diff --git a/app/controllers/chat_channels_controller.rb b/app/controllers/chat_channels_controller.rb
index 3ba8f5982..a2c988392 100644
--- a/app/controllers/chat_channels_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/chat_channels_controller.rb
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ class ChatChannelsController < ApplicationController
       user = User.find_by(username: username)
       membership = user&.chat_channel_memberships&.find_by(chat_channel: chat_channel)
       if user && membership
-        user.add_role :banned
+        user.add_role(:banned)
         user.messages.where(chat_channel: chat_channel).delete_all
         membership.update(status: "removed_from_channel")
         Pusher.trigger(chat_channel.pusher_channels, "user-banned", { userId: user.id }.to_json)
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ class ChatChannelsController < ApplicationController
     when "/unban"
       user = User.find_by(username: username)
       if user
-        user.remove_role :banned
+        user.remove_role(:banned)
         render json: { status: "moderation-success", message: "#{username} was unsuspended." }, status: :ok
       else
         render json: {
diff --git a/app/services/moderator/manage_activity_and_roles.rb b/app/services/moderator/manage_activity_and_roles.rb
index 8bd3a53c6..735c144be 100644
--- a/app/services/moderator/manage_activity_and_roles.rb
+++ b/app/services/moderator/manage_activity_and_roles.rb
@@ -25,15 +25,15 @@ module Moderator
     end
 
     def remove_privileges
-      @user.remove_role :workshop_pass
-      @user.remove_role :pro
+      @user.remove_role(:workshop_pass)
+      @user.remove_role(:pro)
       remove_mod_roles
       remove_tag_moderator_role
     end
 
     def remove_mod_roles
-      @user.remove_role :trusted
-      @user.remove_role :tag_moderator
+      @user.remove_role(:trusted)
+      @user.remove_role(:tag_moderator)
       @user.update(email_tag_mod_newsletter: false)
       Mailchimp::Bot.new(user).manage_tag_moderator_list
       @user.update(email_community_mod_newsletter: false)
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ module Moderator
     end
 
     def remove_tag_moderator_role
-      @user.remove_role :tag_moderator
+      @user.remove_role(:tag_moderator)
       Mailchimp::Bot.new(user).manage_tag_moderator_list
     end
 
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ module Moderator
     def handle_user_status(role, note)
       case role
       when "Suspend" || "Spammer"
-        user.add_role :banned
+        user.add_role(:banned)
         remove_privileges
       when "Warn"
         warned
@@ -68,20 +68,20 @@ module Moderator
         regular_member
       when "Trusted"
         remove_negative_roles
-        user.remove_role :pro
+        user.remove_role(:pro)
         TagModerators::AddTrustedRole.call(user)
       when "Admin"
         check_super_admin
         remove_negative_roles
-        user.add_role :admin
+        user.add_role(:admin)
       when "Super Admin"
         check_super_admin
         remove_negative_roles
-        user.add_role :super_admin
+        user.add_role(:super_admin)
       when "Tech Admin"
         check_super_admin
         remove_negative_roles
-        user.add_role :tech_admin
+        user.add_role(:tech_admin)
         # DataUpdateScripts falls under the admin namespace
         # and hence requires a single_resource_admin role to view
         # this technical admin resource
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ module Moderator
       when "Pro"
         remove_negative_roles
         TagModerators::AddTrustedRole.call(user)
-        user.add_role :pro
+        user.add_role(:pro)
       end
       create_note(role, note)
     end
@@ -103,27 +103,27 @@ module Moderator
     end
 
     def comment_banned
-      user.add_role :comment_banned
-      user.remove_role :banned
+      user.add_role(:comment_banned)
+      user.remove_role(:banned)
       remove_privileges
     end
 
     def regular_member
       remove_negative_roles
-      user.remove_role :pro
+      user.remove_role(:pro)
       remove_mod_roles
     end
 
     def warned
-      user.add_role :warned
-      user.remove_role :banned
+      user.add_role(:warned)
+      user.remove_role(:banned)
       remove_privileges
     end
 
     def remove_negative_roles
-      user.remove_role :banned if user.banned
-      user.remove_role :warned if user.warned
-      user.remove_role :comment_banned if user.comment_banned
+      user.remove_role(:banned) if user.banned
+      user.remove_role(:warned) if user.warned
+      user.remove_role(:comment_banned) if user.comment_banned
     end
 
     def update_trusted_cache
diff --git a/docs/admin/readme.md b/docs/admin/readme.md
index 1de7fdb09..9fb53fbe8 100644
--- a/docs/admin/readme.md
+++ b/docs/admin/readme.md
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ purpose. For example, if you needed to give a user access to only
 
 ```ruby
 user = User.find(some_user_id)
-user.add_role :single_resource_admin, Welcome
+user.add_role(:single_resource_admin, Welcome)
 ```
 
 This gives the user administration privileges on the controller associated with
diff --git a/docs/backend/roles.md b/docs/backend/roles.md
index 6cf2a6ed1..2d5fba0bc 100644
--- a/docs/backend/roles.md
+++ b/docs/backend/roles.md
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ rails console
 > user.has_role? :pro
 => false
 
-> user.add_role :pro
+> user.add_role(:pro)
 => #<Role:
 ...
 name: "pro"
diff --git a/spec/factories/users.rb b/spec/factories/users.rb
index 9e5d0d847..f0d11159c 100644
--- a/spec/factories/users.rb
+++ b/spec/factories/users.rb
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ FactoryBot.define do
     end
 
     trait :pro do
-      after(:build) { |user| user.add_role :pro }
+      after(:build) { |user| user.add_role(:pro) }
     end
 
     trait :org_member do
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ FactoryBot.define do
     trait :tag_moderator do
       after(:create) do |user|
         tag = create(:tag)
-        user.add_role :tag_moderator, tag
+        user.add_role(:tag_moderator, tag)
       end
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/policies/comment_policy_spec.rb b/spec/policies/comment_policy_spec.rb
index 1c159f882..a6c500589 100644
--- a/spec/policies/comment_policy_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/policies/comment_policy_spec.rb
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ RSpec.describe CommentPolicy, type: :policy do
     end
 
     context "when user is an admin or super_admin" do
-      before { user.add_role :admin }
+      before { user.add_role(:admin) }
 
       it { is_expected.to permit_actions(%i[create moderator_create admin_delete]) }
 
diff --git a/spec/requests/admin/tags/moderators_spec.rb b/spec/requests/admin/tags/moderators_spec.rb
index ae754cb48..922fbb246 100644
--- a/spec/requests/admin/tags/moderators_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/requests/admin/tags/moderators_spec.rb
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ RSpec.describe "/admin/tags/:id/moderator", type: :request do
   describe "DELETE /admin/tags/:id/moderator" do
     before do
       sign_in super_admin
-      user.add_role :trusted
-      user.add_role :tag_moderator, tag
+      user.add_role(:trusted)
+      user.add_role(:tag_moderator, tag)
     end
 
     it "removes the tag moderator role from the user" do
diff --git a/spec/requests/admin/users_manage_spec.rb b/spec/requests/admin/users_manage_spec.rb
index 32e86b8f3..341adb59f 100644
--- a/spec/requests/admin/users_manage_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/requests/admin/users_manage_spec.rb
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Admin::Users", type: :request do
     end
 
     it "selects new role for user" do
-      user.add_role :trusted
+      user.add_role(:trusted)
       user.reload
 
       params = { user: { user_status: "Comment Suspend", note_for_current_role: "comment suspend this user" } }
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Admin::Users", type: :request do
     end
 
     it "selects super admin role when user was banned" do
-      user.add_role :banned
+      user.add_role(:banned)
       user.reload
 
       params = { user: { user_status: "Super Admin", note_for_current_role: "they deserve it for some reason" } }
diff --git a/spec/requests/chat_channels_spec.rb b/spec/requests/chat_channels_spec.rb
index 4c51593f4..49bcd5c0c 100644
--- a/spec/requests/chat_channels_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/requests/chat_channels_spec.rb
@@ -260,7 +260,7 @@ RSpec.describe "ChatChannels", type: :request do
 
     context "when user is logged-in and authorized" do
       before do
-        user.add_role :codeland_admin
+        user.add_role(:codeland_admin)
         chat_channel.add_users([user, test_subject])
         sign_in user
         allow(Pusher).to receive(:trigger).and_return(true)
diff --git a/spec/requests/moderations_spec.rb b/spec/requests/moderations_spec.rb
index b6d5cf0e1..ebf402be7 100644
--- a/spec/requests/moderations_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/requests/moderations_spec.rb
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Moderations", type: :request do
       let(:article2) { create(:article, tags: "javascript, cool, beans") }
 
       it "shows the option to remove the tag when the article has the tag" do
-        tag_mod.add_role :trusted
+        tag_mod.add_role(:trusted)
         sign_in tag_mod
 
         get "#{article1.path}/actions_panel"
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Moderations", type: :request do
       end
 
       it "shows the option to add the tag when the article has the tag" do
-        tag_mod.add_role :trusted
+        tag_mod.add_role(:trusted)
         sign_in tag_mod
 
         get "#{article2.path}/actions_panel"
diff --git a/spec/requests/notifications_spec.rb b/spec/requests/notifications_spec.rb
index 92dce41b6..617708f43 100644
--- a/spec/requests/notifications_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/requests/notifications_spec.rb
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ RSpec.describe "NotificationsIndex", type: :request do
       let(:comment)  { create(:comment, user_id: user2.id, commentable_id: article.id, commentable_type: "Article") }
 
       before do
-        user.add_role :trusted
+        user.add_role(:trusted)
         sign_in user
         sidekiq_perform_enqueued_jobs do
           Notification.send_moderation_notification(comment)
@@ -528,7 +528,7 @@ RSpec.describe "NotificationsIndex", type: :request do
       let(:comment)  { create(:comment, user_id: user2.id, commentable_id: article.id, commentable_type: "Article") }
 
       before do
-        user.add_role :trusted
+        user.add_role(:trusted)
         user.update(mod_roundrobin_notifications: false)
         sign_in user
         sidekiq_perform_enqueued_jobs do
diff --git a/spec/services/mailchimp/bot_spec.rb b/spec/services/mailchimp/bot_spec.rb
index fdd9aea87..2310fca7f 100644
--- a/spec/services/mailchimp/bot_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/mailchimp/bot_spec.rb
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ RSpec.describe Mailchimp::Bot, type: :service do
 
     it "sends proper information" do
       user.update(email_community_mod_newsletter: true)
-      user.add_role :trusted
+      user.add_role(:trusted)
       SiteConfig.mailchimp_community_moderators_id = "something"
       described_class.new(user).manage_community_moderator_list
       expect(my_gibbon_client).to have_received(:upsert)
diff --git a/spec/services/moderator/manage_activity_and_roles_spec.rb b/spec/services/moderator/manage_activity_and_roles_spec.rb
index 131c22fa4..b52206e53 100644
--- a/spec/services/moderator/manage_activity_and_roles_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/services/moderator/manage_activity_and_roles_spec.rb
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ RSpec.describe Moderator::ManageActivityAndRoles, type: :service do
   let(:admin) { create(:user, :super_admin) }
 
   it "updates user status" do
-    user.add_role :banned
+    user.add_role(:banned)
     user.reload
     described_class.handle_user_roles(
       admin: admin,
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ RSpec.describe Moderator::ManageActivityAndRoles, type: :service do
   end
 
   it "updates negative role to positive role" do
-    user.add_role :comment_banned
+    user.add_role(:comment_banned)
     described_class.handle_user_roles(
       admin: admin,
       user: user,
diff --git a/spec/system/admin/admin_bans_or_warns_user_spec.rb b/spec/system/admin/admin_bans_or_warns_user_spec.rb
index 51fd2a1f1..b9dbd0ab3 100644
--- a/spec/system/admin/admin_bans_or_warns_user_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/system/admin/admin_bans_or_warns_user_spec.rb
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Admin bans user", type: :system do
 
   def add_tag_moderator_role
     tag = FactoryBot.create(:tag)
-    user.add_role :tag_moderator, tag
+    user.add_role(:tag_moderator, tag)
   end
 
   def unsuspend_user
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Admin bans user", type: :system do
   end
 
   it "checks that the user is warned, has a note, and privileges are removed" do
-    user.add_role :trusted
+    user.add_role(:trusted)
     add_tag_moderator_role
     warn_user
 
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Admin bans user", type: :system do
   end
 
   it "removes other roles if user is suspended" do
-    user.add_role :trusted
+    user.add_role(:trusted)
     add_tag_moderator_role
     suspend_user
 
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ RSpec.describe "Admin bans user", type: :system do
   end
 
   it "unbans user" do
-    user.add_role :banned
+    user.add_role(:banned)
     unsuspend_user
 
     expect(user.has_role?(:banned)).to eq(false)