diff --git a/src/pager.c b/src/pager.c
index 7e1fdfa41..758c285a8 100644
--- a/src/pager.c
+++ b/src/pager.c
@@ -1587,8 +1587,7 @@ do_look(int mode, coord *click_cc)
                      MENU_ITEMFLAGS_NONE);
             if (!u.uswallow && !Hallucination) {
                 any = cg.zeroany;
-                add_menu(win, &nul_glyphinfo, &any, 0, 0, ATR_NONE,
-                         clr, "", MENU_ITEMFLAGS_NONE);
+                add_menu_str(win, "");
                 /* these options work sensibly for the swallowed case,
                    but there's no reason for the player to use them then;
                    objects work fine when hallucinating, but screen
diff --git a/src/pickup.c b/src/pickup.c
index b63dfd108..df524e476 100644
--- a/src/pickup.c
+++ b/src/pickup.c
@@ -1048,8 +1048,7 @@ query_objlist(const char *qstr,        /* query string */
     if (gt.this_title) {
         /* dotypeinv() supplies gt.this_title to display as initial header;
            intentionally avoid the menu_headings highlight attribute here */
-        add_menu(win, &nul_glyphinfo, &any, 0, 0, ATR_NONE,
-                 clr, gt.this_title, MENU_ITEMFLAGS_NONE);
+        add_menu_str(win, gt.this_title);
     }
     /*
      * Run through the list and add the objects to the menu.  If
@@ -1266,9 +1265,7 @@ query_category(
         verify_All = (how == PICK_ANY) && ParanoidAutoAll;
 
         /* blank separator */
-        any = cg.zeroany;
-        add_menu(win, &nul_glyphinfo, &any, 0, 0,
-                 ATR_NONE, NO_COLOR, "", MENU_ITEMFLAGS_NONE);
+        add_menu_str(win, "");
     }
 
     invlet = 'a';
@@ -1312,9 +1309,7 @@ query_category(
 
     if (do_unpaid || (qflags & BILLED_TYPES) || do_blessed || do_cursed
         || do_uncursed || do_buc_unknown || num_justpicked) {
-        any = cg.zeroany;
-        add_menu(win, &nul_glyphinfo, &any, 0, 0,
-                 ATR_NONE, NO_COLOR, "", MENU_ITEMFLAGS_NONE);
+        add_menu_str(win, "");
     }
 
     /* unpaid items if there are any */
@@ -3304,9 +3299,7 @@ in_or_out_menu(
         add_menu(win, &nul_glyphinfo, &any, menuselector[any.a_int], 0,
                  ATR_NONE, clr, buf, MENU_ITEMFLAGS_NONE);
     }
-    any.a_int = 0;
-    add_menu(win, &nul_glyphinfo, &any, 0, 0,
-             ATR_NONE, clr, "", MENU_ITEMFLAGS_NONE);
+    add_menu_str(win, "");
     if (more_containers) {
         any.a_int = 7; /* 'n' */
         add_menu(win, &nul_glyphinfo, &any, menuselector[any.a_int], 0,
@@ -3409,9 +3402,7 @@ dotip(void)
                                  clr, doname(cobj), MENU_ITEMFLAGS_NONE);
                     }
                 if (gi.invent) {
-                    any = cg.zeroany;
-                    add_menu(win, &nul_glyphinfo, &any, 0, 0, ATR_NONE,
-                             clr, "", MENU_ITEMFLAGS_NONE);
+                    add_menu_str(win, "");
                     any.a_obj = &dummyobj;
                     /* use 'i' for inventory unless there are so many
                        containers that it's already being used */
@@ -3743,9 +3734,7 @@ tipcontainer_gettarget(
     add_menu(win, &nul_glyphinfo, &any, '-', 0, ATR_NONE, clr,
              /* [TODO? vary destination string depending on surface()] */
              "on the floor", MENU_ITEMFLAGS_SELECTED);
-    any = cg.zeroany;
-    add_menu(win, &nul_glyphinfo, &any, 0, 0, ATR_NONE, clr,
-             "", MENU_ITEMFLAGS_NONE);
+    add_menu_str(win, "");
 
     n_conts = 0;
     for (otmp = gi.invent; otmp; otmp = otmp->nobj) {