diff --git a/src/Task.cpp b/src/Task.cpp
index 5798515cb..2a7f39a4a 100644
--- a/src/Task.cpp
+++ b/src/Task.cpp
@@ -173,52 +173,24 @@ Task::status Task::textToStatus (const std::string& input)
 std::string Task::statusToText (Task::status s)
 {
        if (s == Task::pending)   return "pending";
-  else if (s == Task::completed) return "completed";
-  else if (s == Task::deleted)   return "deleted";
   else if (s == Task::recurring) return "recurring";
   else if (s == Task::waiting)   return "waiting";
+  else if (s == Task::completed) return "completed";
+  else if (s == Task::deleted)   return "deleted";
 
   return "pending";
 }
 
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-void Task::setEntry ()
+void Task::setAsNow (const std::string& att)
 {
   char now[16];
   sprintf (now, "%u", (unsigned int) time (NULL));
-  set ("entry", now);
+  set (att, now);
 
   recalc_urgency = true;
 }
 
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-void Task::setEnd ()
-{
-  char now[16];
-  sprintf (now, "%u", (unsigned int) time (NULL));
-  set ("end", now);
-
-  recalc_urgency = true;
-}
-
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-void Task::setStart ()
-{
-  char now[16];
-  sprintf (now, "%u", (unsigned int) time (NULL));
-  set ("start", now);
-
-  recalc_urgency = true;
-}
-
-////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
-void Task::setModified ()
-{
-  char now[16];
-  sprintf (now, "%u", (unsigned int) time (NULL));
-  set ("modified", now);
-}
-
 ////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 bool Task::has (const std::string& name) const
 {
@@ -1485,16 +1457,16 @@ void Task::validate (bool applyDefault /* = true */)
 #ifdef PRODUCT_TASKWARRIOR
   // Provide an entry date unless user already specified one.
   if (!has ("entry") || get ("entry") == "")
-    setEntry ();
+    setAsNow ("entry");
 
   // Completed tasks need an end date, so inherit the entry date.
   if ((status == Task::completed || status == Task::deleted) &&
       (! has ("end") || get ("end") == ""))
-    setEnd ();
+    setAsNow ("end");
 
   // Provide an entry date unless user already specified one.
   if (!has ("modified") || get ("modified") == "")
-    setModified ();
+    setAsNow ("modified");
 
   if (applyDefault)
   {
diff --git a/src/Task.h b/src/Task.h
index ca0796b34..dd4644c89 100644
--- a/src/Task.h
+++ b/src/Task.h
@@ -90,11 +90,7 @@ public:
   static status textToStatus (const std::string&);
   static std::string statusToText (status);
 
-  void setEntry ();
-  void setEnd ();
-  void setStart ();
-  void setModified ();
-
+  void setAsNow (const std::string&);
   bool has (const std::string&) const;
   std::vector <std::string> all ();
   const std::string get (const std::string&) const;
diff --git a/src/commands/CmdDelete.cpp b/src/commands/CmdDelete.cpp
index 75ab2a481..178ddf5ce 100644
--- a/src/commands/CmdDelete.cpp
+++ b/src/commands/CmdDelete.cpp
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ int CmdDelete::execute (std::string& output)
       task->modify (Task::modAnnotate);
       task->setStatus (Task::deleted);
       if (! task->has ("end"))
-        task->setEnd ();
+        task->setAsNow ("end");
 
       if (permission (*task, question, filtered.size ()))
       {
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ int CmdDelete::execute (std::string& output)
               sibling->modify (Task::modAnnotate);
               sibling->setStatus (Task::deleted);
               if (! sibling->has ("end"))
-                sibling->setEnd ();
+                sibling->setAsNow ("end");
 
               updateRecurrenceMask (*sibling);
               context.tdb2.modify (*sibling);
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ int CmdDelete::execute (std::string& output)
             context.tdb2.get (task->get ("parent"), parent);
             parent.setStatus (Task::deleted);
             if (! parent.has ("end"))
-              parent.setEnd ();
+              parent.setAsNow ("end");
 
             context.tdb2.modify (parent);
           }
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ int CmdDelete::execute (std::string& output)
               child->modify (Task::modAnnotate);
               child->setStatus (Task::deleted);
               if (! child->has ("end"))
-                child->setEnd ();
+                child->setAsNow ("end");
 
               updateRecurrenceMask (*child);
               context.tdb2.modify (*child);
diff --git a/src/commands/CmdDone.cpp b/src/commands/CmdDone.cpp
index cde965d34..5c19435bd 100644
--- a/src/commands/CmdDone.cpp
+++ b/src/commands/CmdDone.cpp
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ int CmdDone::execute (std::string& output)
       task->modify (Task::modAnnotate);
       task->setStatus (Task::completed);
       if (! task->has ("end"))
-        task->setEnd ();
+        task->setAsNow ("end");
 
       // Stop the task, if started.
       if (task->has ("start"))
diff --git a/src/commands/CmdStart.cpp b/src/commands/CmdStart.cpp
index 380f50c04..079206412 100644
--- a/src/commands/CmdStart.cpp
+++ b/src/commands/CmdStart.cpp
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ int CmdStart::execute (std::string& output)
                                      task->id,
                                      task->get ("description"));
       task->modify (Task::modAnnotate);
-      task->setStart ();
+      task->setAsNow ("start");
 
       if (context.config.getBoolean ("journal.time"))
         task->addAnnotation (context.config.get ("journal.time.start.annotation"));
diff --git a/src/recur.cpp b/src/recur.cpp
index e1b536850..18df1cdf6 100644
--- a/src/recur.cpp
+++ b/src/recur.cpp
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ void handleRecurrence ()
           rec.id = context.tdb2.next_id ();      // New ID.
           rec.set ("uuid", uuid ());             // New UUID.
           rec.set ("parent", t->get ("uuid"));   // Remember mom.
-          rec.setEntry ();                       // New entry date.
+          rec.setAsNow ("entry");                // New entry date.
 
           char dueDate[16];
           sprintf (dueDate, "%u", (unsigned int) d->toEpoch ());