diff --git a/developer/ruby/BlameFiles.rb b/developer/ruby/BlameFiles.rb
index d6f7cfc77f..54226a4ff7 100644
--- a/developer/ruby/BlameFiles.rb
+++ b/developer/ruby/BlameFiles.rb
@@ -100,8 +100,8 @@ def check_skipfile(filename, exclude_list)
     end
 
     puts "processing: #{file}"
-    infile = File.open(file, "r")
-    infile.each_line do |line|
+    File.open(file, "r") do |infile|
+      infile.each_line do |line|
         #puts line
 
         user = line[9..17].strip
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ def check_skipfile(filename, exclude_list)
           end
         end
       end
+    end
 
     #break if cnt == 4
 
diff --git a/developer/ruby/GenerateClass.rb b/developer/ruby/GenerateClass.rb
index 2360c354c9..e279bb1485 100644
--- a/developer/ruby/GenerateClass.rb
+++ b/developer/ruby/GenerateClass.rb
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ def forwardReverseTranslatorTests(options)
 
 defineString = String.new
 sourceFolders.each { |folder|
-  defineString += folder.upcase + "_" if folder != nil
+  defineString += folder.upcase + "_" if !folder.nil?
 }
 defineString += className.upcase
 hpp << "#ifndef " << defineString + "_HPP\n"
diff --git a/developer/ruby/SubProjectClassGenerators/ProjectClassGenerator.rb b/developer/ruby/SubProjectClassGenerators/ProjectClassGenerator.rb
index 32ee863628..ceab3e8311 100644
--- a/developer/ruby/SubProjectClassGenerators/ProjectClassGenerator.rb
+++ b/developer/ruby/SubProjectClassGenerators/ProjectClassGenerator.rb
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ def initialize(className, baseClassName, pImpl, qobject)
     # determine if joinRecord/objectRecord, pull out join information
     re = Regexp.new('(\w*)_(\w*)_JoinRecord')
     m = @className.match(re)
-    if not (m == nil)
+    if !m.nil?
       @joinRecord = true
       @objectRecord = false
       @leftJoinClass = m[1]
diff --git a/developer/ruby/SwigWrapToRDoc.rb b/developer/ruby/SwigWrapToRDoc.rb
index 6751bcc586..74fa31b59d 100644
--- a/developer/ruby/SwigWrapToRDoc.rb
+++ b/developer/ruby/SwigWrapToRDoc.rb
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@
 strArray.each_index {|i|
 
   # process last part of file, which includes rb_define calls
-  if strArray[i].index(/SWIGEXPORT void Init_/) != nil then
+  if !strArray[i].index(/SWIGEXPORT void Init_/).nil? then
     rbDefineBlockInd = i
 
     # simplify rb_define_class_under statement for derived classes
@@ -69,14 +69,14 @@
   end
 
   # process blocks that include rdoc comments, delete all others
-  if strArray[i].index(/Document-[\w]*: /) == nil then
+  if strArray[i].index(/Document-[\w]*: /).nil? then
     strArray[i] = ''
   else
     # change derived class documentation
     # get base class and delete from first line
     inheritanceDocRegex = /Document-class: ([\w:]*) < ([\w:]*)/
     ans = strArray[i].match(inheritanceDocRegex)
-    if ans != nil then
+    if !ans.nil? then
       # is derived class
       baseClassStr = ans[2]
       strArray[i].sub!(inheritanceDocRegex,'Document-class: \1')
@@ -102,12 +102,12 @@
     brokenBlock[1].each_line {|ln|
 
       # possible keeper lines
-      if (ln.match(/static VALUE/) != nil) ||
-         (ln.match(/_wrap_/) != nil) ||
-         (ln.match(/swig_class/) != nil) then
+      if !ln.match(/static VALUE/).nil? ||
+         !ln.match(/_wrap_/).nil? ||
+         !ln.match(/swig_class/).nil? then
         ln.sub!(" {","")                         # get rid of hanging open brackets
-        if ln.match(/__SWIG_\d+/) == nil         # not an overloaded function
-          if (lookingFor == '') || (ln.match(lookingFor) != nil)
+        if ln.match(/__SWIG_\d+/).nil?         # not an overloaded function
+          if (lookingFor == '') || !ln.match(lookingFor).nil?
             keepers << ln
           end
         else                                     # is an overloaded function
@@ -133,20 +133,20 @@
     lookingFor = ''
 
     # getters
-    if strArray[i].match(/Get value/) != nil
+    if !strArray[i].match(/Get value/).nil?
       lookingFor = "_get("
     end
 
     # setters
-    if strArray[i].match(/Set new value/) != nil
+    if !strArray[i].match(/Set new value/).nil?
       lookingFor = "_set("
     end
 
     # pair getters
-    if strArray[i].match(/Return the first element/) != nil
+    if !strArray[i].match(/Return the first element/).nil?
       lookingFor = "_get("
     end
-    if strArray[i].match(/Return the second element/) != nil
+    if !strArray[i].match(/Return the second element/).nil?
       lookingFor = "_get("
     end
 
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@
     end
 
     ans = strArray[i].match(/Document-method: (?:\w+::)+(\w+\.\w+)/)
-    if ans != nil
+    if !ans.nil?
       lookingFor = "_" + ans[1].sub(/\./,"_") + lookingFor
     else
       next
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@
       replace = false
       brokenBlock[1].each_line { |ln|
 
-        if (replace == false) && (ln.match(lookingFor) != nil)
+        if (replace == false) && !ln.match(lookingFor).nil?
           lnForOrphan = ln
           if first
             break
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@
           end
         end
 
-        if ln.match(/\w/) != nil
+        if !ln.match(/\w/).nil?
           keepers << ln
           first = false
         end
diff --git a/ruby/engine/embedded_help.rb b/ruby/engine/embedded_help.rb
index 6e0c5f9d7f..0ddc8911a9 100644
--- a/ruby/engine/embedded_help.rb
+++ b/ruby/engine/embedded_help.rb
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ def require path
         # including things in the --bundle
         result = original_require path
       end
-    rescue Exception => e
+    rescue StandardError => e
       # This picks up the embedded gems
       # Important to do this now, so that --bundle has first chance
       # using rescue in normal program flow, might have poor performance
diff --git a/ruby/engine/measure_manager.rb b/ruby/engine/measure_manager.rb
index 3bddd28c08..f8ede2482d 100644
--- a/ruby/engine/measure_manager.rb
+++ b/ruby/engine/measure_manager.rb
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ def get_measure(measure_dir, force_reload)
       missing_fields = false
       begin
         missing_fields = result.missingRequiredFields
-      rescue
+      rescue StandardError
       end
 
       if file_updates || xml_updates || missing_fields || readme_out_of_date
@@ -356,7 +356,7 @@ def get_measure_info(measure_dir, measure, osm_path, model, workspace)
       print_message("Loading measure info for '#{measure_dir}', '#{osm_path}'")
       begin
         result = OpenStudio::Measure.getInfo(measure, model, workspace)
-      rescue Exception => e
+      rescue StandardError => e
         result = OpenStudio::Measure::OSMeasureInfo.new(e.message)
       end
 
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ def get_arguments_from_measure(measure_dir, measure)
 
         result << arg
       end
-    rescue
+    rescue StandardError
       info = get_measure_info(measure_dir, measure, "", OpenStudio::Model::OptionalModel.new, OpenStudio::OptionalWorkspace.new)
       return get_arguments_from_measure_info(info)
     end
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ def measure_hash(measure_dir, measure, measure_info = nil)
         out[:model_dependent] = output.modelDependent
         result[:outputs] << out
       end
-    rescue
+    rescue StandardError
     end
 
     attributes = []
diff --git a/ruby/engine/measure_manager_server.rb b/ruby/engine/measure_manager_server.rb
index 6bc56ac5fa..e232f9d69d 100644
--- a/ruby/engine/measure_manager_server.rb
+++ b/ruby/engine/measure_manager_server.rb
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ def do_GET(request, response)
         response.status = 400
       end
 
-    rescue Exception => e
+    rescue StandardError => e
       response.body = JSON.generate({:error=>e.message, :backtrace=>e.backtrace.inspect})
       response.status = 400
 
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ def do_POST (request, response)
         response.status = 400
       end
 
-    rescue Exception => e
+    rescue StandardError => e
       response.body = JSON.generate({:error=>e.message, :backtrace=>e.backtrace.inspect})
       response.status = 400
 
diff --git a/ruby/engine/measure_manager_test.rb b/ruby/engine/measure_manager_test.rb
index 62b8cc17cd..4079282430 100644
--- a/ruby/engine/measure_manager_test.rb
+++ b/ruby/engine/measure_manager_test.rb
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ def reset()
     request = RestClient::Resource.new("#{@host}/reset", user: @user, password: @pass)
     response = request.post(json_request, content_type: :json, accept: :json)
     result = JSON.parse(response.body, :symbolize_names => true)
-  rescue Exception => e
+  rescue StandardError => e
     puts "reset failed"
     puts e.message
   end
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ def set(payload)
     request = RestClient::Resource.new("#{@host}/set", user: @user, password: @pass)
     response = request.post(json_request, content_type: :json, accept: :json)
     result = JSON.parse(response.body, :symbolize_names => true)
-  rescue Exception => e
+  rescue StandardError => e
     puts "set #{payload} failed"
     puts e.message
   end
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def download_bcl_measure(uid)
     request = RestClient::Resource.new("#{@host}/download_bcl_measure", user: @user, password: @pass)
     response = request.post(json_request, content_type: :json, accept: :json)
     result = JSON.parse(response.body, :symbolize_names => true)
-  rescue Exception => e
+  rescue StandardError => e
     puts "download_bcl_measure #{uid} failed"
     puts e.message
   end
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ def bcl_measures
     request = RestClient::Resource.new("#{@host}/bcl_measures", user: @user, password: @pass)
     response = request.post(json_request, content_type: :json, accept: :json)
     result = JSON.parse(response.body, :symbolize_names => true)
-  rescue Exception => e
+  rescue StandardError => e
     puts "bcl_measures failed"
     puts e.message
   end
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ def update_measures(measures_dir = nil)
     request = RestClient::Resource.new("#{@host}/update_measures", user: @user, password: @pass)
     response = request.post(json_request, content_type: :json, accept: :json)
     result = JSON.parse(response.body, :symbolize_names => true)
-  rescue Exception => e
+  rescue StandardError => e
     puts "update_measures(#{measures_dir}) failed"
     puts e.message
   end
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def compute_arguments(measure_dir, osm_path = nil)
     request = RestClient::Resource.new("#{@host}/compute_arguments", user: @user, password: @pass)
     response = request.post(json_request, content_type: :json, accept: :json)
     result = JSON.parse(response.body, :symbolize_names => true)
-  rescue Exception => e
+  rescue StandardError => e
     puts "compute_arguments(#{measure_dir}, #{osm_path}) failed"
     puts e.message
   end
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ def create_measure(measure_dir, display_name, class_name, taxonomy_tag, measure_
     request = RestClient::Resource.new("#{@host}/create_measure", user: @user, password: @pass)
     response = request.post(json_request, content_type: :json, accept: :json)
     result = JSON.parse(response.body, :symbolize_names => true)
-  rescue Exception => e
+  rescue StandardError => e
     puts "create_measure(#{measure_dir}) failed"
     puts e.message
   end
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ def duplicate_measure(old_measure_dir, measure_dir, name, class_name, taxonomy_t
     request = RestClient::Resource.new("#{@host}/duplicate_measure", user: @user, password: @pass)
     response = request.post(json_request, content_type: :json, accept: :json)
     result = JSON.parse(response.body, :symbolize_names => true)
-  rescue Exception => e
+  rescue StandardError => e
     puts "duplicate_measure(#{old_measure_dir}, #{measure_dir}) failed"
     puts e.message
   end
diff --git a/ruby/engine/openstudio_cli.rb b/ruby/engine/openstudio_cli.rb
index 94b6b94979..ad78ba5444 100644
--- a/ruby/engine/openstudio_cli.rb
+++ b/ruby/engine/openstudio_cli.rb
@@ -996,7 +996,7 @@ def execute(sub_argv)
 
     # Parse the options
     argv = parse_options(opts, sub_argv)
-    return 0 if argv == nil
+    return 0 if argv.nil?
 
     $logger.debug("Run command: #{argv.inspect} #{options.inspect}")
 
@@ -1219,7 +1219,7 @@ def execute(sub_argv)
 
     # Parse the options
     argv = parse_options(opts, sub_argv)
-    return 0 if argv == nil
+    return 0 if argv.nil?
 
     $logger.debug("ApplyMeasure command: #{argv.inspect} #{options.inspect}")
 
@@ -1255,7 +1255,7 @@ def execute(sub_argv)
       o.banner = 'Usage: openstudio gem_list'
     end
     argv = parse_options(opts, sub_argv)
-    return 0 if argv == nil
+    return 0 if argv.nil?
 
     $logger.debug("GemList command: #{argv.inspect} #{options.inspect}")
 
@@ -1323,7 +1323,7 @@ def execute(sub_argv)
 
     # Parse the options
     argv = parse_options(opts, sub_argv)
-    return 0 if argv == nil
+    return 0 if argv.nil?
 
     $logger.debug("InstallGem command: #{argv.inspect} #{options.inspect}")
 
@@ -1433,7 +1433,7 @@ def execute(sub_argv)
 
     # Parse the options
     argv = parse_options(opts, sub_argv)
-    return 0 if argv == nil
+    return 0 if argv.nil?
 
     $logger.debug("Measure command: #{argv.inspect} #{options.inspect}")
 
@@ -1630,7 +1630,7 @@ def execute(sub_argv)
 
     # Parse the options
     argv = parse_options(opts, sub_argv)
-    return 0 if argv == nil
+    return 0 if argv.nil?
 
     $logger.debug("Measure command: #{argv.inspect} #{options.inspect}")
 
@@ -1706,7 +1706,7 @@ def execute(sub_argv)
 
     # Parse the options
     # DLM: don't do argument parsing as in other commands since we want to pass the remaining arguments to the ruby script
-    return 0 if sub_argv == nil
+    return 0 if sub_argv.nil?
     return 1 unless sub_argv
     $logger.debug("ExecuteRubyScript command: #{sub_argv.inspect}")
     file_path = sub_argv.shift.to_s
@@ -1757,7 +1757,7 @@ def execute(sub_argv)
 
     # Parse the options
     argv = parse_options(opts, sub_argv)
-    return 0 if argv == nil
+    return 0 if argv.nil?
 
     $logger.debug("InteractiveRubyShell command: #{argv.inspect} #{options.inspect}")
 
@@ -1797,7 +1797,7 @@ def execute(sub_argv)
 
     # Parse the options
     argv = parse_options(opts, sub_argv)
-    return 0 if argv == nil
+    return 0 if argv.nil?
 
     $logger.debug("OpenStudioVersion command: #{argv.inspect} #{options.inspect}")
 
@@ -1837,7 +1837,7 @@ def execute(sub_argv)
 
     # Parse the options
     argv = parse_options(opts, sub_argv)
-    return 0 if argv == nil
+    return 0 if argv.nil?
 
     $logger.debug("EnergyPlusVersion command: #{argv.inspect} #{options.inspect}")
 
@@ -1877,7 +1877,7 @@ def execute(sub_argv)
 
     # Parse the options
     argv = parse_options(opts, sub_argv)
-    return 0 if argv == nil
+    return 0 if argv.nil?
 
     $logger.debug("RubyVersion command: #{argv.inspect} #{options.inspect}")
 
@@ -1926,7 +1926,7 @@ def execute(sub_argv)
 
     # Parse the options
     argv = parse_options(opts, sub_argv)
-    return 0 if argv == nil
+    return 0 if argv.nil?
 
     $logger.debug("ListCommands command: #{argv.inspect} #{options.inspect}")
 
@@ -1963,7 +1963,7 @@ def execute(sub_argv)
 
 begin
   result = CLI.new(ARGV).execute
-rescue Exception => e
+rescue StandardError => e
   puts "Error executing argv: #{ARGV}"
   if e.backtrace.nil?
     puts "Error: #{e.message}"
diff --git a/ruby/test/Polygon3d_Join_Test.rb b/ruby/test/Polygon3d_Join_Test.rb
index a4321dde1c..f9396287ba 100644
--- a/ruby/test/Polygon3d_Join_Test.rb
+++ b/ruby/test/Polygon3d_Join_Test.rb
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ def test_Polygon3d_Join
     result = OpenStudio::join(polygonA, polygonB)
 
     # We should have a result
-    assert(result != nil)
+    assert(!result.nil?)
     res = result.get
     # The outer should have 4 points
     assert(res.getOuterPath.size == 4)
diff --git a/src/cli/test/test_embedded_help.rb b/src/cli/test/test_embedded_help.rb
index dbf5f7c64d..98c3c8af7d 100644
--- a/src/cli/test/test_embedded_help.rb
+++ b/src/cli/test/test_embedded_help.rb
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ def test_file_read
       # make sure data is written to the disk one way or the other
       begin
         f.fsync
-      rescue
+      rescue StandardError
         f.flush
       end
     end
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ def test_fileutils_mv
       # make sure data is written to the disk one way or the other
       begin
         f.fsync
-      rescue
+      rescue StandardError
         f.flush
       end
     end