diff --git a/docs/book/v2/ruleset.md b/docs/book/v2/ruleset.md
index e4c5d2fb..c7b6c357 100644
--- a/docs/book/v2/ruleset.md
+++ b/docs/book/v2/ruleset.md
@@ -953,25 +953,25 @@ Force whitespace before and after concatenation
 
 ### Squiz.Strings.DoubleQuoteUsage
 #### Squiz.Strings.DoubleQuoteUsage.ContainsVar
-Double quote strings may only be used if they contain variables. SQL queries containing single quotes are an exception
+Double quote strings may only be used if they contain variables, control characters or if using single quotes would 
+result in more escaped characters than necessary. For instance, SQL queries containing single quotes are an exception
 to the rule.
 
-*Valid: Double quote strings are only used when it contains a variable.*
+*Valid: Double quote strings are only used when it contains a variable, control characters or single quotes.*
 ```php
 <?php
 $string = "Hello There\r\n";
 $string = "Hello $there";
 $string = 'Hello There';
-$string = 'Hello'.' There'."\n";
 $string = '\$var';
 $query = "SELECT * FROM table WHERE name =''";
 ```
 
-*Invalid: There are no variables inside double quote strings.*
+*Invalid: There are no variables or control characters inside double quote strings.*
 ```php
 <?php
 $string = "Hello There";
-$string = "Hello"." There"."\n";
+$string = "Hello" . " There" . "\n";
 $string = "\$var";
 ```
 
diff --git a/src/ZendCodingStandard/ruleset.xml b/src/ZendCodingStandard/ruleset.xml
index b29cd359..7c75a317 100644
--- a/src/ZendCodingStandard/ruleset.xml
+++ b/src/ZendCodingStandard/ruleset.xml
@@ -384,9 +384,8 @@
         </properties>
     </rule>
     <!-- Forbid strings in `"` unless necessary -->
-    <rule ref="Squiz.Strings.DoubleQuoteUsage"/>
-    <rule ref="Squiz.Strings.DoubleQuoteUsage.ContainsVar">
-        <message>Variable "%s" not allowed in double quoted string; use sprintf() or concatenation instead</message>
+    <rule ref="Squiz.Strings.DoubleQuoteUsage">
+        <exclude name="Squiz.Strings.DoubleQuoteUsage.ContainsVar"></exclude>
     </rule>
     <!-- Forbid braces around string in `echo` -->
     <rule ref="Squiz.Strings.EchoedStrings"/>
diff --git a/test/expected-report.txt b/test/expected-report.txt
index a90ee1c0..1dccd6c2 100644
--- a/test/expected-report.txt
+++ b/test/expected-report.txt
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ test/fixable/class-properties.php                     6       0
 test/fixable/classes-traits-interfaces.php            17      1
 test/fixable/closures.php                             19      0
 test/fixable/commenting.php                           26      0
-test/fixable/concatenation-spacing.php                21      0
+test/fixable/concatenation-spacing.php                19      0
 test/fixable/control-structures.php                   6       0
 test/fixable/example-class.php                        29      0
 test/fixable/extends-and-implements-multiline.php     13      0
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ test/fixable/return-type-on-methods.php               17      0
 test/fixable/semicolon-spacing.php                    5       0
 test/fixable/spacing.php                              18      1
 test/fixable/statement-alignment.php                  19      0
+test/fixable/strings-double-quote-usage.php           6       0
 test/fixable/test-case.php                            4       0
 test/fixable/traits-uses.php                          9       0
 test/fixable/UnusedVariables.php                      1       0
@@ -37,9 +38,9 @@ test/fixable/useless-semicolon.php                    8       0
 test/fixable/variable-names.php                       5       2
 test/fixable/visibility-declaration.php               1       0
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
-A TOTAL OF 441 ERRORS AND 6 WARNINGS WERE FOUND IN 33 FILES
+A TOTAL OF 445 ERRORS AND 6 WARNINGS WERE FOUND IN 34 FILES
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
-PHPCBF CAN FIX 377 OF THESE SNIFF VIOLATIONS AUTOMATICALLY
+PHPCBF CAN FIX 381 OF THESE SNIFF VIOLATIONS AUTOMATICALLY
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 
diff --git a/test/fixable/strings-double-quote-usage.php b/test/fixable/strings-double-quote-usage.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a1f37b1a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixable/strings-double-quote-usage.php
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+// valid
+$there  = 'There';
+$string = "Hello There\r\n";
+$string = "Hello $there";
+$string = 'Hello There';
+$string = '\$var';
+$query  = "SELECT * FROM table WHERE name =''";
+
+// invalid
+$string = "Hello There";
+$string = "Hello" . " There" . "\n";
+$string = "\$var";
diff --git a/test/fixed/strings-double-quote-usage.php b/test/fixed/strings-double-quote-usage.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..809e2033
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/fixed/strings-double-quote-usage.php
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+<?php
+
+declare(strict_types=1);
+
+// valid
+$there  = 'There';
+$string = "Hello There\r\n";
+$string = "Hello $there";
+$string = 'Hello There';
+$string = '\$var';
+$query  = "SELECT * FROM table WHERE name =''";
+
+// invalid
+$string = 'Hello There';
+$string = 'Hello' . ' There' . "\n";
+$string = '$var';