diff --git a/app/models/topic.rb b/app/models/topic.rb
index 70d9f154712..97fb689db6b 100644
--- a/app/models/topic.rb
+++ b/app/models/topic.rb
@@ -102,22 +102,22 @@ class Topic < ActiveRecord::Base
   attr_accessor :include_last_poster
 
   # The regular order
-  scope :topic_list_order, lambda { order('topics.bumped_at desc') }
+  scope :topic_list_order, -> { order(bumped_at: :desc) }
 
   # Return private message topics
-  scope :private_messages, lambda {
+  scope :private_messages, -> {
     where(archetype: Archetype.private_message)
   }
 
-  scope :listable_topics, lambda { where('topics.archetype <> ?', [Archetype.private_message]) }
+  scope :listable_topics, -> { where('topics.archetype <> ?', [Archetype.private_message]) }
 
-  scope :by_newest, -> { order('topics.created_at desc, topics.id desc') }
+  scope :by_newest, -> { order(created_at: :desc, id: :desc) }
 
   scope :visible, -> { where(visible: true) }
 
-  scope :created_since, lambda { |time_ago| where('created_at > ?', time_ago) }
+  scope :created_since, -> (time_ago) { where('created_at > ?', time_ago) }
 
-  scope :secured, lambda {|guardian=nil|
+  scope :secured, -> (guardian=nil) {
     ids = guardian.secure_category_ids if guardian
 
     # Query conditions
@@ -203,11 +203,11 @@ class Topic < ActiveRecord::Base
   end
 
   def self.top_viewed(max = 10)
-    Topic.listable_topics.visible.secured.order('views desc').limit(max)
+    Topic.listable_topics.visible.secured.order(views: :desc).limit(max)
   end
 
   def self.recent(max = 10)
-    Topic.listable_topics.visible.secured.order('created_at desc').limit(max)
+    Topic.listable_topics.visible.secured.order(created_at: :desc).limit(max)
   end
 
   def self.count_exceeds_minimum?
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ class Topic < ActiveRecord::Base
   end
 
   def best_post
-    posts.order('score desc').limit(1).first
+    posts.order(score: :desc).limit(1).first
   end
 
   # all users (in groups or directly targetted) that are going to get the pm