diff --git a/spec/help_spec.lua b/spec/help_spec.lua
index 7100a8b..5de40cd 100644
--- a/spec/help_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/help_spec.lua
@@ -4,33 +4,30 @@ getmetatable(Parser()).error = function(_, msg) error(msg) end
 describe("tests related to help message generation", function()
    it("creates correct help message for empty parser", function()
       local parser = Parser "foo"
-      assert.equal(table.concat({
-         "Usage: foo [-h]",
-         "",
-         "Options: ",
-         "   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. "
-      }, "\r\n"), parser:get_help())
+      assert.equal([[
+Usage: foo [-h]
+
+Options: 
+   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. ]], parser:get_help())
    end)
 
    it("does not create extra help options when :prepare is called several times", function()
       local parser = Parser "foo"
-      assert.equal(table.concat({
-         "Usage: foo [-h]",
-         "",
-         "Options: ",
-         "   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. "
-      }, "\r\n"), parser:get_help())
+      assert.equal([[
+Usage: foo [-h]
+
+Options: 
+   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. ]], parser:get_help())
    end)
 
-   it("uses custom help option", function()
+   it("uses custom help option ", function()
       local parser = Parser "foo"
          :add_help "/?"
-      assert.equal(table.concat({
-         "Usage: foo [/?]",
-         "",
-         "Options: ",
-         "   /?                    Show this help message and exit. "
-      }, "\r\n"), parser:get_help())
+      assert.equal([[
+Usage: foo [/?]
+
+Options: 
+   /?                    Show this help message and exit. ]], parser:get_help())
    end)
 
    it("uses description and epilog", function()
@@ -38,16 +35,15 @@ describe("tests related to help message generation", function()
          :description "A description. "
          :epilog "An epilog. "
 
-      assert.equal(table.concat({
-         "Usage: foo [-h]",
-         "",
-         "A description. ",
-         "",
-         "Options: ",
-         "   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. ",
-         "",
-         "An epilog. "
-      }, "\r\n"), parser:get_help())
+      assert.equal([[
+Usage: foo [-h]
+
+A description. 
+
+Options: 
+   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. 
+
+An epilog. ]], parser:get_help())
    end)
 
    it("creates correct help message for arguments", function()
@@ -61,19 +57,18 @@ describe("tests related to help message generation", function()
          :description "Optional. "
          :args "*"
 
-      assert.equal(table.concat({
-         "Usage: foo [-h] <first> <second-and-third> <second-and-third>",
-         "       [<maybe-fourth>] [<others>] ...",
-         "",
-         "Arguments: ",
-         "   first",
-         "   second-and-third",
-         "   maybe-fourth",
-         "   others                Optional. ",
-         "",
-         "Options: ",
-         "   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. "
-      }, "\r\n"), parser:get_help())
+      assert.equal([[
+Usage: foo [-h] <first> <second-and-third> <second-and-third>
+       [<maybe-fourth>] [<others>] ...
+
+Arguments: 
+   first
+   second-and-third
+   maybe-fourth
+   others                Optional. 
+
+Options: 
+   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. ]], parser:get_help())
    end)
 
    it("creates correct help message for options", function()
@@ -84,15 +79,14 @@ describe("tests related to help message generation", function()
          :target "server"
       parser:option "--config"
 
-      assert.equal(table.concat({
-         "Usage: foo [-q] --from <from> [--config <config>] [-h]",
-         "",
-         "Options: ",
-         "   -q, --quiet",
-         "   --from <from>",
-         "   --config <config>",
-         "   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. "
-      }, "\r\n"), parser:get_help())
+      assert.equal([[
+Usage: foo [-q] --from <from> [--config <config>] [-h]
+
+Options: 
+   -q, --quiet
+   --from <from>
+   --config <config>
+   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. ]], parser:get_help())
    end)
 
    it("adds margin for multiline descriptions", function()
@@ -105,15 +99,14 @@ Sets verbosity level.
 -v: Report all warnings. 
 -vv: Report all debugging information. ]]
 
-      assert.equal(table.concat({
-         "Usage: foo [-v] [-h]",
-         "",
-         "Options: ",
-         "   -v                    Sets verbosity level. ",
-         "                         -v: Report all warnings. ",
-         "                         -vv: Report all debugging information. ",
-         "   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. "
-      }, "\r\n"), parser:get_help())
+      assert.equal([[
+Usage: foo [-v] [-h]
+
+Options: 
+   -v                    Sets verbosity level. 
+                         -v: Report all warnings. 
+                         -vv: Report all debugging information. 
+   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. ]], parser:get_help())
    end)
 
    it("shows default values", function()
@@ -124,14 +117,13 @@ Sets verbosity level.
          :default "8080"
          :description "Port."
 
-      assert.equal(table.concat({
-         "Usage: foo [-o <o>] [-p <p>] [-h]",
-         "",
-         "Options: ",
-         "   -o <o>                default: a.out",
-         "   -p <p>                Port. (default: 8080)",
-         "   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. "
-      }, "\r\n"), parser:get_help())
+      assert.equal([[
+Usage: foo [-o <o>] [-p <p>] [-h]
+
+Options: 
+   -o <o>                default: a.out
+   -p <p>                Port. (default: 8080)
+   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. ]], parser:get_help())
    end)
 
    it("does not show default value when show_default == false", function()
@@ -144,14 +136,13 @@ Sets verbosity level.
          :show_default(false)
          :description "Port. "
 
-      assert.equal(table.concat({
-         "Usage: foo [-o <o>] [-p <p>] [-h]",
-         "",
-         "Options: ",
-         "   -o <o>",
-         "   -p <p>                Port. ",
-         "   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. "
-      }, "\r\n"), parser:get_help())
+      assert.equal([[
+Usage: foo [-o <o>] [-p <p>] [-h]
+
+Options: 
+   -o <o>
+   -p <p>                Port. 
+   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. ]], parser:get_help())
    end)
 
    it("creates correct help message for commands", function()
@@ -161,16 +152,15 @@ Sets verbosity level.
          :description "Run! "
       run:option "--where"
 
-      assert.equal(table.concat({
-         "Usage: foo [-q] [-h] <command> ...",
-         "",
-         "Options: ",
-         "   -q, --quiet",
-         "   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. ",
-         "",
-         "Commands: ",
-         "   run                   Run! "
-      }, "\r\n"), parser:get_help())
+      assert.equal([[
+Usage: foo [-q] [-h] <command> ...
+
+Options: 
+   -q, --quiet
+   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. 
+
+Commands: 
+   run                   Run! ]], parser:get_help())
    end)
 
    it("creates correct help message for subcommands", function()
@@ -179,13 +169,12 @@ Sets verbosity level.
       local run = parser:command "run"
       run:option "--where"
 
-      assert.equal(table.concat({
-         "Usage: foo run [--where <where>] [-h]",
-         "",
-         "Options: ",
-         "   --where <where>",
-         "   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. ",
-      }, "\r\n"), run:get_help())
+      assert.equal([[
+Usage: foo run [--where <where>] [-h]
+
+Options: 
+   --where <where>
+   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. ]], run:get_help())
    end)
 
    it("uses message provided by user", function()
@@ -193,9 +182,7 @@ Sets verbosity level.
          :help "I don't like your format of help messages"
       parser:flag "-q" "--quiet"
 
-      assert.equal(
-         [=[I don't like your format of help messages]=],
-         parser:get_help()
-      )
+      assert.equal([[
+I don't like your format of help messages]], parser:get_help())
    end)
 end)
diff --git a/spec/integrity_spec.lua b/spec/integrity_spec.lua
index af4112f..6928735 100644
--- a/spec/integrity_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/integrity_spec.lua
@@ -1,126 +1,106 @@
+local function get_output(args)
+   local handler = io.popen("./spec/script " .. args .. " 2>&1", "r")
+   local output = handler:read("*a")
+   handler:close()
+   return output
+end
+
 describe("tests related to CLI behaviour #unsafe", function()
    describe("error messages", function()
       it("generates correct error message without arguments", function()
-         local handler = io.popen("./spec/script 2>&1", "r")
-         assert.equal(table.concat({
-            "Usage: ./spec/script [-v] [-h] <input> [<command>] ...",
-            "",
-            "Error: too few arguments",
-            ""
-         }, "\r\n"), handler:read "*a")
-         handler:close()
+         assert.equal([[
+Usage: ./spec/script [-v] [-h] <input> [<command>] ...
+
+Error: too few arguments
+]], get_output(""))
       end)
 
       it("generates correct error message with too many arguments", function()
-         local handler = io.popen("./spec/script foo bar 2>&1", "r")
-         assert.equal(table.concat({
-            "Usage: ./spec/script [-v] [-h] <input> [<command>] ...",
-            "",
-            "Error: unknown command 'bar'",
-            ""
-         }, "\r\n"), handler:read "*a")
-         handler:close()
+         assert.equal([[
+Usage: ./spec/script [-v] [-h] <input> [<command>] ...
+
+Error: unknown command 'bar'
+]], get_output("foo bar"))
       end)
 
       it("generates correct error message with unexpected argument", function()
-         local handler = io.popen("./spec/script --verbose=true 2>&1", "r")
-         assert.equal(table.concat({
-            "Usage: ./spec/script [-v] [-h] <input> [<command>] ...",
-            "",
-            "Error: option '--verbose' does not take arguments",
-            ""
-         }, "\r\n"), handler:read "*a")
-         handler:close()
+         assert.equal([[
+Usage: ./spec/script [-v] [-h] <input> [<command>] ...
+
+Error: option '--verbose' does not take arguments
+]], get_output("--verbose=true"))
       end)
 
       it("generates correct error message with unexpected option", function()
-         local handler = io.popen("./spec/script -vq 2>&1", "r")
-         assert.equal(table.concat({
-            "Usage: ./spec/script [-v] [-h] <input> [<command>] ...",
-            "",
-            "Error: unknown option '-q'",
-            "Did you mean one of these: '-h' '-v'?",
-            ""
-         }, "\r\n"), handler:read "*a")
-         handler:close()
+         assert.equal([[
+Usage: ./spec/script [-v] [-h] <input> [<command>] ...
+
+Error: unknown option '-q'
+Did you mean one of these: '-h' '-v'?
+]], get_output("-vq"))
       end)
 
       it("generates correct error message and tip with unexpected command", function()
-         local handler = io.popen("./spec/script foo nstall 2>&1", "r")
-         assert.equal(table.concat({
-            "Usage: ./spec/script [-v] [-h] <input> [<command>] ...",
-            "",
-            "Error: unknown command 'nstall'",
-            "Did you mean 'install'?",
-            ""
-         }, "\r\n"), handler:read "*a")
-         handler:close()
+         assert.equal([[
+Usage: ./spec/script [-v] [-h] <input> [<command>] ...
+
+Error: unknown command 'nstall'
+Did you mean 'install'?
+]], get_output("foo nstall"))
       end)
 
       it("generates correct error message without arguments in command", function()
-         local handler = io.popen("./spec/script foo install 2>&1", "r")
-         assert.equal(table.concat({
-            "Usage: ./spec/script install [-f <from>] [-h] <rock> [<version>]",
-            "",
-            "Error: too few arguments",
-            ""
-         }, "\r\n"), handler:read "*a")
-         handler:close()
+         assert.equal([[
+Usage: ./spec/script install [-f <from>] [-h] <rock> [<version>]
+
+Error: too few arguments
+]], get_output("foo install"))
       end)
 
       it("generates correct error message and tip in command", function()
-         local handler = io.popen("./spec/script foo install bar --form=there 2>&1", "r")
-         assert.equal(table.concat({
-            "Usage: ./spec/script install [-f <from>] [-h] <rock> [<version>]",
-            "",
-            "Error: unknown option '--form'",
-            "Did you mean '--from'?",
-            ""
-         }, "\r\n"), handler:read "*a")
-         handler:close()
+         assert.equal([[
+Usage: ./spec/script install [-f <from>] [-h] <rock> [<version>]
+
+Error: unknown option '--form'
+Did you mean '--from'?
+]], get_output("foo install bar --form=there"))
       end)
    end)
 
    describe("help messages", function()
       it("generates correct help message", function()
-         local handler = io.popen("./spec/script --help 2>&1", "r")
-         assert.equal(table.concat({
-            "Usage: ./spec/script [-v] [-h] <input> [<command>] ...",
-            "",
-            "A testing program. ",
-            "",
-            "Arguments: ",
-            "   input",
-            "",
-            "Options: ",
-            "   -v, --verbose         Sets verbosity level. ",
-            "   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. ",
-            "",
-            "Commands: ",
-            "   install               Install a rock. ",
-            ""
-         }, "\r\n"), handler:read "*a")
-         handler:close()
+         assert.equal([[
+Usage: ./spec/script [-v] [-h] <input> [<command>] ...
+
+A testing program. 
+
+Arguments: 
+   input
+
+Options: 
+   -v, --verbose         Sets verbosity level. 
+   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. 
+
+Commands: 
+   install               Install a rock. 
+]], get_output("--help"))
       end)
 
       it("generates correct help message for command", function()
-         local handler = io.popen("./spec/script foo install --help 2>&1", "r")
-         assert.equal(table.concat({
-            "Usage: ./spec/script install [-f <from>] [-h] <rock> [<version>]",
-            "",
-            "Install a rock. ",
-            "",
-            "Arguments: ",
-            "   rock                  Name of the rock. ",
-            "   version               Version of the rock. ",
-            "",
-            "Options: ",
-            "   -f <from>, --from <from>",
-            "                         Fetch the rock from this server. ",
-            "   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. ",
-            "",
-         }, "\r\n"), handler:read "*a")
-         handler:close()
+         assert.equal([[
+Usage: ./spec/script install [-f <from>] [-h] <rock> [<version>]
+
+Install a rock. 
+
+Arguments: 
+   rock                  Name of the rock. 
+   version               Version of the rock. 
+
+Options: 
+   -f <from>, --from <from>
+                         Fetch the rock from this server. 
+   -h, --help            Show this help message and exit. 
+]], get_output("foo install --help"))
       end)
    end)
 
diff --git a/spec/tip_spec.lua b/spec/tip_spec.lua
index cebdec3..c08ecdf 100644
--- a/spec/tip_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/tip_spec.lua
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ describe("tests related to tips", function()
          parser:option "-q" "--quiet"
 
          assert.has_error(function() parser:parse{"--quiett=true"} end,
-            "unknown option '--quiett'\r\nDid you mean '--quiet'?")
+            "unknown option '--quiett'\nDid you mean '--quiet'?")
       end)
 
       it("for commands", function()
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ describe("tests related to tips", function()
          parser:command "install"
 
          assert.has_error(function() parser:parse{"installq"} end,
-            "unknown command 'installq'\r\nDid you mean 'install'?")
+            "unknown command 'installq'\nDid you mean 'install'?")
       end)
    end)
 
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ describe("tests related to tips", function()
          parser:option "-q" "--quiet"
 
          assert.has_error(function() parser:parse{"--quet=true"} end,
-            "unknown option '--quet'\r\nDid you mean '--quiet'?")
+            "unknown option '--quet'\nDid you mean '--quiet'?")
       end)
 
       it("for commands", function()
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ describe("tests related to tips", function()
          parser:command "install"
 
          assert.has_error(function() parser:parse{"nstall"} end,
-            "unknown command 'nstall'\r\nDid you mean 'install'?")
+            "unknown command 'nstall'\nDid you mean 'install'?")
       end)
    end)
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ describe("tests related to tips", function()
          parser:option "-q" "--quiet"
 
          assert.has_error(function() parser:parse{"--qriet=true"} end,
-            "unknown option '--qriet'\r\nDid you mean '--quiet'?")
+            "unknown option '--qriet'\nDid you mean '--quiet'?")
       end)
 
       it("for commands", function()
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ describe("tests related to tips", function()
          parser:command "install"
 
          assert.has_error(function() parser:parse{"inntall"} end,
-            "unknown command 'inntall'\r\nDid you mean 'install'?")
+            "unknown command 'inntall'\nDid you mean 'install'?")
       end)
    end)
 
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ describe("tests related to tips", function()
          parser:option "-q" "--quiet"
 
          assert.has_error(function() parser:parse{"--queit=true"} end,
-            "unknown option '--queit'\r\nDid you mean '--quiet'?")
+            "unknown option '--queit'\nDid you mean '--quiet'?")
       end)
 
       it("for commands", function()
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ describe("tests related to tips", function()
          parser:command "install"
 
          assert.has_error(function() parser:parse{"isntall"} end,
-            "unknown command 'isntall'\r\nDid you mean 'install'?")
+            "unknown command 'isntall'\nDid you mean 'install'?")
       end)
    end)
 
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ describe("tests related to tips", function()
          parser:option "--quick"
 
          assert.has_error(function() parser:parse{"--quiec=true"} end,
-            "unknown option '--quiec'\r\nDid you mean one of these: '--quick' '--quiet'?")
+            "unknown option '--quiec'\nDid you mean one of these: '--quick' '--quiet'?")
       end)
 
       it("for commands", function()
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ describe("tests related to tips", function()
          parser:command "instant"
 
          assert.has_error(function() parser:parse{"instanl"} end,
-            "unknown command 'instanl'\r\nDid you mean one of these: 'install' 'instant'?")
+            "unknown command 'instanl'\nDid you mean one of these: 'install' 'instant'?")
       end)
    end)
 end)
diff --git a/spec/usage_spec.lua b/spec/usage_spec.lua
index 60ebe62..076c5ec 100644
--- a/spec/usage_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/usage_spec.lua
@@ -19,10 +19,9 @@ describe("tests related to usage message generation", function()
       parser:argument "others"
          :args "*"
 
-      assert.equal(table.concat({
-         "Usage: foo <first> <second-and-third> <second-and-third>",
-         "       [<maybe-fourth>] [<others>] ..."
-         }, "\r\n"), parser:get_usage()
+      assert.equal([[
+Usage: foo <first> <second-and-third> <second-and-third>
+       [<maybe-fourth>] [<others>] ...]], parser:get_usage()
       )
    end)
 
@@ -189,10 +188,9 @@ describe("tests related to usage message generation", function()
       )
       parser:option "--yet-another-option"
 
-      assert.equal(table.concat({
-         "Usage: foo ([-q] | [-v] | [-i]) ([-l] | [-f <from>])",
-         "       [--yet-another-option <yet_another_option>]"
-         }, "\r\n"), parser:get_usage()
+      assert.equal([=[
+Usage: foo ([-q] | [-v] | [-i]) ([-l] | [-f <from>])
+       [--yet-another-option <yet_another_option>]]=], parser:get_usage()
       )
    end)
 end)
diff --git a/src/argparse.lua b/src/argparse.lua
index 1739a35..df31887 100644
--- a/src/argparse.lua
+++ b/src/argparse.lua
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ do
          local help = self:flag()
             :description "Show this help message and exit. "
             :action(function()
-               io.stdout:write(self:get_help() .. "\r\n")
+               io.stdout:write(self:get_help() .. "\n")
                os.exit(0)
             end)(param)
 
@@ -548,7 +548,7 @@ function Parser:get_usage()
       add("...")
    end
 
-   return table.concat(lines, "\r\n")
+   return table.concat(lines, "\n")
 end
 
 local margin_len = 3
@@ -561,18 +561,12 @@ local function make_two_columns(s1, s2)
       return margin .. s1
    end
 
-   s2 = s2:gsub("[\r\n][\r\n]?", function(sub)
-      if #sub == 1 or sub == "\r\n" then
-         return "\r\n" .. margin2
-      else
-         return "\r\n\r\n" .. margin2
-      end
-   end)
+   s2 = s2:gsub("\n", "\n" .. margin2)
 
    if #s1 < (margin_len2-margin_len) then
       return margin .. s1 .. (" "):rep(margin_len2-margin_len-#s1) .. s2
    else
-      return margin .. s1 .. "\r\n" .. margin2 .. s2
+      return margin .. s1 .. "\n" .. margin2 .. s2
    end
 end
 
@@ -597,7 +591,7 @@ function Parser:get_help()
             table.insert(buf, make_two_columns(element:_get_label(), element:_get_description()))
          end
 
-         table.insert(blocks, table.concat(buf, "\r\n"))
+         table.insert(blocks, table.concat(buf, "\n"))
       end
    end
 
@@ -605,7 +599,7 @@ function Parser:get_help()
       table.insert(blocks, self._epilog)
    end
 
-   return table.concat(blocks, "\r\n\r\n")
+   return table.concat(blocks, "\n\n")
 end
 
 local function get_tip(context, wrong_name)
@@ -647,9 +641,9 @@ local function get_tip(context, wrong_name)
          end
 
          table.sort(possible_names_arr)
-         return "\r\nDid you mean one of these: " .. table.concat(possible_names_arr, " ") .. "?"
+         return "\nDid you mean one of these: " .. table.concat(possible_names_arr, " ") .. "?"
       else
-         return "\r\nDid you mean '" .. first .. "'?"
+         return "\nDid you mean '" .. first .. "'?"
       end
    else
       return ""
@@ -1002,7 +996,7 @@ function Parser:_parse(args, errhandler)
 end
 
 function Parser:error(msg)
-   io.stderr:write(("%s\r\n\r\nError: %s\r\n"):format(self:get_usage(), msg))
+   io.stderr:write(("%s\n\nError: %s\n"):format(self:get_usage(), msg))
    os.exit(1)
 end