diff --git a/lib/inflex/pluralize.ex b/lib/inflex/pluralize.ex
index f3b981d..e3b540f 100644
--- a/lib/inflex/pluralize.ex
+++ b/lib/inflex/pluralize.ex
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 defmodule Inflex.Pluralize do
   @moduledoc false
-  @default true
 
   @uncountable [
     "aircraft",
@@ -31,161 +30,179 @@ defmodule Inflex.Pluralize do
   ]
 
   @irregular [
-    {~r/(alumn|cact|fung|radi|stimul|syllab)i/i, "\\1us"},
-    {~r/(alg|antenn|amoeb|larv|vertebr)ae/i, "\\1a"},
-    {~r/^(gen)era$/i, "\\1us"},
-    {~r/(pe)ople/i, "\\1rson"},
-    {~r/^(zombie)s$/i, "\\1"},
-    {~r/(g)eese/i, "\\1oose"},
-    {~r/(criteri)a/i, "\\1on"},
-    {~r/^(m)en$/i, "\\1an"},
-    {~r/^(echo)es/i, "\\1"},
-    {~r/^(hero)es/i, "\\1"},
-    {~r/^(potato)es/i, "\\1"},
-    {~r/^(tomato)es/i, "\\1"},
-    {~r/^(t)eeth/i, "\\1ooth"},
-    {~r/^(l)ice$/i, "\\1ouse"},
-    {~r/^(addend|bacteri|curricul|dat|memorand|quant)a$/i, "\\1um"},
-    {~r/^(di)ce/i, "\\1e"},
-    {~r/^(f)eet/i, "\\1oot"},
-    {~r/^(phenomen)a/i, "\\1on"}
+    {~s/(alumn|cact|fung|radi|stimul|syllab)i/, "i", "\\1us"},
+    {~s/(alg|antenn|amoeb|larv|vertebr)ae/, "i", "\\1a"},
+    {~s/^(gen)era$/, "i", "\\1us"},
+    {~s/(pe)ople/, "i", "\\1rson"},
+    {~s/^(zombie)s$/, "i", "\\1"},
+    {~s/(g)eese/, "i", "\\1oose"},
+    {~s/(criteri)a/, "i", "\\1on"},
+    {~s/^(m)en$/, "i", "\\1an"},
+    {~s/^(echo)es/, "i", "\\1"},
+    {~s/^(hero)es/, "i", "\\1"},
+    {~s/^(potato)es/, "i", "\\1"},
+    {~s/^(tomato)es/, "i", "\\1"},
+    {~s/^(t)eeth/, "i", "\\1ooth"},
+    {~s/^(l)ice$/, "i", "\\1ouse"},
+    {~s/^(addend|bacteri|curricul|dat|memorand|quant)a$/, "i", "\\1um"},
+    {~s/^(di)ce/, "i", "\\1e"},
+    {~s/^(f)eet/, "i", "\\1oot"},
+    {~s/^(phenomen)a/, "i", "\\1on"}
   ]
 
   @plural_irregular [
-    {~r/(alumn|cact|fung|radi|stimul|syllab)us/i, "\\1i"},
-    {~r/(alg|antenn|amoeb|larv|vertebr)a/i, "\\1ae"},
-    {~r/^(gen)us$/i, "\\1era"},
-    {~r/(pe)rson$/i, "\\1ople"},
-    {~r/^(zombie)s$/i, "\\1"},
-    {~r/(g)oose$/i, "\\1eese"},
-    {~r/(criteri)on/i, "\\1a"},
-    {~r/^(men)$/i, "\\1"},
-    {~r/^(women)/i, "\\1"},
-    {~r/^(echo)$/i, "\\1es"},
-    {~r/^(hero)$/i, "\\1es"},
-    {~r/^(potato)/i, "\\1es"},
-    {~r/^(tomato)/i, "\\1es"},
-    {~r/^(t)ooth$/i, "\\1eeth"},
-    {~r/^(l)ouse$/i, "\\1ice"},
-    {~r/^(addend|bacteri|curricul|dat|memorand|quant)um$/i, "\\1a"},
-    {~r/^(di)e$/i, "\\1ce"},
-    {~r/^(f)oot$/i, "\\1eet"},
-    {~r/^(phenomen)on/i, "\\1a"}
+    {~s/(alumn|cact|fung|radi|stimul|syllab)us/, "i", "\\1i"},
+    {~s/(alg|antenn|amoeb|larv|vertebr)a/, "i", "\\1ae"},
+    {~s/^(gen)us$/, "i", "\\1era"},
+    {~s/(pe)rson$/, "i", "\\1ople"},
+    {~s/^(zombie)s$/, "i", "\\1"},
+    {~s/(g)oose$/, "i", "\\1eese"},
+    {~s/(criteri)on/, "i", "\\1a"},
+    {~s/^(men)$/, "i", "\\1"},
+    {~s/^(women)/, "i", "\\1"},
+    {~s/^(echo)$/, "i", "\\1es"},
+    {~s/^(hero)$/, "i", "\\1es"},
+    {~s/^(potato)/, "i", "\\1es"},
+    {~s/^(tomato)/, "i", "\\1es"},
+    {~s/^(t)ooth$/, "i", "\\1eeth"},
+    {~s/^(l)ouse$/, "i", "\\1ice"},
+    {~s/^(addend|bacteri|curricul|dat|memorand|quant)um$/, "i", "\\1a"},
+    {~s/^(di)e$/, "i", "\\1ce"},
+    {~s/^(f)oot$/, "i", "\\1eet"},
+    {~s/^(phenomen)on/, "i", "\\1a"}
   ]
 
   @singular @irregular ++
               [
-                {~r/(child)ren/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/(wo|sea)men$/i, "\\1man"},
-                {~r/^(m|l)ice$/i, "\\1ouse"},
-                {~r/(bus|canvas|status|alias)(es)?$/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/(ss)$/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/(database)s$/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/([ti])a$/i, "\\1um"},
-                {~r/((a)naly|(b)a|(d)iagno|(p)arenthe|(p)rogno|(s)ynop|(t)he)(sis|ses)$/i,
+                {~s/(child)ren/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/(wo|sea)men$/, "i", "\\1man"},
+                {~s/^(m|l)ice$/, "i", "\\1ouse"},
+                {~s/(bus|canvas|status|alias)(es)?$/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/(ss)$/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/(database)s$/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/([ti])a$/, "i", "\\1um"},
+                {~s/((a)naly|(b)a|(d)iagno|(p)arenthe|(p)rogno|(s)ynop|(t)he)(sis|ses)$/, "i",
                  "\\1sis"},
-                {~r/(analy)(sis|ses)$/i, "\\1sis"},
-                {~r/(octop|vir)i$/i, "\\1us"},
-                {~r/(hive)s$/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/(tive)s$/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/(er)ves$/i, "\\1ve"},
-                {~r/([lora])ves$/i, "\\1f"},
-                {~r/([^f])ves$/i, "\\1fe"},
-                {~r/([^aeiouy]|qu)ies$/i, "\\1y"},
-                {~r/(m)ovies$/i, "\\1ovie"},
-                {~r/(x|ch|ss|sh)es$/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/(shoe)s$/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/(o)es$/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/s$/i, ""}
+                {~s/(analy)(sis|ses)$/, "i", "\\1sis"},
+                {~s/(octop|vir)i$/, "i", "\\1us"},
+                {~s/(hive)s$/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/(tive)s$/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/(er)ves$/, "i", "\\1ve"},
+                {~s/([lora])ves$/, "i", "\\1f"},
+                {~s/([^f])ves$/, "i", "\\1fe"},
+                {~s/([^aeiouy]|qu)ies$/, "i", "\\1y"},
+                {~s/(m)ovies$/, "i", "\\1ovie"},
+                {~s/(x|ch|ss|sh)es$/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/(shoe)s$/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/(o)es$/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/s$/, "i", ""}
               ]
 
   @plural @plural_irregular ++
             [
-              {~r/(child)$/i, "\\1ren"},
-              {~r/(m)an$/i, "\\1en"},
-              {~r/(m|l)ouse/i, "\\1ice"},
-              {~r/(database)s$/i, "\\1"},
-              {~r/(quiz)$/i, "\\1zes"},
-              {~r/^(ox)$/i, "\\1en"},
-              {~r/(matr|vert|ind)ix|ex$/i, "\\1ices"},
-              {~r/(x|ch|ss|sh)$/i, "\\1es"},
-              {~r/([^aeiouy]|qu)y$/i, "\\1ies"},
-              {~r/(hive)$/i, "\\1s"},
-              {~r/(sc[au]rf)$/i, "\\1s"},
-              {~r/(?:([^f])fe|((hoo)|([lra]))f)$/i, "\\2\\1ves"},
-              {~r/sis$/i, "ses"},
-              {~r/([ti])um$/i, "\\1a"},
-              {~r/(buffal|tomat)o$/i, "\\1oes"},
-              {~r/(octop|vir)us$/i, "\\1i"},
-              {~r/(bus|alias|status|canvas)$/i, "\\1es"},
-              {~r/(ax|test)is$/i, "\\1es"},
-              {~r/s$/i, "s"},
-              {~r/data$/i, "data"},
-              {~r/$/i, "s"}
+              {~s/(child)$/, "i", "\\1ren"},
+              {~s/(m)an$/, "i", "\\1en"},
+              {~s/(m|l)ouse/, "i", "\\1ice"},
+              {~s/(database)s$/, "i", "\\1"},
+              {~s/(quiz)$/, "i", "\\1zes"},
+              {~s/^(ox)$/, "i", "\\1en"},
+              {~s/(matr|vert|ind)ix|ex$/, "i", "\\1ices"},
+              {~s/(x|ch|ss|sh)$/, "i", "\\1es"},
+              {~s/([^aeiouy]|qu)y$/, "i", "\\1ies"},
+              {~s/(hive)$/, "i", "\\1s"},
+              {~s/(sc[au]rf)$/, "i", "\\1s"},
+              {~s/(?:([^f])fe|((hoo)|([lra]))f)$/, "i", "\\2\\1ves"},
+              {~s/sis$/, "i", "ses"},
+              {~s/([ti])um$/, "i", "\\1a"},
+              {~s/(buffal|tomat)o$/, "i", "\\1oes"},
+              {~s/(octop|vir)us$/, "i", "\\1i"},
+              {~s/(bus|alias|status|canvas)$/, "i", "\\1es"},
+              {~s/(ax|test)is$/, "i", "\\1es"},
+              {~s/s$/, "i", "s"},
+              {~s/data$/, "i", "data"},
+              {~s/$/, "i", "s"}
             ]
 
   @singular @irregular ++
               [
-                {~r/(child)ren/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/(wo|sea)men$/i, "\\1man"},
-                {~r/^(m|l)ice$/i, "\\1ouse"},
-                {~r/(bus|canvas|status|alias)(es)?$/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/(ss)$/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/(database)s$/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/([ti])a$/i, "\\1um"},
-                {~r/((a)naly|(b)a|(d)iagno|(p)arenthe|(p)rogno|(s)ynop|(t)he)(sis|ses)$/i,
+                {~s/(child)ren/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/(wo|sea)men$/, "i", "\\1man"},
+                {~s/^(m|l)ice$/, "i", "\\1ouse"},
+                {~s/(bus|canvas|status|alias)(es)?$/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/(ss)$/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/(database)s$/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/([ti])a$/, "i", "\\1um"},
+                {~s/((a)naly|(b)a|(d)iagno|(p)arenthe|(p)rogno|(s)ynop|(t)he)(sis|ses)$/, "i",
                  "\\1sis"},
-                {~r/(analy)(sis|ses)$/i, "\\1sis"},
-                {~r/(octop|vir)i$/i, "\\1us"},
-                {~r/(hive)s$/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/(tive)s$/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/(er)ves$/i, "\\1ve"},
-                {~r/([lora])ves$/i, "\\1f"},
-                {~r/([^f])ves$/i, "\\1fe"},
-                {~r/([^aeiouy]|qu)ies$/i, "\\1y"},
-                {~r/(m)ovies$/i, "\\1ovie"},
-                {~r/(x|ch|ss|sh)es$/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/(shoe)s$/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/(o)es$/i, "\\1"},
-                {~r/s$/i, ""}
+                {~s/(analy)(sis|ses)$/, "i", "\\1sis"},
+                {~s/(octop|vir)i$/, "i", "\\1us"},
+                {~s/(hive)s$/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/(tive)s$/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/(er)ves$/, "i", "\\1ve"},
+                {~s/([lora])ves$/, "i", "\\1f"},
+                {~s/([^f])ves$/, "i", "\\1fe"},
+                {~s/([^aeiouy]|qu)ies$/, "i", "\\1y"},
+                {~s/(m)ovies$/, "i", "\\1ovie"},
+                {~s/(x|ch|ss|sh)es$/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/(shoe)s$/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/(o)es$/, "i", "\\1"},
+                {~s/s$/, "i", ""}
               ]
 
   @plural @plural_irregular ++
             [
-              {~r/(child)$/i, "\\1ren"},
-              {~r/(m)an$/i, "\\1en"},
-              {~r/(m|l)ouse/i, "\\1ice"},
-              {~r/(database)s$/i, "\\1"},
-              {~r/(quiz)$/i, "\\1zes"},
-              {~r/^(ox)$/i, "\\1en"},
-              {~r/(matr|vert|ind)ix|ex$/i, "\\1ices"},
-              {~r/(x|ch|ss|sh)$/i, "\\1es"},
-              {~r/([^aeiouy]|qu)y$/i, "\\1ies"},
-              {~r/(hive)$/i, "\\1s"},
-              {~r/(sc[au]rf)$/i, "\\1s"},
-              {~r/(?:([^f])fe|((hoo)|([lra]))f)$/i, "\\2\\1ves"},
-              {~r/sis$/i, "ses"},
-              {~r/([ti])um$/i, "\\1a"},
-              {~r/(buffal|tomat)o$/i, "\\1oes"},
-              {~r/(octop|vir)us$/i, "\\1i"},
-              {~r/(bus|alias|status|canvas)$/i, "\\1es"},
-              {~r/(ax|test)is$/i, "\\1es"},
-              {~r/s$/i, "s"},
-              {~r/data$/i, "data"},
-              {~r/$/i, "s"}
+              {~s/(child)$/, "i", "\\1ren"},
+              {~s/(m)an$/, "i", "\\1en"},
+              {~s/(m|l)ouse/, "i", "\\1ice"},
+              {~s/(database)s$/, "i", "\\1"},
+              {~s/(quiz)$/, "i", "\\1zes"},
+              {~s/^(ox)$/, "i", "\\1en"},
+              {~s/(matr|vert|ind)ix|ex$/, "i", "\\1ices"},
+              {~s/(x|ch|ss|sh)$/, "i", "\\1es"},
+              {~s/([^aeiouy]|qu)y$/, "i", "\\1ies"},
+              {~s/(hive)$/, "i", "\\1s"},
+              {~s/(sc[au]rf)$/, "i", "\\1s"},
+              {~s/(?:([^f])fe|((hoo)|([lra]))f)$/, "i", "\\2\\1ves"},
+              {~s/sis$/, "i", "ses"},
+              {~s/([ti])um$/, "i", "\\1a"},
+              {~s/(buffal|tomat)o$/, "i", "\\1oes"},
+              {~s/(octop|vir)us$/, "i", "\\1i"},
+              {~s/(bus|alias|status|canvas)$/, "i", "\\1es"},
+              {~s/(ax|test)is$/, "i", "\\1es"},
+              {~s/s$/, "i", "s"},
+              {~s/data$/, "i", "data"},
+              {~s/$/, "i", "s"}
             ]
 
+  defp compile_rules(rules) do
+    Enum.map(rules, fn {pattern, opts, repl} ->
+      {Regex.compile!(pattern, opts), repl}
+    end)
+  end
+
   def singularize(word) when is_atom(word) do
-    find_match(@singular, to_string(word))
+    @singular
+    |> compile_rules()
+    |> find_match(to_string(word))
   end
 
-  def singularize(word), do: find_match(@singular, word)
+  def singularize(word) do
+    @singular
+    |> compile_rules()
+    |> find_match(word)
+  end
 
   def pluralize(word) when is_atom(word) do
-    find_match(@plural, to_string(word))
+    @plural
+    |> compile_rules()
+    |> find_match(to_string(word))
   end
 
-  def pluralize(word), do: find_match(@plural, word)
+  def pluralize(word) do
+    @plural
+    |> compile_rules()
+    |> find_match(word)
+  end
 
   def inflect(word, n) when n == 1, do: singularize(word)
   def inflect(word, n) when is_number(n), do: pluralize(word)
@@ -193,7 +210,7 @@ defmodule Inflex.Pluralize do
   defp find_match(set, word) do
     cond do
       uncountable?(word) -> word
-      @default -> replace_match(set, word)
+      true -> replace_match(set, word)
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/test/inflex_test.exs b/test/inflex_test.exs
index 7196799..0f5cbd3 100644
--- a/test/inflex_test.exs
+++ b/test/inflex_test.exs
@@ -190,21 +190,21 @@ defmodule InflexTest do
   end
 
   test :camelize_upper do
-    assert "Upper"          == camelize("upper")
+    assert "Upper" == camelize("upper")
     assert "UpperCamelCase" == camelize("upper_camel_case")
     assert "UpperCamelCase" == camelize("UpperCamelCase")
     assert "UpperCamelCase" == camelize("UPPER_CAMEL_CASE")
-    assert ""               == camelize("")
+    assert "" == camelize("")
     refute "UpperCamelCase" == camelize("upper_camel_case", :lower)
   end
 
   test :camelize_lower do
-    assert "lower"          == camelize("lower", :lower)
+    assert "lower" == camelize("lower", :lower)
     assert "lowerCamelCase" == camelize("lower_camel_case", :lower)
     assert "lowerCamelCase" == camelize("Lower_camel_case", :lower)
     assert "lowerCamelCase" == camelize("lowerCamelCase", :lower)
     assert "lowerCamelCase" == camelize("LOWER_CAMEL_CASE", :lower)
-    assert ""               == camelize("", :lower)
+    assert "" == camelize("", :lower)
     refute "lowerCamelCase" == camelize("lower_camel_case")
   end
 
@@ -277,5 +277,4 @@ defmodule InflexTest do
     assert "accomplice" == inflect("accomplice", 1)
     assert "accomplice" == inflect("accomplice", 1.0)
   end
-
 end
diff --git a/test/test_helper.exs b/test/test_helper.exs
index 4b8b246..869559e 100644
--- a/test/test_helper.exs
+++ b/test/test_helper.exs
@@ -1 +1 @@
-ExUnit.start
+ExUnit.start()