diff --git a/doc/api/index.rst b/doc/api/index.rst
index cce3f68f19d..950e245062a 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 8920c0ac408..b8f35ecbebd 100644
--- a/pygmt/helpers/decorators.py
+++ b/pygmt/helpers/decorators.py
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@
             matching. This does not apply to headers or segment headers.""",
     "frame": r"""
         frame : bool, str, or list
-            Set map boundary
+            Set plot boundary
             :doc:`frame and axes attributes </tutorials/basics/frames>`.""",
     "gap": r"""
         gap : str or list
@@ -277,7 +277,7 @@
               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 ae36b4d8c22..9dec8f4379c 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 8fce5bff0ec..7e336f2e138 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/image.py b/pygmt/src/image.py
index 8d82fe4f568..c9cc2540af7 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 8f8873bde62..1e1b4a9f206 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/plot.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/plot.py
@@ -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 c6aa0e93d67..f9ef77f2392 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 ef819c0685a..67146010f43 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/text.py b/pygmt/src/text.py
index a82afb4e3c0..e788fded7cb 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