x94)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x94', '”', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x94', '”')
         # Replace ndash (\x96)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x96', '–', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x96', '–')
         # Replace mdash (\x97)
-        fixed = re.sub('\x97', '—', fixed)
-        fixed = re.sub('’', '’', fixed)
+        fixed = fixed.replace('\x97', '—')
+        fixed = fixed.replace('’', '’')
         return fixed
 
     def massageNCXText(self, description):
diff --git a/ruff-strict-pep8.toml b/ruff-strict-pep8.toml
index 44033b2eab..ac6a054c2b 100644
--- a/ruff-strict-pep8.toml
+++ b/ruff-strict-pep8.toml
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ select = [
     'RUF',  # nota: RUF can flag many unsolicited errors
     # preview rules
     'RUF051', 'RUF056',  # useless dict operation
+    'RUF055',  # unnecessary regex
 ]
 
 [lint.per-file-ignores]
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ select = [
 "src/calibre/gui2/store/stores/*" = ['UP']
 "src/calibre/gui2/tts/manager.py" = ['UP037']
 "src/calibre/utils/copy_files.py" = ['UP037']
+"src/calibre/utils/smartypants.py" = ['RUF055']
 "src/qt/*.py" = ['I']
 "src/qt/*.pyi" = ['I']
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/conversion/utils.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/conversion/utils.py
index 2aff246c21..2a4682f48e 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/conversion/utils.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/conversion/utils.py
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ class HeuristicProcessor:
                         else:
                             text_indent = style+':'+str(setting)+'pt;'
                     if style == 'padding':
-                        setting = re.sub('pt', '', setting).split(' ')
+                        setting = setting.replace('pt', '').split(' ')
                         if int(setting[1]) < 16 and int(setting[3]) < 16:
                             if self.in_blockquote:
                                 debugabby = True
diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/lrf/html/convert_from.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/lrf/html/convert_from.py
index 0bed5ac710..92f2710a80 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/lrf/html/convert_from.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/lrf/html/convert_from.py
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ class HTMLConverter:
                   # Remove <br> and replace <br><br> with <p>
                   (re.compile(r'<br.*?>\s*<br.*?>', re.IGNORECASE), lambda match: '<p>'),
                   (re.compile(r'(.*)<br.*?>', re.IGNORECASE),
-                   lambda match: match.group() if re.match('<', match.group(1).lstrip()) or len(match.group(1)) < 40
+                   lambda match: match.group() if match.group(1).lstrip().startswith('<') or len(match.group(1)) < 40
                                 else match.group(1)),
                   # Remove hyphenation
                   (re.compile(r'-\n\r?'), lambda match: ''),
@@ -1864,8 +1864,8 @@ def process_file(path, options, logger):
             fheader = '%t by %a'
         fheader = re.sub(r'(?<!%)%t', options.title, fheader)
         fheader = re.sub(r'(?<!%)%a', options.author, fheader)
-        fheader = re.sub(r'%%a','%a',fheader)
-        fheader = re.sub(r'%%t','%t',fheader)
+        fheader = fheader.replace('%%a', '%a')
+        fheader = fheader.replace('%%t', '%t')
         header.append(fheader + '  ')
     book, fonts = Book(options, logger, header=header, **args)
     le = re.compile(options.link_exclude) if options.link_exclude else \
diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/oeb/transforms/split.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/oeb/transforms/split.py
index 9cc17766f1..93b5da866c 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/oeb/transforms/split.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/oeb/transforms/split.py
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ class FlowSplitter:
     def split_text(self, text, root, size):
         self.log.debug('\t\t\tSplitting text of length: %d'%len(text))
         rest = text.replace('\r', '')
-        parts = re.split('\n\n', rest)
+        parts = rest.split('\n\n')
         self.log.debug('\t\t\t\tFound %d parts'%len(parts))
         if max(map(len, parts)) > size:
             raise SplitError('Cannot split as file contains a <pre> tag '
diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/rtf/rtfml.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/rtf/rtfml.py
index 8de1fab772..28c3784d94 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/rtf/rtfml.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/rtf/rtfml.py
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ class RTFMLizer:
         # Remove excessive spaces
         text = re.sub('[ ]{2,}', ' ', text)
         text = re.sub('\t{2,}', '\t', text)
-        text = re.sub('\t ', '\t', text)
+        text = text.replace('\t ', '\t')
 
         # Remove excessive line breaks
         text = re.sub(r'(\{\\line \}\s*){3,}', r'{\\line }{\\line }', text)
diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/textile/functions.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/textile/functions.py
index 0fc53b151b..f83877cfa5 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/textile/functions.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/textile/functions.py
@@ -594,7 +594,7 @@ class Textile:
 
             line = self.doPBr(line)
             if self.html_type == 'xhtml':
-                line = re.sub(r'<br>', '<br />', line)
+                line = line.replace('<br>', '<br />')
 
             if ext and anon:
                 out.append(out.pop() + '\n' + line)
diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/txt/markdownml.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/txt/markdownml.py
index 9b418f6e5e..53465bde6c 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/txt/markdownml.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/txt/markdownml.py
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class MarkdownMLizer(OEB2HTML):
                 start = start.group()
             else:
                 start = ''
-            l = re.sub('\t', '', l)
+            l = l.replace('\t', '')
             new_text.append(start + l)
         text = '\n'.join(new_text)
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/ebooks/txt/textileml.py b/src/calibre/ebooks/txt/textileml.py
index 09b7ecfaf3..210505b186 100644
--- a/src/calibre/ebooks/txt/textileml.py
+++ b/src/calibre/ebooks/txt/textileml.py
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ class TextileMLizer(OEB2HTML):
         # remove empty spans
         text = re.sub(r'%\xa0+', r'%', text)
         # remove empty spans - MAY MERGE SOME ?
-        text = re.sub(r'%%', r'', text)
+        text = text.replace('%%', '')
         # remove spans from tagged output
         text = re.sub(r'%([_+*-]+)%', r'\1', text)
         # remove spaces before a newline
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ class TextileMLizer(OEB2HTML):
             txt = self.build_block('', style, attribs, stylizer)
             txt += '. '
             if txt != '\n. ':
-                txt = re.sub('\n', '', txt)
+                txt = txt.replace('\n', '')
                 text.append(txt)
             tags.append('|\n')
         elif tag == 'td':
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/actions/catalog.py b/src/calibre/gui2/actions/catalog.py
index 4ffe9e9923..97c79b43f5 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/actions/catalog.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/actions/catalog.py
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class GenerateCatalogAction(InterfaceAction):
             # jobs.results is a list - the first entry is the intended title for the dialog
             # Subsequent strings are error messages
             dialog_title = job.result.pop(0)
-            if re.search('warning', job.result[0].lower()):
+            if 'warning' in job.result[0].lower():
                 msg = _('Catalog generation complete, with warnings.')
                 warning_dialog(self.gui, dialog_title, msg, det_msg='\n'.join(job.result), show=True)
             else:
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/store/stores/nexto_plugin.py b/src/calibre/gui2/store/stores/nexto_plugin.py
index 162c6f3f48..92feedaa73 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/store/stores/nexto_plugin.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/store/stores/nexto_plugin.py
@@ -82,10 +82,10 @@ class NextoStore(BasicStoreConfig, StorePlugin):
                     price = ''.join(data.xpath('.//strong[@class="nprice"]/text()'))
 
                     cover_url = ''.join(data.xpath('.//picture[@class="cover"]/img/@data-src'))
-                    cover_url = re.sub(r'%2F', '/', cover_url)
-                    cover_url = re.sub(r'widthMax=235&heightMax=335', 'widthMax=64&heightMax=64', cover_url)
+                    cover_url = cover_url.replace('%2F', '/')
+                    cover_url = cover_url.replace('widthMax=235&heightMax=335', 'widthMax=64&heightMax=64')
                     title = ''.join(data.xpath('.//a[@class="title"]/text()'))
-                    title = re.sub(r' – ebook', '', title)
+                    title = title.replace(' – ebook', '')
                     author = ', '.join(data.xpath('.//div[@class="col-7"]//h4//a/text()'))
                     formats = ', '.join(data.xpath('.//ul[@class="formats"]/li//b/text()'))
                     DrmFree = data.xpath('.//ul[@class="formats"]/li//b[contains(@title, "znak")]')
diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/store/stores/rw2010_plugin.py b/src/calibre/gui2/store/stores/rw2010_plugin.py
index 6a4317678c..4c08c5bf66 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/store/stores/rw2010_plugin.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/store/stores/rw2010_plugin.py
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ class RW2010Store(BasicStoreConfig, StorePlugin):
                 s.title = title.strip()
                 s.author = author.strip()
                 s.price = price
-                s.detail_item = re.sub(r'%3D', '=', id)
+                s.detail_item = id.replace('%3D', '=')
                 s.drm = SearchResult.DRM_UNLOCKED
                 s.formats = formats[0:-2].upper()
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/library/catalogs/utils.py b/src/calibre/library/catalogs/utils.py
index 5e7441c1e6..967b5faff4 100644
--- a/src/calibre/library/catalogs/utils.py
+++ b/src/calibre/library/catalogs/utils.py
@@ -88,9 +88,9 @@ class NumberToText:  # {{{
 
         # Special case ordinals
         if re.search('[st|nd|rd|th]',self.number):
-            self.number = re.sub(',','',self.number)
+            self.number = self.number.replace(',', '')
             ordinal_suffix = re.search(r'[\D]', self.number)
-            ordinal_number = re.sub(r'\D','',re.sub(',','',self.number))
+            ordinal_number = re.sub(r'\D','',self.number.replace(',', ''))
             if self.verbose:
                 self.log('Ordinal: %s' % ordinal_number)
             self.number_as_float = ordinal_number
@@ -102,17 +102,17 @@ class NumberToText:  # {{{
                 self.text = '%s' % (self.ORDINALS[int(ordinal_number)])
 
         # Test for time
-        elif re.search(':',self.number):
+        elif ':' in self.number:
             if self.verbose:
                 self.log('Time: %s' % self.number)
-            self.number_as_float = re.sub(':','.',self.number)
+            self.number_as_float = self.number.replace(':', '.')
             time_strings = self.number.split(':')
             hours = NumberToText(time_strings[0]).text
             minutes = NumberToText(time_strings[1]).text
             self.text = f'{hours.capitalize()}-{minutes}'
 
         # Test for %
-        elif re.search('%', self.number):
+        elif '%' in self.number:
             if self.verbose:
                 self.log('Percent: %s' % self.number)
             self.number_as_float = self.number.split('%')[0]
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class NumberToText:  # {{{
             self.text = f'{left.capitalize()} point {right}'
 
         # Test for hyphenated
-        elif re.search('-', self.number):
+        elif '-' in self.number:
             if self.verbose:
                 self.log('Hyphenated: %s' % self.number)
             self.number_as_float = self.number.split('-')[0]
@@ -143,10 +143,10 @@ class NumberToText:  # {{{
             self.text = f'{left}-{right}'
 
         # Test for only commas and numbers
-        elif re.search(',', self.number) and not re.search('[^0-9,]',self.number):
+        elif ',' in self.number and not re.search('[^0-9,]',self.number):
             if self.verbose:
                 self.log('Comma(s): %s' % self.number)
-            self.number_as_float = re.sub(',','',self.number)
+            self.number_as_float = self.number.replace(',', '')
             self.text = NumberToText(self.number_as_float).text
 
         # Test for hybrid e.g., 'K2, 2nd, 10@10'