diff --git a/include/json/reader.h b/include/json/reader.h
index b700d95..9a7fba2 100644
--- a/include/json/reader.h
+++ b/include/json/reader.h
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ public:
 
   /** A simple way to update a specific setting.
    */
-  Value& operator[](JSONCPP_STRING key);
+  Value& operator[](const JSONCPP_STRING& key);
 
   /** Called by ctor, but you can use this to reset settings_.
    * \pre 'settings' != NULL (but Json::null is fine)
diff --git a/include/json/writer.h b/include/json/writer.h
index c92d26b..d70ca1c 100644
--- a/include/json/writer.h
+++ b/include/json/writer.h
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ public:
   bool validate(Json::Value* invalid) const;
   /** A simple way to update a specific setting.
    */
-  Value& operator[](JSONCPP_STRING key);
+  Value& operator[](const JSONCPP_STRING& key);
 
   /** Called by ctor, but you can use this to reset settings_.
    * \pre 'settings' != NULL (but Json::null is fine)
diff --git a/src/lib_json/json_reader.cpp b/src/lib_json/json_reader.cpp
index 264df0b..5a945af 100644
--- a/src/lib_json/json_reader.cpp
+++ b/src/lib_json/json_reader.cpp
@@ -1969,7 +1969,7 @@ bool CharReaderBuilder::validate(Json::Value* invalid) const {
   }
   return 0u == inv.size();
 }
-Value& CharReaderBuilder::operator[](JSONCPP_STRING key) {
+Value& CharReaderBuilder::operator[](const JSONCPP_STRING& key) {
   return settings_[key];
 }
 // static
diff --git a/src/lib_json/json_value.cpp b/src/lib_json/json_value.cpp
index 2e7602e..6bb73c0 100644
--- a/src/lib_json/json_value.cpp
+++ b/src/lib_json/json_value.cpp
@@ -1145,7 +1145,7 @@ const Value& Value::operator[](const char* key) const {
     return nullSingleton();
   return *found;
 }
-Value const& Value::operator[](JSONCPP_STRING const& key) const {
+Value const& Value::operator[](const JSONCPP_STRING& key) const {
   Value const* found = find(key.data(), key.data() + key.length());
   if (!found)
     return nullSingleton();
diff --git a/src/lib_json/json_writer.cpp b/src/lib_json/json_writer.cpp
index 60d3251..b93e92f 100644
--- a/src/lib_json/json_writer.cpp
+++ b/src/lib_json/json_writer.cpp
@@ -1231,7 +1231,7 @@ bool StreamWriterBuilder::validate(Json::Value* invalid) const {
   }
   return 0u == inv.size();
 }
-Value& StreamWriterBuilder::operator[](JSONCPP_STRING key) {
+Value& StreamWriterBuilder::operator[](const JSONCPP_STRING& key) {
   return settings_[key];
 }
 // static