diff --git a/js/extensionPrefs/main.js b/js/extensionPrefs/main.js
index 7f662a931..935ab0c69 100644
--- a/js/extensionPrefs/main.js
+++ b/js/extensionPrefs/main.js
@@ -277,10 +277,10 @@ var ExtensionsWindow = GObject.registerClass({
         });
         box.add(expander);
 
-        let errortext = `${exc}\n\nStack trace:\n${
-            // Indent stack trace.
-            exc.stack.split('\n').map(line => `  ${line}`).join('\n')
-        }`;
+        let errortext = '%s\n\nStack trace:\n'.format(exc);
+        // Indent stack trace.
+        errortext +=
+            exc.stack.split('\n').map(line => '  %s'.format(line)).join('\n');
 
         let buffer = new Gtk.TextBuffer({ text: errortext });
         let textview = new Gtk.TextView({
@@ -315,9 +315,9 @@ var ExtensionsWindow = GObject.registerClass({
             let clipboard = Gtk.Clipboard.get_default(w.get_display());
             // markdown for pasting in gitlab issues
             let lines = [
-                `The settings of extension ${row.uuid} had an error:`,
+                'The settings of extension %s had an error:'.format(row.uuid),
                 '```', // '`' (xgettext throws up on odd number of backticks)
-                `${exc}`,
+                exc.toString(),
                 '```', // '`'
                 '',
                 'Stack trace:',
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ var ExtensionsWindow = GObject.registerClass({
         this._shellProxy.ListExtensionsRemote(([extensionsMap], e) => {
             if (e) {
                 if (e instanceof Gio.DBusError) {
-                    log(`Failed to connect to shell proxy: ${e}`);
+                    log('Failed to connect to shell proxy: %s'.format(e.toString()));
                     this._mainStack.visible_child_name = 'noshell';
                 } else {
                     throw e;
@@ -703,10 +703,10 @@ var ExtensionRow = GObject.registerClass({
 
         this._updatesIcon.visible = this.hasUpdate;
 
-        this._versionLabel.label = `${this.version}`;
+        this._versionLabel.label = this.version;
         this._versionLabel.visible = this.version !== '';
 
-        this._authorLabel.label = `${this.creator}`;
+        this._authorLabel.label = this.creator;
         this._authorLabel.visible = this.creator !== '';
     }
 
@@ -747,7 +747,7 @@ function initEnvironment() {
         },
 
         logError(s) {
-            log(`ERROR: ${s}`);
+            log('ERROR: %s'.format(s));
         },
 
         userdatadir: GLib.build_filenamev([GLib.get_user_data_dir(), 'gnome-shell']),
diff --git a/js/gdm/loginDialog.js b/js/gdm/loginDialog.js
index 92cb256ef..b3a95b838 100644
--- a/js/gdm/loginDialog.js
+++ b/js/gdm/loginDialog.js
@@ -421,13 +421,13 @@ var LoginDialog = GObject.registerClass({
 
         this._settings = new Gio.Settings({ schema_id: GdmUtil.LOGIN_SCREEN_SCHEMA });
 
-        this._settings.connect(`changed::${GdmUtil.BANNER_MESSAGE_KEY}`,
+        this._settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(GdmUtil.BANNER_MESSAGE_KEY),
                                this._updateBanner.bind(this));
-        this._settings.connect(`changed::${GdmUtil.BANNER_MESSAGE_TEXT_KEY}`,
+        this._settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(GdmUtil.BANNER_MESSAGE_TEXT_KEY),
                                this._updateBanner.bind(this));
-        this._settings.connect(`changed::${GdmUtil.DISABLE_USER_LIST_KEY}`,
+        this._settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(GdmUtil.DISABLE_USER_LIST_KEY),
                                this._updateDisableUserList.bind(this));
-        this._settings.connect(`changed::${GdmUtil.LOGO_KEY}`,
+        this._settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(GdmUtil.LOGO_KEY),
                                this._updateLogo.bind(this));
 
         this._textureCache = St.TextureCache.get_default();
diff --git a/js/misc/systemActions.js b/js/misc/systemActions.js
index 4442a5b71..6248fe9a0 100644
--- a/js/misc/systemActions.js
+++ b/js/misc/systemActions.js
@@ -151,17 +151,17 @@ const SystemActions = GObject.registerClass({
         this._userManager.connect('user-removed',
                                   () => this._updateMultiUser());
 
-        this._lockdownSettings.connect(`changed::${DISABLE_USER_SWITCH_KEY}`,
+        this._lockdownSettings.connect('changed::%s'.format(DISABLE_USER_SWITCH_KEY),
                                        () => this._updateSwitchUser());
-        this._lockdownSettings.connect(`changed::${DISABLE_LOG_OUT_KEY}`,
+        this._lockdownSettings.connect('changed::%s'.format(DISABLE_LOG_OUT_KEY),
                                        () => this._updateLogout());
-        global.settings.connect(`changed::${ALWAYS_SHOW_LOG_OUT_KEY}`,
+        global.settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(ALWAYS_SHOW_LOG_OUT_KEY),
                                 () => this._updateLogout());
 
-        this._lockdownSettings.connect(`changed::${DISABLE_LOCK_SCREEN_KEY}`,
+        this._lockdownSettings.connect('changed::%s'.format(DISABLE_LOCK_SCREEN_KEY),
                                        () => this._updateLockScreen());
 
-        this._lockdownSettings.connect(`changed::${DISABLE_LOG_OUT_KEY}`,
+        this._lockdownSettings.connect('changed::%s'.format(DISABLE_LOG_OUT_KEY),
                                        () => this._updateHaveShutdown());
 
         this.forceUpdate();
diff --git a/js/misc/util.js b/js/misc/util.js
index a58ebc5e8..9d30b3f95 100644
--- a/js/misc/util.js
+++ b/js/misc/util.js
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ const _leadingJunk = '[\\s`(\\[{\'\\"<\u00AB\u201C\u2018]';
 const _notTrailingJunk = '[^\\s`!()\\[\\]{};:\'\\".,<>?\u00AB\u00BB\u200E\u200F\u201C\u201D\u2018\u2019\u202A\u202C]';
 
 const _urlRegexp = new RegExp(
-    `(^|${_leadingJunk})` +
+    '(^|%s)'.format(_leadingJunk) +
     '(' +
         '(?:' +
             '(?:http|https|ftp)://' +             // scheme://
@@ -33,12 +33,12 @@ const _urlRegexp = new RegExp(
         '(?:' +                                   // one or more:
             '[^\\s()<>]+' +                       // run of non-space non-()
             '|' +                                 // or
-            `${_balancedParens}` +                // balanced parens
+            '%s'.format(_balancedParens) +        // balanced parens
         ')+' +
         '(?:' +                                   // end with:
-            `${_balancedParens}` +                // balanced parens
+            '%s'.format(_balancedParens) +        // balanced parens
             '|' +                                 // or
-            `${_notTrailingJunk}` +               // last non-junk char
+            '%s'.format(_notTrailingJunk) +       // last non-junk char
         ')' +
     ')', 'gi');
 
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ function trySpawnCommandLine(commandLine) {
     } catch (err) {
         // Replace "Error invoking GLib.shell_parse_argv: " with
         // something nicer
-        err.message = err.message.replace(/[^:]*: /, `${_("Could not parse command:")}\n`);
+        err.message = err.message.replace(/[^:]*: /, '%s\n'.format(_('Could not parse command:')));
         throw err;
     }
 
diff --git a/js/portalHelper/main.js b/js/portalHelper/main.js
index 88adc1b8d..daaefa886 100644
--- a/js/portalHelper/main.js
+++ b/js/portalHelper/main.js
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ const PortalHelperSecurityLevel = {
 };
 
 const CONNECTIVITY_CHECK_HOST = 'nmcheck.gnome.org';
-const CONNECTIVITY_CHECK_URI = `http://${CONNECTIVITY_CHECK_HOST}`;
 const CONNECTIVITY_RECHECK_RATELIMIT_TIMEOUT = 30 * GLib.USEC_PER_SEC;
 
 const HelperDBusInterface = loadInterfaceXML('org.gnome.Shell.PortalHelper');
@@ -103,7 +102,7 @@ class PortalWindow extends Gtk.ApplicationWindow {
         this._headerBar.show();
 
         if (!url) {
-            url = CONNECTIVITY_CHECK_URI;
+            url = 'http://%s'.format(CONNECTIVITY_CHECK_HOST);
             this._originalUrlWasGnome = true;
         } else {
             this._originalUrlWasGnome = false;
diff --git a/js/ui/accessDialog.js b/js/ui/accessDialog.js
index 6d3ede01e..0e417bda7 100644
--- a/js/ui/accessDialog.js
+++ b/js/ui/accessDialog.js
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ var AccessDialogDBus = class {
         let [handle, appId, parentWindow_, title, description, body, options] = params;
         // We probably want to use parentWindow and global.display.focus_window
         // for this check in the future
-        if (appId && `${appId}.desktop` != this._windowTracker.focus_app.id) {
+        if (appId && '%s.desktop'.format(appId) != this._windowTracker.focus_app.id) {
             invocation.return_error_literal(Gio.DBusError,
                                             Gio.DBusError.ACCESS_DENIED,
                                             'Only the focused app is allowed to show a system access dialog');
diff --git a/js/ui/appDisplay.js b/js/ui/appDisplay.js
index 77868722c..01f87059a 100644
--- a/js/ui/appDisplay.js
+++ b/js/ui/appDisplay.js
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ function _getFolderName(folder) {
 
     if (folder.get_boolean('translate')) {
         let keyfile = new GLib.KeyFile();
-        let path = `desktop-directories/${name}`;
+        let path = 'desktop-directories/%s'.format(name);
 
         try {
             keyfile.load_from_data_dirs(path, GLib.KeyFileFlags.NONE);
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ var BaseAppView = GObject.registerClass({
         if (this._items.has(id))
             this._items.get(id).navigate_focus(null, St.DirectionType.TAB_FORWARD, false);
         else
-            log(`No such application ${id}`);
+            log('No such application %s'.format(id));
     }
 
     selectApp(id) {
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ var BaseAppView = GObject.registerClass({
     }
 
     adaptToSize(_width, _height) {
-        throw new GObject.NotImplementedError(`adaptToSize in ${this.constructor.name}`);
+        throw new GObject.NotImplementedError('adaptToSize in %s'.format(this.constructor.name));
     }
 });
 
@@ -492,7 +492,7 @@ var AllView = GObject.registerClass({
 
         let folders = this._folderSettings.get_strv('folder-children');
         folders.forEach(id => {
-            let path = `${this._folderSettings.path}folders/${id}/`;
+            let path = '%sfolders/%s/'.format(this._folderSettings.path, id);
             let icon = this._items.get(id);
             if (!icon) {
                 icon = new FolderIcon(id, path, this);
@@ -2278,7 +2278,7 @@ var AppIcon = GObject.registerClass({
 
     shellWorkspaceLaunch(params) {
         let { stack } = new Error();
-        log(`shellWorkspaceLaunch is deprecated, use app.open_new_window() instead\n${stack}`);
+        log('shellWorkspaceLaunch is deprecated, use app.open_new_window() instead\n%s'.format(stack));
 
         params = Params.parse(params, { workspace: -1,
                                         timestamp: 0 });
diff --git a/js/ui/appFavorites.js b/js/ui/appFavorites.js
index 3308dd6b3..653f0cfba 100644
--- a/js/ui/appFavorites.js
+++ b/js/ui/appFavorites.js
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ class AppFavorites {
     constructor() {
         this.FAVORITE_APPS_KEY = 'favorite-apps';
         this._favorites = {};
-        global.settings.connect(`changed::${this.FAVORITE_APPS_KEY}`, this._onFavsChanged.bind(this));
+        global.settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(this.FAVORITE_APPS_KEY), this._onFavsChanged.bind(this));
         this.reload();
     }
 
diff --git a/js/ui/audioDeviceSelection.js b/js/ui/audioDeviceSelection.js
index 9bdabc225..15727f4f3 100644
--- a/js/ui/audioDeviceSelection.js
+++ b/js/ui/audioDeviceSelection.js
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ var AudioDeviceSelectionDialog = GObject.registerClass({
         let app = Shell.AppSystem.get_default().lookup_app(desktopFile);
 
         if (!app) {
-            log(`Settings panel for desktop file ${desktopFile} could not be loaded!`);
+            log('Settings panel for desktop file %s could not be loaded!'.format(desktopFile));
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/js/ui/calendar.js b/js/ui/calendar.js
index a5a763d59..524d2dd32 100644
--- a/js/ui/calendar.js
+++ b/js/ui/calendar.js
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ var ELLIPSIS_CHAR = '\u2026';
 
 var MESSAGE_ICON_SIZE = -1; // pick up from CSS
 
-var NC_ = (context, str) => `${context}\u0004${str}`;
+var NC_ = (context, str) => '%s\u0004%s'.format(context, str);
 
 function sameYear(dateA, dateB) {
     return dateA.getYear() == dateB.getYear();
@@ -114,26 +114,26 @@ var EventSourceBase = GObject.registerClass({
     Signals: { 'changed': {} },
 }, class EventSourceBase extends GObject.Object {
     get isLoading() {
-        throw new GObject.NotImplementedError(`isLoading in ${this.constructor.name}`);
+        throw new GObject.NotImplementedError('isLoading in %s'.format(this.constructor.name));
     }
 
     get hasCalendars() {
-        throw new GObject.NotImplementedError(`hasCalendars in ${this.constructor.name}`);
+        throw new GObject.NotImplementedError('hasCalendars in %s'.format(this.constructor.name));
     }
 
     destroy() {
     }
 
     requestRange(_begin, _end) {
-        throw new GObject.NotImplementedError(`requestRange in ${this.constructor.name}`);
+        throw new GObject.NotImplementedError('requestRange in %s'.format(this.constructor.name));
     }
 
     getEvents(_begin, _end) {
-        throw new GObject.NotImplementedError(`getEvents in ${this.constructor.name}`);
+        throw new GObject.NotImplementedError('getEvents in %s'.format(this.constructor.name));
     }
 
     hasEvents(_day) {
-        throw new GObject.NotImplementedError(`hasEvents in ${this.constructor.name}`);
+        throw new GObject.NotImplementedError('hasEvents in %s'.format(this.constructor.name));
     }
 });
 
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ class DBusEventSource extends EventSourceBase {
                     // about the HasCalendars property and would cause an exception trying
                     // to read it)
                 } else {
-                    log(`Error loading calendars: ${e.message}`);
+                    log('Error loading calendars: %s'.format(e.message));
                     return;
                 }
             }
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ var Calendar = GObject.registerClass({
         this._weekStart = Shell.util_get_week_start();
         this._settings = new Gio.Settings({ schema_id: 'org.gnome.desktop.calendar' });
 
-        this._settings.connect(`changed::${SHOW_WEEKDATE_KEY}`, this._onSettingsChange.bind(this));
+        this._settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(SHOW_WEEKDATE_KEY), this._onSettingsChange.bind(this));
         this._useWeekdate = this._settings.get_boolean(SHOW_WEEKDATE_KEY);
 
         /**
@@ -626,13 +626,13 @@ var Calendar = GObject.registerClass({
 
             // Hack used in lieu of border-collapse - see gnome-shell.css
             if (row == 2)
-                styleClass = `calendar-day-top ${styleClass}`;
+                styleClass = 'calendar-day-top %s'.format(styleClass);
 
             let leftMost = rtl
                 ? iter.getDay() == (this._weekStart + 6) % 7
                 : iter.getDay() == this._weekStart;
             if (leftMost)
-                styleClass = `calendar-day-left ${styleClass}`;
+                styleClass = 'calendar-day-left %s'.format(styleClass);
 
             if (sameDay(now, iter))
                 styleClass += ' calendar-today';
@@ -738,15 +738,15 @@ class EventMessage extends MessageList.Message {
         let rtl = Clutter.get_default_text_direction() == Clutter.TextDirection.RTL;
         if (this._event.date < periodBegin && !this._event.allDay) {
             if (rtl)
-                title = `${title}${ELLIPSIS_CHAR}`;
+                title = '%s%s'.format(title, ELLIPSIS_CHAR);
             else
-                title = `${ELLIPSIS_CHAR}${title}`;
+                title = '%s%s'.format(ELLIPSIS_CHAR, title);
         }
         if (this._event.end > periodEnd && !this._event.allDay) {
             if (rtl)
-                title = `${ELLIPSIS_CHAR}${title}`;
+                title = '%s%s'.format(ELLIPSIS_CHAR, title);
             else
-                title = `${title}${ELLIPSIS_CHAR}`;
+                title = '%s%s'.format(title, ELLIPSIS_CHAR);
         }
         return title;
     }
@@ -1204,7 +1204,7 @@ class CalendarMessageList extends St.Widget {
 
         for (let prop of ['visible', 'empty', 'can-clear']) {
             connectionsIds.push(
-                section.connect(`notify::${prop}`, this._sync.bind(this)));
+                section.connect('notify::%s'.format(prop), this._sync.bind(this)));
         }
         connectionsIds.push(section.connect('message-focused', (_s, messageActor) => {
             Util.ensureActorVisibleInScrollView(this._scrollView, messageActor);
diff --git a/js/ui/components/automountManager.js b/js/ui/components/automountManager.js
index 371bcab7d..1cb84a7ec 100644
--- a/js/ui/components/automountManager.js
+++ b/js/ui/components/automountManager.js
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ var AutomountManager = class {
                     try {
                         drive.stop_finish(res);
                     } catch (e) {
-                        log(`Unable to stop the drive after drive-eject-button ${e.toString()}`);
+                        log('Unable to stop the drive after drive-eject-button %s'.format(e.toString()));
                     }
                 });
         } else if (drive.can_eject()) {
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ var AutomountManager = class {
                     try {
                         drive.eject_with_operation_finish(res);
                     } catch (e) {
-                        log(`Unable to eject the drive after drive-eject-button ${e.toString()}`);
+                        log('Unable to eject the drive after drive-eject-button %s'.format(e.toString()));
                     }
                 });
         }
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ var AutomountManager = class {
                 }
 
                 if (!e.matches(Gio.IOErrorEnum, Gio.IOErrorEnum.FAILED_HANDLED))
-                    log(`Unable to mount volume ${volume.get_name()}: ${e.toString()}`);
+                    log('Unable to mount volume %s: %s'.format(volume.get_name(), e.toString()));
                 this._closeOperation(volume);
             }
         }
diff --git a/js/ui/components/autorunManager.js b/js/ui/components/autorunManager.js
index ad1597108..cfa42834b 100644
--- a/js/ui/components/autorunManager.js
+++ b/js/ui/components/autorunManager.js
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ function startAppForMount(app, mount) {
         retval = app.launch(files,
                             global.create_app_launch_context(0, -1));
     } catch (e) {
-        log(`Unable to launch the application ${app.get_name()}: ${e}`);
+        log('Unable to launch the application %s: %s'.format(app.get_name(), e.toString()));
     }
 
     return retval;
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ var ContentTypeDiscoverer = class {
         try {
             contentTypes = mount.guess_content_type_finish(res);
         } catch (e) {
-            log(`Unable to guess content types on added mount ${mount.get_name()}: ${e}`);
+            log('Unable to guess content types on added mount %s: %s'.format(mount.get_name(), e.toString()));
         }
 
         if (contentTypes.length) {
diff --git a/js/ui/components/networkAgent.js b/js/ui/components/networkAgent.js
index dbd2b2124..4ab598597 100644
--- a/js/ui/components/networkAgent.js
+++ b/js/ui/components/networkAgent.js
@@ -204,10 +204,14 @@ class NetworkSecretDialog extends ModalDialog.ModalDialog {
                            validate: this._validateWpaPsk, password: true });
             break;
         case 'none': // static WEP
-            secrets.push({ label: _('Key'), key: `wep-key${wirelessSecuritySetting.wep_tx_keyidx}`,
-                           value: wirelessSecuritySetting.get_wep_key(wirelessSecuritySetting.wep_tx_keyidx) || '',
-                           wep_key_type: wirelessSecuritySetting.wep_key_type,
-                           validate: this._validateStaticWep, password: true });
+            secrets.push({
+                label: _('Key'),
+                key: 'wep-key%s'.format(wirelessSecuritySetting.wep_tx_keyidx),
+                value: wirelessSecuritySetting.get_wep_key(wirelessSecuritySetting.wep_tx_keyidx) || '',
+                wep_key_type: wirelessSecuritySetting.wep_key_type,
+                validate: this._validateStaticWep,
+                password: true,
+            });
             break;
         case 'ieee8021x':
             if (wirelessSecuritySetting.auth_alg == 'leap') { // Cisco LEAP
@@ -221,7 +225,7 @@ class NetworkSecretDialog extends ModalDialog.ModalDialog {
             this._get8021xSecrets(secrets);
             break;
         default:
-            log(`Invalid wireless key management: ${wirelessSecuritySetting.key_mgmt}`);
+            log('Invalid wireless key management: %s'.format(wirelessSecuritySetting.key_mgmt));
         }
     }
 
@@ -266,7 +270,7 @@ class NetworkSecretDialog extends ModalDialog.ModalDialog {
                            value: ieee8021xSetting.private_key_password || '', password: true });
             break;
         default:
-            log(`Invalid EAP/IEEE802.1x method: ${ieee8021xSetting.get_eap_method(0)}`);
+            log('Invalid EAP/IEEE802.1x method: %s'.format(ieee8021xSetting.get_eap_method(0)));
         }
     }
 
@@ -336,7 +340,7 @@ class NetworkSecretDialog extends ModalDialog.ModalDialog {
             this._getMobileSecrets(content.secrets, connectionType);
             break;
         default:
-            log(`Invalid connection type: ${connectionType}`);
+            log('Invalid connection type: %s'.format(connectionType));
         }
 
         return content;
@@ -581,12 +585,12 @@ var VPNRequestHandler = class {
 
         try {
             vpnSetting.foreach_data_item((key, value) => {
-                this._stdin.write(`DATA_KEY=${key}\n`, null);
-                this._stdin.write(`DATA_VAL=${value || ''}\n\n`, null);
+                this._stdin.write('DATA_KEY=%s\n'.format(key), null);
+                this._stdin.write('DATA_VAL=%s\n\n'.format(value || ''), null);
             });
             vpnSetting.foreach_secret((key, value) => {
-                this._stdin.write(`SECRET_KEY=${key}\n`, null);
-                this._stdin.write(`SECRET_VAL=${value || ''}\n\n`, null);
+                this._stdin.write('SECRET_KEY=%s\n'.format(key), null);
+                this._stdin.write('SECRET_VAL=%s\n\n'.format(value || ''), null);
             });
             this._stdin.write('DONE\n\n', null);
         } catch (e) {
@@ -616,7 +620,7 @@ var NetworkAgent = class {
             let monitor = this._pluginDir.monitor(Gio.FileMonitorFlags.NONE, null);
             monitor.connect('changed', () => (this._vpnCacheBuilt = false));
         } catch (e) {
-            log(`Failed to create monitor for VPN plugin dir: ${e.message}`);
+            log('Failed to create monitor for VPN plugin dir: %s'.format(e.message));
         }
 
         this._native.connect('new-request', this._newRequest.bind(this));
@@ -707,7 +711,7 @@ var NetworkAgent = class {
             body = _("A password is required to connect to “%s”.").format(connectionSetting.get_id());
             break;
         default:
-            log(`Invalid connection type: ${connectionType}`);
+            log('Invalid connection type: %s'.format(connectionType));
             this._native.respond(requestId, Shell.NetworkAgentResponse.INTERNAL_ERROR);
             return;
         }
diff --git a/js/ui/components/polkitAgent.js b/js/ui/components/polkitAgent.js
index 7fdfd1006..4bfbde1bb 100644
--- a/js/ui/components/polkitAgent.js
+++ b/js/ui/components/polkitAgent.js
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ var AuthenticationDialog = GObject.registerClass({
         let bodyContent = new Dialog.MessageDialogContent();
 
         if (userNames.length > 1) {
-            log(`polkitAuthenticationAgent: Received ${userNames.length} ` +
+            log('polkitAuthenticationAgent: Received %d'.format(userNames.length) +
                 'identities that can be used for authentication. Only ' +
                 'considering one.');
         }
@@ -194,8 +194,8 @@ var AuthenticationDialog = GObject.registerClass({
             // We could add retrying if this turns out to be a problem
 
             log('polkitAuthenticationAgent: Failed to show modal dialog. ' +
-                `Dismissing authentication request for action-id ${this.actionId} ` +
-                `cookie ${this._cookie}`);
+                'Dismissing authentication request for action-id %s '.format(this.actionId) +
+                'cookie %s'.format(this._cookie));
             this._emitDone(true);
         }
     }
diff --git a/js/ui/components/telepathyClient.js b/js/ui/components/telepathyClient.js
index e6ea64224..e6ae34042 100644
--- a/js/ui/components/telepathyClient.js
+++ b/js/ui/components/telepathyClient.js
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ var TelepathyComponent = class {
         try {
             this._client.register();
         } catch (e) {
-            throw new Error(`Could not register Telepathy client. Error: ${e}`);
+            throw new Error('Could not register Telepathy client. Error: %s'.format(e.toString()));
         }
 
         if (!this._client.account_manager.is_prepared(Tp.AccountManager.get_feature_quark_core()))
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ class TelepathyClient extends Tp.BaseClient {
                 dispatchOp.claim_with_finish(result);
                 this._handlingChannels(account, conn, [channel], false);
             } catch (err) {
-                log(`Failed to Claim channel: ${err}`);
+                log('Failed to Claim channel: %s'.format(err.toString()));
             }
         });
 
diff --git a/js/ui/dateMenu.js b/js/ui/dateMenu.js
index 63bcbdf5e..385cee469 100644
--- a/js/ui/dateMenu.js
+++ b/js/ui/dateMenu.js
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ class WorldClocksSection extends St.Button {
 
     _onProxyReady(proxy, error) {
         if (error) {
-            log(`Failed to create GNOME Clocks proxy: ${error}`);
+            log('Failed to create GNOME Clocks proxy: %s'.format(error));
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/js/ui/endSessionDialog.js b/js/ui/endSessionDialog.js
index ff1aa0ddf..42ae0d3f2 100644
--- a/js/ui/endSessionDialog.js
+++ b/js/ui/endSessionDialog.js
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ class EndSessionDialog extends ModalDialog.ModalDialog {
                 try {
                     this._updatesPermission = Polkit.Permission.new_finish(res);
                 } catch (e) {
-                    log(`No permission to trigger offline updates: ${e}`);
+                    log('No permission to trigger offline updates: %s'.format(e.toString()));
                 }
             });
     }
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ class EndSessionDialog extends ModalDialog.ModalDialog {
                 if (!sessionId) {
                     this._loginManager.getCurrentSessionProxy(currentSessionProxy => {
                         sessionId = currentSessionProxy.Id;
-                        log(`endSessionDialog: No XDG_SESSION_ID, fetched from logind: ${sessionId}`);
+                        log('endSessionDialog: No XDG_SESSION_ID, fetched from logind: %d'.format(sessionId));
                     });
                 }
 
diff --git a/js/ui/extensionDownloader.js b/js/ui/extensionDownloader.js
index abaa644e0..5f6e74b09 100644
--- a/js/ui/extensionDownloader.js
+++ b/js/ui/extensionDownloader.js
@@ -10,10 +10,9 @@ const FileUtils = imports.misc.fileUtils;
 const Main = imports.ui.main;
 const ModalDialog = imports.ui.modalDialog;
 
-var REPOSITORY_URL_BASE = 'https://extensions.gnome.org';
-var REPOSITORY_URL_DOWNLOAD = `${REPOSITORY_URL_BASE}/download-extension/%s.shell-extension.zip`;
-var REPOSITORY_URL_INFO     = `${REPOSITORY_URL_BASE}/extension-info/`;
-var REPOSITORY_URL_UPDATE   = `${REPOSITORY_URL_BASE}/update-info/`;
+var REPOSITORY_URL_DOWNLOAD = 'https://extensions.gnome.org/download-extension/%s.shell-extension.zip';
+var REPOSITORY_URL_INFO     = 'https://extensions.gnome.org/extension-info/';
+var REPOSITORY_URL_UPDATE   = 'https://extensions.gnome.org/update-info/';
 
 let _httpSession;
 
@@ -25,7 +24,7 @@ function installExtension(uuid, invocation) {
 
     _httpSession.queue_message(message, () => {
         if (message.status_code != Soup.KnownStatusCode.OK) {
-            Main.extensionManager.logExtensionError(uuid, `downloading info: ${message.status_code}`);
+            Main.extensionManager.logExtensionError(uuid, 'downloading info: %d'.format(message.status_code));
             invocation.return_dbus_error('org.gnome.Shell.DownloadInfoError', message.status_code.toString());
             return;
         }
@@ -34,7 +33,7 @@ function installExtension(uuid, invocation) {
         try {
             info = JSON.parse(message.response_body.data);
         } catch (e) {
-            Main.extensionManager.logExtensionError(uuid, `parsing info: ${e}`);
+            Main.extensionManager.logExtensionError(uuid, 'parsing info: %s'.format(e.toString()));
             invocation.return_dbus_error('org.gnome.Shell.ParseInfoError', e.toString());
             return;
         }
@@ -112,7 +111,7 @@ function downloadExtensionUpdate(uuid) {
         gotExtensionZipFile(session, message, uuid, dir, () => {
             Main.extensionManager.notifyExtensionUpdate(uuid);
         }, (code, msg) => {
-            log(`Error while downloading update for extension ${uuid}: ${code} (${msg})`);
+            log('Error while downloading update for extension %s: %s (%s)'.format(uuid, code, msg));
         });
     });
 }
@@ -133,7 +132,7 @@ function checkForUpdates() {
     let params = {
         shell_version: Config.PACKAGE_VERSION,
         installed: JSON.stringify(metadatas),
-        disable_version_validation: `${versionCheck}`,
+        disable_version_validation: versionCheck.toString(),
     };
 
     let url = REPOSITORY_URL_UPDATE;
@@ -195,8 +194,8 @@ class InstallExtensionDialog extends ModalDialog.ModalDialog {
         let dir = Gio.File.new_for_path(GLib.build_filenamev([global.userdatadir, 'extensions', uuid]));
         let invocation = this._invocation;
         function errback(code, msg) {
-            log(`Error while installing ${uuid}: ${code} (${msg})`);
-            invocation.return_dbus_error(`org.gnome.Shell.${code}`, msg || '');
+            log('Error while installing %s: %s (%s)'.format(uuid, code, msg));
+            invocation.return_dbus_error('org.gnome.Shell.%s'.format(code), msg || '');
         }
 
         function callback() {
@@ -204,7 +203,7 @@ class InstallExtensionDialog extends ModalDialog.ModalDialog {
                 let extension = Main.extensionManager.createExtensionObject(uuid, dir, ExtensionUtils.ExtensionType.PER_USER);
                 Main.extensionManager.loadExtension(extension);
                 if (!Main.extensionManager.enableExtension(uuid))
-                    throw new Error(`Cannot add ${uuid} to enabled extensions gsettings key`);
+                    throw new Error('Cannot add %s to enabled extensions gsettings key'.format(uuid));
             } catch (e) {
                 uninstallExtension(uuid);
                 errback('LoadExtensionError', e);
diff --git a/js/ui/extensionSystem.js b/js/ui/extensionSystem.js
index 9d883505e..3f2ee35ef 100644
--- a/js/ui/extensionSystem.js
+++ b/js/ui/extensionSystem.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ var ExtensionManager = class {
         try {
             disableFile.create(Gio.FileCreateFlags.REPLACE_DESTINATION, null);
         } catch (e) {
-            log(`Failed to create file ${disableFilename}: ${e.message}`);
+            log('Failed to create file %s: %s'.format(disableFilename, e.message));
         }
 
         GLib.timeout_add_seconds(GLib.PRIORITY_DEFAULT, 60, () => {
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ var ExtensionManager = class {
         if (extension.state != ExtensionState.DISABLED)
             return;
 
-        let stylesheetNames = [`${global.session_mode}.css`, 'stylesheet.css'];
+        let stylesheetNames = ['%s.css'.format(global.session_mode), 'stylesheet.css'];
         let theme = St.ThemeContext.get_for_stage(global.stage).get_theme();
         for (let i = 0; i < stylesheetNames.length; i++) {
             try {
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ var ExtensionManager = class {
         if (!extension)
             return;
 
-        let message = `${error}`;
+        let message = error.toString();
 
         extension.error = message;
         extension.state = ExtensionState.ERROR;
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ var ExtensionManager = class {
             extension.errors = [];
         extension.errors.push(message);
 
-        logError(error, `Extension ${uuid}`);
+        logError(error, 'Extension %s'.format(uuid));
         this.emit('extension-state-changed', extension);
     }
 
@@ -259,24 +259,24 @@ var ExtensionManager = class {
             if (metadataContents instanceof Uint8Array)
                 metadataContents = imports.byteArray.toString(metadataContents);
         } catch (e) {
-            throw new Error(`Failed to load metadata.json: ${e}`);
+            throw new Error('Failed to load metadata.json: %s'.format(e.toString()));
         }
         let meta;
         try {
             meta = JSON.parse(metadataContents);
         } catch (e) {
-            throw new Error(`Failed to parse metadata.json: ${e}`);
+            throw new Error('Failed to parse metadata.json: %s'.format(e.toString()));
         }
 
         let requiredProperties = ['uuid', 'name', 'description', 'shell-version'];
         for (let i = 0; i < requiredProperties.length; i++) {
             let prop = requiredProperties[i];
             if (!meta[prop])
-                throw new Error(`missing "${prop}" property in metadata.json`);
+                throw new Error('missing "%s" property in metadata.json'.format(prop));
         }
 
         if (uuid != meta.uuid)
-            throw new Error(`uuid "${meta.uuid}" from metadata.json does not match directory name "${uuid}"`);
+            throw new Error('uuid "%s" from metadata.json does not match directory name "%s"'.format(meta.uuid, uuid));
 
         let extension = {
             metadata: meta,
@@ -496,17 +496,17 @@ var ExtensionManager = class {
     }
 
     _loadExtensions() {
-        global.settings.connect(`changed::${ENABLED_EXTENSIONS_KEY}`,
+        global.settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(ENABLED_EXTENSIONS_KEY),
             this._onEnabledExtensionsChanged.bind(this));
-        global.settings.connect(`changed::${DISABLED_EXTENSIONS_KEY}`,
+        global.settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(DISABLED_EXTENSIONS_KEY),
             this._onEnabledExtensionsChanged.bind(this));
-        global.settings.connect(`changed::${DISABLE_USER_EXTENSIONS_KEY}`,
+        global.settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(DISABLE_USER_EXTENSIONS_KEY),
             this._onUserExtensionsEnabledChanged.bind(this));
-        global.settings.connect(`changed::${EXTENSION_DISABLE_VERSION_CHECK_KEY}`,
+        global.settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(EXTENSION_DISABLE_VERSION_CHECK_KEY),
             this._onVersionValidationChanged.bind(this));
-        global.settings.connect(`writable-changed::${ENABLED_EXTENSIONS_KEY}`,
+        global.settings.connect('writable-changed::%s'.format(ENABLED_EXTENSIONS_KEY),
             this._onSettingsWritableChanged.bind(this));
-        global.settings.connect(`writable-changed::${DISABLED_EXTENSIONS_KEY}`,
+        global.settings.connect('writable-changed::%s'.format(DISABLED_EXTENSIONS_KEY),
             this._onSettingsWritableChanged.bind(this));
 
         this._enabledExtensions = this._getEnabledExtensions();
@@ -519,7 +519,7 @@ var ExtensionManager = class {
             let uuid = info.get_name();
             let existing = this.lookup(uuid);
             if (existing) {
-                log(`Extension ${uuid} already installed in ${existing.path}. ${dir.get_path()} will not be loaded`);
+                log('Extension %s already installed in %s. %s will not be loaded'.format(uuid, existing.path, dir.get_path()));
                 return;
             }
 
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ var ExtensionManager = class {
             try {
                 extension = this.createExtensionObject(uuid, dir, type);
             } catch (e) {
-                logError(e, `Could not load extension ${uuid}`);
+                logError(e, 'Could not load extension %s'.format(uuid));
                 return;
             }
             this.loadExtension(extension);
diff --git a/js/ui/lookingGlass.js b/js/ui/lookingGlass.js
index 9e32183a2..d101591ef 100644
--- a/js/ui/lookingGlass.js
+++ b/js/ui/lookingGlass.js
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ function objectToString(o) {
         // special case this since the default is way, way too verbose
         return '<js function>';
     } else {
-        return `${o}`;
+        return o.toString();
     }
 }
 
@@ -291,7 +291,7 @@ class Result extends St.BoxLayout {
         this.add(cmdTxt);
         let box = new St.BoxLayout({});
         this.add(box);
-        let resultTxt = new St.Label({ text: `r(${index}) = ` });
+        let resultTxt = new St.Label({ text: 'r(%d) = '.format(index) });
         resultTxt.clutter_text.ellipsize = Pango.EllipsizeMode.END;
         box.add(resultTxt);
         let objLink = new ObjLink(this._lookingGlass, o);
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ var WindowList = GObject.registerClass({
             box.add_child(windowLink);
             let propsBox = new St.BoxLayout({ vertical: true, style: 'padding-left: 6px;' });
             box.add(propsBox);
-            propsBox.add(new St.Label({ text: `wmclass: ${metaWindow.get_wm_class()}` }));
+            propsBox.add(new St.Label({ text: 'wmclass: %s'.format(metaWindow.get_wm_class()) }));
             let app = tracker.get_window_app(metaWindow);
             if (app != null && !app.is_window_backed()) {
                 let icon = app.create_icon_texture(22);
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ class ObjInspector extends St.ScrollView {
                     link = new St.Label({ text: '<error>' });
                 }
                 let box = new St.BoxLayout();
-                box.add(new St.Label({ text: `${propName}: ` }));
+                box.add(new St.Label({ text: '%s: '.format(propName) }));
                 box.add(link);
                 this._container.add_actor(box);
             }
@@ -641,9 +641,9 @@ var Inspector = GObject.registerClass({
             this._target = target;
         this._pointerTarget = target;
 
-        let position = `[inspect x: ${stageX} y: ${stageY}]`;
+        let position = '[inspect x: %d y: %d]'.format(stageX, stageY);
         this._displayText.text = '';
-        this._displayText.text = `${position} ${this._target}`;
+        this._displayText.text = '%s %s'.format(position, this._target);
 
         this._lookingGlass.setBorderPaintTarget(this._target);
     }
@@ -846,7 +846,7 @@ class LookingGlass extends St.BoxLayout {
         inspectIcon.connect('button-press-event', () => {
             let inspector = new Inspector(this);
             inspector.connect('target', (i, target, stageX, stageY) => {
-                this._pushResult(`inspect(${Math.round(stageX)}, ${Math.round(stageY)})`, target);
+                this._pushResult('inspect(%d, %d)'.format(Math.round(stageX), Math.round(stageY)), target);
             });
             inspector.connect('closed', () => {
                 this.show();
@@ -952,9 +952,8 @@ class LookingGlass extends St.BoxLayout {
         // monospace font to be bold/oblique/etc. Could easily be added here.
         let size = fontDesc.get_size() / 1024.;
         let unit = fontDesc.get_size_is_absolute() ? 'px' : 'pt';
-        this.style = `
-            font-size: ${size}${unit};
-            font-family: "${fontDesc.get_family()}";`;
+        this.style = 'font-size: %d%s; font-family: "%s";'.format(
+            size, unit, fontDesc.get_family());
     }
 
     setBorderPaintTarget(obj) {
@@ -1035,7 +1034,7 @@ class LookingGlass extends St.BoxLayout {
         this._history.addItem(command);
 
         let lines = command.split(';');
-        lines.push(`return ${lines.pop()}`);
+        lines.push('return %s'.format(lines.pop()));
 
         let fullCmd = commandHeader + lines.join(';');
 
@@ -1043,7 +1042,7 @@ class LookingGlass extends St.BoxLayout {
         try {
             resultObj = Function(fullCmd)();
         } catch (e) {
-            resultObj = `<exception ${e}>`;
+            resultObj = '<exception %s>'.format(e.toString());
         }
 
         this._pushResult(command, resultObj);
@@ -1062,7 +1061,7 @@ class LookingGlass extends St.BoxLayout {
         try {
             return this._resultsArea.get_child_at_index(idx - this._offset).o;
         } catch (e) {
-            throw new Error(`Unknown result at index ${idx}`);
+            throw new Error('Unknown result at index %d'.format(idx));
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/js/ui/main.js b/js/ui/main.js
index 09b0249aa..f0a0ac15f 100644
--- a/js/ui/main.js
+++ b/js/ui/main.js
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ function _initializeUI() {
         if (sessionMode.currentMode != 'gdm' &&
             sessionMode.currentMode != 'initial-setup') {
             GLib.log_structured(LOG_DOMAIN, GLib.LogLevelFlags.LEVEL_MESSAGE, {
-                'MESSAGE': `GNOME Shell started at ${_startDate}`,
+                'MESSAGE': 'GNOME Shell started at %s'.format(_startDate),
                 'MESSAGE_ID': GNOMESHELL_STARTED_MESSAGE_ID,
             });
         }
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ function _initializeUI() {
         let perfModuleName = GLib.getenv("SHELL_PERF_MODULE");
         if (perfModuleName) {
             let perfOutput = GLib.getenv("SHELL_PERF_OUTPUT");
-            let module = eval(`imports.perf.${perfModuleName};`);
+            let module = eval('imports.perf.%s;'.format(perfModuleName));
             Scripting.runPerfScript(module, perfOutput);
         }
     });
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ function _initializeUI() {
 function _getStylesheet(name) {
     let stylesheet;
 
-    stylesheet = Gio.File.new_for_uri(`resource:///org/gnome/shell/theme/${name}`);
+    stylesheet = Gio.File.new_for_uri('resource:///org/gnome/shell/theme/%s'.format(name));
     if (stylesheet.query_exists(null))
         return stylesheet;
 
@@ -301,7 +301,7 @@ function _getStylesheet(name) {
             return stylesheet;
     }
 
-    stylesheet = Gio.File.new_for_path(`${global.datadir}/theme/${name}`);
+    stylesheet = Gio.File.new_for_path('%s/theme/%s'.format(global.datadir, name));
     if (stylesheet.query_exists(null))
         return stylesheet;
 
@@ -359,12 +359,12 @@ function reloadThemeResource() {
     if (_themeResource)
         _themeResource._unregister();
 
-    _themeResource = Gio.Resource.load(`${global.datadir}/gnome-shell-theme.gresource`);
+    _themeResource = Gio.Resource.load('%s/gnome-shell-theme.gresource'.format(global.datadir));
     _themeResource._register();
 }
 
 function _loadOskLayouts() {
-    _oskResource = Gio.Resource.load(`${global.datadir}/gnome-shell-osk-layouts.gresource`);
+    _oskResource = Gio.Resource.load('%s/gnome-shell-osk-layouts.gresource'.format(global.datadir));
     _oskResource._register();
 }
 
@@ -418,9 +418,9 @@ function notify(msg, details) {
 function notifyError(msg, details) {
     // Also print to stderr so it's logged somewhere
     if (details)
-        log(`error: ${msg}: ${details}`);
+        log('error: %s: %s'.format(msg, details));
     else
-        log(`error: ${msg}`);
+        log('error: %s'.format(msg));
 
     notify(msg, details);
 }
@@ -687,7 +687,7 @@ function _queueBeforeRedraw(workId) {
  */
 function initializeDeferredWork(actor, callback) {
     // Turn into a string so we can use as an object property
-    let workId = `${++_deferredWorkSequence}`;
+    let workId = (++_deferredWorkSequence).toString();
     _deferredWorkData[workId] = { actor,
                                   callback };
     actor.connect('notify::mapped', () => {
diff --git a/js/ui/messageList.js b/js/ui/messageList.js
index e798d0bfc..0b4f7db6f 100644
--- a/js/ui/messageList.js
+++ b/js/ui/messageList.js
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ class URLHighlighter extends St.Label {
         if (urlId != -1) {
             let url = this._urls[urlId].url;
             if (!url.includes(':'))
-                url = `http://${url}`;
+                url = 'http://%s'.format(url);
 
             Gio.app_info_launch_default_for_uri(
                 url, global.create_app_launch_context(0, -1));
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ class URLHighlighter extends St.Label {
         for (let i = 0; i < urls.length; i++) {
             let url = urls[i];
             let str = this._text.substr(pos, url.pos - pos);
-            markup += `${str}<span foreground="${this._linkColor}"><u>${url.url}</u></span>`;
+            markup += '%s<span foreground="%s"><u>%s</u></span>'.format(str, this._linkColor, url.url);
             pos = url.pos + url.url.length;
         }
         markup += this._text.substr(pos);
diff --git a/js/ui/messageTray.js b/js/ui/messageTray.js
index ed65130e6..6f03968e9 100644
--- a/js/ui/messageTray.js
+++ b/js/ui/messageTray.js
@@ -229,15 +229,17 @@ var NotificationApplicationPolicy = GObject.registerClass({
         this._canonicalId = this._canonicalizeId(id);
 
         this._masterSettings = new Gio.Settings({ schema_id: 'org.gnome.desktop.notifications' });
-        this._settings = new Gio.Settings({ schema_id: 'org.gnome.desktop.notifications.application',
-                                            path: `/org/gnome/desktop/notifications/application/${this._canonicalId}/` });
+        this._settings = new Gio.Settings({
+            schema_id: 'org.gnome.desktop.notifications.application',
+            path: '/org/gnome/desktop/notifications/application/%s/'.format(this._canonicalId),
+        });
 
         this._masterSettings.connect('changed', this._changed.bind(this));
         this._settings.connect('changed', this._changed.bind(this));
     }
 
     store() {
-        this._settings.set_string('application-id', `${this.id}.desktop`);
+        this._settings.set_string('application-id', '%s.desktop'.format(this.id));
 
         let apps = this._masterSettings.get_strv('application-children');
         if (!apps.includes(this._canonicalId)) {
@@ -1077,7 +1079,7 @@ var MessageTray = GObject.registerClass({
 
     add(source) {
         if (this.contains(source)) {
-            log(`Trying to re-add source ${source.title}`);
+            log('Trying to re-add source %s'.format(source.title));
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/js/ui/mpris.js b/js/ui/mpris.js
index a16e56b5d..bc98c0402 100644
--- a/js/ui/mpris.js
+++ b/js/ui/mpris.js
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ var MprisPlayer = class MprisPlayer {
         // so prefer activating the app via .desktop file if possible
         let app = null;
         if (this._mprisProxy.DesktopEntry) {
-            let desktopId = `${this._mprisProxy.DesktopEntry}.desktop`;
+            let desktopId = '%s.desktop'.format(this._mprisProxy.DesktopEntry);
             app = Shell.AppSystem.get_default().lookup_app(desktopId);
         }
 
@@ -192,9 +192,9 @@ var MprisPlayer = class MprisPlayer {
         if (!Array.isArray(this._trackArtists) ||
             !this._trackArtists.every(artist => typeof artist === 'string')) {
             if (typeof this._trackArtists !== 'undefined') {
-                log(`Received faulty track artist metadata from ${
-                    this._busName}; expected an array of strings, got ${
-                    this._trackArtists} (${typeof this._trackArtists})`);
+                log(('Received faulty track artist metadata from %s; ' +
+                    'expected an array of strings, got %s (%s)').format(
+                    this._busName, this._trackArtists, typeof this._trackArtists));
             }
             this._trackArtists =  [_("Unknown artist")];
         }
@@ -202,9 +202,9 @@ var MprisPlayer = class MprisPlayer {
         this._trackTitle = metadata['xesam:title'];
         if (typeof this._trackTitle !== 'string') {
             if (typeof this._trackTitle !== 'undefined') {
-                log(`Received faulty track title metadata from ${
-                    this._busName}; expected a string, got ${
-                    this._trackTitle} (${typeof this._trackTitle})`);
+                log(('Received faulty track title metadata from %s; ' +
+                    'expected a string, got %s (%s)').format(
+                    this._busName, this._trackTitle, typeof this._trackTitle));
             }
             this._trackTitle = _("Unknown title");
         }
@@ -212,9 +212,9 @@ var MprisPlayer = class MprisPlayer {
         this._trackCoverUrl = metadata['mpris:artUrl'];
         if (typeof this._trackCoverUrl !== 'string') {
             if (typeof this._trackCoverUrl !== 'undefined') {
-                log(`Received faulty track cover art metadata from ${
-                    this._busName}; expected a string, got ${
-                    this._trackCoverUrl} (${typeof this._trackCoverUrl})`);
+                log(('Received faulty track cover art metadata from %s; ' +
+                    'expected a string, got %s (%s)').format(
+                    this._busName, this._trackCoverUrl, typeof this._trackCoverUrl));
             }
             this._trackCoverUrl = '';
         }
diff --git a/js/ui/notificationDaemon.js b/js/ui/notificationDaemon.js
index 1765ca369..0133affd9 100644
--- a/js/ui/notificationDaemon.js
+++ b/js/ui/notificationDaemon.js
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ class FdoNotificationDaemonSource extends MessageTray.Source {
             return app;
 
         if (appId) {
-            app = Shell.AppSystem.get_default().lookup_app(`${appId}.desktop`);
+            app = Shell.AppSystem.get_default().lookup_app('%s.desktop'.format(appId));
             if (app != null)
                 return app;
         }
@@ -614,7 +614,7 @@ function objectPathFromAppId(appId) {
 }
 
 function getPlatformData() {
-    let startupId = GLib.Variant.new('s', `_TIME${global.get_current_time()}`);
+    let startupId = GLib.Variant.new('s', '_TIME%s'.format(global.get_current_time()));
     return { "desktop-startup-id": startupId };
 }
 
@@ -627,7 +627,7 @@ class GtkNotificationDaemonAppSource extends MessageTray.Source {
         if (!GLib.Variant.is_object_path(objectPath))
             throw new InvalidAppError();
 
-        let app = Shell.AppSystem.get_default().lookup_app(`${appId}.desktop`);
+        let app = Shell.AppSystem.get_default().lookup_app('%s.desktop'.format(appId));
         if (!app)
             throw new InvalidAppError();
 
diff --git a/js/ui/overviewControls.js b/js/ui/overviewControls.js
index 360143945..cc430f918 100644
--- a/js/ui/overviewControls.js
+++ b/js/ui/overviewControls.js
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ class SlidingControl extends St.Widget {
     }
 
     _getSlide() {
-        throw new GObject.NotImplementedError(`_getSlide in ${this.constructor.name}`);
+        throw new GObject.NotImplementedError('_getSlide in %s'.format(this.constructor.name));
     }
 
     _updateSlide() {
diff --git a/js/ui/padOsd.js b/js/ui/padOsd.js
index ddcc08bef..632b52781 100644
--- a/js/ui/padOsd.js
+++ b/js/ui/padOsd.js
@@ -347,9 +347,7 @@ var PadDiagram = GObject.registerClass({
         return '<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="no"?>' +
                '<svg version="1.1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" ' +
                'xmlns:xi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XInclude" ' +
-               `width="${ // " (give xgettext the paired quotes it expects)
-                   this._imageWidth
-               }" height="${this._imageHeight}"> ` + // "
+               'width="%d" height="%d">'.format(this._imageWidth, this._imageHeight) +
                '<style type="text/css">';
     }
 
@@ -364,10 +362,10 @@ var PadDiagram = GObject.registerClass({
 
         for (let i = 0; i < this._activeButtons.length; i++) {
             let ch = String.fromCharCode('A'.charCodeAt() + this._activeButtons[i]);
-            css += `.${ch} {
-                stroke: ${ACTIVE_COLOR} !important;
-                fill: ${ACTIVE_COLOR} !important;
-            }`;
+            css += '.%s {'.format(ch);
+            css += '    stroke: %s !important;'.format(ACTIVE_COLOR);
+            css += '    fill: %s !important;'.format(ACTIVE_COLOR);
+            css += '}';
         }
 
         return css;
@@ -477,12 +475,12 @@ var PadDiagram = GObject.registerClass({
         let leaderPos, leaderSize, pos;
         let found, direction;
 
-        [found, pos] = this._handle.get_position_sub(`#${labelName}`);
+        [found, pos] = this._handle.get_position_sub('#%s'.format(labelName));
         if (!found)
             return [false];
 
-        [found, leaderPos] = this._handle.get_position_sub(`#${leaderName}`);
-        [found, leaderSize] = this._handle.get_dimensions_sub(`#${leaderName}`);
+        [found, leaderPos] = this._handle.get_position_sub('#%s'.format(leaderName));
+        [found, leaderSize] = this._handle.get_dimensions_sub('#%s'.format(leaderName));
         if (!found)
             return [false];
 
@@ -504,8 +502,8 @@ var PadDiagram = GObject.registerClass({
 
     getButtonLabelCoords(button) {
         let ch = String.fromCharCode('A'.charCodeAt() + button);
-        let labelName = `Label${ch}`;
-        let leaderName = `Leader${ch}`;
+        let labelName = 'Label%s'.format(ch);
+        let leaderName = 'Leader%s'.format(ch);
 
         return this._getItemLabelCoords(labelName, leaderName);
     }
@@ -513,8 +511,8 @@ var PadDiagram = GObject.registerClass({
     getRingLabelCoords(number, dir) {
         let numStr = number > 0 ? (number + 1).toString() : '';
         let dirStr = dir == CW ? 'CW' : 'CCW';
-        let labelName = `LabelRing${numStr}${dirStr}`;
-        let leaderName = `LeaderRing${numStr}${dirStr}`;
+        let labelName = 'LabelRing%s%s'.format(numStr, dirStr);
+        let leaderName = 'LeaderRing%s%s'.format(numStr, dirStr);
 
         return this._getItemLabelCoords(labelName, leaderName);
     }
@@ -522,8 +520,8 @@ var PadDiagram = GObject.registerClass({
     getStripLabelCoords(number, dir) {
         let numStr = number > 0 ? (number + 1).toString() : '';
         let dirStr = dir == UP ? 'Up' : 'Down';
-        let labelName = `LabelStrip${numStr}${dirStr}`;
-        let leaderName = `LeaderStrip${numStr}${dirStr}`;
+        let labelName = 'LabelStrip%s%s'.format(numStr, dirStr);
+        let leaderName = 'LeaderStrip%s%s'.format(numStr, dirStr);
 
         return this._getItemLabelCoords(labelName, leaderName);
     }
@@ -870,7 +868,7 @@ var PadOsd = GObject.registerClass({
         }
 
         this._titleLabel.clutter_text.set_markup(
-            `<span size="larger"><b>${title}</b></span>`);
+            '<span size="larger"><b>%s</b></span>'.format(title));
     }
 
     _isEditedAction(type, number, dir) {
@@ -932,7 +930,7 @@ var PadOsd = GObject.registerClass({
 
     _startButtonActionEdition(button) {
         let ch = String.fromCharCode('A'.charCodeAt() + button);
-        let key = `button${ch}`;
+        let key = 'button%s'.format(ch);
         this._startActionEdition(key, Meta.PadActionType.BUTTON, button);
     }
 
diff --git a/js/ui/panel.js b/js/ui/panel.js
index 80e6179b6..eb3a19599 100644
--- a/js/ui/panel.js
+++ b/js/ui/panel.js
@@ -1099,7 +1099,7 @@ class Panel extends St.Widget {
 
     addToStatusArea(role, indicator, position, box) {
         if (this.statusArea[role])
-            throw new Error(`Extension point conflict: there is already a status indicator for role ${role}`);
+            throw new Error('Extension point conflict: there is already a status indicator for role %s'.format(role));
 
         if (!(indicator instanceof PanelMenu.Button))
             throw new TypeError('Status indicator must be an instance of PanelMenu.Button');
diff --git a/js/ui/popupMenu.js b/js/ui/popupMenu.js
index 0cc2803a4..ad827ac5b 100644
--- a/js/ui/popupMenu.js
+++ b/js/ui/popupMenu.js
@@ -462,7 +462,7 @@ class PopupImageMenuItem extends PopupBaseMenuItem {
 var PopupMenuBase = class {
     constructor(sourceActor, styleClass) {
         if (this.constructor === PopupMenuBase)
-            throw new TypeError(`Cannot instantiate abstract class ${this.constructor.name}`);
+            throw new TypeError('Cannot instantiate abstract class %s'.format(this.constructor.name));
 
         this.sourceActor = sourceActor;
         this.focusActor = sourceActor;
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ var PopupMenuBase = class {
             let app = Shell.AppSystem.get_default().lookup_app(desktopFile);
 
             if (!app) {
-                log(`Settings panel for desktop file ${desktopFile} could not be loaded!`);
+                log('Settings panel for desktop file %s could not be loaded!'.format(desktopFile));
                 return;
             }
 
diff --git a/js/ui/runDialog.js b/js/ui/runDialog.js
index 8794f7488..356a97436 100644
--- a/js/ui/runDialog.js
+++ b/js/ui/runDialog.js
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ class RunDialog extends ModalDialog.ModalDialog {
                 if (inTerminal) {
                     let exec = this._terminalSettings.get_string(EXEC_KEY);
                     let execArg = this._terminalSettings.get_string(EXEC_ARG_KEY);
-                    command = `${exec} ${execArg} ${input}`;
+                    command = '%s %s %s'.format(exec, execArg, input);
                 }
                 Util.trySpawnCommandLine(command);
             } catch (e) {
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ class RunDialog extends ModalDialog.ModalDialog {
                 } else {
                     if (input.charAt(0) == '~')
                         input = input.slice(1);
-                    path = `${GLib.get_home_dir()}/${input}`;
+                    path = '%s/%s'.format(GLib.get_home_dir(), input);
                 }
 
                 if (GLib.file_test(path, GLib.FileTest.EXISTS)) {
diff --git a/js/ui/screenShield.js b/js/ui/screenShield.js
index 0b5e844d8..de43d3da1 100644
--- a/js/ui/screenShield.js
+++ b/js/ui/screenShield.js
@@ -112,10 +112,10 @@ var ScreenShield = class {
         });
 
         this._settings = new Gio.Settings({ schema_id: SCREENSAVER_SCHEMA });
-        this._settings.connect(`changed::${LOCK_ENABLED_KEY}`, this._syncInhibitor.bind(this));
+        this._settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(LOCK_ENABLED_KEY), this._syncInhibitor.bind(this));
 
         this._lockSettings = new Gio.Settings({ schema_id: LOCKDOWN_SCHEMA });
-        this._lockSettings.connect(`changed::${DISABLE_LOCK_KEY}`, this._syncInhibitor.bind(this));
+        this._lockSettings.connect('changed::%s'.format(DISABLE_LOCK_KEY), this._syncInhibitor.bind(this));
 
         this._isModal = false;
         this._isGreeter = false;
diff --git a/js/ui/search.js b/js/ui/search.js
index 37188ffbd..88f06211c 100644
--- a/js/ui/search.js
+++ b/js/ui/search.js
@@ -231,18 +231,18 @@ var SearchResultsBase = GObject.registerClass({
             this.provider.getResultMetas(metasNeeded, metas => {
                 if (this._cancellable.is_cancelled()) {
                     if (metas.length > 0)
-                        log(`Search provider ${this.provider.id} returned results after the request was canceled`);
+                        log('Search provider %s returned results after the request was canceled'.format(this.provider.id));
                     callback(false);
                     return;
                 }
                 if (metas.length != metasNeeded.length) {
-                    log(`Wrong number of result metas returned by search provider ${this.provider.id}: ` +
-                        `expected ${metasNeeded.length} but got ${metas.length}`);
+                    log('Wrong number of result metas returned by search provider %s: '.format(this.provider.id) +
+                        'expected %d but got %d'.format(metasNeeded.length, metas.length));
                     callback(false);
                     return;
                 }
                 if (metas.some(meta => !meta.name || !meta.id)) {
-                    log(`Invalid result meta returned from search provider ${this.provider.id}`);
+                    log('Invalid result meta returned from search provider %s'.format(this.provider.id));
                     callback(false);
                     return;
                 }
@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ var SearchResultsView = GObject.registerClass({
             this._searchTimeoutId = GLib.timeout_add(GLib.PRIORITY_DEFAULT, 150, this._onSearchTimeout.bind(this));
 
         let escapedTerms = this._terms.map(term => Shell.util_regex_escape(term));
-        this._highlightRegex = new RegExp(`(${escapedTerms.join('|')})`, 'gi');
+        this._highlightRegex = new RegExp('(%s)'.format(escapedTerms.join('|')), 'gi');
 
         this.emit('terms-changed');
     }
diff --git a/js/ui/shellMountOperation.js b/js/ui/shellMountOperation.js
index 702f2c2b6..e17b0bc17 100644
--- a/js/ui/shellMountOperation.js
+++ b/js/ui/shellMountOperation.js
@@ -570,7 +570,7 @@ var GnomeShellMountOpHandler = class {
     _setCurrentRequest(invocation, id, type) {
         let oldId = this._currentId;
         let oldType = this._currentType;
-        let requestId = `${id}@${invocation.get_sender()}`;
+        let requestId = '%s@%s'.format(id, invocation.get_sender());
 
         this._clearCurrentRequest(Gio.MountOperationResult.UNHANDLED, {});
 
diff --git a/js/ui/status/accessibility.js b/js/ui/status/accessibility.js
index aa19bd86d..206ed5114 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/accessibility.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/accessibility.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ class ATIndicator extends PanelMenu.Button {
         this.add_child(this._hbox);
 
         this._a11ySettings = new Gio.Settings({ schema_id: A11Y_SCHEMA });
-        this._a11ySettings.connect(`changed::${KEY_ALWAYS_SHOW}`, this._queueSyncMenuVisibility.bind(this));
+        this._a11ySettings.connect('changed::%s'.format(KEY_ALWAYS_SHOW), this._queueSyncMenuVisibility.bind(this));
 
         let highContrast = this._buildHCItem();
         this.menu.addMenuItem(highContrast);
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ class ATIndicator extends PanelMenu.Button {
             settings.is_writable(key),
             enabled => settings.set_boolean(key, enabled));
 
-        settings.connect(`changed::${key}`, () => {
+        settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(key), () => {
             widget.setToggleState(settings.get_boolean(key));
 
             this._queueSyncMenuVisibility();
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ class ATIndicator extends PanelMenu.Button {
                 }
             });
 
-        interfaceSettings.connect(`changed::${KEY_GTK_THEME}`, () => {
+        interfaceSettings.connect('changed::%s'.format(KEY_GTK_THEME), () => {
             let value = interfaceSettings.get_string(KEY_GTK_THEME);
             if (value == HIGH_CONTRAST_THEME) {
                 highContrast.setToggleState(true);
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ class ATIndicator extends PanelMenu.Button {
             this._queueSyncMenuVisibility();
         });
 
-        interfaceSettings.connect(`changed::${KEY_ICON_THEME}`, () => {
+        interfaceSettings.connect('changed::%s'.format(KEY_ICON_THEME), () => {
             let value = interfaceSettings.get_string(KEY_ICON_THEME);
             if (value != HIGH_CONTRAST_THEME)
                 iconTheme = value;
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ class ATIndicator extends PanelMenu.Button {
                 }
             });
 
-        settings.connect(`changed::${KEY_TEXT_SCALING_FACTOR}`, () => {
+        settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(KEY_TEXT_SCALING_FACTOR), () => {
             factor = settings.get_double(KEY_TEXT_SCALING_FACTOR);
             let active = factor > 1.0;
             widget.setToggleState(active);
diff --git a/js/ui/status/dwellClick.js b/js/ui/status/dwellClick.js
index c194d3329..ce13f73ba 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/dwellClick.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/dwellClick.js
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ class DwellClickIndicator extends PanelMenu.Button {
         this.add_child(this._hbox);
 
         this._a11ySettings = new Gio.Settings({ schema_id: MOUSE_A11Y_SCHEMA });
-        this._a11ySettings.connect(`changed::${KEY_DWELL_CLICK_ENABLED}`, this._syncMenuVisibility.bind(this));
-        this._a11ySettings.connect(`changed::${KEY_DWELL_MODE}`, this._syncMenuVisibility.bind(this));
+        this._a11ySettings.connect('changed::%s'.format(KEY_DWELL_CLICK_ENABLED), this._syncMenuVisibility.bind(this));
+        this._a11ySettings.connect('changed::%s'.format(KEY_DWELL_MODE), this._syncMenuVisibility.bind(this));
 
         this._seat = Clutter.get_default_backend().get_default_seat();
         this._seat.connect('ptr-a11y-dwell-click-type-changed', this._updateClickType.bind(this));
diff --git a/js/ui/status/keyboard.js b/js/ui/status/keyboard.js
index ae7acac34..2f0ab94f0 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/keyboard.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/keyboard.js
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ var InputSource = class {
             return this.id;
 
         if (engineDesc.variant && engineDesc.variant.length > 0)
-            return `${engineDesc.layout}+${engineDesc.variant}`;
+            return '%s+%s'.format(engineDesc.layout, engineDesc.variant);
         else
             return engineDesc.layout;
     }
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ class InputSourceSwitcher extends SwitcherPopup.SwitcherList {
 var InputSourceSettings = class {
     constructor() {
         if (this.constructor === InputSourceSettings)
-            throw new TypeError(`Cannot instantiate abstract class ${this.constructor.name}`);
+            throw new TypeError('Cannot instantiate abstract class %s'.format(this.constructor.name));
     }
 
     _emitInputSourcesChanged() {
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ var InputSourceSystemSettings = class extends InputSourceSettings {
                                  try {
                                      props = conn.call_finish(result).deep_unpack()[0];
                                  } catch (e) {
-                                     log(`Could not get properties from ${this._BUS_NAME}`);
+                                     log('Could not get properties from %s'.format(this._BUS_NAME));
                                      return;
                                  }
                                  let layouts = props['X11Layout'].unpack();
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ var InputSourceSystemSettings = class extends InputSourceSettings {
         for (let i = 0; i < layouts.length && !!layouts[i]; i++) {
             let id = layouts[i];
             if (variants[i])
-                id += `+${variants[i]}`;
+                id += '+%s'.format(variants[i]);
             sourcesList.push({ type: INPUT_SOURCE_TYPE_XKB, id });
         }
         return sourcesList;
@@ -261,9 +261,9 @@ var InputSourceSessionSettings = class extends InputSourceSettings {
         this._KEY_PER_WINDOW = 'per-window';
 
         this._settings = new Gio.Settings({ schema_id: this._DESKTOP_INPUT_SOURCES_SCHEMA });
-        this._settings.connect(`changed::${this._KEY_INPUT_SOURCES}`, this._emitInputSourcesChanged.bind(this));
-        this._settings.connect(`changed::${this._KEY_KEYBOARD_OPTIONS}`, this._emitKeyboardOptionsChanged.bind(this));
-        this._settings.connect(`changed::${this._KEY_PER_WINDOW}`, this._emitPerWindowChanged.bind(this));
+        this._settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(this._KEY_INPUT_SOURCES), this._emitInputSourcesChanged.bind(this));
+        this._settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(this._KEY_KEYBOARD_OPTIONS), this._emitKeyboardOptionsChanged.bind(this));
+        this._settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(this._KEY_PER_WINDOW), this._emitPerWindowChanged.bind(this));
     }
 
     _getSourcesList(key) {
@@ -1071,7 +1071,7 @@ class InputSourceIndicator extends PanelMenu.Button {
 
         let description = xkbLayout;
         if (xkbVariant.length > 0)
-            description = `${description}\t${xkbVariant}`;
+            description = '%s\t%s'.format(description, xkbVariant);
 
         Util.spawn(['gkbd-keyboard-display', '-l', description]);
     }
diff --git a/js/ui/status/location.js b/js/ui/status/location.js
index 13eefd72c..5cd6718a3 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/location.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/location.js
@@ -48,9 +48,9 @@ class Indicator extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
         super._init();
 
         this._settings = new Gio.Settings({ schema_id: LOCATION_SCHEMA });
-        this._settings.connect(`changed::${ENABLED}`,
+        this._settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(ENABLED),
                                this._onMaxAccuracyLevelChanged.bind(this));
-        this._settings.connect(`changed::${MAX_ACCURACY_LEVEL}`,
+        this._settings.connect('changed::%s'.format(MAX_ACCURACY_LEVEL),
                                this._onMaxAccuracyLevelChanged.bind(this));
 
         this._indicator = this._addIndicator();
@@ -244,7 +244,7 @@ var AppAuthorizer = class {
         this._onAuthDone = onAuthDone;
 
         let appSystem = Shell.AppSystem.get_default();
-        this._app = appSystem.lookup_app(`${this.desktopId}.desktop`);
+        this._app = appSystem.lookup_app('%s.desktop'.format(this.desktopId));
         if (this._app == null || this._permStoreProxy == null) {
             this._completeAuth();
 
diff --git a/js/ui/status/network.js b/js/ui/status/network.js
index a8d2d0893..65cb722ff 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/network.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/network.js
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ Signals.addSignalMethods(NMConnectionItem.prototype);
 var NMConnectionSection = class NMConnectionSection {
     constructor(client) {
         if (this.constructor === NMConnectionSection)
-            throw new TypeError(`Cannot instantiate abstract type ${this.constructor.name}`);
+            throw new TypeError('Cannot instantiate abstract type %s'.format(this.constructor.name));
 
         this._client = client;
 
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ var NMConnectionDevice = class NMConnectionDevice extends NMConnectionSection {
         super(client);
 
         if (this.constructor === NMConnectionDevice)
-            throw new TypeError(`Cannot instantiate abstract type ${this.constructor.name}`);
+            throw new TypeError('Cannot instantiate abstract type %s'.format(this.constructor.name));
 
         this._device = device;
         this._description = '';
@@ -579,7 +579,8 @@ var NMDeviceModem = class extends NMConnectionDevice {
     }
 
     _getSignalIcon() {
-        return `network-cellular-signal-${signalToIcon(this._mobileDevice.signal_quality)}-symbolic`;
+        return 'network-cellular-signal-%s-symbolic'.format(
+            signalToIcon(this._mobileDevice.signal_quality));
     }
 };
 
@@ -682,10 +683,12 @@ var NMWirelessDialogItem = GObject.registerClass({
     }
 
     _getSignalIcon() {
-        if (this._ap.mode == NM80211Mode.ADHOC)
+        if (this._ap.mode == NM80211Mode.ADHOC) {
             return 'network-workgroup-symbolic';
-        else
-            return `network-wireless-signal-${signalToIcon(this._ap.strength)}-symbolic`;
+        } else {
+            return 'network-wireless-signal-%s-symbolic'.format(
+                signalToIcon(this._ap.strength));
+        }
     }
 });
 
@@ -1369,7 +1372,7 @@ var NMDeviceWireless = class {
         }
 
         if (this._canReachInternet())
-            return `network-wireless-signal-${signalToIcon(ap.strength)}-symbolic`;
+            return 'network-wireless-signal-%s-symbolic'.format(signalToIcon(ap.strength));
         else
             return 'network-wireless-no-route-symbolic';
     }
@@ -1700,7 +1703,7 @@ class Indicator extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
             try {
                 this._deviceAdded(this._client, devices[i], true);
             } catch (e) {
-                log(`Failed to add device ${devices[i]}: ${e}`);
+                log('Failed to add device %s: %s'.format(devices[i], e.toString()));
             }
         }
         this._syncDeviceNames();
@@ -1998,7 +2001,7 @@ class Indicator extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
                 } catch (e) { }
             });
         } else {
-            log(`Invalid result from portal helper: ${result}`);
+            log('Invalid result from portal helper: %s'.format(result));
         }
     }
 
@@ -2033,7 +2036,7 @@ class Indicator extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
             new PortalHelperProxy(Gio.DBus.session, 'org.gnome.Shell.PortalHelper',
                                   '/org/gnome/Shell/PortalHelper', (proxy, error) => {
                                       if (error) {
-                                          log(`Error launching the portal helper: ${error}`);
+                                          log('Error launching the portal helper: %s'.format(error));
                                           return;
                                       }
 
diff --git a/js/ui/status/power.js b/js/ui/status/power.js
index 2dd4d26fc..624228c39 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/power.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/power.js
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ class Indicator extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
         super._init();
 
         this._desktopSettings = new Gio.Settings({ schema_id: 'org.gnome.desktop.interface' });
-        this._desktopSettings.connect(`changed::${SHOW_BATTERY_PERCENTAGE}`,
+        this._desktopSettings.connect('changed::%s'.format(SHOW_BATTERY_PERCENTAGE),
                                       this._sync.bind(this));
 
         this._indicator = this._addIndicator();
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ class Indicator extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
             fillLevel === 100)
             icon = 'battery-level-100-charged-symbolic';
         else
-            icon = `battery-level-${fillLevel}${chargingState}-symbolic`;
+            icon = 'battery-level-%d%s-symbolic'.format(fillLevel, chargingState);
 
         // Make sure we fall back to fallback-icon-name and not GThemedIcon's
         // default fallbacks
diff --git a/js/ui/status/thunderbolt.js b/js/ui/status/thunderbolt.js
index a9b3aaf34..52be97583 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/thunderbolt.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/thunderbolt.js
@@ -315,7 +315,8 @@ class Indicator extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
         let auth = unlocked && allowed;
         policy[0] = auth;
 
-        log(`thunderbolt: [${device.Name}] auto enrollment: ${auth ? 'yes' : 'no'} (allowed: ${allowed ? 'yes' : 'no'})`);
+        log('thunderbolt: [%s] auto enrollment: %s (allowed: %s)'.format(
+            device.Name, auth ? 'yes' : 'no', allowed ? 'yes' : 'no'));
 
         if (auth)
             return; /* we are done */
diff --git a/js/ui/status/volume.js b/js/ui/status/volume.js
index 5ffb18989..434dcfbf7 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/volume.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/volume.js
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ var StreamSlider = class {
         this._slider = new Slider.Slider(0);
 
         this._soundSettings = new Gio.Settings({ schema_id: 'org.gnome.desktop.sound' });
-        this._soundSettings.connect(`changed::${ALLOW_AMPLIFIED_VOLUME_KEY}`, this._amplifySettingsChanged.bind(this));
+        this._soundSettings.connect('changed::%s'.format(ALLOW_AMPLIFIED_VOLUME_KEY), this._amplifySettingsChanged.bind(this));
         this._amplifySettingsChanged();
 
         this._sliderChangedId = this._slider.connect('notify::value',
diff --git a/js/ui/unlockDialog.js b/js/ui/unlockDialog.js
index 70968ad4d..7f33e68e1 100644
--- a/js/ui/unlockDialog.js
+++ b/js/ui/unlockDialog.js
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ var NotificationsBox = GObject.registerClass({
 
         let count = source.unseenCount;
         let countLabel = new St.Label({
-            text: `${count}`,
+            text: count.toString(),
             visible: count > 1,
             style_class: 'unlock-dialog-notification-count-text',
         });
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ var NotificationsBox = GObject.registerClass({
             }
 
             let label = new St.Label({ style_class: 'unlock-dialog-notification-count-text' });
-            label.clutter_text.set_markup(`<b>${n.title}</b> ${body}`);
+            label.clutter_text.set_markup('<b>%s</b> %s'.format(n.title, body));
             textBox.add(label);
 
             visible = true;
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ var NotificationsBox = GObject.registerClass({
             this._showSource(source, obj, obj.sourceBox);
         } else {
             let count = source.unseenCount;
-            obj.countLabel.text = `${count}`;
+            obj.countLabel.text = count.toString();
             obj.countLabel.visible = count > 1;
         }
 
diff --git a/js/ui/windowManager.js b/js/ui/windowManager.js
index 8634274a4..075fbb15b 100644
--- a/js/ui/windowManager.js
+++ b/js/ui/windowManager.js
@@ -123,7 +123,8 @@ class WindowDimmer extends Clutter.BrightnessContrastEffect {
     }
 
     _syncEnabled() {
-        let animating = this.actor.get_transition(`@effects.${this.name}.brightness`) != null;
+        let transitionName = '@effects.%s.brightness'.format(this.name);
+        let animating = this.actor.get_transition(transitionName) != null;
         let dimmed = this.brightness.red != 127;
         this.enabled = this._enabled && (animating || dimmed);
     }
@@ -137,7 +138,8 @@ class WindowDimmer extends Clutter.BrightnessContrastEffect {
         let val = 127 * (1 + (dimmed ? 1 : 0) * DIM_BRIGHTNESS);
         let color = Clutter.Color.new(val, val, val, 255);
 
-        this.actor.ease_property(`@effects.${this.name}.brightness`, color, {
+        let transitionName = '@effects.%s.brightness'.format(this.name);
+        this.actor.ease_property(transitionName, color, {
             mode: Clutter.AnimationMode.LINEAR,
             duration: (dimmed ? DIM_TIME : UNDIM_TIME) * (animate ? 1 : 0),
             onComplete: () => this._syncEnabled(),