diff --git a/IPython/core/alias.py b/IPython/core/alias.py
index 28a9ccb..ee377d5 100644
--- a/IPython/core/alias.py
+++ b/IPython/core/alias.py
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@ import sys
 from traitlets.config.configurable import Configurable
 from IPython.core.error import UsageError
 
-from IPython.utils.py3compat import string_types
 from traitlets import List, Instance
 from logging import error
 
@@ -148,7 +147,7 @@ class Alias(object):
                 raise InvalidAliasError("The name %s can't be aliased "
                                         "because it is another magic command." % self.name)
 
-        if not (isinstance(self.cmd, string_types)):
+        if not (isinstance(self.cmd, str)):
             raise InvalidAliasError("An alias command must be a string, "
                                     "got: %r" % self.cmd)
 
diff --git a/IPython/core/completer.py b/IPython/core/completer.py
index cc822c1..3e2ab79 100644
--- a/IPython/core/completer.py
+++ b/IPython/core/completer.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ from IPython.utils import generics
 from IPython.utils.decorators import undoc
 from IPython.utils.dir2 import dir2, get_real_method
 from IPython.utils.process import arg_split
-from IPython.utils.py3compat import builtin_mod, string_types, PY3, cast_unicode_py2
+from IPython.utils.py3compat import builtin_mod, PY3, cast_unicode_py2
 from traitlets import Bool, Enum, observe
 
 from functools import wraps
@@ -423,14 +423,14 @@ def get__all__entries(obj):
     except:
         return []
     
-    return [cast_unicode_py2(w) for w in words if isinstance(w, string_types)]
+    return [cast_unicode_py2(w) for w in words if isinstance(w, str)]
 
 
 def match_dict_keys(keys, prefix, delims):
     """Used by dict_key_matches, matching the prefix to a list of keys"""
     if not prefix:
         return None, 0, [repr(k) for k in keys
-                      if isinstance(k, (string_types, bytes))]
+                      if isinstance(k, (str, bytes))]
     quote_match = re.search('["\']', prefix)
     quote = quote_match.group()
     try:
diff --git a/IPython/core/completerlib.py b/IPython/core/completerlib.py
index cd2ac20..1bbc51b 100644
--- a/IPython/core/completerlib.py
+++ b/IPython/core/completerlib.py
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ from zipimport import zipimporter
 from IPython.core.completer import expand_user, compress_user
 from IPython.core.error import TryNext
 from IPython.utils._process_common import arg_split
-from IPython.utils.py3compat import string_types
 
 # FIXME: this should be pulled in with the right call via the component system
 from IPython import get_ipython
@@ -169,7 +168,7 @@ def try_import(mod, only_modules=False):
     completions.extend(getattr(m, '__all__', []))
     if m_is_init:
         completions.extend(module_list(os.path.dirname(m.__file__)))
-    completions = {c for c in completions if isinstance(c, string_types)}
+    completions = {c for c in completions if isinstance(c, str)}
     completions.discard('__init__')
     return list(completions)
 
@@ -193,7 +192,7 @@ def quick_completer(cmd, completions):
         [d:\ipython]|3> foo ba
     """
 
-    if isinstance(completions, string_types):
+    if isinstance(completions, str):
         completions = completions.split()
 
     def do_complete(self, event):
diff --git a/IPython/core/display.py b/IPython/core/display.py
index dbbff3e..8ac4ee6 100644
--- a/IPython/core/display.py
+++ b/IPython/core/display.py
@@ -18,8 +18,7 @@ import struct
 import sys
 import warnings
 
-from IPython.utils.py3compat import (string_types, cast_bytes_py2, cast_unicode,
-                                     unicode_type)
+from IPython.utils.py3compat import cast_bytes_py2, cast_unicode, unicode_type
 from IPython.testing.skipdoctest import skip_doctest
 
 __all__ = ['display', 'display_pretty', 'display_html', 'display_markdown',
@@ -481,7 +480,7 @@ class DisplayObject(object):
         filename : unicode
             Path to a local file to load the data from.
         """
-        if data is not None and isinstance(data, string_types):
+        if data is not None and isinstance(data, str):
             if data.startswith('http') and url is None:
                 url = data
                 filename = None
@@ -539,7 +538,7 @@ class DisplayObject(object):
 class TextDisplayObject(DisplayObject):
     """Validate that display data is text"""
     def _check_data(self):
-        if self.data is not None and not isinstance(self.data, string_types):
+        if self.data is not None and not isinstance(self.data, str):
             raise TypeError("%s expects text, not %r" % (self.__class__.__name__, self.data))
 
 class Pretty(TextDisplayObject):
@@ -657,7 +656,7 @@ class JSON(DisplayObject):
 
     @data.setter
     def data(self, data):
-        if isinstance(data, string_types):
+        if isinstance(data, str):
             warnings.warn("JSON expects JSONable dict or list, not JSON strings")
             data = json.loads(data)
         self._data = data
@@ -715,11 +714,11 @@ class Javascript(TextDisplayObject):
             The full URLs of the css files should be given. A single css URL
             can also be given as a string.
         """
-        if isinstance(lib, string_types):
+        if isinstance(lib, str):
             lib = [lib]
         elif lib is None:
             lib = []
-        if isinstance(css, string_types):
+        if isinstance(css, str):
             css = [css]
         elif css is None:
             css = []
@@ -848,7 +847,7 @@ class Image(DisplayObject):
             ext = self._find_ext(url)
         elif data is None:
             raise ValueError("No image data found. Expecting filename, url, or data.")
-        elif isinstance(data, string_types) and (
+        elif isinstance(data, str) and (
             data.startswith('http') or _safe_exists(data)
         ):
             ext = self._find_ext(data)
@@ -999,7 +998,7 @@ class Video(DisplayObject):
         Video('path/to/video.mp4', embed=True)
         Video(b'raw-videodata', embed=True)
         """
-        if url is None and isinstance(data, string_types) and data.startswith(('http:', 'https:')):
+        if url is None and isinstance(data, str) and data.startswith(('http:', 'https:')):
             url = data
             data = None
         elif os.path.exists(data):
diff --git a/IPython/core/formatters.py b/IPython/core/formatters.py
index adef488..31de644 100644
--- a/IPython/core/formatters.py
+++ b/IPython/core/formatters.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ from traitlets import (
     default, observe,
 )
 from IPython.utils.py3compat import (
-    with_metaclass, string_types, unicode_type,
+    with_metaclass, unicode_type,
 )
 
 
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ class BaseFormatter(Configurable):
     """
 
     format_type = Unicode('text/plain')
-    _return_type = string_types
+    _return_type = str
 
     enabled = Bool(True).tag(config=True)
 
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ class BaseFormatter(Configurable):
         ------
         KeyError if the type has not been registered.
         """
-        if isinstance(typ, string_types):
+        if isinstance(typ, str):
             typ_key = tuple(typ.rsplit('.',1))
             if typ_key not in self.deferred_printers:
                 # We may have it cached in the type map. We will have to
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ class BaseFormatter(Configurable):
             this will be the previous value (to enable restoring later).
         """
         # if string given, interpret as 'pkg.module.class_name'
-        if isinstance(typ, string_types):
+        if isinstance(typ, str):
             type_module, type_name = typ.rsplit('.', 1)
             return self.for_type_by_name(type_module, type_name, func)
         
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@ class BaseFormatter(Configurable):
         KeyError if the type is not registered and default is not specified.
         """
         
-        if isinstance(typ, string_types):
+        if isinstance(typ, str):
             typ_key = tuple(typ.rsplit('.',1))
             if typ_key not in self.deferred_printers:
                 # We may have it cached in the type map. We will have to
@@ -804,7 +804,7 @@ class JSONFormatter(BaseFormatter):
             r, md = r
         
         # handle deprecated JSON-as-string form from IPython < 3
-        if isinstance(r, string_types):
+        if isinstance(r, str):
             warnings.warn("JSON expects JSONable list/dict containers, not JSON strings",
             FormatterWarning)
             r = json.loads(r)
diff --git a/IPython/core/interactiveshell.py b/IPython/core/interactiveshell.py
index 9d2c325..70185d5 100644
--- a/IPython/core/interactiveshell.py
+++ b/IPython/core/interactiveshell.py
@@ -67,8 +67,7 @@ from IPython.utils.ipstruct import Struct
 from IPython.paths import get_ipython_dir
 from IPython.utils.path import get_home_dir, get_py_filename, ensure_dir_exists
 from IPython.utils.process import system, getoutput
-from IPython.utils.py3compat import (builtin_mod, unicode_type, string_types,
-                                     with_metaclass)
+from IPython.utils.py3compat import builtin_mod, unicode_type, with_metaclass
 from IPython.utils.strdispatch import StrDispatch
 from IPython.utils.syspathcontext import prepended_to_syspath
 from IPython.utils.text import format_screen, LSString, SList, DollarFormatter
@@ -1307,8 +1306,8 @@ class InteractiveShell(SingletonConfigurable):
         # We need a dict of name/value pairs to do namespace updates.
         if isinstance(variables, dict):
             vdict = variables
-        elif isinstance(variables, string_types+(list, tuple)):
-            if isinstance(variables, string_types):
+        elif isinstance(variables, (str, list, tuple)):
+            if isinstance(variables, str):
                 vlist = variables.split()
             else:
                 vlist = variables
@@ -1651,14 +1650,14 @@ class InteractiveShell(SingletonConfigurable):
             msg = "CustomTB must return list of strings, not %r" % stb
             if stb is None:
                 return []
-            elif isinstance(stb, string_types):
+            elif isinstance(stb, str):
                 return [stb]
             elif not isinstance(stb, list):
                 raise TypeError(msg)
             # it's a list
             for line in stb:
                 # check every element
-                if not isinstance(line, string_types):
+                if not isinstance(line, str):
                     raise TypeError(msg)
             return stb
 
@@ -2154,7 +2153,7 @@ class InteractiveShell(SingletonConfigurable):
 
         from IPython.core import macro
 
-        if isinstance(themacro, string_types):
+        if isinstance(themacro, str):
             themacro = macro.Macro(themacro)
         if not isinstance(themacro, macro.Macro):
             raise ValueError('A macro must be a string or a Macro instance.')
@@ -3165,7 +3164,7 @@ class InteractiveShell(SingletonConfigurable):
             raise ValueError(("'%s' was not found in history, as a file, url, "
                                 "nor in the user namespace.") % target)
 
-        if isinstance(codeobj, string_types):
+        if isinstance(codeobj, str):
             return codeobj
         elif isinstance(codeobj, Macro):
             return codeobj.value
diff --git a/IPython/core/macro.py b/IPython/core/macro.py
index 9032706..367998b 100644
--- a/IPython/core/macro.py
+++ b/IPython/core/macro.py
@@ -52,6 +52,6 @@ class Macro(object):
     def __add__(self, other):
         if isinstance(other, Macro):
             return Macro(self.value + other.value)
-        elif isinstance(other, py3compat.string_types):
+        elif isinstance(other, str):
             return Macro(self.value + other)
         raise TypeError
diff --git a/IPython/core/magic.py b/IPython/core/magic.py
index 7c1e90c..132e958 100644
--- a/IPython/core/magic.py
+++ b/IPython/core/magic.py
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ from IPython.core.inputsplitter import ESC_MAGIC, ESC_MAGIC2
 from decorator import decorator
 from IPython.utils.ipstruct import Struct
 from IPython.utils.process import arg_split
-from IPython.utils.py3compat import string_types
 from IPython.utils.text import dedent
 from traitlets import Bool, Dict, Instance, observe
 from logging import error
@@ -192,7 +191,7 @@ def _method_magic_marker(magic_kind):
             name = func.__name__
             retval = decorator(call, func)
             record_magic(magics, magic_kind, name, name)
-        elif isinstance(arg, string_types):
+        elif isinstance(arg, str):
             # Decorator called with arguments (@foo('bar'))
             name = arg
             def mark(func, *a, **kw):
@@ -237,7 +236,7 @@ def _function_magic_marker(magic_kind):
             name = func.__name__
             ip.register_magic_function(func, magic_kind, name)
             retval = decorator(call, func)
-        elif isinstance(arg, string_types):
+        elif isinstance(arg, str):
             # Decorator called with arguments (@foo('bar'))
             name = arg
             def mark(func, *a, **kw):
@@ -511,7 +510,7 @@ class Magics(Configurable):
             tab = self.magics[mtype] = {}
             cls_tab = class_magics[mtype]
             for magic_name, meth_name in cls_tab.items():
-                if isinstance(meth_name, string_types):
+                if isinstance(meth_name, str):
                     # it's a method name, grab it
                     tab[magic_name] = getattr(self, meth_name)
                 else:
diff --git a/IPython/core/magics/code.py b/IPython/core/magics/code.py
index 6439df7..804e1ea 100644
--- a/IPython/core/magics/code.py
+++ b/IPython/core/magics/code.py
@@ -28,7 +28,6 @@ from IPython.core.magic import Magics, magics_class, line_magic
 from IPython.core.oinspect import find_file, find_source_lines
 from IPython.testing.skipdoctest import skip_doctest
 from IPython.utils import py3compat
-from IPython.utils.py3compat import string_types
 from IPython.utils.contexts import preserve_keys
 from IPython.utils.path import get_py_filename
 from warnings import warn
@@ -443,7 +442,7 @@ class CodeMagics(Magics):
 
                     #print '*** args',args,'type',type(args)  # dbg
                     data = eval(args, shell.user_ns)
-                    if not isinstance(data, string_types):
+                    if not isinstance(data, str):
                         raise DataIsObject
 
                 except (NameError,SyntaxError):
diff --git a/IPython/core/oinspect.py b/IPython/core/oinspect.py
index 7f273a5..a36e3a8 100644
--- a/IPython/core/oinspect.py
+++ b/IPython/core/oinspect.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ from IPython.utils.path import compress_user
 from IPython.utils.text import indent
 from IPython.utils.wildcard import list_namespace
 from IPython.utils.coloransi import TermColors, ColorScheme, ColorSchemeTable
-from IPython.utils.py3compat import cast_unicode, string_types, PY3
+from IPython.utils.py3compat import cast_unicode, PY3
 from IPython.utils.colorable import Colorable
 
 from pygments import highlight
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ def getdoc(obj):
         pass
     else:
         # if we get extra info, we add it to the normal docstring.
-        if isinstance(ds, string_types):
+        if isinstance(ds, str):
             return inspect.cleandoc(ds)
     try:
         docstr = inspect.getdoc(obj)
diff --git a/IPython/core/pylabtools.py b/IPython/core/pylabtools.py
index 33f2a03..30ca16b 100644
--- a/IPython/core/pylabtools.py
+++ b/IPython/core/pylabtools.py
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ def select_figure_formats(shell, formats, **kwargs):
     jpg_formatter = shell.display_formatter.formatters['image/jpeg']
     pdf_formatter = shell.display_formatter.formatters['application/pdf']
 
-    if isinstance(formats, py3compat.string_types):
+    if isinstance(formats, str):
         formats = {formats}
     # cast in case of list / tuple
     formats = set(formats)
diff --git a/IPython/core/tests/test_completer.py b/IPython/core/tests/test_completer.py
index 03c0a4f..4b81de6 100644
--- a/IPython/core/tests/test_completer.py
+++ b/IPython/core/tests/test_completer.py
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ from IPython.core import completer
 from IPython.external.decorators import knownfailureif
 from IPython.utils.tempdir import TemporaryDirectory, TemporaryWorkingDirectory
 from IPython.utils.generics import complete_object
-from IPython.utils.py3compat import string_types, unicode_type
+from IPython.utils.py3compat  import unicode_type
 from IPython.testing import decorators as dec
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ def test_unicode_completions():
         # should be thrown and the return value should be a pair of text, list
         # values.
         text, matches = ip.complete(t)
-        nt.assert_true(isinstance(text, string_types))
+        nt.assert_true(isinstance(text, str))
         nt.assert_true(isinstance(matches, list))
 
 def test_latex_completions():
diff --git a/IPython/core/tests/test_completerlib.py b/IPython/core/tests/test_completerlib.py
index 82d246b..0f10884 100644
--- a/IPython/core/tests/test_completerlib.py
+++ b/IPython/core/tests/test_completerlib.py
@@ -157,6 +157,6 @@ def test_bad_module_all():
         results = module_completion('from bad_all import ')
         nt.assert_in('puppies', results)
         for r in results:
-            nt.assert_is_instance(r, py3compat.string_types)
+            nt.assert_is_instance(r, str)
     finally:
         sys.path.remove(testsdir)
diff --git a/IPython/core/tests/test_inputsplitter.py b/IPython/core/tests/test_inputsplitter.py
index 17a7e37..90dd911 100644
--- a/IPython/core/tests/test_inputsplitter.py
+++ b/IPython/core/tests/test_inputsplitter.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ from IPython.core.inputtransformer import InputTransformer
 from IPython.core.tests.test_inputtransformer import syntax, syntax_ml
 from IPython.testing import tools as tt
 from IPython.utils import py3compat
-from IPython.utils.py3compat import string_types, input
+from IPython.utils.py3compat  import input
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Semi-complete examples (also used as tests)
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ def test_remove_comments():
 
 def test_get_input_encoding():
     encoding = isp.get_input_encoding()
-    nt.assert_true(isinstance(encoding, string_types))
+    nt.assert_true(isinstance(encoding, str))
     # simple-minded check that at least encoding a simple string works with the
     # encoding we got.
     nt.assert_equal(u'test'.encode(encoding), b'test')
diff --git a/IPython/core/ultratb.py b/IPython/core/ultratb.py
index df451e0..f7d4c76 100644
--- a/IPython/core/ultratb.py
+++ b/IPython/core/ultratb.py
@@ -1060,7 +1060,7 @@ class VerboseTB(TBTools):
 
         if (not py3compat.PY3) and type(evalue) is types.InstanceType:
             try:
-                names = [w for w in dir(evalue) if isinstance(w, py3compat.string_types)]
+                names = [w for w in dir(evalue) if isinstance(w, str)]
             except:
                 # Every now and then, an object with funny internals blows up
                 # when dir() is called on it.  We do the best we can to report
@@ -1429,7 +1429,7 @@ class SyntaxTB(ListTB):
         # be wrong (retrieved from an outdated cache). This replaces it with
         # the current value.
         if isinstance(value, SyntaxError) \
-                and isinstance(value.filename, py3compat.string_types) \
+                and isinstance(value.filename, str) \
                 and isinstance(value.lineno, int):
             linecache.checkcache(value.filename)
             newtext = ulinecache.getline(value.filename, value.lineno)
diff --git a/IPython/extensions/storemagic.py b/IPython/extensions/storemagic.py
index 32a3505..9a203ff 100644
--- a/IPython/extensions/storemagic.py
+++ b/IPython/extensions/storemagic.py
@@ -18,7 +18,6 @@ import inspect, os, sys, textwrap
 from IPython.core.error import UsageError
 from IPython.core.magic import Magics, magics_class, line_magic
 from traitlets import Bool
-from IPython.utils.py3compat import string_types
 
 
 def restore_aliases(ip):
@@ -178,7 +177,7 @@ class StoreMagics(Magics):
                   obj.__class__.__name__, fnam))
 
 
-                if not isinstance (obj, string_types):
+                if not isinstance (obj, str):
                     from pprint import pprint
                     pprint(obj, fil)
                 else:
diff --git a/IPython/lib/backgroundjobs.py b/IPython/lib/backgroundjobs.py
index a3a02ab..1fc81d7 100644
--- a/IPython/lib/backgroundjobs.py
+++ b/IPython/lib/backgroundjobs.py
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ import threading
 from IPython import get_ipython
 from IPython.core.ultratb import AutoFormattedTB
 from logging import error
-from IPython.utils.py3compat import string_types
 
 
 class BackgroundJobManager(object):
@@ -171,7 +170,7 @@ class BackgroundJobManager(object):
         if callable(func_or_exp):
             kw  = kwargs.get('kw',{})
             job = BackgroundJobFunc(func_or_exp,*args,**kw)
-        elif isinstance(func_or_exp, string_types):
+        elif isinstance(func_or_exp, str):
             if not args:
                 frame = sys._getframe(1)
                 glob, loc = frame.f_globals, frame.f_locals
diff --git a/IPython/lib/pretty.py b/IPython/lib/pretty.py
index 6e31daa..83cf094 100644
--- a/IPython/lib/pretty.py
+++ b/IPython/lib/pretty.py
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ import re
 import datetime
 from collections import deque
 
-from IPython.utils.py3compat import PY3, PYPY, cast_unicode, string_types
+from IPython.utils.py3compat import PY3, PYPY, cast_unicode
 from IPython.utils.encoding import get_stream_enc
 
 from io import StringIO
@@ -679,13 +679,13 @@ def _type_pprint(obj, p, cycle):
     mod = _safe_getattr(obj, '__module__', None)
     try:
         name = obj.__qualname__
-        if not isinstance(name, string_types):
+        if not isinstance(name, str):
             # This can happen if the type implements __qualname__ as a property
             # or other descriptor in Python 2.
             raise Exception("Try __name__")
     except Exception:
         name = obj.__name__
-        if not isinstance(name, string_types):
+        if not isinstance(name, str):
             name = '<unknown type>'
 
     if mod in (None, '__builtin__', 'builtins', 'exceptions'):
diff --git a/IPython/terminal/interactiveshell.py b/IPython/terminal/interactiveshell.py
index 763761b..22e84c7 100644
--- a/IPython/terminal/interactiveshell.py
+++ b/IPython/terminal/interactiveshell.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ from warnings import warn
 
 from IPython.core.interactiveshell import InteractiveShell, InteractiveShellABC
 from IPython.utils import io
-from IPython.utils.py3compat import PY3, cast_unicode_py2, input, string_types
+from IPython.utils.py3compat import PY3, cast_unicode_py2, input
 from IPython.utils.terminal import toggle_set_term_title, set_term_title
 from IPython.utils.process import abbrev_cwd
 from traitlets import Bool, Unicode, Dict, Integer, observe, Instance, Type, default, Enum, Union
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ class TerminalInteractiveShell(InteractiveShell):
             else :
                 raise ValueError('Got unknown colors: ', legacy)
         else :
-            if isinstance(name_or_cls, string_types):
+            if isinstance(name_or_cls, str):
                 style_cls = get_style_by_name(name_or_cls)
             else:
                 style_cls = name_or_cls
diff --git a/IPython/terminal/magics.py b/IPython/terminal/magics.py
index 474d9e6..5be9234 100644
--- a/IPython/terminal/magics.py
+++ b/IPython/terminal/magics.py
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class TerminalMagics(Magics):
         # Sanity checks
         if b is None:
             raise UsageError('No previous pasted block available')
-        if not isinstance(b, py3compat.string_types):
+        if not isinstance(b, str):
             raise UsageError(
                 "Variable 'pasted_block' is not a string, can't execute")
 
diff --git a/IPython/testing/decorators.py b/IPython/testing/decorators.py
index 45c26ea..5a1a46c 100644
--- a/IPython/testing/decorators.py
+++ b/IPython/testing/decorators.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ from .ipunittest import ipdoctest, ipdocstring
 from IPython.external.decorators import *
 
 # For onlyif_cmd_exists decorator
-from IPython.utils.py3compat import string_types, which, PY2, PY3, PYPY
+from IPython.utils.py3compat import which, PY2, PY3, PYPY
 
 #-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Classes and functions
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ def make_label_dec(label, ds=None):
 
     warnings.warn("The function `make_label_dec` is deprecated since IPython 4.0",
             DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
-    if isinstance(label, string_types):
+    if isinstance(label, str):
         labels = [label]
     else:
         labels = label
diff --git a/IPython/testing/tools.py b/IPython/testing/tools.py
index 40cfde7..1779221 100644
--- a/IPython/testing/tools.py
+++ b/IPython/testing/tools.py
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ class AssertPrints(object):
     """
     def __init__(self, s, channel='stdout', suppress=True):
         self.s = s
-        if isinstance(self.s, (py3compat.string_types, _re_type)):
+        if isinstance(self.s, (str, _re_type)):
             self.s = [self.s]
         self.channel = channel
         self.suppress = suppress
diff --git a/IPython/utils/_process_common.py b/IPython/utils/_process_common.py
index 9ede30d..fa2144c 100644
--- a/IPython/utils/_process_common.py
+++ b/IPython/utils/_process_common.py
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ def process_handler(cmd, callback, stderr=subprocess.PIPE):
     # On win32, close_fds can't be true when using pipes for stdin/out/err
     close_fds = sys.platform != 'win32'
     # Determine if cmd should be run with system shell.
-    shell = isinstance(cmd, py3compat.string_types)
+    shell = isinstance(cmd, str)
     # On POSIX systems run shell commands with user-preferred shell.
     executable = None
     if shell and os.name == 'posix' and 'SHELL' in os.environ:
diff --git a/IPython/utils/dir2.py b/IPython/utils/dir2.py
index f6f164f..50805e0 100644
--- a/IPython/utils/dir2.py
+++ b/IPython/utils/dir2.py
@@ -6,7 +6,6 @@
 # Distributed under the terms of the Modified BSD License.
 
 import inspect
-from .py3compat import string_types
 
 
 def safe_hasattr(obj, attr):
@@ -44,7 +43,7 @@ def dir2(obj):
     # filter out non-string attributes which may be stuffed by dir() calls
     # and poor coding in third-party modules
 
-    words = [w for w in words if isinstance(w, string_types)]
+    words = [w for w in words if isinstance(w, str)]
     return sorted(words)
 
 
diff --git a/IPython/utils/io.py b/IPython/utils/io.py
index cf27dd1..dcbef22 100644
--- a/IPython/utils/io.py
+++ b/IPython/utils/io.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ from warnings import warn
 
 from IPython.utils.decorators import undoc
 from .capture import CapturedIO, capture_output
-from .py3compat import string_types, input, PY3
+from .py3compat import input, PY3
 
 @undoc
 class IOStream:
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ class IOStream:
     def writelines(self, lines):
         warn('IOStream is deprecated since IPython 5.0, use sys.{stdin,stdout,stderr} instead',
              DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
-        if isinstance(lines, string_types):
+        if isinstance(lines, str):
             lines = [lines]
         for line in lines:
             self.write(line)
diff --git a/IPython/utils/path.py b/IPython/utils/path.py
index fa85081..0f900b4 100644
--- a/IPython/utils/path.py
+++ b/IPython/utils/path.py
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ def filefind(filename, path_dirs=None):
 
     if path_dirs is None:
         path_dirs = ("",)
-    elif isinstance(path_dirs, py3compat.string_types):
+    elif isinstance(path_dirs, str):
         path_dirs = (path_dirs,)
 
     for path in path_dirs:
diff --git a/IPython/utils/text.py b/IPython/utils/text.py
index 2c39dee..bb1f3c9 100644
--- a/IPython/utils/text.py
+++ b/IPython/utils/text.py
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ class SList(list):
             except IndexError:
                 return ""
 
-        if isinstance(pattern, py3compat.string_types):
+        if isinstance(pattern, str):
             pred = lambda x : re.search(pattern, x, re.IGNORECASE)
         else:
             pred = pattern
@@ -307,8 +307,10 @@ def list_strings(arg):
         Out[9]: ['A', 'list', 'of', 'strings']
     """
 
-    if isinstance(arg, py3compat.string_types): return [arg]
-    else: return arg
+    if isinstance(arg, str):
+        return [arg]
+    else:
+        return arg
 
 
 def marquee(txt='',width=78,mark='*'):