diff --git a/src/log4net/Appender/AdoNetAppender.cs b/src/log4net/Appender/AdoNetAppender.cs
index f720dfdf..65d3e546 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Appender/AdoNetAppender.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Appender/AdoNetAppender.cs
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ namespace log4net.Appender;
 /// <para>
 /// Records are written into the database either using a prepared
 /// statement or a stored procedure. The <see cref="CommandType"/> property
-/// is set to <see cref="System.Data.CommandType.Text"/> (<c>System.Data.CommandType.Text</c>) to specify a prepared statement
-/// or to <see cref="System.Data.CommandType.StoredProcedure"/> (<c>System.Data.CommandType.StoredProcedure</c>) to specify a stored
+/// is set to <see cref="CommandType.Text"/> (<c>System.Data.CommandType.Text</c>) to specify a prepared statement
+/// or to <see cref="CommandType.StoredProcedure"/> (<c>System.Data.CommandType.StoredProcedure</c>) to specify a stored
 /// procedure.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
@@ -254,14 +254,14 @@ public AdoNetAppender()
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// This value may be either <see cref="System.Data.CommandType.Text"/> (<c>System.Data.CommandType.Text</c>) to specify
+  /// This value may be either <see cref="CommandType.Text"/> (<c>System.Data.CommandType.Text</c>) to specify
   /// that the <see cref="CommandText"/> is a prepared statement to execute, 
-  /// or <see cref="System.Data.CommandType.StoredProcedure"/> (<c>System.Data.CommandType.StoredProcedure</c>) to specify that the
+  /// or <see cref="CommandType.StoredProcedure"/> (<c>System.Data.CommandType.StoredProcedure</c>) to specify that the
   /// <see cref="CommandText"/> property is the name of a stored procedure
   /// to execute.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// The default value is <see cref="System.Data.CommandType.Text"/> (<c>System.Data.CommandType.Text</c>).
+  /// The default value is <see cref="CommandType.Text"/> (<c>System.Data.CommandType.Text</c>).
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public CommandType CommandType { get; set; }
@@ -270,8 +270,8 @@ public AdoNetAppender()
   /// Should transactions be used to insert logging events in the database.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if transactions should be used to insert logging events in
-  /// the database, otherwise <c>false</c>. The default value is <c>true</c>.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if transactions should be used to insert logging events in
+  /// the database, otherwise <see langword="false"/>. The default value is <see langword="true"/>.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
@@ -306,8 +306,8 @@ public AdoNetAppender()
   /// Should this appender try to reconnect to the database on error.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if the appender should try to reconnect to the database after an
-  /// error has occurred, otherwise <c>false</c>. The default value is <c>false</c>, 
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if the appender should try to reconnect to the database after an
+  /// error has occurred, otherwise <see langword="false"/>. The default value is <see langword="false"/>, 
   /// i.e. not to try to reconnect.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ public AdoNetAppender()
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
   /// To force the appender to attempt to reconnect to the database set this
-  /// property to <c>true</c>.
+  /// property to <see langword="true"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// <note>
   /// When the appender attempts to connect to the database there may be a
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ protected override void SendBuffer(LoggingEvent[] events)
   /// <param name="events">The array of events to insert into the database.</param>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// The transaction argument can be <c>null</c> if the appender has been
+  /// The transaction argument can be <see langword="null"/> if the appender has been
   /// configured not to use transactions. See <see cref="UseTransactions"/>
   /// property for more information.
   /// </para>
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ protected virtual void Prepare(IDbCommand dbCmd)
   /// more control over the format of the database statement.
   /// </remarks>
   /// <returns>
-  /// Text that can be passed to a <see cref="System.Data.IDbCommand"/>.
+  /// Text that can be passed to a <see cref="IDbCommand"/>.
   /// </returns>
   protected virtual string GetLogStatement(LoggingEvent logEvent)
   {
@@ -742,7 +742,7 @@ private void DisposeConnection()
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
 /// This class provides the basic database parameter properties
-/// as defined by the <see cref="System.Data.IDbDataParameter"/> interface.
+/// as defined by the <see cref="IDbDataParameter"/> interface.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>This type can be subclassed to provide database specific
 /// functionality. The two methods that are called externally are
diff --git a/src/log4net/Appender/AppenderSkeleton.cs b/src/log4net/Appender/AppenderSkeleton.cs
index 474bac42..5e0052c2 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Appender/AppenderSkeleton.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Appender/AppenderSkeleton.cs
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ public abstract class AppenderSkeleton : IAppender, IBulkAppender, IOptionHandle
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// If this appender has not been closed then the <c>Finalize</c> method
+  /// If this appender has not been closed then the <see cref="Finalize"/> method
   /// will call <see cref="Close"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ public void Close()
   ///    <item>
   ///      <description>
   ///      Calls <see cref="PreAppendCheck()"/> and checks that 
-  ///      it returns <c>true</c>.</description>
+  ///      it returns <see langword="true"/>.</description>
   ///    </item>
   /// </list>
   /// </para>
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ public void DoAppend(LoggingEvent loggingEvent)
   ///    <item>
   ///      <description>
   ///      Calls <see cref="PreAppendCheck()"/> and checks that 
-  ///      it returns <c>true</c>.</description>
+  ///      it returns <see langword="true"/>.</description>
   ///    </item>
   /// </list>
   /// </para>
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ public void DoAppend(LoggingEvent[] loggingEvents)
   /// Test if the logging event should we output by this appender
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="loggingEvent">the event to test</param>
-  /// <returns><c>true</c> if the event should be output, <c>false</c> if the event should be ignored</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if the event should be output, <see langword="false"/> if the event should be ignored</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// This method checks the logging event against the threshold level set
@@ -482,8 +482,8 @@ public virtual void AddFilter(IFilter filter)
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="level"><see cref="Level"/> to test against.</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// <c>true</c> if the <paramref name="level"/> meets the <see cref="Threshold"/> 
-  /// requirements of this appender. A null level always maps to <c>true</c>,
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if the <paramref name="level"/> meets the <see cref="Threshold"/> 
+  /// requirements of this appender. A null level always maps to <see langword="true"/>,
   /// the equivalent of <see cref="Level.All"/>.
   /// </returns>
   protected virtual bool IsAsSevereAsThreshold(Level? level) => level is null || level >= Threshold;
@@ -587,7 +587,7 @@ protected virtual void Append(IEnumerable<LoggingEvent> loggingEvents)
   /// this base class if it is overridden.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
-  /// <returns><c>true</c> if the call to <see cref="Append(LoggingEvent)"/> should proceed.</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if the call to <see cref="Append(LoggingEvent)"/> should proceed.</returns>
   protected virtual bool PreAppendCheck()
   {
     if ((Layout is null) && RequiresLayout)
@@ -698,14 +698,14 @@ protected void RenderLoggingEvent(TextWriter writer, LoggingEvent loggingEvent)
   /// <para>
   /// In the rather exceptional case, where the appender 
   /// implementation admits a layout but can also work without it, 
-  /// then the appender should return <c>true</c>.
+  /// then the appender should return <see langword="true"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// This default implementation always returns <c>false</c>.
+  /// This default implementation always returns <see langword="false"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   /// <returns>
-  /// <c>true</c> if the appender requires a layout object, otherwise <c>false</c>.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if the appender requires a layout object, otherwise <see langword="false"/>.
   /// </returns>
   protected virtual bool RequiresLayout => false;
 
@@ -715,7 +715,7 @@ protected void RenderLoggingEvent(TextWriter writer, LoggingEvent loggingEvent)
   /// <remarks>
   /// This implementation doesn't flush anything and always returns true
   /// </remarks>
-  /// <returns><c>True</c> if all logging events were flushed successfully, else <c>false</c>.</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if all logging events were flushed successfully, else <see langword="false"/>.</returns>
   public virtual bool Flush(int millisecondsTimeout) => true;
 
   /// <summary>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Appender/BufferingAppenderSkeleton.cs b/src/log4net/Appender/BufferingAppenderSkeleton.cs
index c4b2ad8c..31fff5b9 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Appender/BufferingAppenderSkeleton.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Appender/BufferingAppenderSkeleton.cs
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ namespace log4net.Appender;
 /// The buffering appender can be configured in a <see cref="Lossy"/> mode. 
 /// By default the appender is NOT lossy. When the buffer is full all 
 /// the buffered events are sent with <see cref="SendBuffer(LoggingEvent[])"/>.
-/// If the <see cref="Lossy"/> property is set to <c>true</c> then the 
+/// If the <see cref="Lossy"/> property is set to <see langword="true"/> then the 
 /// buffer will not be sent when it is full, and new events arriving 
 /// in the appender will overwrite the oldest event in the buffer. 
 /// In lossy mode the buffer will only be sent when the <see cref="Evaluator"/>
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ protected BufferingAppenderSkeleton() : this(true)
   /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="BufferingAppenderSkeleton" /> class.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="eventMustBeFixed">the events passed through this appender must be
-  /// fixed by the time that they arrive in the derived class' <c>SendBuffer</c> method.</param>
+  /// fixed by the time that they arrive in the derived class' <see cref="SendBuffer"/> method.</param>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Protected constructor to allow subclassing.
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ protected BufferingAppenderSkeleton(bool eventMustBeFixed)
   /// Gets or sets a value that indicates whether the appender is lossy.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if the appender is lossy, otherwise <c>false</c>. The default is <c>false</c>.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if the appender is lossy, otherwise <see langword="false"/>. The default is <see langword="false"/>.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
@@ -115,10 +115,10 @@ protected BufferingAppenderSkeleton(bool eventMustBeFixed)
   /// delivering them. A triggering event causes the whole buffer
   /// to be sent to the remote sink. If the buffer overruns before
   /// a triggering event then logging events could be lost. Set
-  /// <see cref="Lossy"/> to <c>false</c> to prevent logging events 
+  /// <see cref="Lossy"/> to <see langword="false"/> to prevent logging events 
   /// from being lost.
   /// </para>
-  /// <para>If <see cref="Lossy"/> is set to <c>true</c> then an
+  /// <para>If <see cref="Lossy"/> is set to <see langword="true"/> then an
   /// <see cref="Evaluator"/> must be specified.</para>
   /// </remarks>
   public bool Lossy { get; set; }
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ protected BufferingAppenderSkeleton(bool eventMustBeFixed)
   /// appender. If the evaluator triggers then the current buffer will 
   /// immediately be sent (see <see cref="SendBuffer(LoggingEvent[])"/>).
   /// </para>
-  /// <para>If <see cref="Lossy"/> is set to <c>true</c> then an
+  /// <para>If <see cref="Lossy"/> is set to <see langword="true"/> then an
   /// <see cref="Evaluator"/> must be specified.</para>
   /// </remarks>
   public ITriggeringEventEvaluator? Evaluator { get; set; }
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ protected BufferingAppenderSkeleton(bool eventMustBeFixed)
   /// Flushes any buffered log data.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="millisecondsTimeout">The maximum time to wait for logging events to be flushed.</param>
-  /// <returns><c>True</c> if all logging events were flushed successfully, else <c>false</c>.</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if all logging events were flushed successfully, else <see langword="false"/>.</returns>
   public override bool Flush(int millisecondsTimeout)
   {
     Flush();
@@ -226,21 +226,21 @@ public override bool Flush(int millisecondsTimeout)
   /// <summary>
   /// Flush the currently buffered events
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="flushLossyBuffer">set to <c>true</c> to flush the buffer of lossy events</param>
+  /// <param name="flushLossyBuffer">set to <see langword="true"/> to flush the buffer of lossy events</param>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Flushes events that have been buffered. If <paramref name="flushLossyBuffer" /> is
-  /// <c>false</c> then events will only be flushed if this buffer is non-lossy mode.
+  /// <see langword="false"/> then events will only be flushed if this buffer is non-lossy mode.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
   /// If the appender is buffering in <see cref="Lossy"/> mode then the contents
-  /// of the buffer will only be flushed if <paramref name="flushLossyBuffer" /> is <c>true</c>.
+  /// of the buffer will only be flushed if <paramref name="flushLossyBuffer" /> is <see langword="true"/>.
   /// In this case the contents of the buffer will be tested against the 
   /// <see cref="LossyEvaluator"/> and if triggering will be output. All other buffered
   /// events will be discarded.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// If <paramref name="flushLossyBuffer" /> is <c>true</c> then the buffer will always
+  /// If <paramref name="flushLossyBuffer" /> is <see langword="true"/> then the buffer will always
   /// be emptied by calling this method.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ public virtual void Flush(bool flushLossyBuffer)
             {
               // Test the contents of the buffer against the lossy evaluator
               LoggingEvent[] bufferedEvents = _cyclicBuffer.PopAll();
-              var filteredEvents = new List<LoggingEvent>(bufferedEvents.Length);
+              List<LoggingEvent> filteredEvents = new(bufferedEvents.Length);
 
               foreach (LoggingEvent loggingEvent in bufferedEvents)
               {
diff --git a/src/log4net/Appender/BufferingForwardingAppender.cs b/src/log4net/Appender/BufferingForwardingAppender.cs
index 324f4e9a..47ca516b 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Appender/BufferingForwardingAppender.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Appender/BufferingForwardingAppender.cs
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ public virtual AppenderCollection Appenders
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="name">The name of the appender to lookup.</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// The appender with the specified name, or <c>null</c>.
+  /// The appender with the specified name, or <see langword="null"/>.
   /// </returns>
   public virtual IAppender? GetAppender(string? name)
   {
diff --git a/src/log4net/Appender/ColoredConsoleAppender.cs b/src/log4net/Appender/ColoredConsoleAppender.cs
index 65fbd484..58dd8e41 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Appender/ColoredConsoleAppender.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Appender/ColoredConsoleAppender.cs
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ public virtual string Target
   public void AddMapping(LevelColors mapping) => _levelMapping.Add(mapping);
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// This method is called by the <see cref="AppenderSkeleton.DoAppend(log4net.Core.LoggingEvent)"/> method.
+  /// This method is called by the <see cref="AppenderSkeleton.DoAppend(LoggingEvent)"/> method.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="loggingEvent">The event to log.</param>
   /// <remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Appender/DebugAppender.cs b/src/log4net/Appender/DebugAppender.cs
index caf45348..02ab3ed8 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Appender/DebugAppender.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Appender/DebugAppender.cs
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ public class DebugAppender : AppenderSkeleton
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>The default behavior is to flush at the end of each 
-  /// write. If the option is set to<c>false</c>, then the underlying 
+  /// write. If the option is set to<see langword="false"/>, then the underlying 
   /// stream can defer writing to physical medium to a later time. 
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public class DebugAppender : AppenderSkeleton
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// Defaults to a <see cref="Layout.PatternLayout"/> with %logger as the pattern which will use the logger name of the current 
+  /// Defaults to a <see cref="PatternLayout"/> with %logger as the pattern which will use the logger name of the current 
   /// <see cref="LoggingEvent"/> as the category parameter.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ public class DebugAppender : AppenderSkeleton
   /// Flushes any buffered log data.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="millisecondsTimeout">The maximum time to wait for logging events to be flushed.</param>
-  /// <returns><c>True</c> if all logging events were flushed successfully, else <c>false</c>.</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if all logging events were flushed successfully, else <see langword="false"/>.</returns>
   public override bool Flush(int millisecondsTimeout)
   {
     // Nothing to do if ImmediateFlush is true
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ public override bool Flush(int millisecondsTimeout)
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Writes the logging event to the <see cref="System.Diagnostics.Debug"/> system.
-  /// If <see cref="ImmediateFlush"/> is <c>true</c> then the <see cref="System.Diagnostics.Debug.Flush"/>
+  /// If <see cref="ImmediateFlush"/> is <see langword="true"/> then the <see cref="System.Diagnostics.Debug.Flush"/>
   /// is called.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks> 
diff --git a/src/log4net/Appender/EventLogAppender.cs b/src/log4net/Appender/EventLogAppender.cs
index 8a8bfa8c..a8e66c04 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Appender/EventLogAppender.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Appender/EventLogAppender.cs
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ namespace log4net.Appender;
 /// on the <see cref="LoggingEvent"/>.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
-/// The <c>Category</c> of the event log entry can be
-/// set using the <c>Category</c> property (<see cref="LoggingEvent.Properties"/>)
+/// The <see cref="Category"/> of the event log entry can be
+/// set using the <see cref="Category"/> property (<see cref="LoggingEvent.Properties"/>)
 /// on the <see cref="LoggingEvent"/>.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ public EventLogAppender()
   public SecurityContext? SecurityContext { get; set; }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Gets or sets the <c>EventId</c> to use unless one is explicitly specified via the <c>LoggingEvent</c>'s properties.
+  /// Gets or sets the <see cref="EventId"/> to use unless one is explicitly specified via the <c>LoggingEvent</c>'s properties.
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
@@ -188,12 +188,12 @@ public EventLogAppender()
 
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Gets or sets the <c>Category</c> to use unless one is explicitly specified via the <c>LoggingEvent</c>'s properties.
+  /// Gets or sets the <see cref="Category"/> to use unless one is explicitly specified via the <c>LoggingEvent</c>'s properties.
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// The <c>Category</c> of the event log entry will normally be
-  /// set using the <c>Category</c> property (<see cref="LoggingEvent.Properties"/>)
+  /// The <see cref="Category"/> of the event log entry will normally be
+  /// set using the <see cref="Category"/> property (<see cref="LoggingEvent.Properties"/>)
   /// on the <see cref="LoggingEvent"/>.
   /// This property provides the fallback value which defaults to 0.
   /// </para>
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ public override void ActivateOptions()
   /// </summary>
   private static void CreateEventSource(string source, string logName, string machineName)
   {
-    var eventSourceCreationData = new EventSourceCreationData(source, logName)
+    EventSourceCreationData eventSourceCreationData = new(source, logName)
     {
       MachineName = machineName
     };
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ protected override void Append(LoggingEvent loggingEvent)
   /// <summary>
   /// This appender requires a <see cref="Layout"/> to be set.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <value><c>true</c></value>
+  /// <value><see langword="true"/></value>
   protected override bool RequiresLayout => true;
 
   /// <summary>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Appender/ForwardingAppender.cs b/src/log4net/Appender/ForwardingAppender.cs
index 609a65d9..ed0f485f 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Appender/ForwardingAppender.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Appender/ForwardingAppender.cs
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ public virtual AppenderCollection Appenders
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="name">The name of the appender to lookup.</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// The appender with the specified name, or <c>null</c>.
+  /// The appender with the specified name, or <see langword="null"/>.
   /// </returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Appender/IFlushable.cs b/src/log4net/Appender/IFlushable.cs
index 0952a8d1..c31ca16c 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Appender/IFlushable.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Appender/IFlushable.cs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ public interface IFlushable
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
   /// Appenders that implement the <see cref="Flush"/> method must do so in a thread-safe manner: it can be called concurrently with
-  /// the <see cref="log4net.Appender.IAppender.DoAppend"/> method.
+  /// the <see cref="IAppender.DoAppend"/> method.
   /// <para>
   /// Typically this is done by locking on the Appender instance, e.g.:
   /// <code>
@@ -51,6 +51,6 @@ public interface IFlushable
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   /// <param name="millisecondsTimeout">The maximum time to wait for logging events to be flushed.</param>
-  /// <returns><c>True</c> if all logging events were flushed successfully, else <c>false</c>.</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if all logging events were flushed successfully, else <see langword="false"/>.</returns>
   bool Flush(int millisecondsTimeout);
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/log4net/Appender/Internal/UdpConnection.cs b/src/log4net/Appender/Internal/UdpConnection.cs
index d39cd536..e349858e 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Appender/Internal/UdpConnection.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Appender/Internal/UdpConnection.cs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ public void Connect(int localPort, IPAddress remoteAddress, int remotePort)
   /// Creates a new <see cref="UdpClient"/> instance configured with the specified local port and remote address.
   /// </summary>
   /// <returns>A <see cref="UdpClient"/> instance configured with the specified parameters.</returns>
-  internal static UdpClient CreateClient(int localPort, System.Net.IPAddress remoteAddress)
+  internal static UdpClient CreateClient(int localPort, IPAddress remoteAddress)
     => localPort == 0
       ? new (remoteAddress.AddressFamily)
       : new (localPort, remoteAddress.AddressFamily);
diff --git a/src/log4net/Appender/LocalSyslogAppender.cs b/src/log4net/Appender/LocalSyslogAppender.cs
index 1cd66330..df481c46 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Appender/LocalSyslogAppender.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Appender/LocalSyslogAppender.cs
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ public class LocalSyslogAppender : AppenderSkeleton
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// The log4net Level maps to a syslog severity using the
-  /// <see cref="LocalSyslogAppender.AddMapping"/> method and the <see cref="LevelSeverity"/>
+  /// <see cref="AddMapping"/> method and the <see cref="LevelSeverity"/>
   /// class. The severity is set on <see cref="LevelSeverity.Severity"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Appender/ManagedColoredConsoleAppender.cs b/src/log4net/Appender/ManagedColoredConsoleAppender.cs
index e35bb020..31d79233 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Appender/ManagedColoredConsoleAppender.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Appender/ManagedColoredConsoleAppender.cs
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ public virtual string Target
   /// <param name="loggingEvent">The event to log.</param>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// This method is called by the <see cref="AppenderSkeleton.DoAppend(log4net.Core.LoggingEvent)"/> method.
+  /// This method is called by the <see cref="AppenderSkeleton.DoAppend(LoggingEvent)"/> method.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
   /// The format of the output will depend on the appender's layout.
diff --git a/src/log4net/Appender/RollingFileAppender.cs b/src/log4net/Appender/RollingFileAppender.cs
index 5e983df3..55b30078 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Appender/RollingFileAppender.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Appender/RollingFileAppender.cs
@@ -1238,7 +1238,7 @@ protected void DeleteFile(string fileName)
   /// If <c>countDirection</c> &lt; 0, then files
   /// {<c>File.1</c>, ..., <c>File.curSizeRollBackups -1</c>}
   /// are renamed to {<c>File.2</c>, ...,
-  /// <c>File.curSizeRollBackups</c>}. Moreover, <c>File</c> is
+  /// <c>File.curSizeRollBackups</c>}. Moreover, <see langword="file"/> is
   /// renamed <c>File.1</c> and closed.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
@@ -1246,10 +1246,10 @@ protected void DeleteFile(string fileName)
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
   /// If <c>maxSizeRollBackups</c> is equal to zero, then the
-  /// <c>File</c> is truncated with no backup files created.
+  /// <see langword="file"/> is truncated with no backup files created.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// If <c>maxSizeRollBackups</c> &lt; 0, then <c>File</c> is
+  /// If <c>maxSizeRollBackups</c> &lt; 0, then <see langword="file"/> is
   /// renamed if needed and no files are deleted.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
@@ -1292,10 +1292,10 @@ protected void RollOverSize()
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
   /// If <c>maxSizeRollBackups</c> is equal to zero, then the
-  /// <c>File</c> is truncated with no backup files created.
+  /// <see langword="file"/> is truncated with no backup files created.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// If <c>maxSizeRollBackups</c> &lt; 0, then <c>File</c> is
+  /// If <c>maxSizeRollBackups</c> &lt; 0, then <see langword="file"/> is
   /// renamed if needed and no files are deleted.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Appender/SmtpAppender.cs b/src/log4net/Appender/SmtpAppender.cs
index 1b56b662..77683ef9 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Appender/SmtpAppender.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Appender/SmtpAppender.cs
@@ -254,7 +254,7 @@ protected override void SendBuffer(LoggingEvent[] events)
     // appender. This frees us from needing to synchronize again.
     try
     {
-      using var writer = new StringWriter(System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
+      using StringWriter writer = new(System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
 
       if (Layout?.Header is string header)
       {
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ protected virtual void SendEmail(string messageBody)
       smtpClient.Credentials = System.Net.CredentialCache.DefaultNetworkCredentials;
     }
 
-    using var mailMessage = new MailMessage();
+    using MailMessage mailMessage = new();
     mailMessage.Body = messageBody;
     mailMessage.BodyEncoding = BodyEncoding;
     mailMessage.From = new MailAddress(From.EnsureNotNull());
diff --git a/src/log4net/Appender/TextWriterAppender.cs b/src/log4net/Appender/TextWriterAppender.cs
index e4d58ec4..046476c5 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Appender/TextWriterAppender.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Appender/TextWriterAppender.cs
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public class TextWriterAppender : AppenderSkeleton
   /// append operation.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// If this option is set to <c>false</c>, then the underlying 
+  /// If this option is set to <see langword="false"/>, then the underlying 
   /// stream can defer persisting the logging event to a later 
   /// time.
   /// </para>
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ public virtual TextWriter? Writer
   /// layout has been set. 
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
-  /// <returns><c>false</c> if any of the preconditions fail.</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="false"/> if any of the preconditions fail.</returns>
   protected override bool PreAppendCheck()
   {
     if (!base.PreAppendCheck())
@@ -343,15 +343,15 @@ protected virtual void PrepareWriter()
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Gets or sets the <see cref="log4net.Util.QuietTextWriter"/> where logging events
+  /// Gets or sets the <see cref="QuietTextWriter"/> where logging events
   /// will be written to. 
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// The <see cref="log4net.Util.QuietTextWriter"/> where logging events are written.
+  /// The <see cref="QuietTextWriter"/> where logging events are written.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// This is the <see cref="log4net.Util.QuietTextWriter"/> where logging events
+  /// This is the <see cref="QuietTextWriter"/> where logging events
   /// will be written to. 
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ protected virtual void PrepareWriter()
   /// Flushes any buffered log data.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="millisecondsTimeout">The maximum time to wait for logging events to be flushed.</param>
-  /// <returns><c>True</c> if all logging events were flushed successfully, else <c>false</c>.</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if all logging events were flushed successfully, else <see langword="false"/>.</returns>
   public override bool Flush(int millisecondsTimeout)
   {
     // Nothing to do if ImmediateFlush is true
diff --git a/src/log4net/Appender/TraceAppender.cs b/src/log4net/Appender/TraceAppender.cs
index f025795d..919da3ae 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Appender/TraceAppender.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Appender/TraceAppender.cs
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ public class TraceAppender : AppenderSkeleton
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>The default behavior is to flush at the end of each 
-  /// write. If the option is set to<c>false</c>, then the underlying 
+  /// write. If the option is set to<see langword="false"/>, then the underlying 
   /// stream can defer writing to physical medium to a later time. 
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ protected override void Append(LoggingEvent loggingEvent)
   /// Flushes any buffered log data.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="millisecondsTimeout">The maximum time to wait for logging events to be flushed.</param>
-  /// <returns><c>True</c> if all logging events were flushed successfully, else <c>false</c>.</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if all logging events were flushed successfully, else <see langword="false"/>.</returns>
   public override bool Flush(int millisecondsTimeout)
   {
     // Nothing to do if ImmediateFlush is true
diff --git a/src/log4net/Config/BasicConfigurator.cs b/src/log4net/Config/BasicConfigurator.cs
index 6c035c48..ea7dfa68 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Config/BasicConfigurator.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Config/BasicConfigurator.cs
@@ -43,8 +43,8 @@ namespace log4net.Config;
 /// events will be delivered to that appender.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
-/// Appenders can also implement the <see cref="log4net.Core.IOptionHandler"/> interface. Therefore
-/// they would require that the <see cref="log4net.Core.IOptionHandler.ActivateOptions()"/> method
+/// Appenders can also implement the <see cref="Core.IOptionHandler"/> interface. Therefore
+/// they would require that the <see cref="Core.IOptionHandler.ActivateOptions()"/> method
 /// be called after the appenders properties have been configured.
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Config/RepositoryAttribute.cs b/src/log4net/Config/RepositoryAttribute.cs
index ab530bca..fd5c6308 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Config/RepositoryAttribute.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Config/RepositoryAttribute.cs
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ namespace log4net.Config;
 /// on the assembly controls
 /// the configuration of the repository. The <see cref="Name"/> property specifies the name
 /// of the repository that this assembly is a part of. The <see cref="RepositoryType"/>
-/// specifies the type of the <see cref="log4net.Repository.ILoggerRepository"/> object 
+/// specifies the type of the <see cref="Repository.ILoggerRepository"/> object 
 /// to create for the assembly. If this attribute is not specified or a <see cref="Name"/> 
 /// is not specified then the assembly will be part of the default shared logging repository.
 /// </para>
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ public RepositoryAttribute()
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// The type of the repository to create for the assembly.
-  /// The type must implement the <see cref="log4net.Repository.ILoggerRepository"/>
+  /// The type must implement the <see cref="Repository.ILoggerRepository"/>
   /// interface.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Config/XmlConfigurator.cs b/src/log4net/Config/XmlConfigurator.cs
index c2fd8405..fa060cb1 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Config/XmlConfigurator.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Config/XmlConfigurator.cs
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ public static ICollection Configure(FileInfo configFile)
   /// the log4net configuration data.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// The <see cref="System.Net.WebRequest"/> must support the URI scheme specified.
+  /// The <see cref="WebRequest"/> must support the URI scheme specified.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public static ICollection Configure(Uri configUri)
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ private static void InternalConfigure(ILoggerRepository repository, FileInfo? co
   /// the configuration data.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// The <see cref="System.Net.WebRequest"/> must support the URI scheme specified.
+  /// The <see cref="WebRequest"/> must support the URI scheme specified.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public static ICollection Configure(ILoggerRepository repository, Uri configUri)
diff --git a/src/log4net/Config/XmlConfiguratorAttribute.cs b/src/log4net/Config/XmlConfiguratorAttribute.cs
index 0bf39053..c07dfbab 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Config/XmlConfiguratorAttribute.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Config/XmlConfiguratorAttribute.cs
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ namespace log4net.Config;
 /// Log4net will only look for assembly level configuration attributes once.
 /// When using the log4net assembly level attributes to control the configuration 
 /// of log4net you must ensure that the first call to any of the 
-/// <see cref="log4net.Core.LoggerManager"/> methods is made from the assembly with the configuration
+/// <see cref="Core.LoggerManager"/> methods is made from the assembly with the configuration
 /// attributes. 
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
@@ -134,11 +134,11 @@ public XmlConfiguratorAttribute() : base(0) /* configurator priority 0 */
   /// Gets or sets a value indicating whether to watch the configuration file.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if the configuration should be watched, <c>false</c> otherwise.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if the configuration should be watched, <see langword="false"/> otherwise.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// If this flag is specified and set to <c>true</c> then the framework
+  /// If this flag is specified and set to <see langword="true"/> then the framework
   /// will watch the configuration file and will reload the config each time 
   /// the file is modified.
   /// </para>
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ public XmlConfiguratorAttribute() : base(0) /* configurator priority 0 */
   /// <exception cref="ArgumentOutOfRangeException">The <paramref name="targetRepository" /> does not extend <see cref="Hierarchy"/>.</exception>
   public override void Configure(Assembly sourceAssembly, ILoggerRepository targetRepository)
   {
-    var configurationMessages = new List<LogLog>();
+    List<LogLog> configurationMessages = new();
 
     using (new LogLog.LogReceivedAdapter(configurationMessages))
     {
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ private void ConfigureFromUri(ILoggerRepository targetRepository)
 
         if (systemConfigFilePath is not null)
         {
-          var builder = new UriBuilder(new Uri(systemConfigFilePath));
+          UriBuilder builder = new(new Uri(systemConfigFilePath));
 
           // Remove the current extension from the systemConfigFileUri path
           string path = builder.Path;
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/DefaultRepositorySelector.cs b/src/log4net/Core/DefaultRepositorySelector.cs
index 4cc14c88..a14d6c82 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/DefaultRepositorySelector.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/DefaultRepositorySelector.cs
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ public ILoggerRepository GetRepository(Assembly assembly)
   /// <returns>The <see cref="ILoggerRepository"/> for the specified repository.</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// Returns the named repository. If <paramref name="repositoryName"/> is <c>null</c>
+  /// Returns the named repository. If <paramref name="repositoryName"/> is <see langword="null"/>
   /// a <see cref="ArgumentNullException"/> is thrown. If the repository 
   /// does not exist a <see cref="LogException"/> is thrown.
   /// </para>
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ public ILoggerRepository CreateRepository(Assembly assembly, Type repositoryType
   /// <param name="repositoryAssembly">the assembly to use to create the repository to associate with the <see cref="ILoggerRepository"/>.</param>
   /// <param name="repositoryType">The type of repository to create, must implement <see cref="ILoggerRepository"/>.</param>
   /// <param name="repositoryName">The name to assign to the created repository</param>
-  /// <param name="readAssemblyAttributes">Set to <c>true</c> to read and apply the assembly attributes</param>
+  /// <param name="readAssemblyAttributes">Set to <see langword="true"/> to read and apply the assembly attributes</param>
   /// <returns>The repository created.</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
@@ -372,7 +372,7 @@ public ILoggerRepository CreateRepository(string repositoryName, Type? repositor
   /// Test if a named repository exists
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="repositoryName">the named repository to check</param>
-  /// <returns><c>true</c> if the repository exists</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if the repository exists</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Test if a named repository exists. Use <see cref="CreateRepository(string, Type)"/>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/ExceptionEvaluator.cs b/src/log4net/Core/ExceptionEvaluator.cs
index 5fd50882..afdc9988 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/ExceptionEvaluator.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/ExceptionEvaluator.cs
@@ -68,9 +68,9 @@ public ExceptionEvaluator(Type exType, bool triggerOnSubClass)
   /// Is this <paramref name="loggingEvent"/> the triggering event?
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="loggingEvent">The event to check</param>
-  /// <returns>This method returns <c>true</c>, if the logging event Exception 
+  /// <returns>This method returns <see langword="true"/>, if the logging event Exception 
   /// Type is <see cref="ExceptionType"/>. 
-  /// Otherwise it returns <c>false</c></returns>
+  /// Otherwise it returns <see langword="false"/></returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// This evaluator will trigger if the Exception Type of the event
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/IAppenderAttachable.cs b/src/log4net/Core/IAppenderAttachable.cs
index 241318e7..acdf866f 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/IAppenderAttachable.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/IAppenderAttachable.cs
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ public interface IAppenderAttachable
   /// Gets a collection of attached appenders.
   /// If there are no attached appenders the
   /// implementation should return an empty 
-  /// collection rather than <c>null</c>.
+  /// collection rather than <see langword="null"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   AppenderCollection Appenders { get; }
@@ -66,13 +66,13 @@ public interface IAppenderAttachable
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="name">The name of the appender to get.</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// The appender with the name specified, or <c>null</c> if no appender with the
+  /// The appender with the name specified, or <see langword="null"/> if no appender with the
   /// specified name is found.
   /// </returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Returns an attached appender with the <paramref name="name"/> specified.
-  /// If no appender with the specified name is found <c>null</c> will be
+  /// If no appender with the specified name is found <see langword="null"/> will be
   /// returned.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/IFixingRequired.cs b/src/log4net/Core/IFixingRequired.cs
index 2dad762f..b25b3984 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/IFixingRequired.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/IFixingRequired.cs
@@ -26,13 +26,13 @@ namespace log4net.Core;
 /// <para>
 /// Interface that indicates that the object requires fixing before it
 /// can be taken outside the context of the appender's 
-/// <see cref="log4net.Appender.IAppender.DoAppend"/> method.
+/// <see cref="Appender.IAppender.DoAppend"/> method.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
 /// When objects that implement this interface are stored 
-/// in the context properties maps <see cref="log4net.GlobalContext"/>
-/// <see cref="log4net.GlobalContext.Properties"/> and <see cref="log4net.ThreadContext"/>
-/// <see cref="log4net.ThreadContext.Properties"/> are fixed 
+/// in the context properties maps <see cref="GlobalContext"/>
+/// <see cref="GlobalContext.Properties"/> and <see cref="ThreadContext"/>
+/// <see cref="ThreadContext.Properties"/> are fixed 
 /// (see <see cref="LoggingEvent.Fix"/>) the <see cref="GetFixedObject"/>
 /// method will be called.
 /// </para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/ILogger.cs b/src/log4net/Core/ILogger.cs
index 21272a69..ebf36867 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/ILogger.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/ILogger.cs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ public interface ILogger
   /// the stack boundary into the logging system for this call.</param>
   /// <param name="level">The level of the message to be logged.</param>
   /// <param name="message">The message object to log.</param>
-  /// <param name="exception">the exception to log, including its stack trace. Pass <c>null</c> to not log an exception.</param>
+  /// <param name="exception">the exception to log, including its stack trace. Pass <see langword="null"/> to not log an exception.</param>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// This generic form is intended to be used by wrappers.
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ public interface ILogger
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="level">The level to check.</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// <c>true</c> if this logger is enabled for <c>level</c>, otherwise <c>false</c>.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if this logger is enabled for <c>level</c>, otherwise <see langword="false"/>.
   /// </returns>
   bool IsEnabledFor(Level? level);
 
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/IRepositorySelector.cs b/src/log4net/Core/IRepositorySelector.cs
index d5ff2cad..2ac3d52d 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/IRepositorySelector.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/IRepositorySelector.cs
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ public interface IRepositorySelector
   /// Test if a named repository exists
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="repositoryName">the named repository to check</param>
-  /// <returns><c>true</c> if the repository exists</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if the repository exists</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Test if a named repository exists. Use <see cref="CreateRepository(Assembly, Type)"/>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/ITriggeringEventEvaluator.cs b/src/log4net/Core/ITriggeringEventEvaluator.cs
index 9321c26b..6f052ab1 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/ITriggeringEventEvaluator.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/ITriggeringEventEvaluator.cs
@@ -38,10 +38,10 @@ public interface ITriggeringEventEvaluator
   /// Test if this event triggers the action
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="loggingEvent">The event to check</param>
-  /// <returns><c>true</c> if this event triggers the action, otherwise <c>false</c></returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if this event triggers the action, otherwise <see langword="false"/></returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// Return <c>true</c> if this event triggers the action
+  /// Return <see langword="true"/> if this event triggers the action
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   bool IsTriggeringEvent(LoggingEvent loggingEvent);
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/Level.cs b/src/log4net/Core/Level.cs
index 6023176c..56ec20b5 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/Level.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/Level.cs
@@ -32,20 +32,20 @@ namespace log4net.Core;
 /// Each <see cref="LoggingEvent"/> has an associated <see cref="Level"/>.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
-/// Levels have a numeric <see cref="Level.Value"/> that defines the relative 
-/// ordering between levels. Two Levels with the same <see cref="Level.Value"/> 
+/// Levels have a numeric <see cref="Value"/> that defines the relative 
+/// ordering between levels. Two Levels with the same <see cref="Value"/> 
 /// are deemed to be equivalent.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
-/// The levels that are recognized by log4net are set for each <see cref="log4net.Repository.ILoggerRepository"/>
+/// The levels that are recognized by log4net are set for each <see cref="Repository.ILoggerRepository"/>
 /// and each repository can have different levels defined. The levels are stored
-/// in the <see cref="log4net.Repository.ILoggerRepository.LevelMap"/> on the repository. Levels are
-/// looked up by name from the <see cref="log4net.Repository.ILoggerRepository.LevelMap"/>.
+/// in the <see cref="Repository.ILoggerRepository.LevelMap"/> on the repository. Levels are
+/// looked up by name from the <see cref="Repository.ILoggerRepository.LevelMap"/>.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
-/// When logging at level INFO the actual level used is not <see cref="Level.Info"/> but
+/// When logging at level INFO the actual level used is not <see cref="Info"/> but
 /// the value of <c>LoggerRepository.LevelMap["INFO"]</c>. The default value for this is
-/// <see cref="Level.Info"/>, but this can be changed by reconfiguring the level map.
+/// <see cref="Info"/>, but this can be changed by reconfiguring the level map.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
 /// Each level has a <see cref="DisplayName"/> in addition to its <see cref="Name"/>. The 
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/LevelCollection.cs b/src/log4net/Core/LevelCollection.cs
index 9196d50b..e666d256 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/LevelCollection.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/LevelCollection.cs
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ public interface ILevelCollectionEnumerator
     /// Advances the enumerator to the next element in the collection.
     /// </summary>
     /// <returns>
-    /// <c>true</c> if the enumerator was successfully advanced to the next element; 
-    /// <c>false</c> if the enumerator has passed the end of the collection.
+    /// <see langword="true"/> if the enumerator was successfully advanced to the next element; 
+    /// <see langword="false"/> if the enumerator has passed the end of the collection.
     /// </returns>
     /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">
     /// The collection was modified after the enumerator was created.
@@ -64,35 +64,35 @@ public interface ILevelCollectionEnumerator
   private int _version;
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Creates a read-only wrapper for a <c>LevelCollection</c> instance.
+  /// Creates a read-only wrapper for a <see cref="LevelCollection"/> instance.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="list">list to create a readonly wrapper arround</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// A <c>LevelCollection</c> wrapper that is read-only.
+  /// A <see cref="LevelCollection"/> wrapper that is read-only.
   /// </returns>
   public static LevelCollection ReadOnly(LevelCollection list)
     => new ReadOnlyLevelCollection(list.EnsureNotNull());
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Initializes a new instance of the <c>LevelCollection</c> class
+  /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="LevelCollection"/> class
   /// that is empty and has the default initial capacity.
   /// </summary>
   public LevelCollection() => _array = new Level[DefaultCapacity];
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Initializes a new instance of the <c>LevelCollection</c> class
+  /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="LevelCollection"/> class
   /// that has the specified initial capacity.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="capacity">
-  /// The number of elements that the new <c>LevelCollection</c> is initially capable of storing.
+  /// The number of elements that the new <see cref="LevelCollection"/> is initially capable of storing.
   /// </param>
   public LevelCollection(int capacity) => _array = new Level[capacity];
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Initializes a new instance of the <c>LevelCollection</c> class
-  /// that contains elements copied from the specified <c>LevelCollection</c>.
+  /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="LevelCollection"/> class
+  /// that contains elements copied from the specified <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="collection">The <c>LevelCollection</c> whose elements are copied to the new collection.</param>
+  /// <param name="collection">The <see cref="LevelCollection"/> whose elements are copied to the new collection.</param>
   [System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis.SuppressMessage("Usage", "CA2214:Do not call overridable methods in constructors")]
   public LevelCollection(LevelCollection collection)
   {
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ public LevelCollection(LevelCollection collection)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Initializes a new instance of the <c>LevelCollection</c> class
+  /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="LevelCollection"/> class
   /// that contains elements copied from the specified <see cref="Level"/> array.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="array">The <see cref="Level"/> array whose elements are copied to the new list.</param>
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ public LevelCollection(Level[] array)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Initializes a new instance of the <c>LevelCollection</c> class
+  /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="LevelCollection"/> class
   /// that contains elements copied from the specified <see cref="Level"/> collection.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="collection">The <see cref="Level"/> collection whose elements are copied to the new list.</param>
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ public LevelCollection(ICollection collection)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Initializes a new instance of the <c>LevelCollection</c> class
+  /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="LevelCollection"/> class
   /// that contains elements copied from the specified <see cref="Level"/> collection.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="collection">The <see cref="Level"/> collection whose elements are copied to the new list.</param>
@@ -154,19 +154,19 @@ protected internal enum Tag
   protected internal LevelCollection(Tag _) => _array = Array.Empty<Level>();
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Gets the number of elements actually contained in the <c>LevelCollection</c>.
+  /// Gets the number of elements actually contained in the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
   public virtual int Count { get; private set; }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Copies the entire <c>LevelCollection</c> to a one-dimensional
+  /// Copies the entire <see cref="LevelCollection"/> to a one-dimensional
   /// <see cref="Level"/> array.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="array">The one-dimensional <see cref="Level"/> array to copy to.</param>
   public virtual void CopyTo(Level[] array) => CopyTo(array, 0);
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Copies the entire <c>LevelCollection</c> to a one-dimensional
+  /// Copies the entire <see cref="LevelCollection"/> to a one-dimensional
   /// <see cref="Level"/> array, starting at the specified index of the target array.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="array">The one-dimensional <see cref="Level"/> array to copy to.</param>
@@ -217,9 +217,9 @@ public virtual Level this[int index]
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Adds a <see cref="Level"/> to the end of the <c>LevelCollection</c>.
+  /// Adds a <see cref="Level"/> to the end of the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="item">The <see cref="Level"/> to be added to the end of the <c>LevelCollection</c>.</param>
+  /// <param name="item">The <see cref="Level"/> to be added to the end of the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.</param>
   /// <returns>The index at which the value has been added.</returns>
   public virtual int Add(Level item)
   {
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ public virtual int Add(Level item)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Removes all elements from the <c>LevelCollection</c>.
+  /// Removes all elements from the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
   public virtual void Clear()
   {
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ public virtual void Clear()
   /// <returns>A new <see cref="LevelCollection"/> with a shallow copy of the collection data.</returns>
   public virtual object Clone()
   {
-    var newCol = new LevelCollection(Count);
+    LevelCollection newCol = new(Count);
     Array.Copy(_array, 0, newCol._array, 0, Count);
     newCol.Count = Count;
     newCol._version = _version;
@@ -259,10 +259,10 @@ public virtual object Clone()
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Determines whether a given <see cref="Level"/> is in the <c>LevelCollection</c>.
+  /// Determines whether a given <see cref="Level"/> is in the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="item">The <see cref="Level"/> to check for.</param>
-  /// <returns><c>true</c> if <paramref name="item"/> is found in the <c>LevelCollection</c>; otherwise, <c>false</c>.</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if <paramref name="item"/> is found in the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>; otherwise, <see langword="false"/>.</returns>
   public virtual bool Contains(Level item)
   {
     for (int i = 0; i != Count; ++i)
@@ -277,12 +277,12 @@ public virtual bool Contains(Level item)
 
   /// <summary>
   /// Returns the zero-based index of the first occurrence of a <see cref="Level"/>
-  /// in the <c>LevelCollection</c>.
+  /// in the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="item">The <see cref="Level"/> to locate in the <c>LevelCollection</c>.</param>
+  /// <param name="item">The <see cref="Level"/> to locate in the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.</param>
   /// <returns>
   /// The zero-based index of the first occurrence of <paramref name="item"/> 
-  /// in the entire <c>LevelCollection</c>, if found; otherwise, -1.
+  /// in the entire <see cref="LevelCollection"/>, if found; otherwise, -1.
   ///  </returns>
   public virtual int IndexOf(Level item)
   {
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ public virtual int IndexOf(Level item)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Inserts an element into the <c>LevelCollection</c> at the specified index.
+  /// Inserts an element into the <see cref="LevelCollection"/> at the specified index.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="index">The zero-based index at which <paramref name="item"/> should be inserted.</param>
   /// <param name="item">The <see cref="Level"/> to insert.</param>
@@ -326,11 +326,11 @@ public virtual void Insert(int index, Level item)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Removes the first occurrence of a specific <see cref="Level"/> from the <c>LevelCollection</c>.
+  /// Removes the first occurrence of a specific <see cref="Level"/> from the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="item">The <see cref="Level"/> to remove from the <c>LevelCollection</c>.</param>
+  /// <param name="item">The <see cref="Level"/> to remove from the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.</param>
   /// <exception cref="ArgumentException">
-  /// The specified <see cref="Level"/> was not found in the <c>LevelCollection</c>.
+  /// The specified <see cref="Level"/> was not found in the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.
   /// </exception>
   public virtual void Remove(Level item)
   {
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ public virtual void Remove(Level item)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Removes the element at the specified index of the <c>LevelCollection</c>.
+  /// Removes the element at the specified index of the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="index">The zero-based index of the element to remove.</param>
   /// <exception cref="ArgumentOutOfRangeException">
@@ -385,13 +385,13 @@ public virtual void RemoveAt(int index)
   public virtual bool IsReadOnly => false;
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Returns an enumerator that can iterate through the <c>LevelCollection</c>.
+  /// Returns an enumerator that can iterate through the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <returns>An <see cref="Enumerator"/> for the entire <c>LevelCollection</c>.</returns>
+  /// <returns>An <see cref="Enumerator"/> for the entire <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.</returns>
   public virtual ILevelCollectionEnumerator GetEnumerator() => new Enumerator(this);
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Gets or sets the number of elements the <c>LevelCollection</c> can contain.
+  /// Gets or sets the number of elements the <see cref="LevelCollection"/> can contain.
   /// </summary>
   public virtual int Capacity
   {
@@ -420,10 +420,10 @@ public virtual int Capacity
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Adds the elements of another <c>LevelCollection</c> to the current <c>LevelCollection</c>.
+  /// Adds the elements of another <see cref="LevelCollection"/> to the current <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="collection">The <c>LevelCollection</c> whose elements should be added to the end of the current <c>LevelCollection</c>.</param>
-  /// <returns>The new <see cref="Count"/> of the <c>LevelCollection</c>.</returns>
+  /// <param name="collection">The <see cref="LevelCollection"/> whose elements should be added to the end of the current <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.</param>
+  /// <returns>The new <see cref="Count"/> of the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.</returns>
   public virtual int AddRange(LevelCollection collection)
   {
     if (Count + collection.EnsureNotNull().Count >= _array.Length)
@@ -439,10 +439,10 @@ public virtual int AddRange(LevelCollection collection)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Adds the elements of a <see cref="Level"/> array to the current <c>LevelCollection</c>.
+  /// Adds the elements of a <see cref="Level"/> array to the current <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="array">The <see cref="Level"/> array whose elements should be added to the end of the <c>LevelCollection</c>.</param>
-  /// <returns>The new <see cref="Count"/> of the <c>LevelCollection</c>.</returns>
+  /// <param name="array">The <see cref="Level"/> array whose elements should be added to the end of the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.</param>
+  /// <returns>The new <see cref="Count"/> of the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.</returns>
   public virtual int AddRange(Level[] array)
   {
     if (Count + array.EnsureNotNull().Length >= _array.Length)
@@ -458,10 +458,10 @@ public virtual int AddRange(Level[] array)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Adds the elements of a <see cref="Level"/> collection to the current <c>LevelCollection</c>.
+  /// Adds the elements of a <see cref="Level"/> collection to the current <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="collection">The <see cref="Level"/> collection whose elements should be added to the end of the <c>LevelCollection</c>.</param>
-  /// <returns>The new <see cref="Count"/> of the <c>LevelCollection</c>.</returns>
+  /// <param name="collection">The <see cref="Level"/> collection whose elements should be added to the end of the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.</param>
+  /// <returns>The new <see cref="Count"/> of the <see cref="LevelCollection"/>.</returns>
   public virtual int AddRange(ICollection collection)
   {
     if (Count + collection.EnsureNotNull().Count >= _array.Length)
@@ -547,7 +547,7 @@ private sealed class Enumerator : IEnumerator, ILevelCollectionEnumerator
     private readonly int _version;
 
     /// <summary>
-    /// Initializes a new instance of the <c>Enumerator</c> class.
+    /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="Enumerator"/> class.
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="tc"></param>
     internal Enumerator(LevelCollection tc)
@@ -566,8 +566,8 @@ internal Enumerator(LevelCollection tc)
     /// Advances the enumerator to the next element in the collection.
     /// </summary>
     /// <returns>
-    /// <c>true</c> if the enumerator was successfully advanced to the next element; 
-    /// <c>false</c> if the enumerator has passed the end of the collection.
+    /// <see langword="true"/> if the enumerator was successfully advanced to the next element; 
+    /// <see langword="false"/> if the enumerator has passed the end of the collection.
     /// </returns>
     /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">
     /// The collection was modified after the enumerator was created.
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/LevelEvaluator.cs b/src/log4net/Core/LevelEvaluator.cs
index da056ff5..5be88665 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/LevelEvaluator.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/LevelEvaluator.cs
@@ -71,9 +71,9 @@ public LevelEvaluator()
   /// Is this <paramref name="loggingEvent"/> the triggering event?
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="loggingEvent">The event to check</param>
-  /// <returns>This method returns <c>true</c>, if the event level
+  /// <returns>This method returns <see langword="true"/>, if the event level
   /// is equal or higher than the <see cref="Threshold"/>. 
-  /// Otherwise it returns <c>false</c></returns>
+  /// Otherwise it returns <see langword="false"/></returns>
   public bool IsTriggeringEvent(LoggingEvent loggingEvent)
     => loggingEvent.EnsureNotNull().Level is null || loggingEvent.Level >= Threshold;
 }
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/LevelMap.cs b/src/log4net/Core/LevelMap.cs
index 485af58c..f5d3e5fb 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/LevelMap.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/LevelMap.cs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ namespace log4net.Core;
 /// </summary>
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
-/// This mapping is held separately for each <see cref="log4net.Repository.ILoggerRepository"/>.
+/// This mapping is held separately for each <see cref="Repository.ILoggerRepository"/>.
 /// The level name is case-insensitive.
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ public void Clear() =>
   /// Looks up a <see cref="Level"/> by name
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="name">The name of the Level to look up.</param>
-  /// <returns>A Level from the map with the name specified, or <c>null</c> if none is found.</returns>
+  /// <returns>A Level from the map with the name specified, or <see langword="null"/> if none is found.</returns>
   public Level? this[string name]
   {
     get
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/LocationInfo.cs b/src/log4net/Core/LocationInfo.cs
index 0d30baaf..32e7d1f0 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/LocationInfo.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/LocationInfo.cs
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ public LocationInfo(Type? callerStackBoundaryDeclaringType)
         {
           // take into account the frames we skip above
           int adjustedFrameCount = st.FrameCount - frameIndex;
-          var stackFramesList = new List<StackFrameItem>(adjustedFrameCount);
+          List<StackFrameItem> stackFramesList = new(adjustedFrameCount);
           StackFrames = new StackFrameItem[adjustedFrameCount];
           for (int i = frameIndex; i < st.FrameCount; i++)
           {
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ public LocationInfo(Type? callerStackBoundaryDeclaringType)
           }
         }
       }
-      catch (System.Security.SecurityException)
+      catch (SecurityException)
       {
         // This security exception will occur if the caller does not have 
         // some undefined set of SecurityPermission flags.
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/LogImpl.cs b/src/log4net/Core/LogImpl.cs
index aafc32d5..7ea86025 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/LogImpl.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/LogImpl.cs
@@ -1142,8 +1142,8 @@ public virtual void FatalFormat(IFormatProvider? provider, string format, params
   /// level.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if this logger is enabled for <c>DEBUG</c> events,
-  /// <c>false</c> otherwise.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if this logger is enabled for <c>DEBUG</c> events,
+  /// <see langword="false"/> otherwise.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
@@ -1174,8 +1174,8 @@ public virtual void FatalFormat(IFormatProvider? provider, string format, params
   /// construction if debugging is disabled for <c>log</c>. On
   /// the other hand, if the <c>log</c> is debug enabled, you
   /// will incur the cost of evaluating whether the logger is debug
-  /// enabled twice. Once in <c>IsDebugEnabled</c> and once in
-  /// the <c>Debug</c>.  This is an insignificant overhead
+  /// enabled twice. Once in <see cref="IsDebugEnabled"/> and once in
+  /// the <see cref="Debug(object?)"/>.  This is an insignificant overhead
   /// since evaluating a logger takes about 1% of the time it
   /// takes to actually log.
   /// </para>
@@ -1186,8 +1186,8 @@ public virtual void FatalFormat(IFormatProvider? provider, string format, params
   /// Checks if this logger is enabled for the <c>INFO</c> level.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if this logger is enabled for <c>INFO</c> events,
-  /// <c>false</c> otherwise.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if this logger is enabled for <c>INFO</c> events,
+  /// <see langword="false"/> otherwise.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
@@ -1202,8 +1202,8 @@ public virtual void FatalFormat(IFormatProvider? provider, string format, params
   /// Checks if this logger is enabled for the <c>WARN</c> level.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if this logger is enabled for <c>WARN</c> events,
-  /// <c>false</c> otherwise.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if this logger is enabled for <c>WARN</c> events,
+  /// <see langword="false"/> otherwise.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
@@ -1218,8 +1218,8 @@ public virtual void FatalFormat(IFormatProvider? provider, string format, params
   /// Checks if this logger is enabled for the <c>ERROR</c> level.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if this logger is enabled for <c>ERROR</c> events,
-  /// <c>false</c> otherwise.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if this logger is enabled for <c>ERROR</c> events,
+  /// <see langword="false"/> otherwise.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
@@ -1233,8 +1233,8 @@ public virtual void FatalFormat(IFormatProvider? provider, string format, params
   /// Checks if this logger is enabled for the <c>FATAL</c> level.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if this logger is enabled for <c>FATAL</c> events,
-  /// <c>false</c> otherwise.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if this logger is enabled for <c>FATAL</c> events,
+  /// <see langword="false"/> otherwise.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/LoggerManager.cs b/src/log4net/Core/LoggerManager.cs
index ab6fb89b..3ef05795 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/LoggerManager.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/LoggerManager.cs
@@ -175,14 +175,14 @@ public static ILoggerRepository GetRepository(Assembly repositoryAssembly)
   /// <param name="repository">The repository to lookup in.</param>
   /// <param name="name">The fully qualified logger name to look for.</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// The logger found, or <c>null</c> if the named logger does not exist in the
+  /// The logger found, or <see langword="null"/> if the named logger does not exist in the
   /// specified repository.
   /// </returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// If the named logger exists (in the specified repository) then it
   /// returns a reference to the logger, otherwise it returns
-  /// <c>null</c>.
+  /// <see langword="null"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public static ILogger? Exists(string repository, string name)
@@ -194,14 +194,14 @@ public static ILoggerRepository GetRepository(Assembly repositoryAssembly)
   /// <param name="repositoryAssembly">The assembly to use to look up the repository.</param>
   /// <param name="name">The fully qualified logger name to look for.</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// The logger found, or <c>null</c> if the named logger does not exist in the
+  /// The logger found, or <see langword="null"/> if the named logger does not exist in the
   /// specified assembly's repository.
   /// </returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// If the named logger exists (in the specified assembly's repository) then it
   /// returns a reference to the logger, otherwise it returns
-  /// <c>null</c>.
+  /// <see langword="null"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public static ILogger? Exists(Assembly repositoryAssembly, string name)
@@ -406,8 +406,8 @@ public static void ShutdownRepository(Assembly repositoryAssembly)
   /// <para>
   /// Resets all values contained in the repository instance to their
   /// defaults.  This removes all appenders from all loggers, sets
-  /// the level of all non-root loggers to <c>null</c>,
-  /// sets their additivity flag to <c>true</c> and sets the level
+  /// the level of all non-root loggers to <see langword="null"/>,
+  /// sets their additivity flag to <see langword="true"/> and sets the level
   /// of the root logger to <see cref="Level.Debug"/>. Moreover,
   /// message disabling is set its default "off" value.
   /// </para>    
@@ -423,8 +423,8 @@ public static void ResetConfiguration(string repository)
   /// <para>
   /// Resets all values contained in the repository instance to their
   /// defaults.  This removes all appenders from all loggers, sets
-  /// the level of all non-root loggers to <c>null</c>,
-  /// sets their additivity flag to <c>true</c> and sets the level
+  /// the level of all non-root loggers to <see langword="null"/>,
+  /// sets their additivity flag to <see langword="true"/> and sets the level
   /// of the root logger to <see cref="Level.Debug"/>. Moreover,
   /// message disabling is set its default "off" value.
   /// </para>    
@@ -440,7 +440,7 @@ public static void ResetConfiguration(Assembly repositoryAssembly)
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Creates the default type of <see cref="ILoggerRepository"/> which is a
-  /// <see cref="log4net.Repository.Hierarchy.Hierarchy"/> object.
+  /// <see cref="Repository.Hierarchy.Hierarchy"/> object.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
   /// The <paramref name="repository"/> name must be unique. Repositories cannot be redefined.
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/LoggerWrapperImpl.cs b/src/log4net/Core/LoggerWrapperImpl.cs
index d502c33d..d51e960a 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/LoggerWrapperImpl.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/LoggerWrapperImpl.cs
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ public abstract class LoggerWrapperImpl(ILogger logger) : ILoggerWrapper
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// The <c>Logger</c> object may not be the same object as this object 
+  /// The <see cref="Logger"/> object may not be the same object as this object 
   /// because of logger decorators.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/LoggingEvent.cs b/src/log4net/Core/LoggingEvent.cs
index cdc13465..d915f69c 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/LoggingEvent.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/LoggingEvent.cs
@@ -944,7 +944,7 @@ public FixFlags Fix
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
   /// The <see cref="Fix"/> property must be set during the
-  /// <see cref="log4net.Appender.IAppender.DoAppend"/> method call if this event 
+  /// <see cref="Appender.IAppender.DoAppend"/> method call if this event 
   /// is to be used outside that method.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/SecurityContext.cs b/src/log4net/Core/SecurityContext.cs
index 3c6095c0..69010e1a 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/SecurityContext.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/SecurityContext.cs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ public abstract class SecurityContext
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="state">State supplied by the caller</param>
   /// <returns>An <see cref="IDisposable"/> instance that will
-  /// revoke the impersonation of this SecurityContext, or <c>null</c></returns>
+  /// revoke the impersonation of this SecurityContext, or <see langword="null"/></returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Impersonate this security context. Further calls on the current
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/SecurityContextProvider.cs b/src/log4net/Core/SecurityContextProvider.cs
index 9dbc9046..b0718e18 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/SecurityContextProvider.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/SecurityContextProvider.cs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ namespace log4net.Core;
 /// will request one from this <see cref="SecurityContextProvider"/>.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
-/// By default the <see cref="SecurityContextProvider.DefaultProvider"/> is
+/// By default the <see cref="DefaultProvider"/> is
 /// an instance of <see cref="SecurityContextProvider"/> which returns only
 /// <see cref="NullSecurityContext"/> objects. This is a reasonable default
 /// where the privileges required are not know by the system.
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ namespace log4net.Core;
 /// and overriding the <see cref="CreateSecurityContext"/> method to return
 /// the desired <see cref="SecurityContext"/> objects. The default provider
 /// can be replaced by programmatically setting the value of the 
-/// <see cref="SecurityContextProvider.DefaultProvider"/> property.
+/// <see cref="DefaultProvider"/> property.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
 /// An alternative is to use the <c>log4net.Config.SecurityContextProviderAttribute</c>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Core/TimeEvaluator.cs b/src/log4net/Core/TimeEvaluator.cs
index e6672f4d..a050f257 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Core/TimeEvaluator.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Core/TimeEvaluator.cs
@@ -84,9 +84,9 @@ public TimeEvaluator()
   /// Is this <paramref name="loggingEvent"/> the triggering event?
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="loggingEvent">The event to check</param>
-  /// <returns>This method returns <c>true</c>, if the specified time period 
+  /// <returns>This method returns <see langword="true"/>, if the specified time period 
   /// <see cref="Interval"/> has passed since last check.. 
-  /// Otherwise it returns <c>false</c></returns>
+  /// Otherwise it returns <see langword="false"/></returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// This evaluator will trigger if the specified time period 
diff --git a/src/log4net/Filter/FilterSkeleton.cs b/src/log4net/Filter/FilterSkeleton.cs
index 7b4c5ffb..ab230241 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Filter/FilterSkeleton.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Filter/FilterSkeleton.cs
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ namespace log4net.Filter;
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
 /// Users should extend this class to implement customized logging
-/// event filtering. Note that <see cref="log4net.Repository.Hierarchy.Logger"/> and 
-/// <see cref="log4net.Appender.AppenderSkeleton"/>, the parent class of all standard
+/// event filtering. Note that <see cref="Repository.Hierarchy.Logger"/> and 
+/// <see cref="Appender.AppenderSkeleton"/>, the parent class of all standard
 /// appenders, have built-in filtering rules. It is suggested that you
 /// first use and understand the built-in rules before rushing to write
 /// your own custom filters.
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ public virtual void ActivateOptions()
   /// the chain.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// This method is marked <c>abstract</c> and must be implemented
+  /// This method is marked <see langword="abstract"/> and must be implemented
   /// in a subclass.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Filter/IFilter.cs b/src/log4net/Filter/IFilter.cs
index 289739a9..69c0cd0a 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Filter/IFilter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Filter/IFilter.cs
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ namespace log4net.Filter;
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
 /// Users should implement this interface to implement customized logging
-/// event filtering. Note that <see cref="log4net.Repository.Hierarchy.Logger"/> and 
-/// <see cref="log4net.Appender.AppenderSkeleton"/>, the parent class of all standard
+/// event filtering. Note that <see cref="Repository.Hierarchy.Logger"/> and 
+/// <see cref="Appender.AppenderSkeleton"/>, the parent class of all standard
 /// appenders, have built-in filtering rules. It is suggested that you
 /// first use and understand the built-in rules before rushing to write
 /// your own custom filters.
diff --git a/src/log4net/Filter/LevelMatchFilter.cs b/src/log4net/Filter/LevelMatchFilter.cs
index 71769cdc..80b3eb0b 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Filter/LevelMatchFilter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Filter/LevelMatchFilter.cs
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ namespace log4net.Filter;
 /// of the <see cref="LevelToMatch"/> option and the <see cref="Level"/> of the 
 /// <see cref="LoggingEvent"/>, then the <see cref="Decide"/> method returns <see cref="FilterDecision.Accept"/> in 
 /// case the <see cref="AcceptOnMatch"/> option value is set
-/// to <c>true</c>, if it is <c>false</c> then 
+/// to <see langword="true"/>, if it is <see langword="false"/> then 
 /// <see cref="FilterDecision.Deny"/> is returned. If the <see cref="Level"/> does not match then
 /// the result will be <see cref="FilterDecision.Neutral"/>.
 /// </para>
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ public class LevelMatchFilter : FilterSkeleton
   /// logging event, otherwise it will <see cref="FilterDecision.Deny"/> the event.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// The default is <c>true</c> i.e. to <see cref="FilterDecision.Accept"/> the event.
+  /// The default is <see langword="true"/> i.e. to <see cref="FilterDecision.Accept"/> the event.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public bool AcceptOnMatch { get; set; } = true;
diff --git a/src/log4net/Filter/LevelRangeFilter.cs b/src/log4net/Filter/LevelRangeFilter.cs
index de6b9eb2..dc3104a3 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Filter/LevelRangeFilter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Filter/LevelRangeFilter.cs
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ namespace log4net.Filter;
 /// <see cref="AcceptOnMatch"/>. If there is a match between the range
 /// of priorities and the <see cref="Level"/> of the <see cref="LoggingEvent"/>, then the 
 /// <see cref="Decide"/> method returns <see cref="FilterDecision.Accept"/> in case the <see cref="AcceptOnMatch"/> 
-/// option value is set to <c>true</c>, if it is <c>false</c>
+/// option value is set to <see langword="true"/>, if it is <see langword="false"/>
 /// then <see cref="FilterDecision.Deny"/> is returned. If there is no match, <see cref="FilterDecision.Deny"/> is returned.
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public class LevelRangeFilter : FilterSkeleton
   /// logging event, otherwise it will <see cref="FilterDecision.Neutral"/> the event.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// The default is <c>true</c> i.e. to <see cref="FilterDecision.Accept"/> the event.
+  /// The default is <see langword="true"/> i.e. to <see cref="FilterDecision.Accept"/> the event.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public bool AcceptOnMatch { get; set; } = true;
diff --git a/src/log4net/Filter/LoggerMatchFilter.cs b/src/log4net/Filter/LoggerMatchFilter.cs
index 52e5c1a5..87e48ce5 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Filter/LoggerMatchFilter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Filter/LoggerMatchFilter.cs
@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ namespace log4net.Filter;
 /// <see cref="LoggingEvent.LoggerName"/> of the <see cref="LoggingEvent"/> starts 
 /// with the value of the <see cref="LoggerToMatch"/> option, then the 
 /// <see cref="Decide"/> method returns <see cref="FilterDecision.Accept"/> in 
-/// case the <see cref="AcceptOnMatch"/> option value is set to <c>true</c>, 
-/// if it is <c>false</c> then <see cref="FilterDecision.Deny"/> is returned.
+/// case the <see cref="AcceptOnMatch"/> option value is set to <see langword="true"/>, 
+/// if it is <see langword="false"/> then <see cref="FilterDecision.Deny"/> is returned.
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
 /// <author>Daniel Cazzulino</author>
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ public class LoggerMatchFilter : FilterSkeleton
   /// logging event, otherwise it will <see cref="FilterDecision.Deny"/> the event.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// The default is <c>true</c> i.e. to <see cref="FilterDecision.Accept"/> the event.
+  /// The default is <see langword="true"/> i.e. to <see cref="FilterDecision.Accept"/> the event.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public bool AcceptOnMatch { get; set; } = true;
diff --git a/src/log4net/Filter/StringMatchFilter.cs b/src/log4net/Filter/StringMatchFilter.cs
index bbb12b3e..8458fc7e 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Filter/StringMatchFilter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Filter/StringMatchFilter.cs
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ public override void ActivateOptions()
   /// logging event, otherwise it will <see cref="FilterDecision.Neutral"/> the event.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// The default is <c>true</c> i.e. to <see cref="FilterDecision.Accept"/> the event.
+  /// The default is <see langword="true"/> i.e. to <see cref="FilterDecision.Accept"/> the event.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public bool AcceptOnMatch { get; set; } = true;
diff --git a/src/log4net/GlobalContext.cs b/src/log4net/GlobalContext.cs
index 1ec153f0..a41eb049 100644
--- a/src/log4net/GlobalContext.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/GlobalContext.cs
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@ namespace log4net;
 /// </summary>
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
-/// The <c>GlobalContext</c> provides a location for global debugging 
+/// The <see cref="GlobalContext"/> provides a location for global debugging 
 /// information to be stored.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
 /// The global context has a properties map and these properties can 
-/// be included in the output of log messages. The <see cref="log4net.Layout.PatternLayout"/>
+/// be included in the output of log messages. The <see cref="Layout.PatternLayout"/>
 /// supports selecting and outputing these properties.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/ILog.cs b/src/log4net/ILog.cs
index 2e664676..56c350bc 100644
--- a/src/log4net/ILog.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/ILog.cs
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ public interface ILog : ILoggerWrapper
   /// <see cref="Level.Debug"/> level. If this logger is
   /// <c>DEBUG</c> enabled, then it converts the message object
   /// (passed as parameter) to a string by invoking the appropriate
-  /// <see cref="log4net.ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
+  /// <see cref="ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
   /// proceeds to call all the registered appenders in this logger 
   /// and also higher in the hierarchy depending on the value of 
   /// the additivity flag.
@@ -229,7 +229,7 @@ public interface ILog : ILoggerWrapper
   /// <see cref="Level.Info"/> level. If this logger is
   /// <c>INFO</c> enabled, then it converts the message object
   /// (passed as parameter) to a string by invoking the appropriate
-  /// <see cref="log4net.ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
+  /// <see cref="ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
   /// proceeds to call all the registered appenders in this logger 
   /// and also higher in the hierarchy depending on the value of the 
   /// additivity flag.
@@ -382,7 +382,7 @@ public interface ILog : ILoggerWrapper
   /// <see cref="Level.Warn"/> level. If this logger is
   /// <c>WARN</c> enabled, then it converts the message object
   /// (passed as parameter) to a string by invoking the appropriate
-  /// <see cref="log4net.ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
+  /// <see cref="ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
   /// proceeds to call all the registered appenders in this logger 
   /// and also higher in the hierarchy depending on the value of the 
   /// additivity flag.
@@ -536,7 +536,7 @@ public interface ILog : ILoggerWrapper
   /// <see cref="Level.Error"/> level. If this logger is
   /// <c>ERROR</c> enabled, then it converts the message object
   /// (passed as parameter) to a string by invoking the appropriate
-  /// <see cref="log4net.ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
+  /// <see cref="ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
   /// proceeds to call all the registered appenders in this logger 
   /// and also higher in the hierarchy depending on the value of the 
   /// additivity flag.
@@ -688,7 +688,7 @@ public interface ILog : ILoggerWrapper
   /// <see cref="Level.Fatal"/> level. If this logger is
   /// <c>FATAL</c> enabled, then it converts the message object
   /// (passed as parameter) to a string by invoking the appropriate
-  /// <see cref="log4net.ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
+  /// <see cref="ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
   /// proceeds to call all the registered appenders in this logger 
   /// and also higher in the hierarchy depending on the value of the 
   /// additivity flag.
@@ -834,7 +834,7 @@ public interface ILog : ILoggerWrapper
   /// Checks if this logger is enabled for the <see cref="Level.Debug"/> level.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if this logger is enabled for <see cref="Level.Debug"/> events, <c>false</c> otherwise.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if this logger is enabled for <see cref="Level.Debug"/> events, <see langword="false"/> otherwise.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
@@ -905,55 +905,55 @@ public interface ILog : ILoggerWrapper
   /// Checks if this logger is enabled for the <see cref="Level.Info"/> level.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if this logger is enabled for <see cref="Level.Info"/> events, <c>false</c> otherwise.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if this logger is enabled for <see cref="Level.Info"/> events, <see langword="false"/> otherwise.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
-  /// For more information see <see cref="ILog.IsDebugEnabled"/>.
+  /// For more information see <see cref="IsDebugEnabled"/>.
   /// </remarks>
   /// <seealso cref="Info(object)"/>
   /// <seealso cref="InfoFormat(IFormatProvider, string, object[])"/>
-  /// <seealso cref="ILog.IsDebugEnabled"/>
+  /// <seealso cref="IsDebugEnabled"/>
   bool IsInfoEnabled { get; }
 
   /// <summary>
   /// Checks if this logger is enabled for the <see cref="Level.Warn"/> level.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if this logger is enabled for <see cref="Level.Warn"/> events, <c>false</c> otherwise.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if this logger is enabled for <see cref="Level.Warn"/> events, <see langword="false"/> otherwise.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
-  /// For more information see <see cref="ILog.IsDebugEnabled"/>.
+  /// For more information see <see cref="IsDebugEnabled"/>.
   /// </remarks>
   /// <seealso cref="Warn(object)"/>
   /// <seealso cref="WarnFormat(IFormatProvider, string, object[])"/>
-  /// <seealso cref="ILog.IsDebugEnabled"/>
+  /// <seealso cref="IsDebugEnabled"/>
   bool IsWarnEnabled { get; }
 
   /// <summary>
   /// Checks if this logger is enabled for the <see cref="Level.Error"/> level.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if this logger is enabled for <see cref="Level.Error"/> events, <c>false</c> otherwise.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if this logger is enabled for <see cref="Level.Error"/> events, <see langword="false"/> otherwise.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
-  /// For more information see <see cref="ILog.IsDebugEnabled"/>.
+  /// For more information see <see cref="IsDebugEnabled"/>.
   /// </remarks>
   /// <seealso cref="Error(object)"/>
   /// <seealso cref="ErrorFormat(IFormatProvider, string, object[])"/>
-  /// <seealso cref="ILog.IsDebugEnabled"/>
+  /// <seealso cref="IsDebugEnabled"/>
   bool IsErrorEnabled { get; }
 
   /// <summary>
   /// Checks if this logger is enabled for the <see cref="Level.Fatal"/> level.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if this logger is enabled for <see cref="Level.Fatal"/> events, <c>false</c> otherwise.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if this logger is enabled for <see cref="Level.Fatal"/> events, <see langword="false"/> otherwise.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
-  /// For more information see <see cref="ILog.IsDebugEnabled"/>.
+  /// For more information see <see cref="IsDebugEnabled"/>.
   /// </remarks>
   /// <seealso cref="Fatal(object)"/>
   /// <seealso cref="FatalFormat(IFormatProvider, string, object[])"/>
-  /// <seealso cref="ILog.IsDebugEnabled"/>
+  /// <seealso cref="IsDebugEnabled"/>
   bool IsFatalEnabled { get; }
 }
diff --git a/src/log4net/Layout/ExceptionLayout.cs b/src/log4net/Layout/ExceptionLayout.cs
index ea6bab94..af0f4019 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Layout/ExceptionLayout.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Layout/ExceptionLayout.cs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ namespace log4net.Layout;
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
 /// This Layout should only be used with appenders that utilize multiple
-/// layouts (e.g. <see cref="log4net.Appender.AdoNetAppender"/>).
+/// layouts (e.g. <see cref="Appender.AdoNetAppender"/>).
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
 /// <author>Nicko Cadell</author>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Layout/ILayout.cs b/src/log4net/Layout/ILayout.cs
index 381f28b0..c59b0080 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Layout/ILayout.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Layout/ILayout.cs
@@ -105,13 +105,13 @@ public interface ILayout
   /// <summary>
   /// Flag indicating if this layout handle exceptions
   /// </summary>
-  /// <value><c>false</c> if this layout handles exceptions</value>
+  /// <value><see langword="false"/> if this layout handles exceptions</value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// If this layout handles the exception object contained within
   /// <see cref="LoggingEvent"/>, then the layout should return
-  /// <c>false</c>. Otherwise, if the layout ignores the exception
-  /// object, then the layout should return <c>true</c>.
+  /// <see langword="false"/>. Otherwise, if the layout ignores the exception
+  /// object, then the layout should return <see langword="true"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   bool IgnoresException { get; }
diff --git a/src/log4net/Layout/LayoutSkeleton.cs b/src/log4net/Layout/LayoutSkeleton.cs
index d026a173..57a10f91 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Layout/LayoutSkeleton.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Layout/LayoutSkeleton.cs
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ protected LayoutSkeleton()
   /// </remarks>
   public string Format(LoggingEvent loggingEvent)
   {
-    using var writer = new StringWriter(System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
+    using StringWriter writer = new(System.Globalization.CultureInfo.InvariantCulture);
     Format(writer, loggingEvent);
     return writer.ToString();
   }
@@ -151,17 +151,17 @@ public string Format(LoggingEvent loggingEvent)
   /// <summary>
   /// Flag indicating if this layout handles exceptions.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <value><c>false</c> if this layout handles exceptions</value>
+  /// <value><see langword="false"/> if this layout handles exceptions</value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// If this layout handles the exception object contained within
   /// <see cref="LoggingEvent"/>, then the layout should return
-  /// <c>false</c>. Otherwise, if the layout ignores the exception
-  /// object, then the layout should return <c>true</c>.
+  /// <see langword="false"/>. Otherwise, if the layout ignores the exception
+  /// object, then the layout should return <see langword="true"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
   /// Set this value to override the default setting. The default
-  /// value is <c>true</c>, this layout does not handle the exception.
+  /// value is <see langword="true"/>, this layout does not handle the exception.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public virtual bool IgnoresException { get; set; } = true;
diff --git a/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/AspNetCachePatternConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/AspNetCachePatternConverter.cs
index ad5bc7e1..089769fd 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/AspNetCachePatternConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/AspNetCachePatternConverter.cs
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ internal sealed class AspNetCachePatternConverter : AspNetPatternLayoutConverter
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Writes out the value of a named property. The property name
-  /// should be set in the <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/>
+  /// should be set in the <see cref="PatternConverter.Option"/>
   /// property. If no property has been set, all key value pairs from the Cache will
   /// be written to the output.
   /// </para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/AspNetContextPatternConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/AspNetContextPatternConverter.cs
index af86b9f2..a9e5edde 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/AspNetContextPatternConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/AspNetContextPatternConverter.cs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ internal sealed class AspNetContextPatternConverter : AspNetPatternLayoutConvert
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Writes out the value of a named property. The property name
-  /// should be set in the <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/>
+  /// should be set in the <see cref="Util.PatternConverter.Option"/>
   /// property.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/AspNetRequestPatternConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/AspNetRequestPatternConverter.cs
index b82f9410..881911fa 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/AspNetRequestPatternConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/AspNetRequestPatternConverter.cs
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ internal sealed class AspNetRequestPatternConverter : AspNetPatternLayoutConvert
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Writes out the value of a named property. The property name
-  /// should be set in the <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/>
+  /// should be set in the <see cref="PatternConverter.Option"/>
   /// property.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/AspNetSessionPatternConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/AspNetSessionPatternConverter.cs
index 962a9980..f3b6f24d 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/AspNetSessionPatternConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/AspNetSessionPatternConverter.cs
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ internal sealed class AspNetSessionPatternConverter : AspNetPatternLayoutConvert
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Writes out the value of a named property. The property name
-  /// should be set in the <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/>
+  /// should be set in the <see cref="PatternConverter.Option"/>
   /// property. If no property has been set, all key value pairs from the Session will
   /// be written to the output.
   /// </para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/DatePatternConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/DatePatternConverter.cs
index 4cbe21d5..5c325138 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/DatePatternConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/DatePatternConverter.cs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ namespace log4net.Layout.Pattern;
 /// Render the <see cref="LoggingEvent.TimeStamp"/> to the writer as a string.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
-/// The value of the <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/> determines 
+/// The value of the <see cref="PatternConverter.Option"/> determines 
 /// the formatting of the date. The following values are allowed:
 /// <list type="definition">
 ///    <listheader>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/PatternLayoutConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/PatternLayoutConverter.cs
index 9e4163f7..b7218aff 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/PatternLayoutConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/PatternLayoutConverter.cs
@@ -47,17 +47,17 @@ protected PatternLayoutConverter()
   /// <summary>
   /// Flag indicating if this converter handles the logging event exception
   /// </summary>
-  /// <value><c>false</c> if this converter handles the logging event exception</value>
+  /// <value><see langword="false"/> if this converter handles the logging event exception</value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// If this converter handles the exception object contained within
   /// <see cref="LoggingEvent"/>, then this property should be set to
-  /// <c>false</c>. Otherwise, if the layout ignores the exception
-  /// object, then the property should be set to <c>true</c>.
+  /// <see langword="false"/>. Otherwise, if the layout ignores the exception
+  /// object, then the property should be set to <see langword="true"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
   /// Set this value to override a this default setting. The default
-  /// value is <c>true</c>, this converter does not handle the exception.
+  /// value is <see langword="true"/>, this converter does not handle the exception.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public virtual bool IgnoresException { get; set; } = true;
diff --git a/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/PropertyPatternConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/PropertyPatternConverter.cs
index e44cc93e..9382badf 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/PropertyPatternConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Layout/Pattern/PropertyPatternConverter.cs
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ namespace log4net.Layout.Pattern;
 /// property.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
-/// If the <see cref="Util.PatternConverter.Option"/> is set to <c>null</c>
+/// If the <see cref="Util.PatternConverter.Option"/> is set to <see langword="null"/>
 /// then all the properties are written as key value pairs.
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ internal sealed class PropertyPatternConverter : PatternLayoutConverter
   /// property.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// If the <see cref="Util.PatternConverter.Option"/> is set to <c>null</c>
+  /// If the <see cref="Util.PatternConverter.Option"/> is set to <see langword="null"/>
   /// then all the properties are written as key value pairs.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Layout/PatternLayout.cs b/src/log4net/Layout/PatternLayout.cs
index eaf8f88e..7f8b2dca 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Layout/PatternLayout.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Layout/PatternLayout.cs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ namespace log4net.Layout;
 /// </summary>
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
-/// The goal of this class is to <see cref="PatternLayout.Format(TextWriter,LoggingEvent)"/> a 
+/// The goal of this class is to <see cref="Format(TextWriter,LoggingEvent)"/> a 
 /// <see cref="LoggingEvent"/> as a string. The results
 /// depend on the <i>conversion pattern</i>.
 /// </para>
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ namespace log4net.Layout;
 ///       between braces. For example, <b>%date{HH:mm:ss,fff}</b> or
 ///       <b>%date{dd MMM yyyy HH:mm:ss,fff}</b>.  If no date format specifier is 
 ///       given then ISO8601 format is
-///       assumed (<see cref="log4net.DateFormatter.Iso8601DateFormatter"/>).
+///       assumed (<see cref="DateFormatter.Iso8601DateFormatter"/>).
 ///       </para>
 ///       <para>
 ///       The date format specifier admits the same syntax as the
@@ -184,9 +184,9 @@ namespace log4net.Layout;
 ///       For better results it is recommended to use the log4net date
 ///       formatters. These can be specified using one of the strings
 ///       "ABSOLUTE", "DATE" and "ISO8601" for specifying 
-///       <see cref="log4net.DateFormatter.AbsoluteTimeDateFormatter"/>, 
-///       <see cref="log4net.DateFormatter.DateTimeDateFormatter"/> and respectively 
-///       <see cref="log4net.DateFormatter.Iso8601DateFormatter"/>. For example, 
+///       <see cref="DateFormatter.AbsoluteTimeDateFormatter"/>, 
+///       <see cref="DateFormatter.DateTimeDateFormatter"/> and respectively 
+///       <see cref="DateFormatter.Iso8601DateFormatter"/>. For example, 
 ///       <b>%date{ISO8601}</b> or <b>%date{ABSOLUTE}</b>.
 ///       </para>
 ///       <para>
@@ -571,7 +571,7 @@ namespace log4net.Layout;
 ///       between braces. For example, <b>%utcdate{HH:mm:ss,fff}</b> or
 ///       <b>%utcdate{dd MMM yyyy HH:mm:ss,fff}</b>.  If no date format specifier is 
 ///       given then ISO8601 format is
-///       assumed (<see cref="log4net.DateFormatter.Iso8601DateFormatter"/>).
+///       assumed (<see cref="DateFormatter.Iso8601DateFormatter"/>).
 ///       </para>
 ///       <para>
 ///       The date format specifier admits the same syntax as the
@@ -581,9 +581,9 @@ namespace log4net.Layout;
 ///       For better results it is recommended to use the log4net date
 ///       formatters. These can be specified using one of the strings
 ///       "ABSOLUTE", "DATE" and "ISO8601" for specifying 
-///       <see cref="log4net.DateFormatter.AbsoluteTimeDateFormatter"/>, 
-///       <see cref="log4net.DateFormatter.DateTimeDateFormatter"/> and respectively 
-///       <see cref="log4net.DateFormatter.Iso8601DateFormatter"/>. For example, 
+///       <see cref="DateFormatter.AbsoluteTimeDateFormatter"/>, 
+///       <see cref="DateFormatter.DateTimeDateFormatter"/> and respectively 
+///       <see cref="DateFormatter.Iso8601DateFormatter"/>. For example, 
 ///       <b>%utcdate{ISO8601}</b> or <b>%utcdate{ABSOLUTE}</b>.
 ///       </para>
 ///       <para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Layout/RawLayoutConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Layout/RawLayoutConverter.cs
index df61ce3a..b2bb171f 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Layout/RawLayoutConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Layout/RawLayoutConverter.cs
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ public class RawLayoutConverter : IConvertFrom
   /// Can the sourceType be converted to an <see cref="IRawLayout"/>
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="sourceType">the source to be to be converted</param>
-  /// <returns><c>true</c> if the source type can be converted to <see cref="IRawLayout"/></returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if the source type can be converted to <see cref="IRawLayout"/></returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Test if the <paramref name="sourceType"/> can be converted to a
diff --git a/src/log4net/Layout/RawPropertyLayout.cs b/src/log4net/Layout/RawPropertyLayout.cs
index 0a5f914c..cf06f6f1 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Layout/RawPropertyLayout.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Layout/RawPropertyLayout.cs
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ public class RawPropertyLayout : IRawLayout
   /// <para>
   /// Looks up and returns the object value of the property
   /// named <see cref="Key"/>. If there is no property defined
-  /// with than name then <c>null</c> will be returned.
+  /// with than name then <see langword="null"/> will be returned.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public virtual object? Format(LoggingEvent loggingEvent) 
diff --git a/src/log4net/Layout/XmlLayoutBase.cs b/src/log4net/Layout/XmlLayoutBase.cs
index 705ec671..3c63b5ae 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Layout/XmlLayoutBase.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Layout/XmlLayoutBase.cs
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public abstract class XmlLayoutBase : LayoutSkeleton
   /// <para>
   /// The <paramref name="locationInfo" /> parameter determines whether 
   /// location information will be output by the layout. If 
-  /// <paramref name="locationInfo" /> is set to <c>true</c>, then the 
+  /// <paramref name="locationInfo" /> is set to <see langword="true"/>, then the 
   /// file name and line number of the statement at the origin of the log 
   /// statement will be output. 
   /// </para>
@@ -82,12 +82,12 @@ protected XmlLayoutBase(bool locationInfo)
   /// the XML events.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if location information should be included in the XML 
-  /// events; otherwise, <c>false</c>.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if location information should be included in the XML 
+  /// events; otherwise, <see langword="false"/>.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// If <see cref="LocationInfo" /> is set to <c>true</c>, then the file 
+  /// If <see cref="LocationInfo" /> is set to <see langword="true"/>, then the file 
   /// name and line number of the statement at the origin of the log 
   /// statement will be output. 
   /// </para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/LogManager.cs b/src/log4net/LogManager.cs
index a4188d7a..cc255a54 100644
--- a/src/log4net/LogManager.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/LogManager.cs
@@ -66,11 +66,11 @@ public static class LogManager
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// If the named logger exists (in the default repository) then it
-  /// returns a reference to the logger, otherwise it returns <c>null</c>.
+  /// returns a reference to the logger, otherwise it returns <see langword="null"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   /// <param name="name">The fully qualified logger name to look for.</param>
-  /// <returns>The logger found, or <c>null</c> if no logger could be found.</returns>
+  /// <returns>The logger found, or <see langword="null"/> if no logger could be found.</returns>
   public static ILog? Exists(string name) => Exists(Assembly.GetCallingAssembly(), name);
 
   /// <overloads>Get the currently defined loggers.</overloads>
@@ -110,13 +110,13 @@ public static class LogManager
   /// <para>
   /// If the named logger exists (in the specified repository) then it
   /// returns a reference to the logger, otherwise it returns
-  /// <c>null</c>.
+  /// <see langword="null"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   /// <param name="repository">The repository to lookup in.</param>
   /// <param name="name">The fully qualified logger name to look for.</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// The logger found, or <c>null</c> if the logger doesn't exist in the specified 
+  /// The logger found, or <see langword="null"/> if the logger doesn't exist in the specified 
   /// repository.
   /// </returns>
   public static ILog? Exists(string repository, string name) => WrapLogger(LoggerManager.Exists(repository, name));
@@ -128,13 +128,13 @@ public static class LogManager
   /// <para>
   /// If the named logger exists (in the repository for the specified assembly) then it
   /// returns a reference to the logger, otherwise it returns
-  /// <c>null</c>.
+  /// <see langword="null"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   /// <param name="repositoryAssembly">The assembly to use to look up the repository.</param>
   /// <param name="name">The fully qualified logger name to look for.</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// The logger, or <c>null</c> if the logger doesn't exist in the specified
+  /// The logger, or <see langword="null"/> if the logger doesn't exist in the specified
   /// assembly's repository.
   /// </returns>
   public static ILog? Exists(Assembly repositoryAssembly, string name) => WrapLogger(LoggerManager.Exists(repositoryAssembly, name));
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ public static ILog GetLogger(Assembly repositoryAssembly, string name)
     => WrapLogger(LoggerManager.GetLogger(repositoryAssembly, name))!;
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Shorthand for <see cref="LogManager.GetLogger(string)"/>.
+  /// Shorthand for <see cref="GetLogger(string)"/>.
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
   /// Get the logger for the fully qualified name of the type specified.
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ public static ILog GetLogger(Type type)
     => GetLogger(Assembly.GetCallingAssembly(), type.EnsureNotNull().FullName!);
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Shorthand for <see cref="LogManager.GetLogger(string)"/>.
+  /// Shorthand for <see cref="GetLogger(string)"/>.
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
   /// Gets the logger for the fully qualified name of the type specified.
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ public static ILog GetLogger(string repository, Type type)
     => WrapLogger(LoggerManager.GetLogger(repository, type))!;
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Shorthand for <see cref="LogManager.GetLogger(string)"/>.
+  /// Shorthand for <see cref="GetLogger(string)"/>.
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
   /// Gets the logger for the fully qualified name of the type specified.
@@ -333,8 +333,8 @@ public static ILog GetLogger(Assembly repositoryAssembly, Type type)
   /// <para>
   /// Resets all values contained in the repository instance to their
   /// defaults.  This removes all appenders from all loggers, sets
-  /// the level of all non-root loggers to <c>null</c>,
-  /// sets their additivity flag to <c>true</c> and sets the level
+  /// the level of all non-root loggers to <see langword="null"/>,
+  /// sets their additivity flag to <see langword="true"/> and sets the level
   /// of the root logger to <see cref="Level.Debug"/>. Moreover,
   /// message disabling is set to its default "off" value.
   /// </para>    
@@ -348,8 +348,8 @@ public static ILog GetLogger(Assembly repositoryAssembly, Type type)
   /// <para>
   /// Reset all values contained in the repository instance to their
   /// defaults.  This removes all appenders from all loggers, sets
-  /// the level of all non-root loggers to <c>null</c>,
-  /// sets their additivity flag to <c>true</c> and sets the level
+  /// the level of all non-root loggers to <see langword="null"/>,
+  /// sets their additivity flag to <see langword="true"/> and sets the level
   /// of the root logger to <see cref="Level.Debug"/>. Moreover,
   /// message disabling is set to its default "off" value.
   /// </para>    
@@ -364,8 +364,8 @@ public static ILog GetLogger(Assembly repositoryAssembly, Type type)
   /// <para>
   /// Reset all values contained in the repository instance to their
   /// defaults.  This removes all appenders from all loggers, sets
-  /// the level of all non-root loggers to <c>null</c>,
-  /// sets their additivity flag to <c>true</c> and sets the level
+  /// the level of all non-root loggers to <see langword="null"/>,
+  /// sets their additivity flag to <see langword="true"/> and sets the level
   /// of the root logger to <see cref="Level.Debug"/>. Moreover,
   /// message disabling is set to its default "off" value.
   /// </para>    
@@ -435,7 +435,7 @@ public static ILog GetLogger(Assembly repositoryAssembly, Type type)
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Creates the default type of <see cref="ILoggerRepository"/> which is a
-  /// <see cref="log4net.Repository.Hierarchy.Hierarchy"/> object.
+  /// <see cref="Repository.Hierarchy.Hierarchy"/> object.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
   /// The <paramref name="repository"/> name must be unique. Repositories cannot be redefined.
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ public static ILog GetLogger(Assembly repositoryAssembly, Type type)
   /// Flushes logging events buffered in all configured appenders in the default repository.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="millisecondsTimeout">The maximum time in milliseconds to wait for logging events from asynchronous appenders to be flushed.</param>
-  /// <returns><c>True</c> if all logging events were flushed successfully, else <c>false</c>.</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if all logging events were flushed successfully, else <see langword="false"/>.</returns>
   public static bool Flush(int millisecondsTimeout)
   {
     if (LoggerManager.GetRepository(Assembly.GetCallingAssembly()) is not IFlushable flushableRepository)
@@ -522,7 +522,7 @@ public static bool Flush(int millisecondsTimeout)
   /// <returns>The wrapper objects for the loggers specified.</returns>
   private static ILog[] WrapLoggers(ILogger[] loggers)
   {
-    var results = new ILog[loggers.Length];
+    ILog[] results = new ILog[loggers.Length];
     for (int i = 0; i < loggers.Length; i++)
     {
       results[i] = WrapLogger(loggers[i]);
diff --git a/src/log4net/LogicalThreadContext.cs b/src/log4net/LogicalThreadContext.cs
index f0b26fa7..13e7e1de 100644
--- a/src/log4net/LogicalThreadContext.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/LogicalThreadContext.cs
@@ -32,9 +32,9 @@ namespace log4net;
 /// </summary>
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
-/// The <c>LogicalThreadContext</c> provides a location for <see cref="CallContext"/> specific debugging 
+/// The <see cref="LogicalThreadContext"/> provides a location for <see cref="CallContext"/> specific debugging 
 /// information to be stored.
-/// The <c>LogicalThreadContext</c> properties override any <see cref="ThreadContext"/> or <see cref="GlobalContext"/>
+/// The <see cref="LogicalThreadContext"/> properties override any <see cref="ThreadContext"/> or <see cref="GlobalContext"/>
 /// properties with the same name.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ public static class LogicalThreadContext
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// The <c>LogicalThreadContext</c> properties override any <see cref="ThreadContext"/> 
+  /// The <see cref="LogicalThreadContext"/> properties override any <see cref="ThreadContext"/> 
   /// or <see cref="GlobalContext"/> properties with the same name.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/MDC.cs b/src/log4net/MDC.cs
index ba27661b..edc67a85 100644
--- a/src/log4net/MDC.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/MDC.cs
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ public static class MDC
   /// Gets the context value identified by the <paramref name="key" /> parameter.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="key">The key to lookup in the MDC.</param>
-  /// <returns>The string value held for the key, or a <c>null</c> reference if no corresponding value is found.</returns>
+  /// <returns>The string value held for the key, or a <see langword="null"/> reference if no corresponding value is found.</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <note>
   /// <para>
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ public static class MDC
   /// </note>
   /// <para>
   /// If the <paramref name="key" /> parameter does not look up to a
-  /// previously defined context then <c>null</c> will be returned.
+  /// previously defined context then <see langword="null"/> will be returned.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   /*[Obsolete("MDC has been replaced by ThreadContext.Properties")]*/
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ public static class MDC
   /// <para>
   /// If a value is already defined for the <paramref name="key" />
   /// specified then the value will be replaced. If the <paramref name="value" /> 
-  /// is specified as <c>null</c> then the key value mapping will be removed.
+  /// is specified as <see langword="null"/> then the key value mapping will be removed.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   /*[Obsolete("MDC has been replaced by ThreadContext.Properties")]*/
diff --git a/src/log4net/NDC.cs b/src/log4net/NDC.cs
index ccc1502a..57d3eb37 100644
--- a/src/log4net/NDC.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/NDC.cs
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ public static class NDC
   /// <para>
   /// Remove the top context from the stack, and return
   /// it to the caller. If the stack is empty then an
-  /// empty string (not <c>null</c>) is returned.
+  /// empty string (not <see langword="null"/>) is returned.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   /*[Obsolete("NDC has been replaced by ThreadContext.Stacks")]*/
@@ -189,11 +189,11 @@ public static class NDC
   /// <para>
   /// Pushes a new context onto the context stack. An <see cref="IDisposable"/>
   /// is returned that can be used to clean up the context stack. This
-  /// can be easily combined with the <c>using</c> keyword to scope the
+  /// can be easily combined with the <see langword="using"/> keyword to scope the
   /// context.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
-  /// <example>Simple example of using the <c>Push</c> method with the <c>using</c> keyword.
+  /// <example>Simple example of using the <see cref="Push"/> method with the <see langword="using"/> keyword.
   /// <code lang="C#">
   /// using(log4net.NDC.Push("NDC_Message"))
   /// {
@@ -223,11 +223,11 @@ public static class NDC
   /// <para>
   /// Pushes a new context onto the context stack. An <see cref="IDisposable"/>
   /// is returned that can be used to clean up the context stack. This
-  /// can be easily combined with the <c>using</c> keyword to scope the
+  /// can be easily combined with the <see langword="using"/> keyword to scope the
   /// context.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
-  /// <example>Simple example of using the <c>Push</c> method with the <c>using</c> keyword.
+  /// <example>Simple example of using the <see cref="Push"/> method with the <see langword="using"/> keyword.
   /// <code lang="C#">
   /// var someValue = "ExampleContext"
   /// using(log4net.NDC.PushFormat("NDC_Message {0}", someValue))
diff --git a/src/log4net/ObjectRenderer/DefaultRenderer.cs b/src/log4net/ObjectRenderer/DefaultRenderer.cs
index 62cd98c7..2dbfc8d1 100644
--- a/src/log4net/ObjectRenderer/DefaultRenderer.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/ObjectRenderer/DefaultRenderer.cs
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ public sealed class DefaultRenderer : IObjectRenderer
   ///      <description>Rendered String</description>
   ///    </listheader>
   ///    <item>
-  ///      <term><c>null</c></term>
+  ///      <term><see langword="null"/></term>
   ///      <description>
   ///      <para>"(null)"</para>
   ///      </description>
diff --git a/src/log4net/ObjectRenderer/RendererMap.cs b/src/log4net/ObjectRenderer/RendererMap.cs
index e005a96b..7d365734 100644
--- a/src/log4net/ObjectRenderer/RendererMap.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/ObjectRenderer/RendererMap.cs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ namespace log4net.ObjectRenderer;
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
 /// The <see cref="FindAndRender(object)"/> method is used to render an
-/// <c>object</c> using the appropriate renderers defined in this map,
+/// <see langword="object"/> using the appropriate renderers defined in this map,
 /// using a default renderer if no custom renderer is defined for a type.
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ public IObjectRenderer Get(Type type)
   /// Recursively searches interfaces.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="type">The type for which to look up the renderer.</param>
-  /// <returns>The renderer for the specified type, or <c>null</c> if not found.</returns>
+  /// <returns>The renderer for the specified type, or <see langword="null"/> if not found.</returns>
   private IObjectRenderer? SearchTypeAndInterfaces(Type type)
   {
     if (_map.TryGetValue(type, out IObjectRenderer? r))
diff --git a/src/log4net/Plugin/IPlugin.cs b/src/log4net/Plugin/IPlugin.cs
index 621f741c..b07c08e9 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Plugin/IPlugin.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Plugin/IPlugin.cs
@@ -27,8 +27,8 @@ namespace log4net.Plugin;
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
 /// Plugins define additional behavior that can be associated
-/// with a <see cref="log4net.Repository.ILoggerRepository"/>.
-/// The <see cref="PluginMap"/> held by the <see cref="log4net.Repository.ILoggerRepository.PluginMap"/>
+/// with a <see cref="ILoggerRepository"/>.
+/// The <see cref="PluginMap"/> held by the <see cref="ILoggerRepository.PluginMap"/>
 /// property is used to store the plugins for a repository.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Plugin/PluginCollection.cs b/src/log4net/Plugin/PluginCollection.cs
index bd87fe51..b836f9b5 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Plugin/PluginCollection.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Plugin/PluginCollection.cs
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ public interface IPluginCollectionEnumerator
     ///  Advances the enumerator to the next element in the collection.
     /// </summary>
     /// <returns>
-    ///  <c>true</c> if the enumerator was successfully advanced to the next element; 
-    ///  <c>false</c> if the enumerator has passed the end of the collection.
+    ///  <see langword="true"/> if the enumerator was successfully advanced to the next element; 
+    ///  <see langword="false"/> if the enumerator has passed the end of the collection.
     /// </returns>
     /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">
     ///  The collection was modified after the enumerator was created.
@@ -66,35 +66,35 @@ public interface IPluginCollectionEnumerator
   private int _version;
 
   /// <summary>
-  ///  Creates a read-only wrapper for a <c>PluginCollection</c> instance.
+  ///  Creates a read-only wrapper for a <see cref="PluginCollection"/> instance.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="list">list to create a readonly wrapper arround</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// A <c>PluginCollection</c> wrapper that is read-only.
+  /// A <see cref="PluginCollection"/> wrapper that is read-only.
   /// </returns>
   public static PluginCollection ReadOnly(PluginCollection list)
     => new ReadOnlyPluginCollection(list.EnsureNotNull());
 
   /// <summary>
-  ///  Initializes a new instance of the <c>PluginCollection</c> class
+  ///  Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="PluginCollection"/> class
   ///  that is empty and has the default initial capacity.
   /// </summary>
   public PluginCollection() => _array = new IPlugin[DefaultCapacity];
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Initializes a new instance of the <c>PluginCollection</c> class
+  /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="PluginCollection"/> class
   /// that has the specified initial capacity.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="capacity">
-  /// The number of elements that the new <c>PluginCollection</c> is initially capable of storing.
+  /// The number of elements that the new <see cref="PluginCollection"/> is initially capable of storing.
   /// </param>
   public PluginCollection(int capacity) => _array = new IPlugin[capacity];
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Initializes a new instance of the <c>PluginCollection</c> class
-  /// that contains elements copied from the specified <c>PluginCollection</c>.
+  /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="PluginCollection"/> class
+  /// that contains elements copied from the specified <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="collection">The <c>PluginCollection</c> whose elements are copied to the new collection.</param>
+  /// <param name="collection">The <see cref="PluginCollection"/> whose elements are copied to the new collection.</param>
   [System.Diagnostics.CodeAnalysis.SuppressMessage("Usage", "CA2214:Do not call overridable methods in constructors")]
   public PluginCollection(PluginCollection collection)
   {
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ public PluginCollection(PluginCollection collection)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Initializes a new instance of the <c>PluginCollection</c> class
+  /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="PluginCollection"/> class
   /// that contains elements copied from the specified <see cref="IPlugin"/> array.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="array">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> array whose elements are copied to the new list.</param>
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ public PluginCollection(IPlugin[] array)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Initializes a new instance of the <c>PluginCollection</c> class
+  /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="PluginCollection"/> class
   /// that contains elements copied from the specified <see cref="IPlugin"/> collection.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="collection">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> collection whose elements are copied to the new list.</param>
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ public PluginCollection(ICollection collection)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Initializes a new instance of the <c>PluginCollection</c> class
+  /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="PluginCollection"/> class
   /// that contains elements copied from the specified <see cref="IPlugin"/> collection.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="collection">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> collection whose elements are copied to the new list.</param>
@@ -158,19 +158,19 @@ protected internal enum Tag
   protected internal PluginCollection(Tag _) => _array = Array.Empty<IPlugin>();
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Gets the number of elements actually contained in the <c>PluginCollection</c>.
+  /// Gets the number of elements actually contained in the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
   public virtual int Count => _count;
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Copies the entire <c>PluginCollection</c> to a one-dimensional
+  /// Copies the entire <see cref="PluginCollection"/> to a one-dimensional
   /// <see cref="IPlugin"/> array.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="array">The one-dimensional <see cref="IPlugin"/> array to copy to.</param>
   public virtual void CopyTo(IPlugin[] array) => CopyTo(array, 0);
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Copies the entire <c>PluginCollection</c> to a one-dimensional
+  /// Copies the entire <see cref="PluginCollection"/> to a one-dimensional
   /// <see cref="IPlugin"/> array, starting at the specified index of the target array.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="array">The one-dimensional <see cref="IPlugin"/> array to copy to.</param>
@@ -224,9 +224,9 @@ public virtual IPlugin this[int index]
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Adds a <see cref="IPlugin"/> to the end of the <c>PluginCollection</c>.
+  /// Adds a <see cref="IPlugin"/> to the end of the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="item">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> to be added to the end of the <c>PluginCollection</c>.</param>
+  /// <param name="item">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> to be added to the end of the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.</param>
   /// <returns>The index at which the value has been added.</returns>
   public virtual int Add(IPlugin item)
   {
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ public virtual int Add(IPlugin item)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Removes all elements from the <c>PluginCollection</c>.
+  /// Removes all elements from the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
   public virtual void Clear()
   {
@@ -257,7 +257,7 @@ public virtual void Clear()
   /// <returns>A new <see cref="PluginCollection"/> with a shallow copy of the collection data.</returns>
   public virtual object Clone()
   {
-    var newCol = new PluginCollection(_count);
+    PluginCollection newCol = new(_count);
     Array.Copy(_array, 0, newCol._array, 0, _count);
     newCol._count = _count;
     newCol._version = _version;
@@ -266,10 +266,10 @@ public virtual object Clone()
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Determines whether a given <see cref="IPlugin"/> is in the <c>PluginCollection</c>.
+  /// Determines whether a given <see cref="IPlugin"/> is in the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="item">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> to check for.</param>
-  /// <returns><c>true</c> if <paramref name="item"/> is found in the <c>PluginCollection</c>; otherwise, <c>false</c>.</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if <paramref name="item"/> is found in the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>; otherwise, <see langword="false"/>.</returns>
   public virtual bool Contains(IPlugin item)
   {
     for (int i = 0; i != _count; ++i)
@@ -284,12 +284,12 @@ public virtual bool Contains(IPlugin item)
 
   /// <summary>
   /// Returns the zero-based index of the first occurrence of a <see cref="IPlugin"/>
-  /// in the <c>PluginCollection</c>.
+  /// in the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="item">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> to locate in the <c>PluginCollection</c>.</param>
+  /// <param name="item">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> to locate in the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.</param>
   /// <returns>
   /// The zero-based index of the first occurrence of <paramref name="item"/> 
-  /// in the entire <c>PluginCollection</c>, if found; otherwise, -1.
+  /// in the entire <see cref="PluginCollection"/>, if found; otherwise, -1.
   /// </returns>
   public virtual int IndexOf(IPlugin item)
   {
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ public virtual int IndexOf(IPlugin item)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Inserts an element into the <c>PluginCollection</c> at the specified index.
+  /// Inserts an element into the <see cref="PluginCollection"/> at the specified index.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="index">The zero-based index at which <paramref name="item"/> should be inserted.</param>
   /// <param name="item">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> to insert.</param>
@@ -333,11 +333,11 @@ public virtual void Insert(int index, IPlugin item)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Removes the first occurrence of a specific <see cref="IPlugin"/> from the <c>PluginCollection</c>.
+  /// Removes the first occurrence of a specific <see cref="IPlugin"/> from the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="item">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> to remove from the <c>PluginCollection</c>.</param>
+  /// <param name="item">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> to remove from the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.</param>
   /// <exception cref="ArgumentException">
-  /// The specified <see cref="IPlugin"/> was not found in the <c>PluginCollection</c>.
+  /// The specified <see cref="IPlugin"/> was not found in the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.
   /// </exception>
   public virtual void Remove(IPlugin item)
   {
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ public virtual void Remove(IPlugin item)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Removes the element at the specified index of the <c>PluginCollection</c>.
+  /// Removes the element at the specified index of the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="index">The zero-based index of the element to remove.</param>
   /// <exception cref="ArgumentOutOfRangeException">
@@ -381,26 +381,26 @@ public virtual void RemoveAt(int index)
   /// <summary>
   /// Gets a value indicating whether the collection has a fixed size.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <value><c>true</c> if the collection has a fixed size; otherwise, <c>false</c>. The default is <c>false</c>.</value>
+  /// <value><see langword="true"/> if the collection has a fixed size; otherwise, <see langword="false"/>. The default is <see langword="false"/>.</value>
   public virtual bool IsFixedSize => false;
 
   /// <summary>
   /// Gets a value indicating whether the IList is read-only.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <value><c>true</c> if the collection is read-only; otherwise, <c>false</c>. The default is <c>false</c>.</value>
+  /// <value><see langword="true"/> if the collection is read-only; otherwise, <see langword="false"/>. The default is <see langword="false"/>.</value>
   public virtual bool IsReadOnly => false;
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Returns an enumerator that can iterate through the <c>PluginCollection</c>.
+  /// Returns an enumerator that can iterate through the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <returns>An <see cref="Enumerator"/> for the entire <c>PluginCollection</c>.</returns>
+  /// <returns>An <see cref="Enumerator"/> for the entire <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.</returns>
   public virtual IPluginCollectionEnumerator GetEnumerator() => new Enumerator(this);
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Gets or sets the number of elements the <c>PluginCollection</c> can contain.
+  /// Gets or sets the number of elements the <see cref="PluginCollection"/> can contain.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// The number of elements the <c>PluginCollection</c> can contain.
+  /// The number of elements the <see cref="PluginCollection"/> can contain.
   /// </value>
   public virtual int Capacity
   {
@@ -429,10 +429,10 @@ public virtual int Capacity
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Adds the elements of another <c>PluginCollection</c> to the current <c>PluginCollection</c>.
+  /// Adds the elements of another <see cref="PluginCollection"/> to the current <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="collection">The <c>PluginCollection</c> whose elements should be added to the end of the current <c>PluginCollection</c>.</param>
-  /// <returns>The new <see cref="Count"/> of the <c>PluginCollection</c>.</returns>
+  /// <param name="collection">The <see cref="PluginCollection"/> whose elements should be added to the end of the current <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.</param>
+  /// <returns>The new <see cref="Count"/> of the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.</returns>
   public virtual int AddRange(PluginCollection collection)
   {
     if (_count + collection.EnsureNotNull().Count >= _array.Length)
@@ -448,10 +448,10 @@ public virtual int AddRange(PluginCollection collection)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Adds the elements of a <see cref="IPlugin"/> array to the current <c>PluginCollection</c>.
+  /// Adds the elements of a <see cref="IPlugin"/> array to the current <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="array">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> array whose elements should be added to the end of the <c>PluginCollection</c>.</param>
-  /// <returns>The new <see cref="Count"/> of the <c>PluginCollection</c>.</returns>
+  /// <param name="array">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> array whose elements should be added to the end of the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.</param>
+  /// <returns>The new <see cref="Count"/> of the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.</returns>
   public virtual int AddRange(IPlugin[] array)
   {
     if (_count + array.EnsureNotNull().Length >= _array.Length)
@@ -467,10 +467,10 @@ public virtual int AddRange(IPlugin[] array)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Adds the elements of a <see cref="IPlugin"/> collection to the current <c>PluginCollection</c>.
+  /// Adds the elements of a <see cref="IPlugin"/> collection to the current <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="collection">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> collection whose elements should be added to the end of the <c>PluginCollection</c>.</param>
-  /// <returns>The new <see cref="Count"/> of the <c>PluginCollection</c>.</returns>
+  /// <param name="collection">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> collection whose elements should be added to the end of the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.</param>
+  /// <returns>The new <see cref="Count"/> of the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.</returns>
   public virtual int AddRange(ICollection collection)
   {
     if (_count + collection.EnsureNotNull().Count >= _array.Length)
@@ -487,10 +487,10 @@ public virtual int AddRange(ICollection collection)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Adds the elements of a <see cref="IPlugin"/> collection to the current <c>PluginCollection</c>.
+  /// Adds the elements of a <see cref="IPlugin"/> collection to the current <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="collection">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> collection whose elements should be added to the end of the <c>PluginCollection</c>.</param>
-  /// <returns>The new <see cref="Count"/> of the <c>PluginCollection</c>.</returns>
+  /// <param name="collection">The <see cref="IPlugin"/> collection whose elements should be added to the end of the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.</param>
+  /// <returns>The new <see cref="Count"/> of the <see cref="PluginCollection"/>.</returns>
   public virtual int AddRange(ICollection<IPlugin> collection)
   {
     if (_count + collection.EnsureNotNull().Count >= _array.Length)
@@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ private sealed class Enumerator : IEnumerator, IPluginCollectionEnumerator
     private readonly int _version;
 
     /// <summary>
-    /// Initializes a new instance of the <c>Enumerator</c> class.
+    /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="Enumerator"/> class.
     /// </summary>
     /// <param name="tc"></param>
     internal Enumerator(PluginCollection tc)
@@ -595,8 +595,8 @@ internal Enumerator(PluginCollection tc)
     /// Advances the enumerator to the next element in the collection.
     /// </summary>
     /// <returns>
-    /// <c>true</c> if the enumerator was successfully advanced to the next element; 
-    /// <c>false</c> if the enumerator has passed the end of the collection.
+    /// <see langword="true"/> if the enumerator was successfully advanced to the next element; 
+    /// <see langword="false"/> if the enumerator has passed the end of the collection.
     /// </returns>
     /// <exception cref="InvalidOperationException">
     /// The collection was modified after the enumerator was created.
diff --git a/src/log4net/Plugin/PluginMap.cs b/src/log4net/Plugin/PluginMap.cs
index 2fdf58a3..eb1cda27 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Plugin/PluginMap.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Plugin/PluginMap.cs
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ public sealed class PluginMap(ILoggerRepository repository)
   /// <param name="name">The name of the <see cref="IPlugin" /> to lookup.</param>
   /// <returns>
   /// The <see cref="IPlugin" /> from the map with the name specified, or 
-  /// <c>null</c> if no plugin is found.
+  /// <see langword="null"/> if no plugin is found.
   /// </returns>
   public IPlugin? this[string name]
   {
diff --git a/src/log4net/Repository/Hierarchy/DefaultLoggerFactory.cs b/src/log4net/Repository/Hierarchy/DefaultLoggerFactory.cs
index 60ea16c6..a5d7b598 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Repository/Hierarchy/DefaultLoggerFactory.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Repository/Hierarchy/DefaultLoggerFactory.cs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ internal sealed class DefaultLoggerFactory : ILoggerFactory
   /// Create a new <see cref="Logger" /> instance with the specified name.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="repository">The <see cref="ILoggerRepository" /> that will own the <see cref="Logger" />.</param>
-  /// <param name="name">The name of the <see cref="Logger" />. If <c>null</c>, the root logger is returned.</param>
+  /// <param name="name">The name of the <see cref="Logger" />. If <see langword="null"/>, the root logger is returned.</param>
   /// <returns>The <see cref="Logger" /> instance for the specified name.</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Repository/Hierarchy/ILoggerFactory.cs b/src/log4net/Repository/Hierarchy/ILoggerFactory.cs
index 27cdb245..79f277a2 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Repository/Hierarchy/ILoggerFactory.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Repository/Hierarchy/ILoggerFactory.cs
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ public interface ILoggerFactory
   /// new named <see cref="Logger"/> instances.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// If the <paramref name="name"/> is <c>null</c> then the root logger
+  /// If the <paramref name="name"/> is <see langword="null"/> then the root logger
   /// must be returned.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Repository/Hierarchy/RootLogger.cs b/src/log4net/Repository/Hierarchy/RootLogger.cs
index a32e8cea..6681af2a 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Repository/Hierarchy/RootLogger.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Repository/Hierarchy/RootLogger.cs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ namespace log4net.Repository.Hierarchy;
 /// that it provides several guarantees.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
-/// First, it cannot be assigned a <c>null</c>
+/// First, it cannot be assigned a <see langword="null"/>
 /// level. Second, since the root logger cannot have a parent, the
 /// <see cref="EffectiveLevel"/> property always returns the value of the
 /// level field without walking the hierarchy.
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ public RootLogger(Level level) : base("root")
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Because the root logger cannot have a parent and its level
-  /// must not be <c>null</c> this property just returns the
+  /// must not be <see langword="null"/> this property just returns the
   /// value of <see cref="Logger.Level"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ public RootLogger(Level level) : base("root")
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// Setting the level of the root logger to a <c>null</c> reference
+  /// Setting the level of the root logger to a <see langword="null"/> reference
   /// may have catastrophic results. We prevent this here.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Repository/Hierarchy/XmlHierarchyConfigurator.cs b/src/log4net/Repository/Hierarchy/XmlHierarchyConfigurator.cs
index 1ec9c1a9..0e2f45eb 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Repository/Hierarchy/XmlHierarchyConfigurator.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Repository/Hierarchy/XmlHierarchyConfigurator.cs
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ public void Configure(XmlElement? element)
   /// Parses an appender element.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="appenderElement">The appender element.</param>
-  /// <returns>The appender instance or <c>null</c> when parsing failed.</returns>
+  /// <returns>The appender instance or <see langword="null"/> when parsing failed.</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Parse an XML element that represents an appender and return
@@ -777,7 +777,7 @@ protected void SetParameter(XmlElement element, object target)
   /// Test if an element has no attributes or child elements
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="element">the element to inspect</param>
-  /// <returns><c>true</c> if the element has any attributes or child elements, <c>false</c> otherwise</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if the element has any attributes or child elements, <see langword="false"/> otherwise</returns>
   private static bool HasAttributesOrElements(XmlElement element)
     => element.ChildNodes.OfType<XmlNode>().Any(node => node.NodeType is XmlNodeType.Attribute or XmlNodeType.Element);
 
@@ -785,7 +785,7 @@ private static bool HasAttributesOrElements(XmlElement element)
   /// Test if a <see cref="Type"/> is constructible with <c>Activator.CreateInstance</c>.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="type">the type to inspect</param>
-  /// <returns><c>true</c> if the type is creatable using a default constructor, <c>false</c> otherwise</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if the type is creatable using a default constructor, <see langword="false"/> otherwise</returns>
   private static bool IsTypeConstructible(Type type)
   {
     return type.IsClass && !type.IsAbstract
@@ -844,7 +844,7 @@ private static bool IsTypeConstructible(Type type)
   /// <returns>
   /// <para>
   /// An object of type <paramref name="type"/> with value <paramref name="value"/> or 
-  /// <c>null</c> when the conversion could not be performed.
+  /// <see langword="null"/> when the conversion could not be performed.
   /// </para>
   /// </returns>
   protected object? ConvertStringTo(Type type, string value)
@@ -871,7 +871,7 @@ private static bool IsTypeConstructible(Type type)
   /// <param name="element">The XML element that contains the definition of the object.</param>
   /// <param name="defaultTargetType">The object type to use if not explicitly specified.</param>
   /// <param name="typeConstraint">The type that the returned object must be or must inherit from.</param>
-  /// <returns>The object or <c>null</c></returns>
+  /// <returns>The object or <see langword="null"/></returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Parse an XML element and create an object instance based on the configuration
diff --git a/src/log4net/Repository/IBasicRepositoryConfigurator.cs b/src/log4net/Repository/IBasicRepositoryConfigurator.cs
index 221b99c7..e41f7421 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Repository/IBasicRepositoryConfigurator.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Repository/IBasicRepositoryConfigurator.cs
@@ -25,11 +25,11 @@ namespace log4net.Repository;
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
 /// Interface used by basic configurator to configure a <see cref="ILoggerRepository"/>
-/// with a default <see cref="log4net.Appender.IAppender"/>.
+/// with a default <see cref="Appender.IAppender"/>.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
 /// A <see cref="ILoggerRepository"/> should implement this interface to support
-/// configuration by the <see cref="log4net.Config.BasicConfigurator"/>.
+/// configuration by the <see cref="Config.BasicConfigurator"/>.
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
 /// <author>Nicko Cadell</author>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Repository/ILoggerRepository.cs b/src/log4net/Repository/ILoggerRepository.cs
index 0614e393..12f74b45 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Repository/ILoggerRepository.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Repository/ILoggerRepository.cs
@@ -88,10 +88,10 @@ public interface ILoggerRepository
   Level Threshold { get; set; }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Gets the named logger, or <c>null</c>.
+  /// Gets the named logger, or <see langword="null"/>.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="name">The name of the logger to look up.</param>
-  /// <returns>The logger if found, or <c>null</c>.</returns>
+  /// <returns>The logger if found, or <see langword="null"/>.</returns>
   ILogger? Exists(string name);
 
   /// <summary>
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ public interface ILoggerRepository
   /// This method should not normally be used to log.
   /// The <see cref="ILog"/> interface should be used 
   /// for routine logging. This interface can be obtained
-  /// using the <see cref="log4net.LogManager.GetLogger(string)"/> method.
+  /// using the <see cref="LogManager.GetLogger(string)"/> method.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
   /// The <c>logEvent</c> is delivered to the appropriate logger and
diff --git a/src/log4net/Repository/IXmlRepositoryConfigurator.cs b/src/log4net/Repository/IXmlRepositoryConfigurator.cs
index c4e0aaf1..004f98f4 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Repository/IXmlRepositoryConfigurator.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Repository/IXmlRepositoryConfigurator.cs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ namespace log4net.Repository;
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
 /// A <see cref="ILoggerRepository"/> should implement this interface to support
-/// configuration by the <see cref="log4net.Config.XmlConfigurator"/>.
+/// configuration by the <see cref="Config.XmlConfigurator"/>.
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
 /// <author>Nicko Cadell</author>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Repository/LoggerRepositorySkeleton.cs b/src/log4net/Repository/LoggerRepositorySkeleton.cs
index 94b16149..82e32e1e 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Repository/LoggerRepositorySkeleton.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Repository/LoggerRepositorySkeleton.cs
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ public virtual Level Threshold
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Check if the named logger exists in the repository. If so return
-  /// its reference, otherwise returns <c>null</c>.
+  /// its reference, otherwise returns <see langword="null"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public abstract ILogger? Exists(string name);
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ public virtual void ResetConfiguration()
   /// This method should not normally be used to log.
   /// The <see cref="ILog"/> interface should be used 
   /// for routine logging. This interface can be obtained
-  /// using the <see cref="log4net.LogManager.GetLogger(string)"/> method.
+  /// using the <see cref="LogManager.GetLogger(string)"/> method.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
   /// The <c>logEvent</c> is delivered to the appropriate logger and
@@ -470,11 +470,11 @@ private static int GetWaitTime(DateTime startTimeUtc, int millisecondsTimeout)
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Flushes all configured Appenders that implement <see cref="log4net.Appender.IFlushable"/>.
+  /// Flushes all configured Appenders that implement <see cref="IFlushable"/>.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="millisecondsTimeout">The maximum time in milliseconds to wait for logging events from asynchronous appenders to be flushed,
   /// or <see cref="Timeout.Infinite"/> to wait indefinitely.</param>
-  /// <returns><c>True</c> if all logging events were flushed successfully, else <c>false</c>.</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if all logging events were flushed successfully, else <see langword="false"/>.</returns>
   public bool Flush(int millisecondsTimeout)
   {
     if (millisecondsTimeout < -1)
diff --git a/src/log4net/ThreadContext.cs b/src/log4net/ThreadContext.cs
index d7d25a6b..4267efa1 100644
--- a/src/log4net/ThreadContext.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/ThreadContext.cs
@@ -26,15 +26,15 @@ namespace log4net;
 /// </summary>
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
-/// The <c>ThreadContext</c> provides a location for thread specific debugging 
+/// The <see cref="ThreadContext"/> provides a location for thread specific debugging 
 /// information to be stored.
-/// The <c>ThreadContext</c> properties override any <see cref="GlobalContext"/>
+/// The <see cref="ThreadContext"/> properties override any <see cref="GlobalContext"/>
 /// properties with the same name.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
 /// The thread context has a properties map and a stack.
 /// The properties and stack can 
-/// be included in the output of log messages. The <see cref="log4net.Layout.PatternLayout"/>
+/// be included in the output of log messages. The <see cref="Layout.PatternLayout"/>
 /// supports selecting and outputting these properties.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ public static class ThreadContext
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// The <c>ThreadContext</c> properties override any <see cref="GlobalContext"/>
+  /// The <see cref="ThreadContext"/> properties override any <see cref="GlobalContext"/>
   /// properties with the same name.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/AppenderAttachedImpl.cs b/src/log4net/Util/AppenderAttachedImpl.cs
index e1ed3502..e8c71953 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/AppenderAttachedImpl.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/AppenderAttachedImpl.cs
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ public void AddAppender(IAppender appender)
   /// Gets all attached appenders.
   /// </summary>
   /// <returns>
-  /// A collection of attached appenders, or <c>null</c> if there
+  /// A collection of attached appenders, or <see langword="null"/> if there
   /// are no attached appenders.
   /// </returns>
   /// <remarks>
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ public AppenderCollection Appenders
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="name">The name of the appender to get.</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// The appender with the name specified, or <c>null</c> if no appender with the
+  /// The appender with the name specified, or <see langword="null"/> if no appender with the
   /// specified name is found.
   /// </returns>
   /// <remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/CompositeProperties.cs b/src/log4net/Util/CompositeProperties.cs
index e50a2f45..9eb5dc9d 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/CompositeProperties.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/CompositeProperties.cs
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ internal CompositeProperties()
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
   /// If none of the collections contain the specified key then
-  /// <c>null</c> is returned.
+  /// <see langword="null"/> is returned.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public object? this[string key]
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/CyclicBuffer.cs b/src/log4net/Util/CyclicBuffer.cs
index 3ae5ae1f..c376d070 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/CyclicBuffer.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/CyclicBuffer.cs
@@ -66,11 +66,11 @@ public CyclicBuffer(int maxSize)
   /// Appends a <paramref name="loggingEvent"/> to the buffer.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="loggingEvent">The event to append to the buffer.</param>
-  /// <returns>The event discarded from the buffer, if the buffer is full, otherwise <c>null</c>.</returns>
+  /// <returns>The event discarded from the buffer, if the buffer is full, otherwise <see langword="null"/>.</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Append an event to the buffer. If the buffer still contains free space then
-  /// <c>null</c> is returned. If the buffer is full then an event will be dropped
+  /// <see langword="null"/> is returned. If the buffer is full then an event will be dropped
   /// to make space for the new event, the dropped event is returned.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ public void Resize(int newSize)
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// If <paramref name="i"/> is outside the range 0 to the number of events
-  /// currently in the buffer, then <c>null</c> is returned.
+  /// currently in the buffer, then <see langword="null"/> is returned.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public LoggingEvent? this[int i]
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/EmptyCollection.cs b/src/log4net/Util/EmptyCollection.cs
index a5424c1e..9e7528c9 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/EmptyCollection.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/EmptyCollection.cs
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ public void CopyTo(Array array, int index)
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// For the <see cref="EmptyCollection"/> this property is always <c>true</c>.
+  /// For the <see cref="EmptyCollection"/> this property is always <see langword="true"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public bool IsSynchronized => true;
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/EmptyDictionary.cs b/src/log4net/Util/EmptyDictionary.cs
index c6432f91..68686572 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/EmptyDictionary.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/EmptyDictionary.cs
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ private EmptyDictionary()
   /// As the collection is empty no values are copied into the array.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
-  public void CopyTo(System.Array array, int index)
+  public void CopyTo(Array array, int index)
   {
     // copy nothing
   }
@@ -165,10 +165,10 @@ public void CopyTo(System.Array array, int index)
   /// with the specified key.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="key">The key to locate in the <see cref="EmptyDictionary" />.</param>
-  /// <returns><c>false</c></returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="false"/></returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// As the collection is empty the <see cref="Contains"/> method always returns <c>false</c>.
+  /// As the collection is empty the <see cref="Contains"/> method always returns <see langword="false"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public bool Contains(object key) => false;
@@ -203,10 +203,10 @@ public void CopyTo(System.Array array, int index)
   /// <summary>
   /// Gets a value indicating whether the <see cref="EmptyDictionary" /> has a fixed size.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <value><c>true</c></value>
+  /// <value><see langword="true"/></value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// As the collection is empty <see cref="IsFixedSize"/> always returns <c>true</c>.
+  /// As the collection is empty <see cref="IsFixedSize"/> always returns <see langword="true"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public bool IsFixedSize => true;
@@ -214,10 +214,10 @@ public void CopyTo(System.Array array, int index)
   /// <summary>
   /// Gets a value indicating whether the <see cref="EmptyDictionary" /> is read-only.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <value><c>true</c></value>
+  /// <value><see langword="true"/></value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// As the collection is empty <see cref="IsReadOnly"/> always returns <c>true</c>.
+  /// As the collection is empty <see cref="IsReadOnly"/> always returns <see langword="true"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public bool IsReadOnly => true;
@@ -248,11 +248,11 @@ public void CopyTo(System.Array array, int index)
   /// Gets or sets the element with the specified key.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="key">The key of the element to get or set.</param>
-  /// <value><c>null</c></value>
+  /// <value><see langword="null"/></value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// As the collection is empty no values can be looked up or stored. 
-  /// If the index getter is called then <c>null</c> is returned.
+  /// If the index getter is called then <see langword="null"/> is returned.
   /// A <see cref="InvalidOperationException"/> is thrown if the setter is called.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/GlobalContextProperties.cs b/src/log4net/Util/GlobalContextProperties.cs
index efdd59eb..216e867e 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/GlobalContextProperties.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/GlobalContextProperties.cs
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@
 namespace log4net.Util;
 
 /// <summary>
-/// Implementation of Properties collection for the <see cref="log4net.GlobalContext"/>
+/// Implementation of Properties collection for the <see cref="GlobalContext"/>
 /// </summary>
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ public sealed class GlobalContextProperties : ContextPropertiesBase
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// This variable is declared <c>volatile</c> to prevent the compiler and JIT from
+  /// This variable is declared <see langword="volatile"/> to prevent the compiler and JIT from
   /// reordering reads and writes of this thread performed on different threads.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ public override object? this[string key]
     {
       lock (_syncRoot)
       {
-        var mutableProps = new PropertiesDictionary(_readOnlyProperties)
+        PropertiesDictionary mutableProps = new(_readOnlyProperties)
         {
           [key] = value
         };
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ public void Remove(string key)
     {
       if (_readOnlyProperties.Contains(key))
       {
-        var mutableProps = new PropertiesDictionary(_readOnlyProperties);
+        PropertiesDictionary mutableProps = new(_readOnlyProperties);
         mutableProps.Remove(key);
         _readOnlyProperties = new ReadOnlyPropertiesDictionary(mutableProps);
       }
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/ILogExtensions.cs b/src/log4net/Util/ILogExtensions.cs
index 32593e58..1b216abb 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/ILogExtensions.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/ILogExtensions.cs
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ public static class LogExtensions
   /// This check happens always and does not depend on the <seealso cref="ILog"/>
   /// implementation.  If this logger is <c>INFO</c> enabled, then it converts 
   /// the message object (retrieved by invocation of the provided callback) to a 
-  /// string by invoking the appropriate <see cref="log4net.ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>.
+  /// string by invoking the appropriate <see cref="ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>.
   /// It then proceeds to call all the registered appenders in this logger 
   /// and also higher in the hierarchy depending on the value of 
   /// the additivity flag.
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ public static void DebugExt(this ILog logger, Func<object> callback, Exception?
   /// This check happens always and does not depend on the <seealso cref="ILog"/>
   /// implementation. If this logger is <c>INFO</c> enabled, then it converts 
   /// the message object (passed as parameter) to a string by invoking the appropriate
-  /// <see cref="log4net.ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
+  /// <see cref="ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
   /// proceeds to call all the registered appenders in this logger 
   /// and also higher in the hierarchy depending on the value of 
   /// the additivity flag.
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ public static void DebugFormatExt(this ILog logger, string format, object? arg0,
   /// This check happens always and does not depend on the <seealso cref="ILog"/>
   /// implementation.  If this logger is <c>INFO</c> enabled, then it converts 
   /// the message object (retrieved by invocation of the provided callback) to a 
-  /// string by invoking the appropriate <see cref="log4net.ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>.
+  /// string by invoking the appropriate <see cref="ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>.
   /// It then proceeds to call all the registered appenders in this logger 
   /// and also higher in the hierarchy depending on the value of 
   /// the additivity flag.
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ public static void InfoExt(this ILog logger, Func<object> callback, Exception? e
   /// This check happens always and does not depend on the <seealso cref="ILog"/>
   /// implementation. If this logger is <c>INFO</c> enabled, then it converts 
   /// the message object (passed as parameter) to a string by invoking the appropriate
-  /// <see cref="log4net.ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
+  /// <see cref="ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
   /// proceeds to call all the registered appenders in this logger 
   /// and also higher in the hierarchy depending on the value of 
   /// the additivity flag.
@@ -703,7 +703,7 @@ public static void InfoFormatExt(this ILog logger, string format, object? arg0,
   /// This check happens always and does not depend on the <seealso cref="ILog"/>
   /// implementation.  If this logger is <c>WARN</c> enabled, then it converts 
   /// the message object (retrieved by invocation of the provided callback) to a 
-  /// string by invoking the appropriate <see cref="log4net.ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>.
+  /// string by invoking the appropriate <see cref="ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>.
   /// It then proceeds to call all the registered appenders in this logger 
   /// and also higher in the hierarchy depending on the value of 
   /// the additivity flag.
@@ -774,7 +774,7 @@ public static void WarnExt(this ILog logger, Func<object> callback, Exception? e
   /// This check happens always and does not depend on the <seealso cref="ILog"/>
   /// implementation. If this logger is <c>WARN</c> enabled, then it converts 
   /// the message object (passed as parameter) to a string by invoking the appropriate
-  /// <see cref="log4net.ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
+  /// <see cref="ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
   /// proceeds to call all the registered appenders in this logger 
   /// and also higher in the hierarchy depending on the value of 
   /// the additivity flag.
@@ -1023,7 +1023,7 @@ public static void WarnFormatExt(this ILog logger, string format, object? arg0,
   /// This check happens always and does not depend on the <seealso cref="ILog"/>
   /// implementation.  If this logger is <c>ERROR</c> enabled, then it converts 
   /// the message object (retrieved by invocation of the provided callback) to a 
-  /// string by invoking the appropriate <see cref="log4net.ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>.
+  /// string by invoking the appropriate <see cref="ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>.
   /// It then proceeds to call all the registered appenders in this logger 
   /// and also higher in the hierarchy depending on the value of 
   /// the additivity flag.
@@ -1094,7 +1094,7 @@ public static void ErrorExt(this ILog logger, Func<object> callback, Exception?
   /// This check happens always and does not depend on the <seealso cref="ILog"/>
   /// implementation. If this logger is <c>ERROR</c> enabled, then it converts 
   /// the message object (passed as parameter) to a string by invoking the appropriate
-  /// <see cref="log4net.ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
+  /// <see cref="ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
   /// proceeds to call all the registered appenders in this logger 
   /// and also higher in the hierarchy depending on the value of 
   /// the additivity flag.
@@ -1343,7 +1343,7 @@ public static void ErrorFormatExt(this ILog logger, string format, object? arg0,
   /// This check happens always and does not depend on the <seealso cref="ILog"/>
   /// implementation.  If this logger is <c>FATAL</c> enabled, then it converts 
   /// the message object (retrieved by invocation of the provided callback) to a 
-  /// string by invoking the appropriate <see cref="log4net.ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>.
+  /// string by invoking the appropriate <see cref="ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>.
   /// It then proceeds to call all the registered appenders in this logger 
   /// and also higher in the hierarchy depending on the value of 
   /// the additivity flag.
@@ -1414,7 +1414,7 @@ public static void FatalExt(this ILog logger, Func<object> callback, Exception?
   /// This check happens always and does not depend on the <seealso cref="ILog"/>
   /// implementation. If this logger is <c>FATAL</c> enabled, then it converts 
   /// the message object (passed as parameter) to a string by invoking the appropriate
-  /// <see cref="log4net.ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
+  /// <see cref="ObjectRenderer.IObjectRenderer"/>. It then 
   /// proceeds to call all the registered appenders in this logger 
   /// and also higher in the hierarchy depending on the value of 
   /// the additivity flag.
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/LogLog.cs b/src/log4net/Util/LogLog.cs
index 121bb4b3..05dacb5c 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/LogLog.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/LogLog.cs
@@ -121,12 +121,12 @@ public LogLog(Type source, string prefix, string message, Exception? exception)
   /// <para>
   /// The <c>log4net.Internal.Debug</c> application setting
   /// controls internal debugging. This setting should be set
-  /// to <c>true</c> to enable debugging.
+  /// to <see langword="true"/> to enable debugging.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
   /// The <c>log4net.Internal.Quiet</c> application setting
   /// suppresses all internal logging including error messages. 
-  /// This setting should be set to <c>true</c> to enable message
+  /// This setting should be set to <see langword="true"/> to enable message
   /// suppression.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
@@ -153,12 +153,12 @@ static LogLog()
   /// is enabled or disabled.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if log4net internal logging is enabled, otherwise 
-  /// <c>false</c>.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if log4net internal logging is enabled, otherwise 
+  /// <see langword="false"/>.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// When set to <c>true</c>, internal debug level logging will be 
+  /// When set to <see langword="true"/>, internal debug level logging will be 
   /// displayed.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ static LogLog()
   /// file.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// The default value is <c>false</c>, i.e. debugging is
+  /// The default value is <see langword="false"/>, i.e. debugging is
   /// disabled.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
@@ -191,12 +191,12 @@ static LogLog()
   /// from internal logging, not even for errors. 
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if log4net should generate no output at all from internal 
-  /// logging, otherwise <c>false</c>.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if log4net should generate no output at all from internal 
+  /// logging, otherwise <see langword="false"/>.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// When set to <c>true</c> will cause internal logging at all levels to be 
+  /// When set to <see langword="true"/> will cause internal logging at all levels to be 
   /// suppressed. This means that no warning or error reports will be logged. 
   /// This option overrides the <see cref="InternalDebugging"/> setting and 
   /// disables all debug also.
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ static LogLog()
   /// <c>log4net.Internal.Quiet</c> in the application configuration file.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// The default value is <c>false</c>, i.e. internal logging is not
+  /// The default value is <see langword="false"/>, i.e. internal logging is not
   /// disabled.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ public static void ExecuteWithoutEmittingInternalMessages(Action callback)
   /// Test if LogLog.Debug is enabled for output.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if Debug is enabled
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if Debug is enabled
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
@@ -327,7 +327,7 @@ public static void Debug(Type source, string message, Exception? exception)
   /// Test if LogLog.Warn is enabled for output.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if Warn is enabled
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if Warn is enabled
   /// </value>
   public static bool IsWarnEnabled => !QuietMode;
 
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ public static void Warn(Type source, string message, Exception? exception)
   /// Test if LogLog.Error is enabled for output.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if Error is enabled
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if Error is enabled
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/LogicalThreadContextProperties.cs b/src/log4net/Util/LogicalThreadContextProperties.cs
index b7ea8f4b..7b4081c3 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/LogicalThreadContextProperties.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/LogicalThreadContextProperties.cs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 namespace log4net.Util;
 
 /// <summary>
-/// Implementation of Properties collection for the <see cref="log4net.LogicalThreadContext"/>
+/// Implementation of Properties collection for the <see cref="LogicalThreadContext"/>
 /// </summary>
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ namespace log4net.Util;
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
 /// This class stores its properties in a slot on the <see cref="CallContext"/> named
-/// <see cref="log4net.Util.LogicalThreadContextProperties"/> for .net4x,
+/// <see cref="LogicalThreadContextProperties"/> for .net4x,
 /// otherwise System.Threading.AsyncLocal
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ public override object? this[string key]
       PropertiesDictionary props = GetProperties(true)!;
       // Reason for cloning the dictionary below: object instances set on the CallContext
       // need to be immutable to correctly flow through async/await
-      var immutableProps = new PropertiesDictionary(props)
+      PropertiesDictionary immutableProps = new(props)
       {
         [key] = value
       };
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/LogicalThreadContextStack.cs b/src/log4net/Util/LogicalThreadContextStack.cs
index 0e067db8..fb4b1bfc 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/LogicalThreadContextStack.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/LogicalThreadContextStack.cs
@@ -131,11 +131,11 @@ internal LogicalThreadContextStack(string propertyKey, TwoArgAction<string, Logi
   /// <para>
   /// Pushes a new context onto this stack. An <see cref="IDisposable"/>
   /// is returned that can be used to clean up this stack. This
-  /// can be easily combined with the <c>using</c> keyword to scope the
+  /// can be easily combined with the <see langword="using"/> keyword to scope the
   /// context.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
-  /// <example>Simple example of using the <c>Push</c> method with the <c>using</c> keyword.
+  /// <example>Simple example of using the <see cref="Push"/> method with the <see langword="using"/> keyword.
   /// <code lang="C#">
   /// using(log4net.LogicalThreadContext.Stacks["NDC"].Push("Stack_Message"))
   /// {
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/NativeError.cs b/src/log4net/Util/NativeError.cs
index 6bc6a214..53479efb 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/NativeError.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/NativeError.cs
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ public static NativeError GetLastError()
   /// native Win32 <c>FormatMessage</c> function.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
-  public static NativeError GetError(int number) => new NativeError(number, GetErrorMessage(number));
+  public static NativeError GetError(int number) => new(number, GetErrorMessage(number));
 
   /// <summary>
   /// Retrieves the message corresponding with a Win32 message identifier.
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/NullDictionaryEnumerator.cs b/src/log4net/Util/NullDictionaryEnumerator.cs
index d227e0d1..689cf060 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/NullDictionaryEnumerator.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/NullDictionaryEnumerator.cs
@@ -74,12 +74,12 @@ private NullDictionaryEnumerator()
   /// <summary>
   /// Test if the enumerator can advance, if so advance.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <returns><c>false</c> as the <see cref="NullDictionaryEnumerator" /> cannot advance.</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="false"/> as the <see cref="NullDictionaryEnumerator" /> cannot advance.</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// As the enumerator is over an empty collection its <see cref="Current"/>
   /// value cannot be moved over a valid position, therefore <see cref="MoveNext"/>
-  /// will always return <c>false</c>.
+  /// will always return <see langword="false"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public bool MoveNext() => false;
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/NullEnumerator.cs b/src/log4net/Util/NullEnumerator.cs
index 836828e3..c242f289 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/NullEnumerator.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/NullEnumerator.cs
@@ -74,12 +74,12 @@ private NullEnumerator()
   /// <summary>
   /// Test if the enumerator can advance, if so advance
   /// </summary>
-  /// <returns><c>false</c> as the <see cref="NullEnumerator" /> cannot advance.</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="false"/> as the <see cref="NullEnumerator" /> cannot advance.</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// As the enumerator is over an empty collection its <see cref="Current"/>
   /// value cannot be moved over a valid position, therefore <see cref="MoveNext"/>
-  /// will always return <c>false</c>.
+  /// will always return <see langword="false"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public bool MoveNext() => false;
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/NullSecurityContext.cs b/src/log4net/Util/NullSecurityContext.cs
index 5a1c239b..3332db90 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/NullSecurityContext.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/NullSecurityContext.cs
@@ -62,10 +62,10 @@ private NullSecurityContext()
   /// Impersonate this SecurityContext
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="state">State supplied by the caller</param>
-  /// <returns><c>null</c></returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="null"/></returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// No impersonation is done and <c>null</c> is always returned.
+  /// No impersonation is done and <see langword="null"/> is always returned.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public override IDisposable? Impersonate(object state) => null;
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/OnlyOnceErrorHandler.cs b/src/log4net/Util/OnlyOnceErrorHandler.cs
index 395a1805..d0c9ebe2 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/OnlyOnceErrorHandler.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/OnlyOnceErrorHandler.cs
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ public DateTime EnabledDate
   /// The error code from the first error that triggered this error handler.
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
-  /// Defaults to <see cref="log4net.Core.ErrorCode.GenericFailure"/>
+  /// Defaults to <see cref="ErrorCode.GenericFailure"/>
   /// </remarks>
   public ErrorCode ErrorCode { get; private set; } = ErrorCode.GenericFailure;
 
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/OptionConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Util/OptionConverter.cs
index 3e9539cd..141362ef 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/OptionConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/OptionConverter.cs
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ public static class OptionConverter
   /// <returns>The <see cref="bool" /> value of <paramref name="argValue" />.</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// If <paramref name="argValue"/> is "true", then <c>true</c> is returned. 
-  /// If <paramref name="argValue"/> is "false", then <c>false</c> is returned. 
+  /// If <paramref name="argValue"/> is "true", then <see langword="true"/> is returned. 
+  /// If <paramref name="argValue"/> is "false", then <see langword="false"/> is returned. 
   /// Otherwise, <paramref name="defaultValue"/> is returned.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ public static long ToFileSize(string? argValue, long defaultValue)
   /// <param name="target">The target type to convert to.</param>
   /// <param name="txt">The string to convert to an object.</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// The object converted from a string or <c>null</c> when the 
+  /// The object converted from a string or <see langword="null"/> when the 
   /// conversion failed.
   /// </returns>
   /// <remarks>
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ public static long ToFileSize(string? argValue, long defaultValue)
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="sourceType">The type to convert from.</param>
   /// <param name="targetType">The type to convert to.</param>
-  /// <returns><c>true</c> if there is a conversion from the source type to the target type.</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if there is a conversion from the source type to the target type.</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// Checks if there is an appropriate type conversion from the source type to the target type.
   /// <para>
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ public static string SubstituteVariables(string value, System.Collections.IDicti
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="enumType">The type to convert to.</param>
   /// <param name="value">The enum string value.</param>
-  /// <param name="ignoreCase">If <c>true</c>, ignore case; otherwise, regard case.</param>
+  /// <param name="ignoreCase">If <see langword="true"/>, ignore case; otherwise, regard case.</param>
   /// <returns>An object of type <paramref name="enumType" /> whose value is represented by <paramref name="value" />.</returns>
   private static object ParseEnum(Type enumType, string value, bool ignoreCase) 
     => Enum.Parse(enumType, value, ignoreCase);
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/PatternParser.cs b/src/log4net/Util/PatternParser.cs
index 78241303..1066cde1 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/PatternParser.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/PatternParser.cs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ namespace log4net.Util;
 /// </summary>
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
-/// The <c>PatternParser</c> processes a pattern string and
+/// The <see cref="PatternParser"/> processes a pattern string and
 /// returns a chain of <see cref="PatternConverter"/> objects.
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ private void ParseInternal(string pattern, string[] matches)
           ProcessLiteral(pattern.Substring(offset, i - offset));
           offset = i + 1;
 
-          var formattingInfo = new FormattingInfo();
+          FormattingInfo formattingInfo = new();
 
           // Process formatting options
 
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/PatternString.cs b/src/log4net/Util/PatternString.cs
index 1dca01b9..568b272e 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/PatternString.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/PatternString.cs
@@ -35,9 +35,9 @@ namespace log4net.Util;
 /// when the string is formatted.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
-/// This class functions similarly to the <see cref="log4net.Layout.PatternLayout"/>
+/// This class functions similarly to the <see cref="Layout.PatternLayout"/>
 /// in that it accepts a pattern and renders it to a string. Unlike the 
-/// <see cref="log4net.Layout.PatternLayout"/> however the <c>PatternString</c>
+/// <see cref="Layout.PatternLayout"/> however the <see cref="PatternString"/>
 /// does not render the properties of a specific <see cref="LoggingEvent"/> but
 /// of the process in general.
 /// </para>
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ namespace log4net.Util;
 ///       between braces. For example, <b>%date{HH:mm:ss,fff}</b> or
 ///       <b>%date{dd MMM yyyy HH:mm:ss,fff}</b>.  If no date format specifier is 
 ///       given then ISO8601 format is
-///       assumed (<see cref="log4net.DateFormatter.Iso8601DateFormatter"/>).
+///       assumed (<see cref="DateFormatter.Iso8601DateFormatter"/>).
 ///       </para>
 ///       <para>
 ///       The date format specifier admits the same syntax as the
@@ -87,9 +87,9 @@ namespace log4net.Util;
 ///       For better results it is recommended to use the log4net date
 ///       formatters. These can be specified using one of the strings
 ///       "ABSOLUTE", "DATE" and "ISO8601" for specifying 
-///       <see cref="log4net.DateFormatter.AbsoluteTimeDateFormatter"/>, 
-///       <see cref="log4net.DateFormatter.DateTimeDateFormatter"/> and respectively 
-///       <see cref="log4net.DateFormatter.Iso8601DateFormatter"/>. For example, 
+///       <see cref="DateFormatter.AbsoluteTimeDateFormatter"/>, 
+///       <see cref="DateFormatter.DateTimeDateFormatter"/> and respectively 
+///       <see cref="DateFormatter.Iso8601DateFormatter"/>. For example, 
 ///       <b>%date{ISO8601}</b> or <b>%date{ABSOLUTE}</b>.
 ///       </para>
 ///       <para>
@@ -212,7 +212,7 @@ namespace log4net.Util;
 ///       between braces. For example, <b>%utcdate{HH:mm:ss,fff}</b> or
 ///       <b>%utcdate{dd MMM yyyy HH:mm:ss,fff}</b>.  If no date format specifier is 
 ///       given then ISO8601 format is
-///       assumed (<see cref="log4net.DateFormatter.Iso8601DateFormatter"/>).
+///       assumed (<see cref="DateFormatter.Iso8601DateFormatter"/>).
 ///       </para>
 ///       <para>
 ///       The date format specifier admits the same syntax as the
@@ -222,9 +222,9 @@ namespace log4net.Util;
 ///       For better results it is recommended to use the log4net date
 ///       formatters. These can be specified using one of the strings
 ///       "ABSOLUTE", "DATE" and "ISO8601" for specifying 
-///       <see cref="log4net.DateFormatter.AbsoluteTimeDateFormatter"/>, 
-///       <see cref="log4net.DateFormatter.DateTimeDateFormatter"/> and respectively 
-///       <see cref="log4net.DateFormatter.Iso8601DateFormatter"/>. For example, 
+///       <see cref="DateFormatter.AbsoluteTimeDateFormatter"/>, 
+///       <see cref="DateFormatter.DateTimeDateFormatter"/> and respectively 
+///       <see cref="DateFormatter.Iso8601DateFormatter"/>. For example, 
 ///       <b>%utcdate{ISO8601}</b> or <b>%utcdate{ABSOLUTE}</b>.
 ///       </para>
 ///       <para>
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ namespace log4net.Util;
 /// <see cref="AddConverter(string, Type)" />.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
-/// See the <see cref="log4net.Layout.PatternLayout"/> for details on the 
+/// See the <see cref="Layout.PatternLayout"/> for details on the 
 /// <i>format modifiers</i> supported by the patterns.
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/AppSettingPatternConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/AppSettingPatternConverter.cs
index df5801b0..b3fa9559 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/AppSettingPatternConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/AppSettingPatternConverter.cs
@@ -81,11 +81,11 @@ private static IDictionary AppSettingsDictionary
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Writes out the value of a named property. The property name
-  /// should be set in the <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/>
+  /// should be set in the <see cref="PatternConverter.Option"/>
   /// property.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// If the <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/> is set to <c>null</c>
+  /// If the <see cref="PatternConverter.Option"/> is set to <see langword="null"/>
   /// then all the properties are written as key value pairs.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/DatePatternConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/DatePatternConverter.cs
index 086f124a..7c56449b 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/DatePatternConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/DatePatternConverter.cs
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ namespace log4net.Util.PatternStringConverters;
 /// the current date and time to the writer as a string.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
-/// The value of the <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/> determines 
+/// The value of the <see cref="PatternConverter.Option"/> determines 
 /// the formatting of the date. The following values are allowed:
 /// <list type="definition">
 ///    <listheader>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/EnvironmentFolderPathPatternConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/EnvironmentFolderPathPatternConverter.cs
index b413e7ad..99e8c7d7 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/EnvironmentFolderPathPatternConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/EnvironmentFolderPathPatternConverter.cs
@@ -24,13 +24,13 @@
 namespace log4net.Util.PatternStringConverters;
 
 /// <summary>
-/// Write an <see cref="System.Environment.SpecialFolder" /> folder path to the output
+/// Write an <see cref="Environment.SpecialFolder" /> folder path to the output
 /// </summary>
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
-/// The value of the <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/> determines 
-/// the name of the variable to output. <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/>
-/// should be a value in the <see cref="System.Environment.SpecialFolder" /> enumeration.
+/// The value of the <see cref="PatternConverter.Option"/> determines 
+/// the name of the variable to output. <see cref="PatternConverter.Option"/>
+/// should be a value in the <see cref="Environment.SpecialFolder" /> enumeration.
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
 /// <author>Ron Grabowski</author>
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ internal sealed class EnvironmentFolderPathPatternConverter : PatternConverter
   /// <para>
   /// Writes the special path environment folder path to the output <paramref name="writer"/>.
   /// The name of the special path environment folder path to output must be set
-  /// using the <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/>
+  /// using the <see cref="PatternConverter.Option"/>
   /// property.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/EnvironmentPatternConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/EnvironmentPatternConverter.cs
index 70c33456..5ab1f19c 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/EnvironmentPatternConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/EnvironmentPatternConverter.cs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ namespace log4net.Util.PatternStringConverters;
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
 /// Write an environment variable to the output writer.
-/// The value of the <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/> determines 
+/// The value of the <see cref="PatternConverter.Option"/> determines 
 /// the name of the variable to output.
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ public sealed class EnvironmentPatternConverter : PatternConverter
   /// <para>
   /// Writes the environment variable to the output <paramref name="writer"/>.
   /// The name of the environment variable to output must be set
-  /// using the <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/>
+  /// using the <see cref="PatternConverter.Option"/>
   /// property.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/LiteralPatternConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/LiteralPatternConverter.cs
index 96e6aa09..6b053e67 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/LiteralPatternConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/LiteralPatternConverter.cs
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ namespace log4net.Util.PatternStringConverters;
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
 /// Writes the literal string value specified in the 
-/// <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/> property to 
+/// <see cref="PatternConverter.Option"/> property to 
 /// the output.
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ public override PatternConverter SetNext(PatternConverter pc)
   /// because we have a literal instead.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// Writes the value of <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/>
+  /// Writes the value of <see cref="PatternConverter.Option"/>
   /// to the output <paramref name="writer"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/PropertyPatternConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/PropertyPatternConverter.cs
index e29b665e..c5998966 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/PropertyPatternConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/PatternStringConverters/PropertyPatternConverter.cs
@@ -51,11 +51,11 @@ internal sealed class PropertyPatternConverter : PatternConverter
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Writes out the value of a named property. The property name
-  /// should be set in the <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/>
+  /// should be set in the <see cref="PatternConverter.Option"/>
   /// property.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
-  /// If the <see cref="log4net.Util.PatternConverter.Option"/> is set to <c>null</c>
+  /// If the <see cref="PatternConverter.Option"/> is set to <see langword="null"/>
   /// then all the properties are written as key value pairs.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/PropertiesDictionary.cs b/src/log4net/Util/PropertiesDictionary.cs
index d5e55937..476eaf5e 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/PropertiesDictionary.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/PropertiesDictionary.cs
@@ -170,12 +170,12 @@ void IDictionary.Remove(object key)
   /// See <see cref="IDictionary.IsReadOnly"/>
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>false</c>
+  /// <see langword="false"/>
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// This collection is modifiable. This property always
-  /// returns <c>false</c>.
+  /// returns <see langword="false"/>.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   bool IDictionary.IsReadOnly => false;
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/QuietTextWriter.cs b/src/log4net/Util/QuietTextWriter.cs
index 283916a0..43ca5c39 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/QuietTextWriter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/QuietTextWriter.cs
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ public IErrorHandler ErrorHandler
   /// Gets a value indicating whether this writer is closed.
   /// </summary>
   /// <value>
-  /// <c>true</c> if this writer is closed, otherwise <c>false</c>.
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if this writer is closed, otherwise <see langword="false"/>.
   /// </value>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/ReaderWriterLock.cs b/src/log4net/Util/ReaderWriterLock.cs
index 75d5ba44..6a8728ab 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/ReaderWriterLock.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/ReaderWriterLock.cs
@@ -26,12 +26,12 @@ namespace log4net.Util;
 /// </summary>
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
-/// <c>ReaderWriterLock</c> is used to synchronize access to a resource. 
+/// <see cref="ReaderWriterLock"/> is used to synchronize access to a resource. 
 /// At any given time, it allows either concurrent read access for 
 /// multiple threads, or write access for a single thread. In a 
 /// situation where a resource is changed infrequently, a 
-/// <c>ReaderWriterLock</c> provides better throughput than a simple 
-/// one-at-a-time lock, such as <see cref="System.Threading.Monitor"/>.
+/// <see cref="ReaderWriterLock"/> provides better throughput than a simple 
+/// one-at-a-time lock, such as <see cref="Monitor"/>.
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
 /// If a platform does not support a <c>System.Threading.ReaderWriterLock</c> 
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/SystemInfo.cs b/src/log4net/Util/SystemInfo.cs
index 30b23fdc..74f0f6be 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/SystemInfo.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/SystemInfo.cs
@@ -300,11 +300,11 @@ public static string ApplicationFriendlyName
   public static DateTime ProcessStartTimeUtc { get; } = DateTime.UtcNow;
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Text to output when a <c>null</c> is encountered.
+  /// Text to output when a <see langword="null"/> is encountered.
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// Use this value to indicate a <c>null</c> has been encountered while
+  /// Use this value to indicate a <see langword="null"/> has been encountered while
   /// outputting a string representation of an item.
   /// </para>
   /// <para>
@@ -432,9 +432,9 @@ public static string AssemblyFileName(Assembly myAssembly)
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="relativeType">A sibling type to use to load the type.</param>
   /// <param name="typeName">The name of the type to load.</param>
-  /// <param name="throwOnError">Flag set to <c>true</c> to throw an exception if the type cannot be loaded.</param>
-  /// <param name="ignoreCase"><c>true</c> to ignore the case of the type name; otherwise, <c>false</c></param>
-  /// <returns>The type loaded or <c>null</c> if it could not be loaded.</returns>
+  /// <param name="throwOnError">Flag set to <see langword="true"/> to throw an exception if the type cannot be loaded.</param>
+  /// <param name="ignoreCase"><see langword="true"/> to ignore the case of the type name; otherwise, <see langword="false"/></param>
+  /// <returns>The type loaded or <see langword="null"/> if it could not be loaded.</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// If the type name is fully qualified, i.e. if contains an assembly name in 
@@ -454,9 +454,9 @@ public static string AssemblyFileName(Assembly myAssembly)
   /// Loads the type specified in the type string.
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="typeName">The name of the type to load.</param>
-  /// <param name="throwOnError">Flag set to <c>true</c> to throw an exception if the type cannot be loaded.</param>
-  /// <param name="ignoreCase"><c>true</c> to ignore the case of the type name; otherwise, <c>false</c></param>
-  /// <returns>The type loaded or <c>null</c> if it could not be loaded.</returns>    
+  /// <param name="throwOnError">Flag set to <see langword="true"/> to throw an exception if the type cannot be loaded.</param>
+  /// <param name="ignoreCase"><see langword="true"/> to ignore the case of the type name; otherwise, <see langword="false"/></param>
+  /// <returns>The type loaded or <see langword="null"/> if it could not be loaded.</returns>    
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// If the type name is fully qualified, i.e. if contains an assembly name in 
@@ -477,9 +477,9 @@ public static string AssemblyFileName(Assembly myAssembly)
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="relativeAssembly">An assembly to load the type from.</param>
   /// <param name="typeName">The name of the type to load.</param>
-  /// <param name="throwOnError">Flag set to <c>true</c> to throw an exception if the type cannot be loaded.</param>
-  /// <param name="ignoreCase"><c>true</c> to ignore the case of the type name; otherwise, <c>false</c></param>
-  /// <returns>The type loaded or <c>null</c> if it could not be loaded.</returns>
+  /// <param name="throwOnError">Flag set to <see langword="true"/> to throw an exception if the type cannot be loaded.</param>
+  /// <param name="ignoreCase"><see langword="true"/> to ignore the case of the type name; otherwise, <see langword="false"/></param>
+  /// <returns>The type loaded or <see langword="null"/> if it could not be loaded.</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// If the type name is fully qualified, i.e. if contains an assembly name in 
@@ -577,11 +577,11 @@ public static NotSupportedException CreateReadOnlyCollectionNotModifiableExcepti
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="s">the string to parse</param>
   /// <param name="val">out param where the parsed value is placed</param>
-  /// <returns><c>true</c> if the string was parsed into an integer</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if the string was parsed into an integer</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Attempts to parse the string into an integer. If the string cannot
-  /// be parsed then this method returns <c>false</c>. The method does not throw an exception.
+  /// be parsed then this method returns <see langword="false"/>. The method does not throw an exception.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public static bool TryParse(string s, out int val)
@@ -609,11 +609,11 @@ public static bool TryParse(string s, out int val)
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="s">the string to parse</param>
   /// <param name="val">out param where the parsed value is placed</param>
-  /// <returns><c>true</c> if the string was parsed into an integer</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if the string was parsed into an integer</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Attempts to parse the string into an integer. If the string cannot
-  /// be parsed then this method returns <c>false</c>. The method does not throw an exception.
+  /// be parsed then this method returns <see langword="false"/>. The method does not throw an exception.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public static bool TryParse(string s, out long val)
@@ -641,11 +641,11 @@ public static bool TryParse(string s, out long val)
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="s">the string to parse</param>
   /// <param name="val">out param where the parsed value is placed</param>
-  /// <returns><c>true</c> if the string was parsed into an integer</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if the string was parsed into an integer</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
   /// Attempts to parse the string into an integer. If the string cannot
-  /// be parsed then this method returns <c>false</c>. The method does not throw an exception.
+  /// be parsed then this method returns <see langword="false"/>. The method does not throw an exception.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
   public static bool TryParse(string s, out short val)
@@ -672,7 +672,7 @@ public static bool TryParse(string s, out short val)
   /// Lookup an application setting
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="key">the application settings key to lookup</param>
-  /// <returns>the value for the key, or <c>null</c></returns>
+  /// <returns>the value for the key, or <see langword="null"/></returns>
   public static string? GetAppSetting(string key)
   {
     if (IsAndroid)
@@ -750,13 +750,13 @@ public static string ConvertToFullPath(string path)
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
   /// If the platform permits, culture information is ignored completely (ordinal comparison).
-  /// The aim of this method is to provide a fast comparison that deals with <c>null</c> and ignores different casing.
+  /// The aim of this method is to provide a fast comparison that deals with <see langword="null"/> and ignores different casing.
   /// It is not supposed to deal with various, culture-specific habits.
   /// Use it to compare against pure ASCII constants, like keywords etc.
   /// </remarks>
   /// <param name="a">The one string.</param>
   /// <param name="b">The other string.</param>
-  /// <returns><c>true</c> if the strings are equal, <c>false</c> otherwise.</returns>
+  /// <returns><see langword="true"/> if the strings are equal, <see langword="false"/> otherwise.</returns>
   public static bool EqualsIgnoringCase(string? a, string? b)
     => string.Equals(a, b, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
 
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/SystemStringFormat.cs b/src/log4net/Util/SystemStringFormat.cs
index 4b9644f1..0d19571e 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/SystemStringFormat.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/SystemStringFormat.cs
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ namespace log4net.Util;
 /// Utility class that represents a format string.
 /// </summary>
 /// <author>Nicko Cadell</author>
-/// <param name="provider">An <see cref="System.IFormatProvider"/> that supplies culture-specific formatting information.</param>
+/// <param name="provider">An <see cref="IFormatProvider"/> that supplies culture-specific formatting information.</param>
 /// <param name="format">A <see cref="string"/> containing zero or more format items.</param>
 /// <param name="args">An <see cref="object"/> array containing zero or more objects to format.</param>
 public sealed class SystemStringFormat(IFormatProvider? provider, string format, params object?[]? args)
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public sealed class SystemStringFormat(IFormatProvider? provider, string format,
   /// of the value of a corresponding <see cref="object"/> instance in a specified array.
   /// A specified parameter supplies culture-specific formatting information.
   /// </summary>
-  /// <param name="provider">An <see cref="System.IFormatProvider"/> that supplies culture-specific formatting information.</param>
+  /// <param name="provider">An <see cref="IFormatProvider"/> that supplies culture-specific formatting information.</param>
   /// <param name="format">A <see cref="string"/> containing zero or more format items.</param>
   /// <param name="args">An <see cref="object"/> array containing zero or more objects to format.</param>
   /// <returns>
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ private static string StringFormatError(Exception formatException, string? forma
   {
     try
     {
-      var buf = new StringBuilder("<log4net.Error>", 100);
+      StringBuilder buf = new("<log4net.Error>", 100);
       buf.Append("Exception during StringFormat: ").Append(formatException.Message);
       buf.Append(" <format>").Append(format).Append("</format>");
       buf.Append("<args>");
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/ThreadContextProperties.cs b/src/log4net/Util/ThreadContextProperties.cs
index 6760cf07..5e6f60bb 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/ThreadContextProperties.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/ThreadContextProperties.cs
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 namespace log4net.Util;
 
 /// <summary>
-/// Implementation of Properties collection for the <see cref="log4net.ThreadContext"/>
+/// Implementation of Properties collection for the <see cref="ThreadContext"/>
 /// </summary>
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/ThreadContextStack.cs b/src/log4net/Util/ThreadContextStack.cs
index 23a31feb..6b7a9375 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/ThreadContextStack.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/ThreadContextStack.cs
@@ -26,11 +26,11 @@
 namespace log4net.Util;
 
 /// <summary>
-/// Implementation of Stack for the <see cref="log4net.ThreadContext"/>
+/// Implementation of Stack for the <see cref="ThreadContext"/>
 /// </summary>
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
-/// Implementation of Stack for the <see cref="log4net.ThreadContext"/>
+/// Implementation of Stack for the <see cref="ThreadContext"/>
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
 /// <author>Nicko Cadell</author>
@@ -117,11 +117,11 @@ internal ThreadContextStack()
   /// <para>
   /// Pushes a new context onto this stack. An <see cref="IDisposable"/>
   /// is returned that can be used to clean up this stack. This
-  /// can be easily combined with the <c>using</c> keyword to scope the
+  /// can be easily combined with the <see langword="using"/> keyword to scope the
   /// context.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
-  /// <example>Simple example of using the <c>Push</c> method with the <c>using</c> keyword.
+  /// <example>Simple example of using the <see cref="Push"/> method with the <see langword="using"/> keyword.
   /// <code lang="C#">
   /// using(log4net.ThreadContext.Stacks["NDC"].Push("Stack_Message"))
   /// {
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ internal string? FullMessage
   }
 
   /// <summary>
-  /// Struct returned from the <see cref="ThreadContextStack.Push"/> method.
+  /// Struct returned from the <see cref="Push"/> method.
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/ThreadContextStacks.cs b/src/log4net/Util/ThreadContextStacks.cs
index cade059f..b2c09766 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/ThreadContextStacks.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/ThreadContextStacks.cs
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
 namespace log4net.Util;
 
 /// <summary>
-/// Implementation of Stacks collection for the <see cref="log4net.ThreadContext"/>
+/// Implementation of Stacks collection for the <see cref="ThreadContext"/>
 /// </summary>
 /// <author>Nicko Cadell</author>
 public sealed class ThreadContextStacks
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/BooleanConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/BooleanConverter.cs
index d90556a6..53d853a1 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/BooleanConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/BooleanConverter.cs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ namespace log4net.Util.TypeConverters;
 /// </summary>
 /// <remarks>
 /// <para>
-/// Supports conversion from string to <c>bool</c> type.
+/// Supports conversion from string to <see langword="bool"/> type.
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
 /// <seealso cref="ConverterRegistry"/>
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ internal sealed class BooleanConverter : IConvertFrom
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="sourceType">the type to convert</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// <c>True</c> if the <paramref name="sourceType"/> is
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if the <paramref name="sourceType"/> is
   /// the <see cref="string"/> type.
   /// </returns>
   public bool CanConvertFrom(Type sourceType) => sourceType == typeof(string);
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/ConverterRegistry.cs b/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/ConverterRegistry.cs
index 82eb0140..03259584 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/ConverterRegistry.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/ConverterRegistry.cs
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ public static void AddConverter(Type destinationType, Type converterType)
   /// <param name="sourceType">The type being converted from.</param>
   /// <param name="destinationType">The type being converted to.</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// The type converter instance to use for type conversions or <c>null</c> 
+  /// The type converter instance to use for type conversions or <see langword="null"/> 
   /// if no type converter is found.
   /// </returns>
   public static IConvertTo? GetConvertTo(Type sourceType, Type destinationType)
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ public static void AddConverter(Type destinationType, Type converterType)
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="destinationType">The type being converted to.</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// The type converter instance to use for type conversions or <c>null</c> 
+  /// The type converter instance to use for type conversions or <see langword="null"/> 
   /// if no type converter is found.
   /// </returns>
   public static IConvertFrom? GetConvertFrom(Type destinationType)
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ public static void AddConverter(Type destinationType, Type converterType)
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="destinationType">The type being converted to.</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// The type converter instance to use for type conversions or <c>null</c> 
+  /// The type converter instance to use for type conversions or <see langword="null"/> 
   /// if no type converter is found.
   /// </returns>
   private static object? GetConverterFromAttribute(Type destinationType)
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ public static void AddConverter(Type destinationType, Type converterType)
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="converterType">The type of the type converter.</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// The type converter instance to use for type conversions or <c>null</c> 
+  /// The type converter instance to use for type conversions or <see langword="null"/> 
   /// if no type converter is found.
   /// </returns>
   /// <remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/EncodingConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/EncodingConverter.cs
index 9042a64b..8ddcf5b3 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/EncodingConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/EncodingConverter.cs
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ internal sealed class EncodingConverter : IConvertFrom
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="sourceType">the type to convert</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// <c>True</c> if the <paramref name="sourceType"/> is
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if the <paramref name="sourceType"/> is
   /// the <see cref="string"/> type.
   /// </returns>
   public bool CanConvertFrom(Type sourceType) => sourceType == typeof(string);
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/IPAddressConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/IPAddressConverter.cs
index 7054b1c2..bbfab91d 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/IPAddressConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/IPAddressConverter.cs
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ internal sealed class IpAddressConverter : IConvertFrom
   /// <returns>true if the conversion is possible</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// Returns <c>true</c> if the <paramref name="sourceType"/> is
+  /// Returns <see langword="true"/> if the <paramref name="sourceType"/> is
   /// the <see cref="string"/> type.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/PatternLayoutConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/PatternLayoutConverter.cs
index 26c8c263..557b57eb 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/PatternLayoutConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/PatternLayoutConverter.cs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ internal sealed class PatternLayoutConverter : IConvertFrom
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="sourceType">the type to convert</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// <c>True</c> if the <paramref name="sourceType"/> is
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if the <paramref name="sourceType"/> is
   /// the <see cref="string"/> type.
   /// </returns>
   public bool CanConvertFrom(System.Type sourceType) => sourceType == typeof(string);
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/PatternStringConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/PatternStringConverter.cs
index d3ccba1b..edd3a6ac 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/PatternStringConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/PatternStringConverter.cs
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ internal sealed class PatternStringConverter : IConvertTo, IConvertFrom
   /// <returns>true if the conversion is possible</returns>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// Returns <c>true</c> if the <paramref name="targetType"/> is
+  /// Returns <see langword="true"/> if the <paramref name="targetType"/> is
   /// assignable from a <see cref="string"/> type.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
@@ -86,10 +86,10 @@ public object ConvertTo(object source, Type targetType)
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="sourceType">the type to convert</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// <c>True</c> if the <paramref name="sourceType"/> is
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if the <paramref name="sourceType"/> is
   /// the <see cref="string"/> type.
   /// </returns>
-  public bool CanConvertFrom(System.Type sourceType) => sourceType == typeof(string);
+  public bool CanConvertFrom(Type sourceType) => sourceType == typeof(string);
 
   /// <summary>
   /// Overrides the ConvertFrom method of IConvertFrom.
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/TypeConverter.cs b/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/TypeConverter.cs
index 968df5fc..356bb77e 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/TypeConverter.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/TypeConverter.cs
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ internal sealed class TypeConverter : IConvertFrom
   /// </summary>
   /// <param name="sourceType">the type to convert</param>
   /// <returns>
-  /// <c>True</c> if the <paramref name="sourceType"/> is
+  /// <see langword="true"/> if the <paramref name="sourceType"/> is
   /// the <see cref="string"/> type.
   /// </returns>
   public bool CanConvertFrom(Type sourceType) => sourceType == typeof(string);
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/TypeConverterAttribute.cs b/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/TypeConverterAttribute.cs
index 42860a0f..a71a363f 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/TypeConverterAttribute.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/TypeConverters/TypeConverterAttribute.cs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ namespace log4net.Util.TypeConverters;
 /// </para>
 /// <para>
 /// To associate a type converter with a target type apply a
-/// <c>TypeConverterAttribute</c> to the target type. Specify the
+/// <see cref="TypeConverterAttribute"/> to the target type. Specify the
 /// type of the type converter on the attribute.
 /// </para>
 /// </remarks>
diff --git a/src/log4net/Util/WindowsSecurityContext.cs b/src/log4net/Util/WindowsSecurityContext.cs
index 9a00c318..3eee0b87 100644
--- a/src/log4net/Util/WindowsSecurityContext.cs
+++ b/src/log4net/Util/WindowsSecurityContext.cs
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ public class WindowsSecurityContext : Core.SecurityContext, IOptionHandler
   /// </summary>
   /// <remarks>
   /// <para>
-  /// See the <see cref="WindowsSecurityContext.Credentials"/> property for
+  /// See the <see cref="Credentials"/> property for
   /// details.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ public void ActivateOptions()
   /// token is used to initialize the WindowsIdentity.
   /// </para>
   /// </remarks>
-  [System.Security.SecuritySafeCritical]
+  [SecuritySafeCritical]
   [System.Security.Permissions.SecurityPermission(System.Security.Permissions.SecurityAction.Demand, UnmanagedCode = true)]
   private static WindowsIdentity LogonUser(string userName, string domainName, string password)
   {