diff --git a/wp-admin/includes/user.php b/wp-admin/includes/user.php
index c92d66105e..b9c83abc3f 100644
--- a/wp-admin/includes/user.php
+++ b/wp-admin/includes/user.php
@@ -134,8 +134,8 @@ function edit_user( $user_id = 0 ) {
 	 * @since 1.5.1
 	 *
 	 * @param string $user_login The username.
-	 * @param string &$pass1     The password, passed by reference.
-	 * @param string &$pass2     The confirmed password, passed by reference.
+	 * @param string $pass1     The password (passed by reference).
+	 * @param string $pass2     The confirmed password (passed by reference).
 	 */
 	do_action_ref_array( 'check_passwords', array( $user->user_login, &$pass1, &$pass2 ) );
 
@@ -184,9 +184,9 @@ function edit_user( $user_id = 0 ) {
 	 *
 	 * @since 2.8.0
 	 *
-	 * @param WP_Error &$errors WP_Error object, passed by reference.
+	 * @param WP_Error $errors WP_Error object (passed by reference).
 	 * @param bool     $update  Whether this is a user update.
-	 * @param stdClass &$user   User object, passed by reference.
+	 * @param stdClass $user   User object (passed by reference).
 	 */
 	do_action_ref_array( 'user_profile_update_errors', array( &$errors, $update, &$user ) );
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/Text/Diff/Engine/shell.php b/wp-includes/Text/Diff/Engine/shell.php
index faf387032d..91c1843b83 100644
--- a/wp-includes/Text/Diff/Engine/shell.php
+++ b/wp-includes/Text/Diff/Engine/shell.php
@@ -135,10 +135,10 @@ class Text_Diff_Engine_shell {
      *
      * @access private
      *
-     * @param array &$text_lines Either $from_lines or $to_lines
-     * @param int   &$line_no    Current line number
-     * @param int   $end         Optional end line, when we want to chop more
-     *                           than one line.
+     * @param array $text_lines Either $from_lines or $to_lines (passed by reference).
+     * @param int   $line_no    Current line number (passed by reference).
+     * @param int   $end        Optional end line, when we want to chop more
+     *                          than one line.
      *
      * @return array The chopped lines
      */
diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php b/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php
index 8961c0b92a..d781b88a28 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp-comment-query.php
@@ -323,7 +323,7 @@ class WP_Comment_Query {
 		 *
 		 * @since 4.2.0
 		 *
-		 * @param WP_Comment_Query &$this The WP_Comment_Query instance (passed by reference).
+		 * @param WP_Comment_Query $this The WP_Comment_Query instance (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		do_action_ref_array( 'parse_comment_query', array( &$this ) );
 	}
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ class WP_Comment_Query {
 		 *
 		 * @since 3.1.0
 		 *
-		 * @param WP_Comment_Query &$this Current instance of WP_Comment_Query, passed by reference.
+		 * @param WP_Comment_Query $this Current instance of WP_Comment_Query (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		do_action_ref_array( 'pre_get_comments', array( &$this ) );
 
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ class WP_Comment_Query {
 		 * @since 3.1.0
 		 *
 		 * @param array            $_comments An array of comments.
-		 * @param WP_Comment_Query &$this     Current instance of WP_Comment_Query, passed by reference.
+		 * @param WP_Comment_Query $this     Current instance of WP_Comment_Query (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		$_comments = apply_filters_ref_array( 'the_comments', array( $_comments, &$this ) );
 
@@ -848,7 +848,7 @@ class WP_Comment_Query {
 		 * @since 3.1.0
 		 *
 		 * @param array            $pieces A compacted array of comment query clauses.
-		 * @param WP_Comment_Query &$this  Current instance of WP_Comment_Query, passed by reference.
+		 * @param WP_Comment_Query $this  Current instance of WP_Comment_Query (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		$clauses = apply_filters_ref_array( 'comments_clauses', array( compact( $pieces ), &$this ) );
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp-http-curl.php b/wp-includes/class-wp-http-curl.php
index e60cbce03a..27588fba39 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp-http-curl.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp-http-curl.php
@@ -207,7 +207,7 @@ class WP_Http_Curl {
 		 *
 		 * @since 2.8.0
 		 *
-		 * @param resource &$handle The cURL handle returned by curl_init().
+		 * @param resource $handle  The cURL handle returned by curl_init() (passed by reference).
 		 * @param array    $r       The HTTP request arguments.
 		 * @param string   $url     The request URL.
 		 */
diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp-network-query.php b/wp-includes/class-wp-network-query.php
index 10bc577a39..f1a46bec3c 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp-network-query.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp-network-query.php
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ class WP_Network_Query {
 		 *
 		 * @since 4.6.0
 		 *
-		 * @param WP_Network_Query &$this The WP_Network_Query instance (passed by reference).
+		 * @param WP_Network_Query $this The WP_Network_Query instance (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		do_action_ref_array( 'parse_network_query', array( &$this ) );
 	}
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ class WP_Network_Query {
 		 *
 		 * @since 4.6.0
 		 *
-		 * @param WP_Network_Query &$this Current instance of WP_Network_Query, passed by reference.
+		 * @param WP_Network_Query $this Current instance of WP_Network_Query (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		do_action_ref_array( 'pre_get_networks', array( &$this ) );
 
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ class WP_Network_Query {
 		 * @since 4.6.0
 		 *
 		 * @param array            $_networks An array of WP_Network objects.
-		 * @param WP_Network_Query &$this     Current instance of WP_Network_Query, passed by reference.
+		 * @param WP_Network_Query $this      Current instance of WP_Network_Query (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		$_networks = apply_filters_ref_array( 'the_networks', array( $_networks, &$this ) );
 
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ class WP_Network_Query {
 		 * @since 4.6.0
 		 *
 		 * @param array            $pieces A compacted array of network query clauses.
-		 * @param WP_Network_Query &$this  Current instance of WP_Network_Query, passed by reference.
+		 * @param WP_Network_Query $this   Current instance of WP_Network_Query (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		$clauses = apply_filters_ref_array( 'networks_clauses', array( compact( $pieces ), &$this ) );
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp-query.php b/wp-includes/class-wp-query.php
index 3184e04c2f..2ce906621e 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp-query.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp-query.php
@@ -1001,7 +1001,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 		 *
 		 * @since 1.5.0
 		 *
-		 * @param WP_Query &$this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+		 * @param WP_Query $this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		do_action_ref_array( 'parse_query', array( &$this ) );
 	}
@@ -1629,7 +1629,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 		 *
 		 * @since 2.0.0
 		 *
-		 * @param WP_Query &$this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+		 * @param WP_Query $this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		do_action_ref_array( 'pre_get_posts', array( &$this ) );
 
@@ -2371,7 +2371,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 1.5.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $where The WHERE clause of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$where = apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_where', array( $where, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2381,7 +2381,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 1.5.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $join  The JOIN clause of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$join = apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_join', array( $join, &$this ) );
 		}
@@ -2421,7 +2421,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 				 * @since 2.2.0
 				 *
 				 * @param string   $cjoin The JOIN clause of the query.
-				 * @param WP_Query &$this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+				 * @param WP_Query $this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 				 */
 				$cjoin = apply_filters_ref_array( 'comment_feed_join', array( $cjoin, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2431,7 +2431,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 				 * @since 2.2.0
 				 *
 				 * @param string   $cwhere The WHERE clause of the query.
-				 * @param WP_Query &$this  The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+				 * @param WP_Query $this   The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 				 */
 				$cwhere = apply_filters_ref_array( 'comment_feed_where', array( $cwhere, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2441,7 +2441,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 				 * @since 2.2.0
 				 *
 				 * @param string   $cgroupby The GROUP BY clause of the query.
-				 * @param WP_Query &$this    The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+				 * @param WP_Query $this     The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 				 */
 				$cgroupby = apply_filters_ref_array( 'comment_feed_groupby', array( $cgroupby, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2451,7 +2451,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 				 * @since 2.8.0
 				 *
 				 * @param string   $corderby The ORDER BY clause of the query.
-				 * @param WP_Query &$this    The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+				 * @param WP_Query $this     The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 				 */
 				$corderby = apply_filters_ref_array( 'comment_feed_orderby', array( 'comment_date_gmt DESC', &$this ) );
 
@@ -2461,7 +2461,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 				 * @since 2.8.0
 				 *
 				 * @param string   $climits The JOIN clause of the query.
-				 * @param WP_Query &$this   The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+				 * @param WP_Query $this    The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 				 */
 				$climits = apply_filters_ref_array( 'comment_feed_limits', array( 'LIMIT ' . get_option('posts_per_rss'), &$this ) );
 			}
@@ -2502,7 +2502,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 1.5.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $where The WHERE clause of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$where = apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_where_paged', array( $where, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2512,7 +2512,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 2.0.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $groupby The GROUP BY clause of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this   The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this    The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$groupby = apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_groupby', array( $groupby, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2524,7 +2524,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 1.5.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $join  The JOIN clause of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$join = apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_join_paged', array( $join, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2534,7 +2534,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 1.5.1
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $orderby The ORDER BY clause of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this   The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this    The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$orderby = apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_orderby', array( $orderby, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2544,7 +2544,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 2.1.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $distinct The DISTINCT clause of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this    The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this     The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$distinct = apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_distinct', array( $distinct, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2554,7 +2554,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 2.1.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $limits The LIMIT clause of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this  The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this   The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$limits = apply_filters_ref_array( 'post_limits', array( $limits, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2564,7 +2564,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 2.1.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $fields The SELECT clause of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this  The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this   The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$fields = apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_fields', array( $fields, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2577,7 +2577,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 3.1.0
 			 *
 			 * @param array    $clauses The list of clauses for the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this   The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this    The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$clauses = (array) apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_clauses', array( compact( $pieces ), &$this ) );
 
@@ -2614,7 +2614,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 2.5.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $where The WHERE clause of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$where = apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_where_request', array( $where, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2626,7 +2626,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 2.5.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $groupby The GROUP BY clause of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this   The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this    The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$groupby = apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_groupby_request', array( $groupby, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2638,7 +2638,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 2.5.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $join  The JOIN clause of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$join = apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_join_request', array( $join, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2650,7 +2650,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 2.5.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $orderby The ORDER BY clause of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this   The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this    The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$orderby = apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_orderby_request', array( $orderby, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2662,7 +2662,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 2.5.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $distinct The DISTINCT clause of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this    The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this     The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$distinct = apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_distinct_request', array( $distinct, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2674,7 +2674,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 2.5.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $fields The SELECT clause of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this  The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this   The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$fields = apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_fields_request', array( $fields, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2686,7 +2686,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 2.5.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $limits The LIMIT clause of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this  The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this   The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$limits = apply_filters_ref_array( 'post_limits_request', array( $limits, &$this ) );
 
@@ -2701,7 +2701,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 3.1.0
 			 *
 			 * @param array    $pieces The pieces of the query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this  The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this   The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$clauses = (array) apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_clauses_request', array( compact( $pieces ), &$this ) );
 
@@ -2732,7 +2732,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 2.0.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $request The complete SQL query.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this   The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this    The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$this->request = apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_request', array( $this->request, &$this ) );
 		}
@@ -2845,7 +2845,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 2.3.0
 			 *
 			 * @param array    $posts The post results array.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$this->posts = apply_filters_ref_array( 'posts_results', array( $this->posts, &$this ) );
 		}
@@ -2917,7 +2917,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 				 * @since 2.7.0
 				 *
 				 * @param WP_Post  $post_preview  The Post object.
-				 * @param WP_Query &$this         The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+				 * @param WP_Query $this          The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 				 */
 				$this->posts[0] = get_post( apply_filters_ref_array( 'the_preview', array( $this->posts[0], &$this ) ) );
 			}
@@ -2977,7 +2977,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 1.5.0
 			 *
 			 * @param array    $posts The array of retrieved posts.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$this->posts = apply_filters_ref_array( 'the_posts', array( $this->posts, &$this ) );
 		}
@@ -3028,7 +3028,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 * @since 2.1.0
 			 *
 			 * @param string   $found_posts The query to run to find the found posts.
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this       The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this        The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			$this->found_posts = $wpdb->get_var( apply_filters_ref_array( 'found_posts_query', array( 'SELECT FOUND_ROWS()', &$this ) ) );
 		} else {
@@ -3041,7 +3041,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 		 * @since 2.1.0
 		 *
 		 * @param int      $found_posts The number of posts found.
-		 * @param WP_Query &$this       The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+		 * @param WP_Query $this        The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		$this->found_posts = apply_filters_ref_array( 'found_posts', array( $this->found_posts, &$this ) );
 
@@ -3084,7 +3084,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 *
 			 * @since 2.0.0
 			 *
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			do_action_ref_array( 'loop_start', array( &$this ) );
 
@@ -3110,7 +3110,7 @@ class WP_Query {
 			 *
 			 * @since 2.0.0
 			 *
-			 * @param WP_Query &$this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
+			 * @param WP_Query $this The WP_Query instance (passed by reference).
 			 */
 			do_action_ref_array( 'loop_end', array( &$this ) );
 			// Do some cleaning up after the loop
@@ -4032,8 +4032,8 @@ class WP_Query {
 		 * @since 2.8.0
 		 * @since 4.1.0 Introduced `$this` parameter.
 		 *
-		 * @param WP_Post  &$post The Post object (passed by reference).
-		 * @param WP_Query &$this The current Query object (passed by reference).
+		 * @param WP_Post  $post The Post object (passed by reference).
+		 * @param WP_Query $this The current Query object (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		do_action_ref_array( 'the_post', array( &$post, &$this ) );
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp-site-query.php b/wp-includes/class-wp-site-query.php
index 5367fc74a4..9fb051e90b 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp-site-query.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp-site-query.php
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ class WP_Site_Query {
 		 *
 		 * @since 4.6.0
 		 *
-		 * @param WP_Site_Query &$this The WP_Site_Query instance (passed by reference).
+		 * @param WP_Site_Query $this The WP_Site_Query instance (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		do_action_ref_array( 'parse_site_query', array( &$this ) );
 	}
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ class WP_Site_Query {
 		 *
 		 * @since 4.6.0
 		 *
-		 * @param WP_Site_Query &$this Current instance of WP_Site_Query, passed by reference.
+		 * @param WP_Site_Query $this Current instance of WP_Site_Query (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		do_action_ref_array( 'pre_get_sites', array( &$this ) );
 
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ class WP_Site_Query {
 		 * @since 4.6.0
 		 *
 		 * @param array         $_sites An array of WP_Site objects.
-		 * @param WP_Site_Query &$this  Current instance of WP_Site_Query, passed by reference.
+		 * @param WP_Site_Query $this   Current instance of WP_Site_Query (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		$_sites = apply_filters_ref_array( 'the_sites', array( $_sites, &$this ) );
 
@@ -530,8 +530,8 @@ class WP_Site_Query {
 		 *
 		 * @since 4.6.0
 		 *
-		 * @param array $pieces A compacted array of site query clauses.
-		 * @param WP_Site_Query &$this Current instance of WP_Site_Query, passed by reference.
+		 * @param array         $pieces A compacted array of site query clauses.
+		 * @param WP_Site_Query $this   Current instance of WP_Site_Query (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		$clauses = apply_filters_ref_array( 'sites_clauses', array( compact( $pieces ), &$this ) );
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/class-wp.php b/wp-includes/class-wp.php
index 33118bc014..3172486de3 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class-wp.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class-wp.php
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ class WP {
 		 *
 		 * @since 2.1.0
 		 *
-		 * @param WP &$this Current WordPress environment instance (passed by reference).
+		 * @param WP $this Current WordPress environment instance (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		do_action_ref_array( 'parse_request', array( &$this ) );
 	}
@@ -499,7 +499,7 @@ class WP {
 		 *
 		 * @since 2.1.0
 		 *
-		 * @param WP &$this Current WordPress environment instance (passed by reference).
+		 * @param WP $this Current WordPress environment instance (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		do_action_ref_array( 'send_headers', array( &$this ) );
 	}
@@ -721,7 +721,7 @@ class WP {
 		 *
 		 * @since 2.1.0
 		 *
-		 * @param WP &$this Current WordPress environment instance (passed by reference).
+		 * @param WP $this Current WordPress environment instance (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		do_action_ref_array( 'wp', array( &$this ) );
 	}
diff --git a/wp-includes/class.wp-scripts.php b/wp-includes/class.wp-scripts.php
index f43847696a..a9299f0b91 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class.wp-scripts.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class.wp-scripts.php
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ class WP_Scripts extends WP_Dependencies {
 		 *
 		 * @since 2.6.0
 		 *
-		 * @param WP_Scripts &$this WP_Scripts instance, passed by reference.
+		 * @param WP_Scripts $this WP_Scripts instance (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		do_action_ref_array( 'wp_default_scripts', array(&$this) );
 	}
diff --git a/wp-includes/class.wp-styles.php b/wp-includes/class.wp-styles.php
index a157a7412d..93e008af43 100644
--- a/wp-includes/class.wp-styles.php
+++ b/wp-includes/class.wp-styles.php
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ class WP_Styles extends WP_Dependencies {
 		 *
 		 * @since 2.6.0
 		 *
-		 * @param WP_Styles &$this WP_Styles instance, passed by reference.
+		 * @param WP_Styles $this WP_Styles instance (passed by reference).
 		 */
 		do_action_ref_array( 'wp_default_styles', array(&$this) );
 	}
diff --git a/wp-includes/comment.php b/wp-includes/comment.php
index 7055db763f..e730f058ed 100644
--- a/wp-includes/comment.php
+++ b/wp-includes/comment.php
@@ -2600,9 +2600,9 @@ function pingback( $content, $post_id ) {
 	 *
 	 * @since 2.0.0
 	 *
-	 * @param array &$post_links An array of post links to be checked, passed by reference.
-	 * @param array &$pung       Whether a link has already been pinged, passed by reference.
-	 * @param int   $post_ID     The post ID.
+	 * @param array $post_links An array of post links to be checked (passed by reference).
+	 * @param array $pung       Whether a link has already been pinged (passed by reference).
+	 * @param int   $post_ID    The post ID.
 	 */
 	do_action_ref_array( 'pre_ping', array( &$post_links, &$pung, $post->ID ) );
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/deprecated.php b/wp-includes/deprecated.php
index 06ecd4b518..e29041843f 100644
--- a/wp-includes/deprecated.php
+++ b/wp-includes/deprecated.php
@@ -3155,7 +3155,7 @@ function sticky_class( $post_id = null ) {
  * @deprecated 3.5.0 Use get_post_ancestors()
  * @see get_post_ancestors()
  *
- * @param WP_Post &$post Post object, passed by reference (unused).
+ * @param WP_Post $post Post object, passed by reference (unused).
  */
 function _get_post_ancestors( &$post ) {
 	_deprecated_function( __FUNCTION__, '3.5.0' );
diff --git a/wp-includes/feed.php b/wp-includes/feed.php
index dbeb3a0f83..731b66ed6b 100644
--- a/wp-includes/feed.php
+++ b/wp-includes/feed.php
@@ -696,8 +696,8 @@ function fetch_feed( $url ) {
 	 *
 	 * @since 3.0.0
 	 *
-	 * @param object &$feed SimplePie feed object, passed by reference.
-	 * @param mixed  $url   URL of feed to retrieve. If an array of URLs, the feeds are merged.
+	 * @param object $feed SimplePie feed object (passed by reference).
+	 * @param mixed  $url  URL of feed to retrieve. If an array of URLs, the feeds are merged.
 	 */
 	do_action_ref_array( 'wp_feed_options', array( &$feed, $url ) );
 	$feed->init();
diff --git a/wp-includes/pluggable.php b/wp-includes/pluggable.php
index c4e271518b..41c144b9ab 100644
--- a/wp-includes/pluggable.php
+++ b/wp-includes/pluggable.php
@@ -472,7 +472,7 @@ function wp_mail( $to, $subject, $message, $headers = '', $attachments = array()
 	 *
 	 * @since 2.2.0
 	 *
-	 * @param PHPMailer &$phpmailer The PHPMailer instance, passed by reference.
+	 * @param PHPMailer $phpmailer The PHPMailer instance (passed by reference).
 	 */
 	do_action_ref_array( 'phpmailer_init', array( &$phpmailer ) );
 
diff --git a/wp-includes/pomo/po.php b/wp-includes/pomo/po.php
index c31c7627df..98e0760d19 100644
--- a/wp-includes/pomo/po.php
+++ b/wp-includes/pomo/po.php
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ class PO extends Gettext_Translations {
 	 * Builds a string from the entry for inclusion in PO file
 	 *
 	 * @static
-	 * @param Translation_Entry &$entry the entry to convert to po string
+	 * @param Translation_Entry $entry the entry to convert to po string (passed by reference).
 	 * @return false|string PO-style formatted string for the entry or
 	 * 	false if the entry is empty
 	 */
diff --git a/wp-includes/pomo/translations.php b/wp-includes/pomo/translations.php
index 6623a9f02a..6ebf5f4516 100644
--- a/wp-includes/pomo/translations.php
+++ b/wp-includes/pomo/translations.php
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ class Translations {
 	/**
 	 * Add entry to the PO structure
 	 *
-	 * @param array|Translation_Entry &$entry
+	 * @param array|Translation_Entry $entry
 	 * @return bool true on success, false if the entry doesn't have a key
 	 */
 	function add_entry($entry) {
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ class Translations {
 	/**
 	 * Merge $other in the current object.
 	 *
-	 * @param Object &$other Another Translation object, whose translations will be merged in this one
+	 * @param Object $other Another Translation object, whose translations will be merged in this one (passed by reference).
 	 * @return void
 	 **/
 	function merge_with(&$other) {
diff --git a/wp-includes/version.php b/wp-includes/version.php
index 88a90720d0..577f6a8e6b 100644
--- a/wp-includes/version.php
+++ b/wp-includes/version.php
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *
  * @global string $wp_version
  */
-$wp_version = '4.9-alpha-41685';
+$wp_version = '4.9-alpha-41686';
 
 /**
  * Holds the WordPress DB revision, increments when changes are made to the WordPress DB schema.