diff --git a/src/vcd/parse/combinator_atoms.rs b/src/vcd/parse/combinator_atoms.rs
index c599f71..d2f9bf9 100644
--- a/src/vcd/parse/combinator_atoms.rs
+++ b/src/vcd/parse/combinator_atoms.rs
@@ -6,15 +6,13 @@ use super::super::reader::{next_word, WordReader};
 use super::types::ParseResult;
 
 pub(super) fn digit(chr: u8) -> bool {
-    let zero = b'0' as u8;
-    let nine = b'9' as u8;
+    let zero = b'0';
+    let nine = b'9';
 
-    let between_zero_and_nine = (chr >= zero) && (nine >= chr);
-
-    return between_zero_and_nine;
+    (chr >= zero) && (nine >= chr)
 }
 
-pub(super) fn take_until<'a>(word: &'a str, pattern: u8) -> ParseResult<'a> {
+pub(super) fn take_until(word: &str, pattern: u8) -> ParseResult<'_> {
     let mut new_start = 0;
 
     for chr in word.as_bytes() {
@@ -25,13 +23,13 @@ pub(super) fn take_until<'a>(word: &'a str, pattern: u8) -> ParseResult<'a> {
         }
     }
 
-    return ParseResult {
+    ParseResult {
         matched: &word[0..new_start],
         residual: &word[new_start..],
-    };
+    }
 }
 
-pub(super) fn take_while<'a>(word: &'a str, cond: fn(u8) -> bool) -> ParseResult<'a> {
+pub(super) fn take_while(word: &str, cond: fn(u8) -> bool) -> ParseResult<'_> {
     let mut new_start = 0;
 
     for chr in word.as_bytes() {
@@ -42,10 +40,10 @@ pub(super) fn take_while<'a>(word: &'a str, cond: fn(u8) -> bool) -> ParseResult
         }
     }
 
-    return ParseResult {
+    ParseResult {
         matched: &word[0..new_start],
         residual: &word[new_start..],
-    };
+    }
 }
 
 pub(super) fn tag<'a>(word: &'a str, pattern: &'a str) -> ParseResult<'a> {
@@ -63,10 +61,10 @@ pub(super) fn tag<'a>(word: &'a str, pattern: &'a str) -> ParseResult<'a> {
         new_start += 1;
     }
 
-    return ParseResult {
+    ParseResult {
         matched: &word[0..new_start],
         residual: &word[new_start..],
-    };
+    }
 }
 
 pub(super) fn ident<R: std::io::Read>(
@@ -77,9 +75,9 @@ pub(super) fn ident<R: std::io::Read>(
     let (word, cursor) = next_word!(word_reader)?;
 
     if word == keyword {
-        return Ok(());
+        Ok(())
     } else {
         let err = format!("found keyword `{word}` but expected `{keyword}` on {cursor:?}");
-        return Err(err);
+        Err(err)
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/vcd/parse/events.rs b/src/vcd/parse/events.rs
index 315f7a1..871e538 100644
--- a/src/vcd/parse/events.rs
+++ b/src/vcd/parse/events.rs
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@ use super::super::signal::{LsbIdxOfTmstmpValOnTmln, SignalEnum};
 use super::super::types::{SignalIdx, VCD};
 use super::super::utilities::{binary_str_to_vec_u8, BinaryParserErrTypes};
 
-pub(super) fn parse_events<'a, R: std::io::Read>(
+pub(super) fn parse_events<R: std::io::Read>(
     word_reader: &mut WordReader<R>,
-    vcd: &'a mut VCD,
+    vcd: &mut VCD,
     signal_map: &mut HashMap<String, SignalIdx>,
 ) -> Result<(), String> {
     let mut curr_tmstmp_lsb_idx = 0u32;
diff --git a/src/vcd/parse/metadata.rs b/src/vcd/parse/metadata.rs
index 7ee64ad..6e94a7c 100644
--- a/src/vcd/parse/metadata.rs
+++ b/src/vcd/parse/metadata.rs
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ pub(super) fn parse_version<R: std::io::Read>(
             return Ok(Version(version));
         } else {
             version.push_str(word);
-            version.push_str(" ");
+            version.push(' ');
         }
     }
 }
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ pub(super) fn parse_timescale<R: std::io::Read>(
         .map_err(|e| format!("Error near {}:{}. {e}", file!(), line!()))?;
 
     let timescale = {
-        if residual == "" {
+        if residual.is_empty() {
             let (word, _) = next_word!(word_reader)?;
             let unit = match word {
                 "fs" => Ok(Timescale::Fs),
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ pub(super) fn parse_timescale<R: std::io::Read>(
     let (word, _) = next_word!(word_reader)?;
     tag(word, "$end").assert_match()?;
 
-    return Ok(timescale);
+    Ok(timescale)
 }
 
 pub(super) fn parse_metadata<R: std::io::Read>(
@@ -331,5 +331,5 @@ pub(super) fn parse_metadata<R: std::io::Read>(
             _ => {}
         }
     }
-    return Ok(metadata);
+    Ok(metadata)
 }
diff --git a/src/vcd/parse/scopes.rs b/src/vcd/parse/scopes.rs
index 9931fa5..6212882 100644
--- a/src/vcd/parse/scopes.rs
+++ b/src/vcd/parse/scopes.rs
@@ -14,10 +14,10 @@ use super::super::types::{Scope, ScopeIdx, SignalIdx, VCD};
 use super::combinator_atoms::{ident, tag};
 use super::types::ParseResult;
 
-pub(super) fn parse_var<'a, R: std::io::Read>(
+pub(super) fn parse_var<R: std::io::Read>(
     word_reader: &mut WordReader<R>,
     parent_scope_idx: ScopeIdx,
-    vcd: &'a mut VCD,
+    vcd: &mut VCD,
     signal_map: &mut HashMap<String, SignalIdx>,
     path: &Vec<String>,
 ) -> Result<(), String> {
@@ -70,7 +70,9 @@ pub(super) fn parse_var<'a, R: std::io::Read>(
         | SigType::Wire
         | SigType::Tri1
         | SigType::Time => {
-            let num_bits = word.parse::<usize>().expect(parse_err.as_str());
+            let num_bits = word
+                .parse::<usize>()
+                .unwrap_or_else(|_| panic!("{}", parse_err));
             let num_bits = u16::try_from(num_bits).map_err(|_| {
                 format!(
                     "Error near {}:{} while parsing vcd file at {cursor:?}. \
@@ -162,9 +164,9 @@ pub(super) fn parse_var<'a, R: std::io::Read>(
 
 /// Sometimes, variables can be listed outside of scopes.
 /// We call these orphaned vars.
-fn parse_orphaned_vars<'a, R: std::io::Read>(
+fn parse_orphaned_vars<R: std::io::Read>(
     word_reader: &mut WordReader<R>,
-    vcd: &'a mut VCD,
+    vcd: &mut VCD,
     signal_map: &mut HashMap<String, SignalIdx>,
 ) -> Result<(), String> {
     // create scope for unscoped signals if such a scope does not
@@ -225,10 +227,10 @@ fn parse_orphaned_vars<'a, R: std::io::Read>(
     Ok(())
 }
 
-fn parse_scopes_inner<'a, R: std::io::Read>(
+fn parse_scopes_inner<R: std::io::Read>(
     word_reader: &mut WordReader<R>,
     parent_scope_idx: Option<ScopeIdx>,
-    vcd: &'a mut VCD,
+    vcd: &mut VCD,
     signal_map: &mut HashMap<String, SignalIdx>,
     path: &Vec<String>,
 ) -> Result<(), String> {
@@ -341,9 +343,9 @@ fn parse_scopes_inner<'a, R: std::io::Read>(
     Ok(())
 }
 
-pub(super) fn parse_scopes<'a, R: std::io::Read>(
+pub(super) fn parse_scopes<R: std::io::Read>(
     word_reader: &mut WordReader<R>,
-    vcd: &'a mut VCD,
+    vcd: &mut VCD,
     signal_map: &mut HashMap<String, SignalIdx>,
 ) -> Result<(), String> {
     // get the current word
diff --git a/src/vcd/parse/types.rs b/src/vcd/parse/types.rs
index 3bb272b..25644ff 100644
--- a/src/vcd/parse/types.rs
+++ b/src/vcd/parse/types.rs
@@ -10,18 +10,18 @@ pub(super) struct ParseResult<'a> {
 
 impl<'a> ParseResult<'a> {
     pub(super) fn assert_match(&self) -> Result<&str, String> {
-        if self.matched == "" {
-            return Err("no match".to_string());
+        if self.matched.is_empty() {
+            Err("no match".to_string())
         } else {
-            return Ok(self.matched);
+            Ok(self.matched)
         }
     }
 
     pub(super) fn assert_residual(&self) -> Result<&str, String> {
-        if self.residual == "" {
-            return Err("no residual".to_string());
+        if self.residual.is_empty() {
+            Err("no residual".to_string())
         } else {
-            return Ok(self.residual);
+            Ok(self.residual)
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/vcd/signal.rs b/src/vcd/signal.rs
index f9c6103..3df436a 100644
--- a/src/vcd/signal.rs
+++ b/src/vcd/signal.rs
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ impl SignalEnum {
 
     fn bits_required(&self) -> Option<u16> {
         match self {
-            SignalEnum::Data { num_bits, .. } => num_bits.clone(),
+            SignalEnum::Data { num_bits, .. } => *num_bits,
             // TODO: Follow aliases?
             SignalEnum::Alias { .. } => None,
         }
diff --git a/src/vcd/types.rs b/src/vcd/types.rs
index b184f1d..31799f3 100644
--- a/src/vcd/types.rs
+++ b/src/vcd/types.rs
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ impl VCD {
         let scope = &self.all_scopes[idx];
         &scope.name
     }
-    pub fn signal_from_signal_idx<'a>(&'a self, idx: SignalIdx) -> Signal<'a> {
+    pub fn signal_from_signal_idx(&self, idx: SignalIdx) -> Signal<'_> {
         let SignalIdx(idx) = idx;
         let signal_enum = &self.all_signals[idx];
         return Signal(signal_enum);
diff --git a/src/vcd/utilities.rs b/src/vcd/utilities.rs
index 0f3e246..55c7c70 100644
--- a/src/vcd/utilities.rs
+++ b/src/vcd/utilities.rs
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ fn base2_str_to_byte(word: &[u8]) -> Result<u8, BinaryParserErrTypes> {
 
     for (idx, chr) in word.iter().rev().enumerate() {
         match chr {
-            b'1' => val = bit_lut[idx] | val,
+            b'1' => val |= bit_lut[idx],
             b'0' => {}
             b'x' | b'X' => return Err(BinaryParserErrTypes::XValue),
             b'z' | b'Z' => return Err(BinaryParserErrTypes::ZValue),
@@ -73,13 +73,13 @@ pub(super) fn binary_str_to_vec_u8(binary_str: &str) -> Result<Vec<u8>, BinaryPa
         if head_idx < 8 {
             head_idx = 0
         } else {
-            head_idx = head_idx - 8;
+            head_idx -= 8;
         }
 
         if tail_idx < 8 {
             tail_idx = 0
         } else {
-            tail_idx = tail_idx - 8;
+            tail_idx -= 8;
         }
     }
     Ok(vec_u8)