diff --git a/app/abilities/api_ability.rb b/app/abilities/api_ability.rb
index 6d62ece51..217fe9713 100644
--- a/app/abilities/api_ability.rb
+++ b/app/abilities/api_ability.rb
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ class ApiAbility
         can [:new, :create], Report
         can [:create, :show, :update, :destroy, :data], Trace
         can [:details, :gpx_files], User
-        can [:read, :read_one, :update, :update_one, :delete_one], UserPreference
+        can [:index, :show, :update, :update_all, :destroy], UserPreference
 
         if user.terms_agreed?
           can [:create, :update, :upload, :close, :subscribe, :unsubscribe, :expand_bbox], Changeset
diff --git a/app/abilities/api_capability.rb b/app/abilities/api_capability.rb
index 7d8a13364..64861f1d6 100644
--- a/app/abilities/api_capability.rb
+++ b/app/abilities/api_capability.rb
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ class ApiCapability
       can [:create, :update, :destroy], Trace if capability?(token, :allow_write_gpx)
       can [:details], User if capability?(token, :allow_read_prefs)
       can [:gpx_files], User if capability?(token, :allow_read_gpx)
-      can [:read, :read_one], UserPreference if capability?(token, :allow_read_prefs)
-      can [:update, :update_one, :delete_one], UserPreference if capability?(token, :allow_write_prefs)
+      can [:index, :show], UserPreference if capability?(token, :allow_read_prefs)
+      can [:update, :update_all, :destroy], UserPreference if capability?(token, :allow_write_prefs)
 
       if token&.user&.terms_agreed?
         can [:create, :update, :upload, :close, :subscribe, :unsubscribe, :expand_bbox], Changeset if capability?(token, :allow_write_api)
diff --git a/app/controllers/api/user_preferences_controller.rb b/app/controllers/api/user_preferences_controller.rb
index 39e0dff30..9b117a4d9 100644
--- a/app/controllers/api/user_preferences_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/api/user_preferences_controller.rb
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ module Api
 
     ##
     # return all the preferences as an XML document
-    def read
+    def index
       doc = OSM::API.new.get_xml_doc
 
       prefs = current_user.preferences
@@ -26,14 +26,14 @@ module Api
 
     ##
     # return the value for a single preference
-    def read_one
+    def show
       pref = UserPreference.find([current_user.id, params[:preference_key]])
 
       render :plain => pref.v.to_s
     end
 
     # update the entire set of preferences
-    def update
+    def update_all
       old_preferences = current_user.preferences.each_with_object({}) do |preference, preferences|
         preferences[preference.k] = preference
       end
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ module Api
 
     ##
     # update the value of a single preference
-    def update_one
+    def update
       begin
         pref = UserPreference.find([current_user.id, params[:preference_key]])
       rescue ActiveRecord::RecordNotFound
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ module Api
 
     ##
     # delete a single preference
-    def delete_one
+    def destroy
       UserPreference.find([current_user.id, params[:preference_key]]).delete
 
       render :plain => ""
diff --git a/config/routes.rb b/config/routes.rb
index 58c05da17..d936072d7 100644
--- a/config/routes.rb
+++ b/config/routes.rb
@@ -67,11 +67,11 @@ OpenStreetMap::Application.routes.draw do
     get "user/gpx_files" => "api/users#gpx_files"
     get "users" => "api/users#index", :as => :api_users
 
-    get "user/preferences" => "api/user_preferences#read"
-    get "user/preferences/:preference_key" => "api/user_preferences#read_one"
-    put "user/preferences" => "api/user_preferences#update"
-    put "user/preferences/:preference_key" => "api/user_preferences#update_one"
-    delete "user/preferences/:preference_key" => "api/user_preferences#delete_one"
+    get "user/preferences" => "api/user_preferences#index"
+    get "user/preferences/:preference_key" => "api/user_preferences#show"
+    put "user/preferences" => "api/user_preferences#update_all"
+    put "user/preferences/:preference_key" => "api/user_preferences#update"
+    delete "user/preferences/:preference_key" => "api/user_preferences#destroy"
 
     post "gpx/create" => "api/traces#create"
     get "gpx/:id" => "api/traces#show", :id => /\d+/
diff --git a/test/abilities/api_capability_test.rb b/test/abilities/api_capability_test.rb
index 8d0e682f6..8a98f29e0 100644
--- a/test/abilities/api_capability_test.rb
+++ b/test/abilities/api_capability_test.rb
@@ -100,33 +100,33 @@ class UserApiCapabilityTest < ApiCapabilityTest
   test "user preferences" do
     # a user with no tokens
     capability = ApiCapability.new nil
-    [:read, :read_one, :update, :update_one, :delete_one].each do |act|
+    [:index, :show, :update_all, :update, :destroy].each do |act|
       assert capability.cannot? act, UserPreference
     end
 
     # A user with empty tokens
     capability = ApiCapability.new tokens
 
-    [:read, :read_one, :update, :update_one, :delete_one].each do |act|
+    [:index, :show, :update_all, :update, :destroy].each do |act|
       assert capability.cannot? act, UserPreference
     end
 
     capability = ApiCapability.new tokens(:allow_read_prefs)
 
-    [:update, :update_one, :delete_one].each do |act|
+    [:update_all, :update, :destroy].each do |act|
       assert capability.cannot? act, UserPreference
     end
 
-    [:read, :read_one].each do |act|
+    [:index, :show].each do |act|
       assert capability.can? act, UserPreference
     end
 
     capability = ApiCapability.new tokens(:allow_write_prefs)
-    [:read, :read_one].each do |act|
+    [:index, :show].each do |act|
       assert capability.cannot? act, UserPreference
     end
 
-    [:update, :update_one, :delete_one].each do |act|
+    [:update_all, :update, :destroy].each do |act|
       assert capability.can? act, UserPreference
     end
   end
diff --git a/test/controllers/api/user_preferences_controller_test.rb b/test/controllers/api/user_preferences_controller_test.rb
index 99dad9597..ac377848c 100644
--- a/test/controllers/api/user_preferences_controller_test.rb
+++ b/test/controllers/api/user_preferences_controller_test.rb
@@ -7,38 +7,38 @@ module Api
     def test_routes
       assert_routing(
         { :path => "/api/0.6/user/preferences", :method => :get },
-        { :controller => "api/user_preferences", :action => "read" }
+        { :controller => "api/user_preferences", :action => "index" }
       )
       assert_routing(
         { :path => "/api/0.6/user/preferences", :method => :put },
-        { :controller => "api/user_preferences", :action => "update" }
+        { :controller => "api/user_preferences", :action => "update_all" }
       )
       assert_routing(
         { :path => "/api/0.6/user/preferences/key", :method => :get },
-        { :controller => "api/user_preferences", :action => "read_one", :preference_key => "key" }
+        { :controller => "api/user_preferences", :action => "show", :preference_key => "key" }
       )
       assert_routing(
         { :path => "/api/0.6/user/preferences/key", :method => :put },
-        { :controller => "api/user_preferences", :action => "update_one", :preference_key => "key" }
+        { :controller => "api/user_preferences", :action => "update", :preference_key => "key" }
       )
       assert_routing(
         { :path => "/api/0.6/user/preferences/key", :method => :delete },
-        { :controller => "api/user_preferences", :action => "delete_one", :preference_key => "key" }
+        { :controller => "api/user_preferences", :action => "destroy", :preference_key => "key" }
       )
     end
 
     ##
-    # test read action
-    def test_read
+    # test showing all preferences
+    def test_index
       # first try without auth
-      get :read
+      get :index
       assert_response :unauthorized, "should be authenticated"
 
       # authenticate as a user with no preferences
       basic_authorization create(:user).email, "test"
 
       # try the read again
-      get :read
+      get :index
       assert_select "osm" do
         assert_select "preferences", :count => 1 do
           assert_select "preference", :count => 0
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ module Api
       basic_authorization user.email, "test"
 
       # try the read again
-      get :read
+      get :index
       assert_response :success
       assert_equal "application/xml", @response.content_type
       assert_select "osm" do
@@ -65,39 +65,39 @@ module Api
     end
 
     ##
-    # test read_one action
-    def test_read_one
+    # test showing one preference
+    def test_show
       user = create(:user)
       create(:user_preference, :user => user, :k => "key", :v => "value")
 
       # try a read without auth
-      get :read_one, :params => { :preference_key => "key" }
+      get :show, :params => { :preference_key => "key" }
       assert_response :unauthorized, "should be authenticated"
 
       # authenticate as a user with preferences
       basic_authorization user.email, "test"
 
       # try the read again
-      get :read_one, :params => { :preference_key => "key" }
+      get :show, :params => { :preference_key => "key" }
       assert_response :success
       assert_equal "text/plain", @response.content_type
       assert_equal "value", @response.body
 
       # try the read again for a non-existent key
-      get :read_one, :params => { :preference_key => "unknown_key" }
+      get :show, :params => { :preference_key => "unknown_key" }
       assert_response :not_found
     end
 
     ##
-    # test update action
-    def test_update
+    # test bulk update action
+    def test_update_all
       user = create(:user)
       create(:user_preference, :user => user, :k => "key", :v => "value")
       create(:user_preference, :user => user, :k => "some_key", :v => "some_value")
 
       # try a put without auth
       assert_no_difference "UserPreference.count" do
-        put :update, :body => "<osm><preferences><preference k='key' v='new_value'/><preference k='new_key' v='value'/></preferences></osm>"
+        put :update_all, :body => "<osm><preferences><preference k='key' v='new_value'/><preference k='new_key' v='value'/></preferences></osm>"
       end
       assert_response :unauthorized, "should be authenticated"
       assert_equal "value", UserPreference.find([user.id, "key"]).v
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ module Api
 
       # try the put again
       assert_no_difference "UserPreference.count" do
-        put :update, :body => "<osm><preferences><preference k='key' v='new_value'/><preference k='new_key' v='value'/></preferences></osm>"
+        put :update_all, :body => "<osm><preferences><preference k='key' v='new_value'/><preference k='new_key' v='value'/></preferences></osm>"
       end
       assert_response :success
       assert_equal "text/plain", @response.content_type
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ module Api
 
       # try a put with duplicate keys
       assert_no_difference "UserPreference.count" do
-        put :update, :body => "<osm><preferences><preference k='key' v='value'/><preference k='key' v='newer_value'/></preferences></osm>"
+        put :update_all, :body => "<osm><preferences><preference k='key' v='value'/><preference k='key' v='newer_value'/></preferences></osm>"
       end
       assert_response :bad_request
       assert_equal "text/plain", @response.content_type
@@ -133,20 +133,20 @@ module Api
 
       # try a put with invalid content
       assert_no_difference "UserPreference.count" do
-        put :update, :body => "nonsense"
+        put :update_all, :body => "nonsense"
       end
       assert_response :bad_request
     end
 
     ##
-    # test update_one action
-    def test_update_one
+    # test update action
+    def test_update
       user = create(:user)
       create(:user_preference, :user => user)
 
       # try a put without auth
       assert_no_difference "UserPreference.count" do
-        put :update_one, :params => { :preference_key => "new_key" }, :body => "new_value"
+        put :update, :params => { :preference_key => "new_key" }, :body => "new_value"
       end
       assert_response :unauthorized, "should be authenticated"
       assert_raises ActiveRecord::RecordNotFound do
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ module Api
 
       # try adding a new preference
       assert_difference "UserPreference.count", 1 do
-        put :update_one, :params => { :preference_key => "new_key" }, :body => "new_value"
+        put :update, :params => { :preference_key => "new_key" }, :body => "new_value"
       end
       assert_response :success
       assert_equal "text/plain", @response.content_type
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ module Api
 
       # try changing the value of a preference
       assert_no_difference "UserPreference.count" do
-        put :update_one, :params => { :preference_key => "new_key" }, :body => "newer_value"
+        put :update, :params => { :preference_key => "new_key" }, :body => "newer_value"
       end
       assert_response :success
       assert_equal "text/plain", @response.content_type
@@ -176,14 +176,14 @@ module Api
     end
 
     ##
-    # test delete_one action
-    def test_delete_one
+    # test destroy action
+    def test_destroy
       user = create(:user)
       create(:user_preference, :user => user, :k => "key", :v => "value")
 
       # try a delete without auth
       assert_no_difference "UserPreference.count" do
-        delete :delete_one, :params => { :preference_key => "key" }
+        delete :destroy, :params => { :preference_key => "key" }
       end
       assert_response :unauthorized, "should be authenticated"
       assert_equal "value", UserPreference.find([user.id, "key"]).v
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ module Api
 
       # try the delete again
       assert_difference "UserPreference.count", -1 do
-        get :delete_one, :params => { :preference_key => "key" }
+        get :destroy, :params => { :preference_key => "key" }
       end
       assert_response :success
       assert_equal "text/plain", @response.content_type
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ module Api
 
       # try the delete again for the same key
       assert_no_difference "UserPreference.count" do
-        get :delete_one, :params => { :preference_key => "key" }
+        get :destroy, :params => { :preference_key => "key" }
       end
       assert_response :not_found
       assert_raises ActiveRecord::RecordNotFound do
@@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ module Api
 
     # Ensure that a valid access token with correct capabilities can be used to
     # read preferences
-    def test_read_one_using_token
+    def test_show_using_token
       user = create(:user)
       token = create(:access_token, :user => user, :allow_read_prefs => true)
       create(:user_preference, :user => user, :k => "key", :v => "value")
@@ -224,14 +224,14 @@ module Api
       @request.env["oauth.strategies"] = [:token]
       @request.env["oauth.token"] = token
 
-      get :read_one, :params => { :preference_key => "key" }
+      get :show, :params => { :preference_key => "key" }
       assert_response :success
     end
 
     # Ensure that a valid access token with incorrect capabilities can't be used
     # to read preferences even, though the owner of that token could read them
     # by other methods.
-    def test_read_one_using_token_fail
+    def test_show_using_token_fail
       user = create(:user)
       token = create(:access_token, :user => user, :allow_read_prefs => false)
       create(:user_preference, :user => user, :k => "key", :v => "value")
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ module Api
       @request.env["oauth.strategies"] = [:token]
       @request.env["oauth.token"] = token
 
-      get :read_one, :params => { :preference_key => "key" }
+      get :show, :params => { :preference_key => "key" }
       assert_response :forbidden
     end
   end