diff --git a/compiler/rustc_ast/src/attr/mod.rs b/compiler/rustc_ast/src/attr/mod.rs
index e08be6970eb..057cc26b579 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_ast/src/attr/mod.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_ast/src/attr/mod.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 //! Functions dealing with attributes and meta items.
 
 use crate::ast;
-use crate::ast::{AttrArgs, AttrArgsEq, AttrId, AttrItem, AttrKind, AttrStyle, Attribute};
-use crate::ast::{DelimArgs, LitKind, MetaItemLit};
-use crate::ast::{MacDelimiter, MetaItem, MetaItemKind, NestedMetaItem};
-use crate::ast::{Path, PathSegment};
+use crate::ast::{AttrArgs, AttrArgsEq, AttrId, AttrItem, AttrKind, AttrStyle, AttrVec, Attribute};
+use crate::ast::{DelimArgs, Expr, ExprKind, LitKind, MetaItemLit};
+use crate::ast::{MacDelimiter, MetaItem, MetaItemKind, NestedMetaItem, NormalAttr};
+use crate::ast::{Path, PathSegment, StrStyle, DUMMY_NODE_ID};
 use crate::ptr::P;
 use crate::token::{self, CommentKind, Delimiter, Token};
 use crate::tokenstream::{DelimSpan, Spacing, TokenTree};
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ use crate::tokenstream::{LazyAttrTokenStream, TokenStream};
 use crate::util::comments;
 use rustc_data_structures::sync::WorkerLocal;
 use rustc_index::bit_set::GrowableBitSet;
-use rustc_span::source_map::BytePos;
 use rustc_span::symbol::{sym, Ident, Symbol};
 use rustc_span::Span;
 use std::cell::Cell;
@@ -223,11 +222,7 @@ impl AttrItem {
     }
 
     pub fn meta(&self, span: Span) -> Option<MetaItem> {
-        Some(MetaItem {
-            path: self.path.clone(),
-            kind: MetaItemKind::from_attr_args(&self.args)?,
-            span,
-        })
+        Some(MetaItem { path: self.path.clone(), kind: self.meta_kind()?, span })
     }
 
     pub fn meta_kind(&self) -> Option<MetaItemKind> {
@@ -329,26 +324,13 @@ impl Attribute {
 /* Constructors */
 
 pub fn mk_name_value_item_str(ident: Ident, str: Symbol, str_span: Span) -> MetaItem {
-    let lit_kind = LitKind::Str(str, ast::StrStyle::Cooked);
-    mk_name_value_item(ident, lit_kind, str_span)
+    mk_name_value_item(ident, LitKind::Str(str, ast::StrStyle::Cooked), str_span)
 }
 
 pub fn mk_name_value_item(ident: Ident, kind: LitKind, lit_span: Span) -> MetaItem {
     let lit = MetaItemLit { token_lit: kind.to_token_lit(), kind, span: lit_span };
     let span = ident.span.to(lit_span);
-    MetaItem { path: Path::from_ident(ident), span, kind: MetaItemKind::NameValue(lit) }
-}
-
-pub fn mk_list_item(ident: Ident, items: Vec<NestedMetaItem>) -> MetaItem {
-    MetaItem { path: Path::from_ident(ident), span: ident.span, kind: MetaItemKind::List(items) }
-}
-
-pub fn mk_word_item(ident: Ident) -> MetaItem {
-    MetaItem { path: Path::from_ident(ident), span: ident.span, kind: MetaItemKind::Word }
-}
-
-pub fn mk_nested_word_item(ident: Ident) -> NestedMetaItem {
-    NestedMetaItem::MetaItem(mk_word_item(ident))
+    MetaItem { path: Path::from_ident(ident), kind: MetaItemKind::NameValue(lit), span }
 }
 
 pub struct AttrIdGenerator(WorkerLocal<Cell<u32>>);
@@ -406,21 +388,58 @@ pub fn mk_attr_from_item(
     span: Span,
 ) -> Attribute {
     Attribute {
-        kind: AttrKind::Normal(P(ast::NormalAttr { item, tokens })),
+        kind: AttrKind::Normal(P(NormalAttr { item, tokens })),
         id: g.mk_attr_id(),
         style,
         span,
     }
 }
 
-/// Returns an inner attribute with the given value and span.
-pub fn mk_attr_inner(g: &AttrIdGenerator, item: MetaItem) -> Attribute {
-    mk_attr(g, AttrStyle::Inner, item.path, item.kind.attr_args(item.span), item.span)
+pub fn mk_attr_word(g: &AttrIdGenerator, style: AttrStyle, name: Symbol, span: Span) -> Attribute {
+    let path = Path::from_ident(Ident::new(name, span));
+    let args = AttrArgs::Empty;
+    mk_attr(g, style, path, args, span)
 }
 
-/// Returns an outer attribute with the given value and span.
-pub fn mk_attr_outer(g: &AttrIdGenerator, item: MetaItem) -> Attribute {
-    mk_attr(g, AttrStyle::Outer, item.path, item.kind.attr_args(item.span), item.span)
+pub fn mk_attr_name_value_str(
+    g: &AttrIdGenerator,
+    style: AttrStyle,
+    name: Symbol,
+    val: Symbol,
+    span: Span,
+) -> Attribute {
+    let lit = LitKind::Str(val, StrStyle::Cooked).to_token_lit();
+    let expr = P(Expr {
+        id: DUMMY_NODE_ID,
+        kind: ExprKind::Lit(lit),
+        span,
+        attrs: AttrVec::new(),
+        tokens: None,
+    });
+    let path = Path::from_ident(Ident::new(name, span));
+    let args = AttrArgs::Eq(span, AttrArgsEq::Ast(expr));
+    mk_attr(g, style, path, args, span)
+}
+
+pub fn mk_attr_nested_word(
+    g: &AttrIdGenerator,
+    style: AttrStyle,
+    outer: Symbol,
+    inner: Symbol,
+    span: Span,
+) -> Attribute {
+    let inner_tokens = TokenStream::new(vec![TokenTree::Token(
+        Token::from_ast_ident(Ident::new(inner, span)),
+        Spacing::Alone,
+    )]);
+    let outer_ident = Ident::new(outer, span);
+    let path = Path::from_ident(outer_ident);
+    let attr_args = AttrArgs::Delimited(DelimArgs {
+        dspan: DelimSpan::from_single(span),
+        delim: MacDelimiter::Parenthesis,
+        tokens: inner_tokens,
+    });
+    mk_attr(g, style, path, attr_args, span)
 }
 
 pub fn mk_doc_comment(
@@ -438,23 +457,6 @@ pub fn list_contains_name(items: &[NestedMetaItem], name: Symbol) -> bool {
 }
 
 impl MetaItem {
-    fn token_trees(&self) -> Vec<TokenTree> {
-        let mut idents = vec![];
-        let mut last_pos = BytePos(0_u32);
-        for (i, segment) in self.path.segments.iter().enumerate() {
-            let is_first = i == 0;
-            if !is_first {
-                let mod_sep_span =
-                    Span::new(last_pos, segment.ident.span.lo(), segment.ident.span.ctxt(), None);
-                idents.push(TokenTree::token_alone(token::ModSep, mod_sep_span));
-            }
-            idents.push(TokenTree::Token(Token::from_ast_ident(segment.ident), Spacing::Alone));
-            last_pos = segment.ident.span.hi();
-        }
-        idents.extend(self.kind.token_trees(self.span));
-        idents
-    }
-
     fn from_tokens<I>(tokens: &mut iter::Peekable<I>) -> Option<MetaItem>
     where
         I: Iterator<Item = TokenTree>,
@@ -526,62 +528,6 @@ impl MetaItemKind {
         }
     }
 
-    pub fn attr_args(&self, span: Span) -> AttrArgs {
-        match self {
-            MetaItemKind::Word => AttrArgs::Empty,
-            MetaItemKind::NameValue(lit) => {
-                let expr = P(ast::Expr {
-                    id: ast::DUMMY_NODE_ID,
-                    kind: ast::ExprKind::Lit(lit.token_lit.clone()),
-                    span: lit.span,
-                    attrs: ast::AttrVec::new(),
-                    tokens: None,
-                });
-                AttrArgs::Eq(span, AttrArgsEq::Ast(expr))
-            }
-            MetaItemKind::List(list) => {
-                let mut tts = Vec::new();
-                for (i, item) in list.iter().enumerate() {
-                    if i > 0 {
-                        tts.push(TokenTree::token_alone(token::Comma, span));
-                    }
-                    tts.extend(item.token_trees())
-                }
-                AttrArgs::Delimited(DelimArgs {
-                    dspan: DelimSpan::from_single(span),
-                    delim: MacDelimiter::Parenthesis,
-                    tokens: TokenStream::new(tts),
-                })
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    fn token_trees(&self, span: Span) -> Vec<TokenTree> {
-        match self {
-            MetaItemKind::Word => vec![],
-            MetaItemKind::NameValue(lit) => {
-                vec![
-                    TokenTree::token_alone(token::Eq, span),
-                    TokenTree::Token(lit.to_token(), Spacing::Alone),
-                ]
-            }
-            MetaItemKind::List(list) => {
-                let mut tokens = Vec::new();
-                for (i, item) in list.iter().enumerate() {
-                    if i > 0 {
-                        tokens.push(TokenTree::token_alone(token::Comma, span));
-                    }
-                    tokens.extend(item.token_trees())
-                }
-                vec![TokenTree::Delimited(
-                    DelimSpan::from_single(span),
-                    Delimiter::Parenthesis,
-                    TokenStream::new(tokens),
-                )]
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
     fn list_from_tokens(tokens: TokenStream) -> Option<MetaItemKind> {
         let mut tokens = tokens.into_trees().peekable();
         let mut result = Vec::new();
@@ -620,7 +566,7 @@ impl MetaItemKind {
             }) => MetaItemKind::list_from_tokens(tokens.clone()),
             AttrArgs::Delimited(..) => None,
             AttrArgs::Eq(_, AttrArgsEq::Ast(expr)) => match expr.kind {
-                ast::ExprKind::Lit(token_lit) => {
+                ExprKind::Lit(token_lit) => {
                     // Turn failures to `None`, we'll get parse errors elsewhere.
                     MetaItemLit::from_token_lit(token_lit, expr.span)
                         .ok()
@@ -659,15 +605,6 @@ impl NestedMetaItem {
         }
     }
 
-    fn token_trees(&self) -> Vec<TokenTree> {
-        match self {
-            NestedMetaItem::MetaItem(item) => item.token_trees(),
-            NestedMetaItem::Lit(lit) => {
-                vec![TokenTree::Token(lit.to_token(), Spacing::Alone)]
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
     fn from_tokens<I>(tokens: &mut iter::Peekable<I>) -> Option<NestedMetaItem>
     where
         I: Iterator<Item = TokenTree>,
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_ast/src/util/literal.rs b/compiler/rustc_ast/src/util/literal.rs
index 14ee4d48120..1d6e7914f3a 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_ast/src/util/literal.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_ast/src/util/literal.rs
@@ -206,15 +206,6 @@ impl MetaItemLit {
         token::Lit::from_token(token)
             .and_then(|token_lit| MetaItemLit::from_token_lit(token_lit, token.span).ok())
     }
-
-    /// Losslessly convert a meta item literal into a token.
-    pub fn to_token(&self) -> Token {
-        let kind = match self.token_lit.kind {
-            token::Bool => token::Ident(self.token_lit.symbol, false),
-            _ => token::Literal(self.token_lit),
-        };
-        Token::new(kind, self.span)
-    }
 }
 
 fn strip_underscores(symbol: Symbol) -> Symbol {
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_ast_lowering/src/expr.rs b/compiler/rustc_ast_lowering/src/expr.rs
index c14c591d387..82912a733d5 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_ast_lowering/src/expr.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_ast_lowering/src/expr.rs
@@ -1606,16 +1606,13 @@ impl<'hir> LoweringContext<'_, 'hir> {
         };
 
         // `#[allow(unreachable_code)]`
-        let attr = {
-            // `allow(unreachable_code)`
-            let allow = {
-                let allow_ident = Ident::new(sym::allow, self.lower_span(span));
-                let uc_ident = Ident::new(sym::unreachable_code, self.lower_span(span));
-                let uc_nested = attr::mk_nested_word_item(uc_ident);
-                attr::mk_list_item(allow_ident, vec![uc_nested])
-            };
-            attr::mk_attr_outer(&self.tcx.sess.parse_sess.attr_id_generator, allow)
-        };
+        let attr = attr::mk_attr_nested_word(
+            &self.tcx.sess.parse_sess.attr_id_generator,
+            AttrStyle::Outer,
+            sym::allow,
+            sym::unreachable_code,
+            self.lower_span(span),
+        );
         let attrs: AttrVec = thin_vec![attr];
 
         // `ControlFlow::Continue(val) => #[allow(unreachable_code)] val,`
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_ast_pretty/src/pprust/state.rs b/compiler/rustc_ast_pretty/src/pprust/state.rs
index 7a9243c511b..2d7fd83195d 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_ast_pretty/src/pprust/state.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_ast_pretty/src/pprust/state.rs
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ use rustc_ast::{InlineAsmOptions, InlineAsmTemplatePiece};
 use rustc_span::edition::Edition;
 use rustc_span::source_map::{SourceMap, Spanned};
 use rustc_span::symbol::{kw, sym, Ident, IdentPrinter, Symbol};
-use rustc_span::{BytePos, FileName, Span};
+use rustc_span::{BytePos, FileName, Span, DUMMY_SP};
 
 use rustc_ast::attr::AttrIdGenerator;
 use std::borrow::Cow;
@@ -119,17 +119,20 @@ pub fn print_crate<'a>(
         // of the feature gate, so we fake them up here.
 
         // `#![feature(prelude_import)]`
-        let pi_nested = attr::mk_nested_word_item(Ident::with_dummy_span(sym::prelude_import));
-        let list = attr::mk_list_item(Ident::with_dummy_span(sym::feature), vec![pi_nested]);
-        let fake_attr = attr::mk_attr_inner(g, list);
+        let fake_attr = attr::mk_attr_nested_word(
+            g,
+            ast::AttrStyle::Inner,
+            sym::feature,
+            sym::prelude_import,
+            DUMMY_SP,
+        );
         s.print_attribute(&fake_attr);
 
         // Currently, in Rust 2018 we don't have `extern crate std;` at the crate
         // root, so this is not needed, and actually breaks things.
         if edition == Edition::Edition2015 {
             // `#![no_std]`
-            let no_std_meta = attr::mk_word_item(Ident::with_dummy_span(sym::no_std));
-            let fake_attr = attr::mk_attr_inner(g, no_std_meta);
+            let fake_attr = attr::mk_attr_word(g, ast::AttrStyle::Inner, sym::no_std, DUMMY_SP);
             s.print_attribute(&fake_attr);
         }
     }
@@ -1712,9 +1715,9 @@ impl<'a> State<'a> {
             where_clause: ast::WhereClause {
                 has_where_token: false,
                 predicates: Vec::new(),
-                span: rustc_span::DUMMY_SP,
+                span: DUMMY_SP,
             },
-            span: rustc_span::DUMMY_SP,
+            span: DUMMY_SP,
         };
         let header = ast::FnHeader { unsafety, ext, ..ast::FnHeader::default() };
         self.print_fn(decl, header, name, &generics);
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/alloc_error_handler.rs b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/alloc_error_handler.rs
index eaf1b1167cf..460175ed2ac 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/alloc_error_handler.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/alloc_error_handler.rs
@@ -95,9 +95,7 @@ fn generate_handler(cx: &ExtCtxt<'_>, handler: Ident, span: Span, sig_span: Span
         body,
     }));
 
-    let special = sym::rustc_std_internal_symbol;
-    let special = cx.meta_word(span, special);
-    let attrs = thin_vec![cx.attribute(special)];
+    let attrs = thin_vec![cx.attr_word(sym::rustc_std_internal_symbol, span)];
 
     let item = cx.item(span, Ident::from_str_and_span("__rg_oom", span), attrs, kind);
     cx.stmt_item(sig_span, item)
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/assert/context.rs b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/assert/context.rs
index 9f42a0c2d58..bd415901ae3 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/assert/context.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/assert/context.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 use rustc_ast::{
-    attr,
     ptr::P,
     token,
     tokenstream::{DelimSpan, TokenStream, TokenTree},
@@ -118,10 +117,7 @@ impl<'cx, 'a> Context<'cx, 'a> {
             self.cx.item(
                 self.span,
                 Ident::empty(),
-                thin_vec![self.cx.attribute(attr::mk_list_item(
-                    Ident::new(sym::allow, self.span),
-                    vec![attr::mk_nested_word_item(Ident::new(sym::unused_imports, self.span))],
-                ))],
+                thin_vec![self.cx.attr_nested_word(sym::allow, sym::unused_imports, self.span)],
                 ItemKind::Use(UseTree {
                     prefix: self.cx.path(self.span, self.cx.std_path(&[sym::asserting])),
                     kind: UseTreeKind::Nested(vec![
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/clone.rs b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/clone.rs
index 2f19fbcac7d..23b96d4176d 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/clone.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/clone.rs
@@ -68,8 +68,7 @@ pub fn expand_deriving_clone(
         _ => cx.span_bug(span, "`#[derive(Clone)]` on trait item or impl item"),
     }
 
-    let inline = cx.meta_word(span, sym::inline);
-    let attrs = thin_vec![cx.attribute(inline)];
+    let attrs = thin_vec![cx.attr_word(sym::inline, span)];
     let trait_def = TraitDef {
         span,
         path: path_std!(clone::Clone),
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/cmp/eq.rs b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/cmp/eq.rs
index a0b836171be..f861d47ed40 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/cmp/eq.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/cmp/eq.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use crate::deriving::path_std;
 use rustc_ast::{self as ast, MetaItem};
 use rustc_data_structures::fx::FxHashSet;
 use rustc_expand::base::{Annotatable, ExtCtxt};
-use rustc_span::symbol::{sym, Ident};
+use rustc_span::symbol::sym;
 use rustc_span::Span;
 use thin_vec::thin_vec;
 
@@ -18,11 +18,11 @@ pub fn expand_deriving_eq(
     is_const: bool,
 ) {
     let span = cx.with_def_site_ctxt(span);
-    let inline = cx.meta_word(span, sym::inline);
-    let hidden = rustc_ast::attr::mk_nested_word_item(Ident::new(sym::hidden, span));
-    let doc = rustc_ast::attr::mk_list_item(Ident::new(sym::doc, span), vec![hidden]);
-    let no_coverage = cx.meta_word(span, sym::no_coverage);
-    let attrs = thin_vec![cx.attribute(inline), cx.attribute(doc), cx.attribute(no_coverage)];
+    let attrs = thin_vec![
+        cx.attr_word(sym::inline, span),
+        cx.attr_nested_word(sym::doc, sym::hidden, span),
+        cx.attr_word(sym::no_coverage, span)
+    ];
     let trait_def = TraitDef {
         span,
         path: path_std!(cmp::Eq),
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/cmp/ord.rs b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/cmp/ord.rs
index 52780981248..96d18c7afb9 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/cmp/ord.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/cmp/ord.rs
@@ -15,8 +15,7 @@ pub fn expand_deriving_ord(
     push: &mut dyn FnMut(Annotatable),
     is_const: bool,
 ) {
-    let inline = cx.meta_word(span, sym::inline);
-    let attrs = thin_vec![cx.attribute(inline)];
+    let attrs = thin_vec![cx.attr_word(sym::inline, span)];
     let trait_def = TraitDef {
         span,
         path: path_std!(cmp::Ord),
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/cmp/partial_eq.rs b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/cmp/partial_eq.rs
index 34de4a620b4..7f95551fc48 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/cmp/partial_eq.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/cmp/partial_eq.rs
@@ -68,8 +68,7 @@ pub fn expand_deriving_partial_eq(
 
     // No need to generate `ne`, the default suffices, and not generating it is
     // faster.
-    let inline = cx.meta_word(span, sym::inline);
-    let attrs = thin_vec![cx.attribute(inline)];
+    let attrs = thin_vec![cx.attr_word(sym::inline, span)];
     let methods = vec![MethodDef {
         name: sym::eq,
         generics: Bounds::empty(),
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/cmp/partial_ord.rs b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/cmp/partial_ord.rs
index 6cc8f26df55..5c4e5b7f816 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/cmp/partial_ord.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/cmp/partial_ord.rs
@@ -19,8 +19,7 @@ pub fn expand_deriving_partial_ord(
     let ret_ty =
         Path(Path::new_(pathvec_std!(option::Option), vec![Box::new(ordering_ty)], PathKind::Std));
 
-    let inline = cx.meta_word(span, sym::inline);
-    let attrs = thin_vec![cx.attribute(inline)];
+    let attrs = thin_vec![cx.attr_word(sym::inline, span)];
 
     let partial_cmp_def = MethodDef {
         name: sym::partial_cmp,
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/default.rs b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/default.rs
index 93f297ad88b..e4e2435848d 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/default.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/default.rs
@@ -20,8 +20,7 @@ pub fn expand_deriving_default(
 ) {
     item.visit_with(&mut DetectNonVariantDefaultAttr { cx });
 
-    let inline = cx.meta_word(span, sym::inline);
-    let attrs = thin_vec![cx.attribute(inline)];
+    let attrs = thin_vec![cx.attr_word(sym::inline, span)];
     let trait_def = TraitDef {
         span,
         path: Path::new(vec![kw::Default, sym::Default]),
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/generic/mod.rs b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/generic/mod.rs
index 1467d4eaec0..7fcaf0b436b 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/generic/mod.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/generic/mod.rs
@@ -718,7 +718,7 @@ impl<'a> TraitDef<'a> {
         let path = cx.path_all(self.span, false, vec![type_ident], self_params);
         let self_type = cx.ty_path(path);
 
-        let attr = cx.attribute(cx.meta_word(self.span, sym::automatically_derived));
+        let attr = cx.attr_word(sym::automatically_derived, self.span);
         let attrs = thin_vec![attr];
         let opt_trait_ref = Some(trait_ref);
 
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/mod.rs b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/mod.rs
index 73a1df5d426..13fdd4fa68c 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/mod.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/deriving/mod.rs
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ fn inject_impl_of_structural_trait(
             .cloned(),
     );
     // Mark as `automatically_derived` to avoid some silly lints.
-    attrs.push(cx.attribute(cx.meta_word(span, sym::automatically_derived)));
+    attrs.push(cx.attr_word(sym::automatically_derived, span));
 
     let newitem = cx.item(
         span,
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/global_allocator.rs b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/global_allocator.rs
index 45b9b8ab6b6..0817aed037e 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/global_allocator.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/global_allocator.rs
@@ -115,9 +115,7 @@ impl AllocFnFactory<'_, '_> {
     }
 
     fn attrs(&self) -> AttrVec {
-        let special = sym::rustc_std_internal_symbol;
-        let special = self.cx.meta_word(self.span, special);
-        thin_vec![self.cx.attribute(special)]
+        thin_vec![self.cx.attr_word(sym::rustc_std_internal_symbol, self.span)]
     }
 
     fn arg_ty(
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/proc_macro_harness.rs b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/proc_macro_harness.rs
index ebe1c3663e3..ece660cf6f6 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/proc_macro_harness.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/proc_macro_harness.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,3 @@
-use std::mem;
-
-use rustc_ast::attr;
 use rustc_ast::ptr::P;
 use rustc_ast::visit::{self, Visitor};
 use rustc_ast::{self as ast, NodeId};
@@ -13,6 +10,7 @@ use rustc_span::source_map::SourceMap;
 use rustc_span::symbol::{kw, sym, Ident, Symbol};
 use rustc_span::{Span, DUMMY_SP};
 use smallvec::smallvec;
+use std::mem;
 
 struct ProcMacroDerive {
     id: NodeId,
@@ -365,14 +363,8 @@ fn mk_decls(cx: &mut ExtCtxt<'_>, macros: &[ProcMacro]) -> P<ast::Item> {
             cx.expr_array_ref(span, decls),
         )
         .map(|mut i| {
-            let attr = cx.meta_word(span, sym::rustc_proc_macro_decls);
-            i.attrs.push(cx.attribute(attr));
-
-            let deprecated_attr = attr::mk_nested_word_item(Ident::new(sym::deprecated, span));
-            let allow_deprecated_attr =
-                attr::mk_list_item(Ident::new(sym::allow, span), vec![deprecated_attr]);
-            i.attrs.push(cx.attribute(allow_deprecated_attr));
-
+            i.attrs.push(cx.attr_word(sym::rustc_proc_macro_decls, span));
+            i.attrs.push(cx.attr_nested_word(sym::allow, sym::deprecated, span));
             i
         });
 
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/standard_library_imports.rs b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/standard_library_imports.rs
index 49ef538f04e..f73f20c84a3 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/standard_library_imports.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/standard_library_imports.rs
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ pub fn inject(
             cx.item(
                 span,
                 ident,
-                thin_vec![cx.attribute(cx.meta_word(span, sym::macro_use))],
+                thin_vec![cx.attr_word(sym::macro_use, span)],
                 ast::ItemKind::ExternCrate(None),
             ),
         );
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ pub fn inject(
     let use_item = cx.item(
         span,
         Ident::empty(),
-        thin_vec![cx.attribute(cx.meta_word(span, sym::prelude_import))],
+        thin_vec![cx.attr_word(sym::prelude_import, span)],
         ast::ItemKind::Use(ast::UseTree {
             prefix: cx.path(span, import_path),
             kind: ast::UseTreeKind::Glob,
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/test.rs b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/test.rs
index 82baf1da28f..3bcb60478ef 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/test.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/test.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 /// Ideally, this code would be in libtest but for efficiency and error messages it lives here.
 use crate::util::{check_builtin_macro_attribute, warn_on_duplicate_attribute};
 use rustc_ast as ast;
-use rustc_ast::attr;
 use rustc_ast::ptr::P;
 use rustc_ast_pretty::pprust;
 use rustc_errors::Applicability;
@@ -47,11 +46,7 @@ pub fn expand_test_case(
             tokens: None,
         };
         item.ident.span = item.ident.span.with_ctxt(sp.ctxt());
-        item.attrs.push(ecx.attribute(attr::mk_name_value_item_str(
-            Ident::new(sym::rustc_test_marker, sp),
-            test_path_symbol,
-            sp,
-        )));
+        item.attrs.push(ecx.attr_name_value_str(sym::rustc_test_marker, test_path_symbol, sp));
         item
     });
 
@@ -241,16 +236,9 @@ pub fn expand_test_or_bench(
         Ident::new(item.ident.name, sp),
         thin_vec![
             // #[cfg(test)]
-            cx.attribute(attr::mk_list_item(
-                Ident::new(sym::cfg, attr_sp),
-                vec![attr::mk_nested_word_item(Ident::new(sym::test, attr_sp))],
-            )),
+            cx.attr_nested_word(sym::cfg, sym::test, attr_sp),
             // #[rustc_test_marker = "test_case_sort_key"]
-            cx.attribute(attr::mk_name_value_item_str(
-                Ident::new(sym::rustc_test_marker, attr_sp),
-                test_path_symbol,
-                attr_sp,
-            )),
+            cx.attr_name_value_str(sym::rustc_test_marker, test_path_symbol, attr_sp),
         ]
         .into(),
         // const $ident: test::TestDescAndFn =
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/test_harness.rs b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/test_harness.rs
index 3269f62b105..b5bce9278a9 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/test_harness.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_builtin_macros/src/test_harness.rs
@@ -185,13 +185,12 @@ impl<'a> MutVisitor for EntryPointCleaner<'a> {
         let item = match entry_point_type(self.sess, &item, self.depth) {
             EntryPointType::MainNamed | EntryPointType::RustcMainAttr | EntryPointType::Start => {
                 item.map(|ast::Item { id, ident, attrs, kind, vis, span, tokens }| {
-                    let allow_ident = Ident::new(sym::allow, self.def_site);
-                    let dc_nested =
-                        attr::mk_nested_word_item(Ident::new(sym::dead_code, self.def_site));
-                    let allow_dead_code_item = attr::mk_list_item(allow_ident, vec![dc_nested]);
-                    let allow_dead_code = attr::mk_attr_outer(
+                    let allow_dead_code = attr::mk_attr_nested_word(
                         &self.sess.parse_sess.attr_id_generator,
-                        allow_dead_code_item,
+                        ast::AttrStyle::Outer,
+                        sym::allow,
+                        sym::dead_code,
+                        self.def_site,
                     );
                     let attrs = attrs
                         .into_iter()
@@ -309,8 +308,7 @@ fn mk_main(cx: &mut TestCtxt<'_>) -> P<ast::Item> {
     );
 
     // #[rustc_main]
-    let main_meta = ecx.meta_word(sp, sym::rustc_main);
-    let main_attr = ecx.attribute(main_meta);
+    let main_attr = ecx.attr_word(sym::rustc_main, sp);
 
     // pub fn main() { ... }
     let main_ret_ty = ecx.ty(sp, ast::TyKind::Tup(vec![]));
diff --git a/compiler/rustc_expand/src/build.rs b/compiler/rustc_expand/src/build.rs
index c2a2326d301..c978297295d 100644
--- a/compiler/rustc_expand/src/build.rs
+++ b/compiler/rustc_expand/src/build.rs
@@ -616,11 +616,23 @@ impl<'a> ExtCtxt<'a> {
         self.item(span, name, AttrVec::new(), ast::ItemKind::Const(def, ty, Some(expr)))
     }
 
-    pub fn attribute(&self, mi: ast::MetaItem) -> ast::Attribute {
-        attr::mk_attr_outer(&self.sess.parse_sess.attr_id_generator, mi)
+    // Builds `#[name]`.
+    pub fn attr_word(&self, name: Symbol, span: Span) -> ast::Attribute {
+        let g = &self.sess.parse_sess.attr_id_generator;
+        attr::mk_attr_word(g, ast::AttrStyle::Outer, name, span)
     }
 
-    pub fn meta_word(&self, sp: Span, w: Symbol) -> ast::MetaItem {
-        attr::mk_word_item(Ident::new(w, sp))
+    // Builds `#[name = val]`.
+    //
+    // Note: `span` is used for both the identifer and the value.
+    pub fn attr_name_value_str(&self, name: Symbol, val: Symbol, span: Span) -> ast::Attribute {
+        let g = &self.sess.parse_sess.attr_id_generator;
+        attr::mk_attr_name_value_str(g, ast::AttrStyle::Outer, name, val, span)
+    }
+
+    // Builds `#[outer(inner)]`.
+    pub fn attr_nested_word(&self, outer: Symbol, inner: Symbol, span: Span) -> ast::Attribute {
+        let g = &self.sess.parse_sess.attr_id_generator;
+        attr::mk_attr_nested_word(g, ast::AttrStyle::Outer, outer, inner, span)
     }
 }