diff --git a/src/writer/spirv/builder.cc b/src/writer/spirv/builder.cc
index b65802c78d..586b0457a6 100644
--- a/src/writer/spirv/builder.cc
+++ b/src/writer/spirv/builder.cc
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ namespace writer {
 namespace spirv {
 namespace {
 
-uint32_t size_of(const std::vector<Instruction>& instructions) {
+uint32_t size_of(const InstructionList& instructions) {
   uint32_t size = 0;
   for (const auto& inst : instructions)
     size += inst.word_length();
@@ -294,8 +294,8 @@ bool Builder::GenerateEntryPoint(ast::EntryPoint* ep) {
     return false;
   }
 
-  std::vector<Operand> operands = {Operand::Int(stage), Operand::Int(id),
-                                   Operand::String(name)};
+  OperandList operands = {Operand::Int(stage), Operand::Int(id),
+                          Operand::String(name)};
   // TODO(dsinclair): This could be made smarter by only listing the
   // input/output variables which are used by the entry point instead of just
   // listing all module scoped variables of type input/output.
@@ -396,7 +396,7 @@ bool Builder::GenerateFunction(ast::Function* func) {
       {Operand::Int(ret_id), func_op, Operand::Int(SpvFunctionControlMaskNone),
        Operand::Int(func_type_id)}};
 
-  std::vector<Instruction> params;
+  InstructionList params;
   for (const auto& param : func->params()) {
     auto param_op = result_op();
     auto param_id = param_op.to_i();
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ uint32_t Builder::GenerateFunctionTypeIfNeeded(ast::Function* func) {
     return 0;
   }
 
-  std::vector<Operand> ops = {func_op, Operand::Int(ret_id)};
+  OperandList ops = {func_op, Operand::Int(ret_id)};
   for (const auto& param : func->params()) {
     auto param_type_id = GenerateTypeIfNeeded(param->type());
     if (param_type_id == 0) {
@@ -555,8 +555,8 @@ bool Builder::GenerateGlobalVariable(ast::Variable* var) {
   push_debug(spv::Op::OpName,
              {Operand::Int(var_id), Operand::String(var->name())});
 
-  std::vector<Operand> ops = {Operand::Int(type_id), result,
-                              Operand::Int(ConvertStorageClass(sc))};
+  OperandList ops = {Operand::Int(type_id), result,
+                     Operand::Int(ConvertStorageClass(sc))};
   if (var->has_constructor()) {
     ops.push_back(Operand::Int(init_id));
   } else {
@@ -728,8 +728,8 @@ bool Builder::GenerateMemberAccessor(ast::MemberAccessorExpression* expr,
     auto extract = result_op();
     auto extract_id = extract.to_i();
 
-    std::vector<Operand> ops = {Operand::Int(result_type_id), extract,
-                                Operand::Int(info->source_id)};
+    OperandList ops = {Operand::Int(result_type_id), extract,
+                       Operand::Int(info->source_id)};
     for (auto id : info->access_chain_indices) {
       ops.push_back(Operand::Int(id));
     }
@@ -751,8 +751,8 @@ bool Builder::GenerateMemberAccessor(ast::MemberAccessorExpression* expr,
   auto result = result_op();
   auto result_id = result.to_i();
 
-  std::vector<Operand> ops = {Operand::Int(result_type_id), result,
-                              Operand::Int(vec_id), Operand::Int(vec_id)};
+  OperandList ops = {Operand::Int(result_type_id), result, Operand::Int(vec_id),
+                     Operand::Int(vec_id)};
 
   for (uint32_t i = 0; i < swiz.size(); ++i) {
     auto val = IndexFromName(swiz[i]);
@@ -824,8 +824,8 @@ uint32_t Builder::GenerateAccessorExpression(ast::Expression* expr) {
     auto result = result_op();
     auto result_id = result.to_i();
 
-    std::vector<Operand> ops = {Operand::Int(result_type_id), result,
-                                Operand::Int(info.source_id)};
+    OperandList ops = {Operand::Int(result_type_id), result,
+                       Operand::Int(info.source_id)};
     for (auto id : info.access_chain_indices) {
       ops.push_back(Operand::Int(id));
     }
@@ -952,7 +952,7 @@ uint32_t Builder::GenerateTypeConstructorExpression(
   std::ostringstream out;
   out << "__const";
 
-  std::vector<Operand> ops;
+  OperandList ops;
   bool constructor_is_const = true;
   for (const auto& e : init->values()) {
     if (!e->IsConstructor()) {
@@ -1343,7 +1343,7 @@ uint32_t Builder::GenerateCallExpression(ast::CallExpression* expr) {
   auto result_id = result.to_i();
 
   spv::Op op = spv::Op::OpNop;
-  std::vector<Operand> ops = {Operand::Int(type_id), result};
+  OperandList ops = {Operand::Int(type_id), result};
 
   // Handle regular function calls
   if (!ident->has_path()) {
@@ -1406,7 +1406,7 @@ uint32_t Builder::GenerateIntrinsic(const std::string& name,
     return 0;
   }
 
-  std::vector<Operand> params = {Operand::Int(result_type_id), result};
+  OperandList params = {Operand::Int(result_type_id), result};
   for (const auto& p : call->params()) {
     auto val_id = GenerateExpression(p.get());
     if (val_id == 0) {
@@ -1630,8 +1630,7 @@ bool Builder::GenerateSwitchStatement(ast::SwitchStatement* stmt) {
   auto default_block = result_op();
   auto default_block_id = default_block.to_i();
 
-  std::vector<Operand> params = {Operand::Int(cond_id),
-                                 Operand::Int(default_block_id)};
+  OperandList params = {Operand::Int(cond_id), Operand::Int(default_block_id)};
 
   std::vector<uint32_t> case_ids;
   for (const auto& item : stmt->body()) {
@@ -1943,7 +1942,7 @@ bool Builder::GenerateStructType(ast::type::StructType* struct_type,
                {Operand::Int(struct_id), Operand::String(struct_type->name())});
   }
 
-  std::vector<Operand> ops;
+  OperandList ops;
   ops.push_back(result);
 
   if (impl->decoration() == ast::StructDecoration::kBlock) {
diff --git a/src/writer/spirv/builder.h b/src/writer/spirv/builder.h
index a111094d1e..4213462e98 100644
--- a/src/writer/spirv/builder.h
+++ b/src/writer/spirv/builder.h
@@ -123,39 +123,39 @@ class Builder {
   /// @param cap the capability to set
   void push_capability(uint32_t cap);
   /// @returns the capabilities
-  const std::vector<Instruction>& capabilities() const { return capabilities_; }
+  const InstructionList& capabilities() const { return capabilities_; }
   /// Adds an instruction to the preamble
   /// @param op the op to set
   /// @param operands the operands for the instruction
-  void push_preamble(spv::Op op, const std::vector<Operand>& operands) {
+  void push_preamble(spv::Op op, const OperandList& operands) {
     preamble_.push_back(Instruction{op, operands});
   }
   /// @returns the preamble
-  const std::vector<Instruction>& preamble() const { return preamble_; }
+  const InstructionList& preamble() const { return preamble_; }
   /// Adds an instruction to the debug
   /// @param op the op to set
   /// @param operands the operands for the instruction
-  void push_debug(spv::Op op, const std::vector<Operand>& operands) {
+  void push_debug(spv::Op op, const OperandList& operands) {
     debug_.push_back(Instruction{op, operands});
   }
   /// @returns the debug instructions
-  const std::vector<Instruction>& debug() const { return debug_; }
+  const InstructionList& debug() const { return debug_; }
   /// Adds an instruction to the types
   /// @param op the op to set
   /// @param operands the operands for the instruction
-  void push_type(spv::Op op, const std::vector<Operand>& operands) {
+  void push_type(spv::Op op, const OperandList& operands) {
     types_.push_back(Instruction{op, operands});
   }
   /// @returns the type instructions
-  const std::vector<Instruction>& types() const { return types_; }
+  const InstructionList& types() const { return types_; }
   /// Adds an instruction to the annotations
   /// @param op the op to set
   /// @param operands the operands for the instruction
-  void push_annot(spv::Op op, const std::vector<Operand>& operands) {
+  void push_annot(spv::Op op, const OperandList& operands) {
     annotations_.push_back(Instruction{op, operands});
   }
   /// @returns the annotations
-  const std::vector<Instruction>& annots() const { return annotations_; }
+  const InstructionList& annots() const { return annotations_; }
 
   /// Adds a function to the builder
   /// @param func the function to add
@@ -168,12 +168,12 @@ class Builder {
   /// Pushes an instruction to the current function
   /// @param op the operation
   /// @param operands the operands
-  void push_function_inst(spv::Op op, const std::vector<Operand>& operands) {
+  void push_function_inst(spv::Op op, const OperandList& operands) {
     functions_.back().push_inst(op, operands);
   }
   /// Pushes a variable to the current function
   /// @param operands the variable operands
-  void push_function_var(const std::vector<Operand>& operands) {
+  void push_function_var(const OperandList& operands) {
     functions_.back().push_var(operands);
   }
 
@@ -406,11 +406,11 @@ class Builder {
   std::string error_;
   uint32_t next_id_ = 1;
   uint32_t current_label_id_ = 0;
-  std::vector<Instruction> capabilities_;
-  std::vector<Instruction> preamble_;
-  std::vector<Instruction> debug_;
-  std::vector<Instruction> types_;
-  std::vector<Instruction> annotations_;
+  InstructionList capabilities_;
+  InstructionList preamble_;
+  InstructionList debug_;
+  InstructionList types_;
+  InstructionList annotations_;
   std::vector<Function> functions_;
 
   std::unordered_map<std::string, uint32_t> import_name_to_id_;
diff --git a/src/writer/spirv/function.cc b/src/writer/spirv/function.cc
index b040ff0a13..01da96ce9d 100644
--- a/src/writer/spirv/function.cc
+++ b/src/writer/spirv/function.cc
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ Function::Function()
 
 Function::Function(const Instruction& declaration,
                    const Operand& label_op,
-                   const std::vector<Instruction>& params)
+                   const InstructionList& params)
     : declaration_(declaration), label_op_(label_op), params_(params) {}
 
 Function::Function(const Function& other) = default;
diff --git a/src/writer/spirv/function.h b/src/writer/spirv/function.h
index ddc2d0d55e..8421452be8 100644
--- a/src/writer/spirv/function.h
+++ b/src/writer/spirv/function.h
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class Function {
   /// @param params the function parameters
   Function(const Instruction& declaration,
            const Operand& label_op,
-           const std::vector<Instruction>& params);
+           const InstructionList& params);
   /// Copy constructor
   /// @param other the function to copy
   Function(const Function& other);
@@ -58,19 +58,19 @@ class Function {
   /// Adds an instruction to the instruction list
   /// @param op the op to set
   /// @param operands the operands for the instruction
-  void push_inst(spv::Op op, const std::vector<Operand>& operands) {
+  void push_inst(spv::Op op, const OperandList& operands) {
     instructions_.push_back(Instruction{op, operands});
   }
   /// @returns the instruction list
-  const std::vector<Instruction>& instructions() const { return instructions_; }
+  const InstructionList& instructions() const { return instructions_; }
 
   /// Adds a variable to the variable list
   /// @param operands the operands for the variable
-  void push_var(const std::vector<Operand>& operands) {
+  void push_var(const OperandList& operands) {
     vars_.push_back(Instruction{spv::Op::OpVariable, operands});
   }
   /// @returns the variable list
-  const std::vector<Instruction>& variables() const { return vars_; }
+  const InstructionList& variables() const { return vars_; }
 
   /// @returns the word length of the function
   uint32_t word_length() const {
@@ -92,9 +92,9 @@ class Function {
  private:
   Instruction declaration_;
   Operand label_op_;
-  std::vector<Instruction> params_;
-  std::vector<Instruction> vars_;
-  std::vector<Instruction> instructions_;
+  InstructionList params_;
+  InstructionList vars_;
+  InstructionList instructions_;
 };
 
 }  // namespace spirv
diff --git a/src/writer/spirv/instruction.cc b/src/writer/spirv/instruction.cc
index 78f6afab65..9a1c174fda 100644
--- a/src/writer/spirv/instruction.cc
+++ b/src/writer/spirv/instruction.cc
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ namespace tint {
 namespace writer {
 namespace spirv {
 
-Instruction::Instruction(spv::Op op, std::vector<Operand> operands)
+Instruction::Instruction(spv::Op op, OperandList operands)
     : op_(op), operands_(std::move(operands)) {}
 
 Instruction::Instruction(const Instruction&) = default;
diff --git a/src/writer/spirv/instruction.h b/src/writer/spirv/instruction.h
index c3213106bf..649746c9c4 100644
--- a/src/writer/spirv/instruction.h
+++ b/src/writer/spirv/instruction.h
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ class Instruction {
   /// Constructor
   /// @param op the op to generate
   /// @param operands the operand values for the instruction
-  Instruction(spv::Op op, std::vector<Operand> operands);
+  Instruction(spv::Op op, OperandList operands);
   /// Copy Constructor
   Instruction(const Instruction&);
   ~Instruction();
@@ -39,16 +39,19 @@ class Instruction {
   spv::Op opcode() const { return op_; }
 
   /// @returns the instructions operands
-  const std::vector<Operand>& operands() const { return operands_; }
+  const OperandList& operands() const { return operands_; }
 
   /// @returns the number of uint32_t's needed to hold the instruction
   uint32_t word_length() const;
 
  private:
   spv::Op op_ = spv::Op::OpNop;
-  std::vector<Operand> operands_;
+  OperandList operands_;
 };
 
+/// A list of instructions
+using InstructionList = std::vector<Instruction>;
+
 }  // namespace spirv
 }  // namespace writer
 }  // namespace tint
diff --git a/src/writer/spirv/operand.h b/src/writer/spirv/operand.h
index 79ad2ebc65..a2eafcee86 100644
--- a/src/writer/spirv/operand.h
+++ b/src/writer/spirv/operand.h
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #define SRC_WRITER_SPIRV_OPERAND_H_
 
 #include <string>
+#include <vector>
 
 namespace tint {
 namespace writer {
@@ -88,6 +89,9 @@ class Operand {
   std::string str_val_;
 };
 
+/// A list of operands
+using OperandList = std::vector<Operand>;
+
 }  // namespace spirv
 }  // namespace writer
 }  // namespace tint
diff --git a/src/writer/spirv/spv_dump.cc b/src/writer/spirv/spv_dump.cc
index c649accd14..6c5cd8fadb 100644
--- a/src/writer/spirv/spv_dump.cc
+++ b/src/writer/spirv/spv_dump.cc
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ std::string DumpInstruction(const Instruction& inst) {
   return Disassemble(writer.result());
 }
 
-std::string DumpInstructions(const std::vector<Instruction>& insts) {
+std::string DumpInstructions(const InstructionList& insts) {
   BinaryWriter writer;
   writer.WriteHeader(kDefaultMaxIdBound);
   for (const auto& inst : insts) {
diff --git a/src/writer/spirv/spv_dump.h b/src/writer/spirv/spv_dump.h
index c9079c78af..deae123e8d 100644
--- a/src/writer/spirv/spv_dump.h
+++ b/src/writer/spirv/spv_dump.h
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ std::string DumpInstruction(const Instruction& inst);
 /// Dumps the given instructions to a SPIR-V disassembly string
 /// @param insts the instructions to dump
 /// @returns the instruction as a SPIR-V disassembly string
-std::string DumpInstructions(const std::vector<Instruction>& insts);
+std::string DumpInstructions(const InstructionList& insts);
 
 }  // namespace spirv
 }  // namespace writer