diff --git a/src/wp-admin/css/common.css b/src/wp-admin/css/common.css
index 969cc5f055..3219f1d78b 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/css/common.css
+++ b/src/wp-admin/css/common.css
@@ -627,8 +627,8 @@ div#widgets-right .widget-top:hover,
 	color: #000;
 }
 
-.alternate,
-.alt {
+.striped > tbody > :nth-child(odd),
+.alternate {
 	background-color: #f9f9f9;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/css/dashboard.css b/src/wp-admin/css/dashboard.css
index fbf079506a..b9f5a09478 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/css/dashboard.css
+++ b/src/wp-admin/css/dashboard.css
@@ -694,11 +694,6 @@ form.initial-form.quickpress-open input#title {
 	margin-left: 12px;
 }
 
-#activity-widget #the-comment-list .alternate,
-#activity-widget #the-comment-list .alt {
-	background: none;
-}
-
 #activity-widget #the-comment-list .comment-item {
 	background: #fafafa;
 	padding: 12px;
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/css/list-tables.css b/src/wp-admin/css/list-tables.css
index 6e547968e9..a7f067fb07 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/css/list-tables.css
+++ b/src/wp-admin/css/list-tables.css
@@ -1433,16 +1433,16 @@ div.action-links,
 
 /* ms */
 /* Background Color for Site Status */
-.wp-list-table .site-deleted {
+.wp-list-table tr.site-deleted {
 	background: #ff8573;
 }
-.wp-list-table .site-spammed {
+.wp-list-table tr.site-spammed {
 	background: #faafaa;
 }
-.wp-list-table .site-archived {
+.wp-list-table tr.site-archived {
 	background: #ffebe8;
 }
-.wp-list-table .site-mature {
+.wp-list-table tr.site-mature {
 	background: #fecac2;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/import.php b/src/wp-admin/import.php
index e6f05e0eb3..518ab7ef20 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/import.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/import.php
@@ -76,10 +76,9 @@ if ( empty( $importers ) ) {
 } else {
 	uasort( $importers, '_usort_by_first_member' );
 ?>
-<table class="widefat importers">
+<table class="widefat importers striped">
 
 <?php
-	$alt = '';
 	foreach ($importers as $importer_id => $data) {
 		$action = '';
 		if ( isset( $data['install'] ) ) {
@@ -108,9 +107,8 @@ if ( empty( $importers ) ) {
 			$action = "<a href='" . esc_url( "admin.php?import=$importer_id" ) . "' title='" . esc_attr( wptexturize( strip_tags( $data[1] ) ) ) ."'>{$data[0]}</a>";
 		}
 
-		$alt = $alt ? '' : ' class="alternate"';
 		echo "
-			<tr$alt>
+			<tr>
 				<td class='import-system row-title'>$action</td>
 				<td class='desc'>{$data[1]}</td>
 			</tr>";
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-links-list-table.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-links-list-table.php
index 3a3906356f..88d2cc7cb1 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-links-list-table.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-links-list-table.php
@@ -111,8 +111,6 @@ class WP_Links_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 	public function display_rows() {
 		global $cat_id;
 
-		$alt = 0;
-
 		foreach ( $this->items as $link ) {
 			$link = sanitize_bookmark( $link );
 			$link->link_name = esc_attr( $link->link_name );
@@ -122,11 +120,10 @@ class WP_Links_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 
 			$visible = ( $link->link_visible == 'Y' ) ? __( 'Yes' ) : __( 'No' );
 			$rating  = $link->link_rating;
-			$style = ( $alt++ % 2 ) ? '' : ' class="alternate"';
 
 			$edit_link = get_edit_bookmark_link( $link );
 ?>
-		<tr id="link-<?php echo $link->link_id; ?>" <?php echo $style; ?>>
+		<tr id="link-<?php echo $link->link_id; ?>">
 <?php
 
 			list( $columns, $hidden ) = $this->get_column_info();
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-list-table.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-list-table.php
index 6245f157f9..544408807e 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-list-table.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-list-table.php
@@ -953,7 +953,7 @@ class WP_List_Table {
 	 * @return array List of CSS classes for the table tag.
 	 */
 	protected function get_table_classes() {
-		return array( 'widefat', 'fixed', $this->_args['plural'] );
+		return array( 'widefat', 'fixed', 'striped', $this->_args['plural'] );
 	}
 
 	/**
@@ -1028,10 +1028,7 @@ class WP_List_Table {
 	 * @param object $item The current item
 	 */
 	public function single_row( $item ) {
-		static $row_class = '';
-		$row_class = ( $row_class == '' ? ' class="alternate"' : '' );
-
-		echo '<tr' . $row_class . '>';
+		echo '<tr>';
 		$this->single_row_columns( $item );
 		echo '</tr>';
 	}
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-media-list-table.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-media-list-table.php
index 1d1ebb0faa..436ed40f35 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-media-list-table.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-media-list-table.php
@@ -268,7 +268,6 @@ class WP_Media_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 		global $post;
 
 		add_filter( 'the_title','esc_html' );
-		$alt = '';
 
 		while ( have_posts() ) : the_post();
 			$user_can_edit = current_user_can( 'edit_post', $post->ID );
@@ -277,11 +276,10 @@ class WP_Media_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 			||  !$this->is_trash && $post->post_status == 'trash' )
 				continue;
 
-			$alt = ( 'alternate' == $alt ) ? '' : 'alternate';
 			$post_owner = ( get_current_user_id() == $post->post_author ) ? 'self' : 'other';
 			$att_title = _draft_or_post_title();
 ?>
-	<tr id="post-<?php echo $post->ID; ?>" class="<?php echo trim( $alt . ' author-' . $post_owner . ' status-' . $post->post_status ); ?>">
+	<tr id="post-<?php echo $post->ID; ?>" class="<?php echo trim( ' author-' . $post_owner . ' status-' . $post->post_status ); ?>">
 <?php
 
 list( $columns, $hidden ) = $this->get_column_info();
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-ms-sites-list-table.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-ms-sites-list-table.php
index c4a99bfd20..288f86b272 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-ms-sites-list-table.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-ms-sites-list-table.php
@@ -208,15 +208,14 @@ class WP_MS_Sites_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 			$date = 'Y/m/d \<\b\r \/\> g:i:s a';
 		}
 
-		$class = '';
 		foreach ( $this->items as $blog ) {
-			$class = ( 'alternate' == $class ) ? '' : 'alternate';
+			$class = '';
 			reset( $status_list );
 
 			$blog_states = array();
 			foreach ( $status_list as $status => $col ) {
 				if ( get_blog_status( $blog['blog_id'], $status ) == 1 ) {
-					$class = $col[0];
+					$class = " class='{$col[0]}'";
 					$blog_states[] = $col[1];
 				}
 			}
@@ -231,7 +230,7 @@ class WP_MS_Sites_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 					$blog_state .= "<span class='post-state'>$state$sep</span>";
 				}
 			}
-			echo "<tr class='$class'>";
+			echo "<tr{$class}>";
 
 			$blogname = ( is_subdomain_install() ) ? str_replace( '.' . get_current_site()->domain, '', $blog['domain'] ) : $blog['path'];
 
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-ms-users-list-table.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-ms-users-list-table.php
index 3a8dd25259..571ba4c495 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-ms-users-list-table.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-ms-users-list-table.php
@@ -149,20 +149,19 @@ class WP_MS_Users_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 	public function display_rows() {
 		global $mode;
 
-		$alt = '';
 		$super_admins = get_super_admins();
 		foreach ( $this->items as $user ) {
-			$alt = ( 'alternate' == $alt ) ? '' : 'alternate';
+			$class = '';
 
 			$status_list = array( 'spam' => 'site-spammed', 'deleted' => 'site-deleted' );
 
 			foreach ( $status_list as $status => $col ) {
 				if ( $user->$status )
-					$alt .= " $col";
+					$class .= " $col";
 			}
 
 			?>
-			<tr class="<?php echo $alt; ?>">
+			<tr class="<?php echo trim( $class ); ?>">
 			<?php
 
 			list( $columns, $hidden ) = $this->get_column_info();
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-posts-list-table.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-posts-list-table.php
index dcdccdf804..28287cf470 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-posts-list-table.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-posts-list-table.php
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ class WP_Posts_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 	}
 
 	protected function get_table_classes() {
-		return array( 'widefat', 'fixed', is_post_type_hierarchical( $this->screen->post_type ) ? 'pages' : 'posts' );
+		return array( 'widefat', 'fixed', 'striped', is_post_type_hierarchical( $this->screen->post_type ) ? 'pages' : 'posts' );
 	}
 
 	public function get_columns() {
@@ -572,13 +572,11 @@ class WP_Posts_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 
 	/**
 	 * @global string $mode
-	 * @staticvar string $alternate
 	 * @param WP_Post $post
 	 * @param int $level
 	 */
 	public function single_row( $post, $level = 0 ) {
 		global $mode;
-		static $alternate;
 
 		$global_post = get_post();
 		$GLOBALS['post'] = $post;
@@ -589,8 +587,7 @@ class WP_Posts_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 		$post_type_object = get_post_type_object( $post->post_type );
 		$can_edit_post = current_user_can( 'edit_post', $post->ID );
 
-		$alternate = 'alternate' == $alternate ? '' : 'alternate';
-		$classes = $alternate . ' iedit author-' . ( get_current_user_id() == $post->post_author ? 'self' : 'other' );
+		$classes = 'iedit author-' . ( get_current_user_id() == $post->post_author ? 'self' : 'other' );
 
 		$lock_holder = wp_check_post_lock( $post->ID );
 		if ( $lock_holder ) {
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-terms-list-table.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-terms-list-table.php
index 7d8f8bfe5e..9c68033cdc 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-terms-list-table.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-terms-list-table.php
@@ -268,7 +268,6 @@ class WP_Terms_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 
 	/**
 	 * @global string $taxonomy
-	 * @staticvar string $row_class
 	 * @param object $tag
 	 * @param int $level
 	 */
@@ -276,12 +275,9 @@ class WP_Terms_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 		global $taxonomy;
  		$tag = sanitize_term( $tag, $taxonomy );
 
-		static $row_class = '';
-		$row_class = ( $row_class == '' ? ' class="alternate"' : '' );
-
 		$this->level = $level;
 
-		echo '<tr id="tag-' . $tag->term_id . '"' . $row_class . '>';
+		echo '<tr id="tag-' . $tag->term_id . '">';
 		$this->single_row_columns( $tag );
 		echo '</tr>';
 	}
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-users-list-table.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-users-list-table.php
index 81637e98b5..c7958e0619 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-users-list-table.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-users-list-table.php
@@ -306,7 +306,6 @@ class WP_Users_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 
 		$editable_roles = array_keys( get_editable_roles() );
 
-		$style = '';
 		foreach ( $this->items as $userid => $user_object ) {
 			if ( count( $user_object->roles ) <= 1 ) {
 				$role = reset( $user_object->roles );
@@ -319,8 +318,7 @@ class WP_Users_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 			if ( is_multisite() && empty( $user_object->allcaps ) )
 				continue;
 
-			$style = ( ' class="alternate"' == $style ) ? '' : ' class="alternate"';
-			echo "\n\t" . $this->single_row( $user_object, $style, $role, isset( $post_counts ) ? $post_counts[ $userid ] : 0 );
+			echo "\n\t" . $this->single_row( $user_object, $style = '', $role, isset( $post_counts ) ? $post_counts[ $userid ] : 0 );
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -328,11 +326,11 @@ class WP_Users_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 	 * Generate HTML for a single row on the users.php admin panel.
 	 *
 	 * @since 3.1.0
+	 * @since 4.2.0 `$style` argument was deprecated.
 	 * @access public
 	 *
 	 * @param object $user_object The current user object.
-	 * @param string $style       Optional. Style attributes added to the `<tr>` element.
-	 *                            Must be sanitized. Default empty.
+	 * @param string $style       Deprecated. Not used.
 	 * @param string $role        Optional. Key for the $wp_roles array. Default empty.
 	 * @param int    $numposts    Optional. Post count to display for this user. Defaults
 	 *                            to zero, as in, a new user has made zero posts.
@@ -395,7 +393,7 @@ class WP_Users_List_Table extends WP_List_Table {
 		$role_name = isset( $wp_roles->role_names[$role] ) ? translate_user_role( $wp_roles->role_names[$role] ) : __( 'None' );
 		$avatar = get_avatar( $user_object->ID, 32 );
 
-		$r = "<tr id='user-$user_object->ID'$style>";
+		$r = "<tr id='user-$user_object->ID'>";
 
 		list( $columns, $hidden ) = $this->get_column_info();
 
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/includes/template.php b/src/wp-admin/includes/template.php
index 554b720e2b..26c8a4a1c7 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/includes/template.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/includes/template.php
@@ -589,10 +589,6 @@ function _list_meta_row( $entry, &$count ) {
 
 	$r = '';
 	++ $count;
-	if ( $count % 2 )
-		$style = 'alternate';
-	else
-		$style = '';
 
 	if ( is_serialized( $entry['meta_value'] ) ) {
 		if ( is_serialized_string( $entry['meta_value'] ) ) {
@@ -611,7 +607,7 @@ function _list_meta_row( $entry, &$count ) {
 
 	$delete_nonce = wp_create_nonce( 'delete-meta_' . $entry['meta_id'] );
 
-	$r .= "\n\t<tr id='meta-{$entry['meta_id']}' class='$style'>";
+	$r .= "\n\t<tr id='meta-{$entry['meta_id']}'>";
 	$r .= "\n\t\t<td class='left'><label class='screen-reader-text' for='meta-{$entry['meta_id']}-key'>" . __( 'Key' ) . "</label><input name='meta[{$entry['meta_id']}][key]' id='meta-{$entry['meta_id']}-key' type='text' size='20' value='{$entry['meta_key']}' />";
 
 	$r .= "\n\t\t<div class='submit'>";
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/js/inline-edit-post.js b/src/wp-admin/js/inline-edit-post.js
index 48e635f23c..de12499754 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/js/inline-edit-post.js
+++ b/src/wp-admin/js/inline-edit-post.js
@@ -82,7 +82,8 @@ inlineEditPost = {
 		this.revert();
 
 		$('#bulk-edit td').attr('colspan', $('.widefat:first thead th:visible').length);
-		$('table.widefat tbody').prepend( $('#bulk-edit') );
+		// Insert the editor at the top of the table with an empty row above to maintain zebra striping.
+		$('table.widefat tbody').prepend( $('#bulk-edit') ).prepend('<tr class="hidden"></tr>');
 		$('#bulk-edit').addClass('inline-editor').show();
 
 		$( 'tbody th.check-column input[type="checkbox"]' ).each( function() {
@@ -128,14 +129,11 @@ inlineEditPost = {
 			fields.push('post_parent', 'page_template');
 		}
 
-		// add the new blank row
+		// add the new edit row with an extra blank row underneath to maintain zebra striping.
 		editRow = $('#inline-edit').clone(true);
 		$('td', editRow).attr('colspan', $('.widefat:first thead th:visible').length);
 
-		if ( $( t.what + id ).hasClass( 'alternate' ) ) {
-			$(editRow).addClass('alternate');
-		}
-		$(t.what+id).hide().after(editRow);
+		$(t.what+id).hide().before(editRow).before('<tr class="hidden"></tr>');
 
 		// populate the data
 		rowData = $('#inline_'+id);
@@ -265,7 +263,7 @@ inlineEditPost = {
 
 				if (r) {
 					if ( -1 !== r.indexOf( '<tr' ) ) {
-						$(inlineEditPost.what+id).remove();
+						$(inlineEditPost.what+id).siblings('tr.hidden').addBack().remove();
 						$('#edit-'+id).before(r).remove();
 						$(inlineEditPost.what+id).hide().fadeIn();
 					} else {
@@ -275,10 +273,6 @@ inlineEditPost = {
 				} else {
 					$('#edit-'+id+' .inline-edit-save .error').html(inlineEditL10n.error).show();
 				}
-
-				if ( $('#post-'+id).prev().hasClass('alternate') ) {
-					$('#post-'+id).removeClass('alternate');
-				}
 			},
 		'html');
 		return false;
@@ -291,11 +285,11 @@ inlineEditPost = {
 			$('table.widefat .spinner').hide();
 
 			if ( 'bulk-edit' === id ) {
-				$('table.widefat #bulk-edit').removeClass('inline-editor').hide();
+				$('table.widefat #bulk-edit').removeClass('inline-editor').hide().siblings('tr.hidden').remove();
 				$('#bulk-titles').html('');
 				$('#inlineedit').append( $('#bulk-edit') );
 			} else {
-				$('#'+id).remove();
+				$('#'+id).siblings('tr.hidden').addBack().remove();
 				id = id.substr( id.lastIndexOf('-') + 1 );
 				$(this.what+id).show();
 			}
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/js/inline-edit-tax.js b/src/wp-admin/js/inline-edit-tax.js
index 1efacba7a1..bbdfb42442 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/js/inline-edit-tax.js
+++ b/src/wp-admin/js/inline-edit-tax.js
@@ -56,11 +56,7 @@ inlineEditTax = {
 		editRow = $('#inline-edit').clone(true), rowData = $('#inline_'+id);
 		$('td', editRow).attr('colspan', $('.widefat:first thead th:visible').length);
 
-		if ( $( t.what + id ).hasClass( 'alternate' ) ) {
-			$(editRow).addClass('alternate');
-		}
-
-		$(t.what+id).hide().after(editRow);
+		$(t.what+id).hide().before(editRow).before('<tr class="hidden"></tr>');
 
 		$(':input[name="name"]', editRow).val( $('.name', rowData).text() );
 		$(':input[name="slug"]', editRow).val( $('.slug', rowData).text() );
@@ -98,7 +94,7 @@ inlineEditTax = {
 
 				if (r) {
 					if ( -1 !== r.indexOf( '<tr' ) ) {
-						$(inlineEditTax.what+id).remove();
+						$(inlineEditTax.what+id).siblings('tr.hidden').addBack().remove();
 						new_id = $(r).attr('id');
 
 						$('#edit-'+id).before(r).remove();
@@ -110,10 +106,6 @@ inlineEditTax = {
 				} else {
 					$('#edit-'+id+' .inline-edit-save .error').html(inlineEditL10n.error).show();
 				}
-
-				if ( $( row ).prev( 'tr' ).hasClass( 'alternate' ) ) {
-					$(row).removeClass('alternate');
-				}
 			}
 		);
 		return false;
@@ -124,7 +116,7 @@ inlineEditTax = {
 
 		if ( id ) {
 			$('table.widefat .spinner').hide();
-			$('#'+id).remove();
+			$('#'+id).siblings('tr.hidden').addBack().remove();
 			id = id.substr( id.lastIndexOf('-') + 1 );
 			$(this.what+id).show();
 		}
diff --git a/src/wp-admin/my-sites.php b/src/wp-admin/my-sites.php
index feed16aee6..7acd555fb6 100644
--- a/src/wp-admin/my-sites.php
+++ b/src/wp-admin/my-sites.php
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ else :
 	do_action( 'myblogs_allblogs_options' );
 	?>
 	<br clear="all" />
-	<table class="widefat fixed">
+	<table class="widefat fixed striped">
 	<?php
 	/**
 	 * Enable the Global Settings section on the My Sites screen.
@@ -109,10 +109,8 @@ else :
 		$split = $split + $cols;
 	}
 
-	$c = '';
 	foreach ( $rows as $row ) {
-		$c = $c == 'alternate' ? '' : 'alternate';
-		echo "<tr class='$c'>";
+		echo "<tr>";
 		$i = 0;
 		foreach ( $row as $user_blog ) {
 			$s = $i == 3 ? '' : 'border-right: 1px solid #ccc;';