diff --git a/doc/api/index.rst b/doc/api/index.rst
index 6fad08b8165..d7527a07aea 100644
--- a/doc/api/index.rst
+++ b/doc/api/index.rst
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ All plotting is handled through the :class:`pygmt.Figure` class and its methods.
 
     Figure
 
-Plotting map elements
-~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+Plotting embellishments
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
 .. autosummary::
     :toctree: generated
diff --git a/examples/gallery/3d_plots/scatter3d.py b/examples/gallery/3d_plots/scatter3d.py
index cf1538a83db..a9b9e35958e 100644
--- a/examples/gallery/3d_plots/scatter3d.py
+++ b/examples/gallery/3d_plots/scatter3d.py
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
     fill=df.species.cat.codes.astype(int),
     # Use colormap created by makecpt
     cmap=True,
-    # Set map dimensions (xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax, zmin, zmax)
+    # Set plot dimensions (xmin, xmax, ymin, ymax, zmin, zmax)
     region=region,
     # Set frame parameters
     frame=[
diff --git a/examples/intro/03_figure_element.py b/examples/intro/03_figure_element.py
index 48fb21013e6..61d552c4243 100644
--- a/examples/intro/03_figure_element.py
+++ b/examples/intro/03_figure_element.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 - :meth:`pygmt.Figure()`: having a number of plotting methods. Every new
   figure must start with the creation of a :meth:`pygmt.Figure()` instance
-- ``frame``: setting plot or map boundaries (a combination of the single
+- ``frame``: setting plot boundaries (a combination of the single
   letters of **WSNE**, **wsne**, or **lbtr**), adding annotations, ticks,
   gridlines (**afg**), axis labels (**+l**), and title (**+t**), e.g.,
   in :meth:`pygmt.Figure.basemap`. Detailed examples can be found at
@@ -68,9 +68,9 @@
 fig.plot(x=2, y=15, style="c0.5c", pen="2p,darkblue")
 fig.text(x=2, y=17, text="Grid", **mainexplain)
 fig.text(x=2.4, y=18, text='frame=["xg2", "yg5"]', **minorexplain)
-# ============ Map Boundaries
+# ============ Plot Boundaries
 fig.plot(x=10, y=9, style="c0.5c", pen="2p,darkblue", no_clip=True)
-fig.text(x=11.5, y=8, text="Map Boundary", **mainexplain)
+fig.text(x=11.5, y=8, text="Plot Boundary", **mainexplain)
 fig.text(x=11.5, y=6.8, text='frame="WStr"', **minorexplain)
 # ============ fig.plot (style)
 fig.plot(x=6, y=8, style="c0.7c", pen="2p,darkblue")
diff --git a/examples/projections/nongeo/polar.py b/examples/projections/nongeo/polar.py
index 05f8820272f..e2ef40c8e1e 100644
--- a/examples/projections/nongeo/polar.py
+++ b/examples/projections/nongeo/polar.py
@@ -56,9 +56,9 @@
 # ============
 # Top left
 fig.basemap(
-    # Set map limits to theta_min = 0, theta_max = 360, radius_min = 0, radius_max = 1
+    # Set plot limits to theta_min = 0, theta_max = 360, radius_min = 0, radius_max = 1
     region=[0, 360, 0, 1],
-    # Set map width to 5 cm
+    # Set plot width to 5 cm
     projection="P5c",
     # Set the frame and title; @^ allows for a line break within the title
     frame=["xa45f", "+gbisque+tprojection='P5c' @^ region=[0, 360, 0, 1]"],
@@ -69,9 +69,9 @@
 # ============
 # Top middle
 fig.basemap(
-    # Set map limits to theta_min = 0, theta_max = 360, radius_min = 0, radius_max = 1
+    # Set plot limits to theta_min = 0, theta_max = 360, radius_min = 0, radius_max = 1
     region=[0, 360, 0, 1],
-    # Set map width to 5 cm and interpret input data as geographic azimuth instead of
+    # Set plot width to 5 cm and interpret input data as geographic azimuth instead of
     # standard angle
     projection="P5c+a",
     # Set the frame and title; @^ allows for a line break within the title
@@ -83,9 +83,9 @@
 # ============
 # Top right
 fig.basemap(
-    # Set map limits to theta_min = 0, theta_max = 90, radius_min = 0, radius_max = 1
+    # Set plot limits to theta_min = 0, theta_max = 90, radius_min = 0, radius_max = 1
     region=[0, 90, 0, 1],
-    # Set map width to 5 cm and interpret input data as geographic azimuth instead of
+    # Set plot width to 5 cm and interpret input data as geographic azimuth instead of
     # standard angle
     projection="P5c+a",
     # Set the frame and title; @^ allows for a line break within the title
@@ -97,9 +97,9 @@
 # ============
 # Bottom left
 fig.basemap(
-    # Set map limits to theta_min = 0, theta_max = 90, radius_min = 0, radius_max = 1
+    # Set plot limits to theta_min = 0, theta_max = 90, radius_min = 0, radius_max = 1
     region=[0, 90, 0, 1],
-    # Set map width to 5 cm and interpret input data as geographic azimuth instead of
+    # Set plot width to 5 cm and interpret input data as geographic azimuth instead of
     # standard angle, rotate coordinate system counterclockwise by 45 degrees
     projection="P5c+a+t45",
     # Set the frame and title; @^ allows for a line break within the title
@@ -115,10 +115,10 @@
 # ============
 # Bottom middle
 fig.basemap(
-    # Set map limits to theta_min = 0, theta_max = 90, radius_min = 3480,
+    # Set plot limits to theta_min = 0, theta_max = 90, radius_min = 3480,
     # radius_max = 6371 (Earth's radius)
     region=[0, 90, 3480, 6371],
-    # Set map width to 5 cm and interpret input data as geographic azimuth instead of
+    # Set plot width to 5 cm and interpret input data as geographic azimuth instead of
     # standard angle, rotate coordinate system counterclockwise by 45 degrees
     projection="P5c+a+t45",
     # Set the frame, and title; @^ allows for a line break within the title
@@ -134,10 +134,10 @@
 # ============
 # Bottom right
 fig.basemap(
-    # Set map limits to theta_min = 0, theta_max = 90, radius_min = 3480,
+    # Set plot limits to theta_min = 0, theta_max = 90, radius_min = 3480,
     # radius_max = 6371 (Earth's radius)
     region=[0, 90, 3480, 6371],
-    # Set map width to 5 cm and interpret input data as geographic azimuth instead of
+    # Set plot width to 5 cm and interpret input data as geographic azimuth instead of
     # standard angle, rotate coordinate system counterclockwise by 45 degrees, r-axis
     # is marked as depth
     projection="P5c+a+t45+z",
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/advanced/configuration.py b/examples/tutorials/advanced/configuration.py
index f7d6b70c057..b283470ac10 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/advanced/configuration.py
+++ b/examples/tutorials/advanced/configuration.py
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@
 #
 # The ``MAP_FRAME_TYPE`` parameter specifies the style of map frame to use, of which
 # there are 5 options: ``fancy`` (default, see above), ``fancy+``, ``plain``, ``graph``
-# (which does not apply to geographical maps) and ``inside``.
+# (which does not apply to geographic maps) and ``inside``.
 #
-# The ``FORMAT_GEO_MAP`` parameter controls the format of geographical tick annotations.
+# The ``FORMAT_GEO_MAP`` parameter controls the format of geographic tick annotations.
 # The default uses degrees and minutes. Here we specify the ticks to be a decimal number
 # of degrees.
 
diff --git a/examples/tutorials/basics/text.py b/examples/tutorials/basics/text.py
index 2b582a23e60..a60cdfb9b60 100644
--- a/examples/tutorials/basics/text.py
+++ b/examples/tutorials/basics/text.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 Plotting text
 =============
 
-It is often useful to add text annotations to a plot or map. This is handled by the
+It is often useful to add text annotations to a plot. This is handled by the
 :meth:`pygmt.Figure.text` method of the :class:`pygmt.Figure` class.
 """
 
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@
 # specified to set the reference point for the text on the plot. As for the ``justify``
 # parameter, the ``position`` parameter is specified by a
 # :doc:`2-character justification code </techref/justification_codes>`.
-# This can be helpful to add a tag to a subplot or text labels out of the plot or map
+# This can be helpful to add a tag to a subplot or text labels out of the plot
 # frame, e.g., for depth slices.
 
 fig = pygmt.Figure()
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@
 fig.shift_origin(xshift="w+1c")
 
 # -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
-# Right: Add a text label outside of the plot or map frame
+# Right: Add a text label outside of the plot frame
 fig.basemap(region=[-30, 30, 10, 60], projection="L0/35/23/47/5c", frame=["wSnE", "af"])
 
 fig.text(
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@
     position="TC",  # Top Center
     justify="MC",  # Middle Center
     offset="0c/0.2c",
-    no_clip=True,  # Allow plotting outside of the map or plot frame
+    no_clip=True,  # Allow plotting outside of the plot frame
 )
 
 fig.show()
diff --git a/pygmt/helpers/decorators.py b/pygmt/helpers/decorators.py
index 579cf0c4077..d64253a9b79 100644
--- a/pygmt/helpers/decorators.py
+++ b/pygmt/helpers/decorators.py
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@
               i.e., looking from south to north].
             - *elevation*: Elevation angle of the viewpoint above the horizon [Default
               is 90, i.e., looking straight down at nadir].
-            - *zlevel*: Z-level at which 2-D elements (e.g., the map frame) are drawn.
+            - *zlevel*: Z-level at which 2-D elements (e.g., the plot frame) are drawn.
               Only applied when used together with ``zsize`` or ``zscale``. [Default is
               at the bottom of the z-axis].
 
diff --git a/pygmt/src/contour.py b/pygmt/src/contour.py
index 3c7661e97ea..4a0a12fa1cd 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/contour.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/contour.py
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ def contour(  # noqa: PLR0913
     Contour table data by direct triangulation.
 
     Takes a matrix, (x, y, z) triplets, or a file name as input and plots,
-    lines, polygons, or symbols at those locations on a map.
+    lines, polygons, or symbols at those locations on a plot.
 
     Must provide either ``data`` or ``x``, ``y``, and ``z``.
 
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdimage.py b/pygmt/src/grdimage.py
index e546bd0f56a..50ea4ecd611 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdimage.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdimage.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def grdimage(  # noqa: PLR0913
     value. Interpolation and aliasing is controlled with the
     ``interpolation`` parameter.
 
-    The ``region`` parameter can be used to select a map region larger or
+    The ``region`` parameter can be used to select a plot region larger or
     smaller than that implied by the extent of the grid.
 
     Full GMT docs at :gmt-docs:`grdimage.html`.
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdproject.py b/pygmt/src/grdproject.py
index a0271403344..d17f4203760 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdproject.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdproject.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ def grdproject(  # noqa: PLR0913
     ``interpolation`` parameter. The new node spacing may be determined in one of
     several ways by specifying the grid spacing, number of nodes, or resolution. Nodes
     not constrained by input data are set to NaN. The ``region`` parameter can be used
-    to select a map region large or smaller than that implied by the extent of the grid
+    to select a plot region larger or smaller than that implied by the extent of the grid
     file.
 
     Full GMT docs at :gmt-docs:`grdproject.html`.
diff --git a/pygmt/src/image.py b/pygmt/src/image.py
index c37f581d1b0..7a5a3940a92 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/image.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/image.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ def image(  # noqa: PLR0913
     r"""
     Plot raster or EPS images.
 
-    Reads an Encapsulated PostScript file or a raster image file and plot it on a map.
+    Reads an Encapsulated PostScript file or a raster image file and plot it on a plot.
     The image can be scaled arbitrarily, and 1-bit raster images can be:
 
     - inverted, i.e., black pixels (on) become white (off) and vice versa.
diff --git a/pygmt/src/plot.py b/pygmt/src/plot.py
index 37f76d0a8c4..b4603ee0e30 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/plot.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/plot.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def plot(  # noqa: PLR0912, PLR0913
     Plot lines, polygons, and symbols in 2-D.
 
     Takes a matrix, (x,y) pairs, or a file name as input and plots lines,
-    polygons, or symbols at those locations on a map.
+    polygons, or symbols at those locations on a plot.
 
     Must provide either ``data`` or ``x``/``y``.
 
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ def plot(  # noqa: PLR0912, PLR0913
         [Default plots points whose coordinates are strictly inside the
         frame boundaries only].
         The parameter does not apply to lines and polygons which are always
-        clipped to the map region. For periodic (360-longitude) maps we
+        clipped to the plot region. For periodic (360-longitude) maps we
         must plot all symbols twice in case they are clipped by the
         repeating boundary. ``no_clip=True`` will turn off clipping and not
         plot repeating symbols. Use ``no_clip="r"`` to turn off clipping
diff --git a/pygmt/src/plot3d.py b/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
index 6ad4f31e345..a9bd9a1d456 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ def plot3d(  # noqa: PLR0912, PLR0913
         [Default plots points whose coordinates are strictly inside the
         frame boundaries only].
         This parameter does not apply to lines and polygons which are always
-        clipped to the map region. For periodic (360° longitude) maps we
+        clipped to the plot region. For periodic (360° longitude) maps we
         must plot all symbols twice in case they are clipped by the
         repeating boundary. ``no_clip=True`` will turn off clipping and not
         plot repeating symbols. Use ``no_clip="r"`` to turn off clipping
diff --git a/pygmt/src/rose.py b/pygmt/src/rose.py
index e67fcabccbe..c171b0e711e 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/rose.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/rose.py
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ def rose(  # noqa: PLR0913
          to 1.
 
     frame : str
-         Set map boundary frame and axes attributes. Remember that *x*
+         Set plot boundary frame and axes attributes. Remember that *x*
          here is radial distance and *y* is azimuth. The y label may be
          used to plot a figure caption. The scale bar length is determined
          by the radial gridline spacing.
diff --git a/pygmt/src/subplot.py b/pygmt/src/subplot.py
index 9b54961195d..399cbbc34a0 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/subplot.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/subplot.py
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ def subplot(  # noqa: PLR0913
         to set aside space on more than one side (e.g.
         ``clearance=["w1c", "s2c"]`` would set a clearance of 1 cm on west
         side and 2 cm on south side). Such space will be left untouched by
-        the main map plotting but can be accessed by methods that plot
+        the main plotting but can be accessed by methods that plot
         scales, bars, text, etc.
     margins
         Margin space that is added between neighboring subplots (i.e., the interior
@@ -375,7 +375,7 @@ def set_panel(
     Before you start plotting you must first select the active subplot.
     **Note**: If any *projection* option is passed with the question mark
     **?** as scale or width when plotting subplots, then the dimensions of
-    the map are automatically determined by the subplot size and your
+    the plot are automatically determined by the subplot size and your
     region. For Cartesian plots: If you want the scale to apply equally to
     both dimensions then you must specify ``projection="x"`` [The default
     ``projection="X"`` will fill the subplot by using unequal scales].
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ def set_panel(
         **s**, or **n**. The option is repeatable to set aside space on more
         than one side (e.g. ``clearance=["w1c", "s2c"]`` would set a clearance
         of 1 cm on west side and 2 cm on south side). Such space will be left
-        untouched by the main map plotting but can be accessed by methods that
+        untouched by the main plotting but can be accessed by methods that
         plot scales, bars, text, etc. This setting overrides the common
         clearances set by ``clearance`` in the initial
         :meth:`pygmt.Figure.subplot` call.
diff --git a/pygmt/src/text.py b/pygmt/src/text.py
index 8557feab311..955a421032b 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/text.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/text.py
@@ -105,12 +105,12 @@ def text_(  # noqa: PLR0912, PLR0913
         The x and y coordinates, or an array of x and y coordinates to plot
         the text.
     position
-        Set reference point on the map for the text by using x, y
+        Set reference point on the plot for the text by using x, y
         coordinates extracted from ``region`` instead of providing them
         through ``x``/``y``. Specify with a
         :doc:`2-character justification code </techref/justification_codes>`.
         For example, ``position="TL"`` plots the text at the Top Left corner
-        of the map.
+        of the plot.
     text
         The text string, or an array of strings to plot on the figure.
     angle: float, str, bool or list
diff --git a/pygmt/src/velo.py b/pygmt/src/velo.py
index a07798f2864..f8be48aa55a 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/velo.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/velo.py
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ def velo(  # noqa : PLR0913
     Plot velocity vectors, strain crosses, anisotropy bars, and wedges.
 
     Reads data values from files, :class:`numpy.ndarray` or
-    :class:`pandas.DataFrame` and plots the selected geodesy symbol on a map.
+    :class:`pandas.DataFrame` and plots the selected geodesy symbol on a plot.
     You may choose from velocity vectors and their uncertainties, rotational
     wedges and their uncertainties, anisotropy bars, or strain crosses. Symbol
     fills or their outlines may be colored based on constant parameters or via