diff --git a/docs/index.md b/docs/index.md
index 1cc8047687..12b4b18955 100644
--- a/docs/index.md
+++ b/docs/index.md
@@ -874,6 +874,12 @@ Use this option to have Mocha check for global variables that are leaked while r
 
 > _`--compilers` was removed in v6.0.0. See [further explanation and workarounds][mocha-wiki-compilers]._
 
+### `--dry-run`
+
+> _New in v9.0.0._
+
+Report tests without executing any of them, neither tests nor hooks.
+
 ### `--exit`
 
 > _Updated in v4.0.0._
@@ -2102,6 +2108,7 @@ mocha.setup({
   asyncOnly: true,
   bail: true,
   checkLeaks: true,
+  dryRun: true,
   forbidOnly: true,
   forbidPending: true,
   global: ['MyLib'],
diff --git a/lib/cli/run-option-metadata.js b/lib/cli/run-option-metadata.js
index 33cd15ae08..fc870992c9 100644
--- a/lib/cli/run-option-metadata.js
+++ b/lib/cli/run-option-metadata.js
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ const TYPES = (exports.types = {
     'color',
     'delay',
     'diff',
+    'dry-run',
     'exit',
     'forbid-only',
     'forbid-pending',
diff --git a/lib/cli/run.js b/lib/cli/run.js
index a8c8b619b3..79903327c3 100644
--- a/lib/cli/run.js
+++ b/lib/cli/run.js
@@ -83,6 +83,10 @@ exports.builder = yargs =>
         description: 'Show diff on failure',
         group: GROUPS.OUTPUT
       },
+      'dry-run': {
+        description: 'Report tests without executing them',
+        group: GROUPS.RULES
+      },
       exit: {
         description: 'Force Mocha to quit after tests complete',
         group: GROUPS.RULES
diff --git a/lib/mocha.js b/lib/mocha.js
index f1f2e25dd7..62a414a9fa 100644
--- a/lib/mocha.js
+++ b/lib/mocha.js
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ const {
   EVENT_FILE_POST_REQUIRE,
   EVENT_FILE_REQUIRE
 } = Suite.constants;
-var sQuote = utils.sQuote;
 var debug = require('debug')('mocha:mocha');
 
 exports = module.exports = Mocha;
@@ -164,6 +163,7 @@ exports.run = function(...args) {
  * @param {boolean} [options.color] - Color TTY output from reporter?
  * @param {boolean} [options.delay] - Delay root suite execution?
  * @param {boolean} [options.diff] - Show diff on failure?
+ * @param {boolean} [options.dryRun] - Report tests without running them?
  * @param {string} [options.fgrep] - Test filter given string.
  * @param {boolean} [options.forbidOnly] - Tests marked `only` fail the suite?
  * @param {boolean} [options.forbidPending] - Pending tests fail the suite?
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ function Mocha(options = {}) {
     .ui(options.ui)
     .reporter(
       options.reporter,
-      options.reporterOption || options.reporterOptions // reporterOptions was previously the only way to specify options to reporter
+      options.reporterOption || options.reporterOptions // for backwards compability
     )
     .slow(options.slow)
     .global(options.global);
@@ -222,6 +222,7 @@ function Mocha(options = {}) {
     'color',
     'delay',
     'diff',
+    'dryRun',
     'forbidOnly',
     'forbidPending',
     'fullTrace',
@@ -346,23 +347,19 @@ Mocha.prototype.reporter = function(reporterName, reporterOptions) {
             reporter = require(path.resolve(utils.cwd(), reporterName));
           } catch (_err) {
             _err.code === 'MODULE_NOT_FOUND'
-              ? warn(sQuote(reporterName) + ' reporter not found')
+              ? warn(`'${reporterName}' reporter not found`)
               : warn(
-                  sQuote(reporterName) +
-                    ' reporter blew up with error:\n' +
-                    err.stack
+                  `'${reporterName}' reporter blew up with error:\n ${err.stack}`
                 );
           }
         } else {
-          warn(
-            sQuote(reporterName) + ' reporter blew up with error:\n' + err.stack
-          );
+          warn(`'${reporterName}' reporter blew up with error:\n ${err.stack}`);
         }
       }
     }
     if (!reporter) {
       throw createInvalidReporterError(
-        'invalid reporter ' + sQuote(reporterName),
+        `invalid reporter '${reporterName}'`,
         reporterName
       );
     }
@@ -396,10 +393,7 @@ Mocha.prototype.ui = function(ui) {
       try {
         bindInterface = require(ui);
       } catch (err) {
-        throw createInvalidInterfaceError(
-          'invalid interface ' + sQuote(ui),
-          ui
-        );
+        throw createInvalidInterfaceError(`invalid interface '${ui}'`, ui);
       }
     }
   }
@@ -784,6 +778,20 @@ Mocha.prototype.diff = function(diff) {
   return this;
 };
 
+/**
+ * Enables or disables running tests in dry-run mode.
+ *
+ * @public
+ * @see [CLI option](../#-dry-run)
+ * @param {boolean} [dryRun=true] - Whether to activate dry-run mode.
+ * @return {Mocha} this
+ * @chainable
+ */
+Mocha.prototype.dryRun = function(dryRun) {
+  this.options.dryRun = dryRun !== false;
+  return this;
+};
+
 /**
  * @summary
  * Sets timeout threshold value.
@@ -1016,6 +1024,7 @@ Mocha.prototype.run = function(fn) {
   options.files = this.files;
   const runner = new this._runnerClass(suite, {
     delay: options.delay,
+    dryRun: options.dryRun,
     cleanReferencesAfterRun: this._cleanReferencesAfterRun
   });
   createStatsCollector(runner);
diff --git a/lib/runner.js b/lib/runner.js
index f493004aea..079ab3066d 100644
--- a/lib/runner.js
+++ b/lib/runner.js
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@
  * Module dependencies.
  * @private
  */
-var util = require('util');
 var EventEmitter = require('events').EventEmitter;
 var Pending = require('./pending');
 var utils = require('./utils');
@@ -19,8 +18,6 @@ var EVENT_ROOT_SUITE_RUN = Suite.constants.EVENT_ROOT_SUITE_RUN;
 var STATE_FAILED = Runnable.constants.STATE_FAILED;
 var STATE_PASSED = Runnable.constants.STATE_PASSED;
 var STATE_PENDING = Runnable.constants.STATE_PENDING;
-var dQuote = utils.dQuote;
-var sQuote = utils.sQuote;
 var stackFilter = utils.stackTraceFilter();
 var stringify = utils.stringify;
 
@@ -140,6 +137,7 @@ class Runner extends EventEmitter {
    * @param {Suite} suite - Root suite
    * @param {Object|boolean} [opts] - Options. If `boolean` (deprecated), whether or not to delay execution of root suite until ready.
    * @param {boolean} [opts.delay] - Whether to delay execution of root suite until ready.
+   * @param {boolean} [opts.dryRun] - Whether to report tests without running them.
    * @param {boolean} [opts.cleanReferencesAfterRun] - Whether to clean references to test fns and hooks when a suite is done.
    */
   constructor(suite, opts) {
@@ -410,9 +408,8 @@ Runner.prototype.checkGlobals = function(test) {
   this._globals = this._globals.concat(leaks);
 
   if (leaks.length) {
-    var msg = 'global leak(s) detected: %s';
-    var error = new Error(util.format(msg, leaks.map(sQuote).join(', ')));
-    this.fail(test, error);
+    var msg = `global leak(s) detected: ${leaks.map(e => `'${e}'`).join(', ')}`;
+    this.fail(test, new Error(msg));
   }
 };
 
@@ -479,6 +476,8 @@ Runner.prototype.fail = function(test, err, force) {
  */
 
 Runner.prototype.hook = function(name, fn) {
+  if (this._opts.dryRun) return fn();
+
   var suite = this.suite;
   var hooks = suite.getHooks(name);
   var self = this;
@@ -557,8 +556,7 @@ Runner.prototype.hook = function(name, fn) {
     function setHookTitle(hook) {
       hook.originalTitle = hook.originalTitle || hook.title;
       if (hook.ctx && hook.ctx.currentTest) {
-        hook.title =
-          hook.originalTitle + ' for ' + dQuote(hook.ctx.currentTest.title);
+        hook.title = `${hook.originalTitle} for "${hook.ctx.currentTest.title}"`;
       } else {
         var parentTitle;
         if (hook.parent.title) {
@@ -566,7 +564,7 @@ Runner.prototype.hook = function(name, fn) {
         } else {
           parentTitle = hook.parent.root ? '{root}' : '';
         }
-        hook.title = hook.originalTitle + ' in ' + dQuote(parentTitle);
+        hook.title = `${hook.originalTitle} in "${parentTitle}"`;
       }
     }
   }
@@ -612,7 +610,7 @@ Runner.prototype.hooks = function(name, suites, fn) {
 };
 
 /**
- * Run hooks from the top level down.
+ * Run 'afterEach' hooks from bottom up.
  *
  * @param {String} name
  * @param {Function} fn
@@ -624,7 +622,7 @@ Runner.prototype.hookUp = function(name, fn) {
 };
 
 /**
- * Run hooks from the bottom up.
+ * Run 'beforeEach' hooks from top level down.
  *
  * @param {String} name
  * @param {Function} fn
@@ -659,6 +657,8 @@ Runner.prototype.parents = function() {
  * @private
  */
 Runner.prototype.runTest = function(fn) {
+  if (this._opts.dryRun) return fn();
+
   var self = this;
   var test = this.test;
 
@@ -704,7 +704,6 @@ Runner.prototype.runTests = function(suite, fn) {
     self.suite = after ? errSuite.parent : errSuite;
 
     if (self.suite) {
-      // call hookUp afterEach
       self.hookUp(HOOK_TYPE_AFTER_EACH, function(err2, errSuite2) {
         self.suite = orig;
         // some hooks may fail even now
diff --git a/lib/utils.js b/lib/utils.js
index e46eac8d1a..9120347583 100644
--- a/lib/utils.js
+++ b/lib/utils.js
@@ -518,44 +518,6 @@ exports.clamp = function clamp(value, range) {
   return Math.min(Math.max(value, range[0]), range[1]);
 };
 
-/**
- * Single quote text by combining with undirectional ASCII quotation marks.
- *
- * @description
- * Provides a simple means of markup for quoting text to be used in output.
- * Use this to quote names of variables, methods, and packages.
- *
- * <samp>package 'foo' cannot be found</samp>
- *
- * @private
- * @param {string} str - Value to be quoted.
- * @returns {string} quoted value
- * @example
- * sQuote('n') // => 'n'
- */
-exports.sQuote = function(str) {
-  return "'" + str + "'";
-};
-
-/**
- * Double quote text by combining with undirectional ASCII quotation marks.
- *
- * @description
- * Provides a simple means of markup for quoting text to be used in output.
- * Use this to quote names of datatypes, classes, pathnames, and strings.
- *
- * <samp>argument 'value' must be "string" or "number"</samp>
- *
- * @private
- * @param {string} str - Value to be quoted.
- * @returns {string} quoted value
- * @example
- * dQuote('number') // => "number"
- */
-exports.dQuote = function(str) {
-  return '"' + str + '"';
-};
-
 /**
  * It's a noop.
  * @public
diff --git a/test/integration/fixtures/options/dry-run/dry-run.fixture.js b/test/integration/fixtures/options/dry-run/dry-run.fixture.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..ebb48ad1fa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/fixtures/options/dry-run/dry-run.fixture.js
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+'use strict';
+
+describe.only('suite1', function() {
+  it.skip('test1 - report as skipped', function() { });
+
+  it('test2 - report as passed', function() { });
+
+  it('test3 - report as passed', function() {
+    throw new Error('this test should not run');
+  });
+});
+
+describe('suite2', function () {
+  before(function() {
+    throw new Error('this hook should not run');
+  });
+  beforeEach(function() {
+    throw new Error('this hook should not run');
+  });
+
+  it.only('test4 - report as passed', function () {
+    throw new Error('this test should not run');
+  });
+
+  it('test5 - should be ignored', function () {
+    throw new Error('this test should not run');
+  });
+
+  afterEach(function() {
+    throw new Error('this hook should not run');
+  });
+  after(function() {
+    throw new Error('this hook should not run');
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/integration/options/dryRun.spec.js b/test/integration/options/dryRun.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..81325948ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/options/dryRun.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+'use strict';
+
+var path = require('path').posix;
+var helpers = require('../helpers');
+var runMochaJSON = helpers.runMochaJSON;
+
+describe('--dry-run', function() {
+  var args = ['--dry-run'];
+
+  it('should only report, but not execute any test', function(done) {
+    var fixture = path.join('options/dry-run', 'dry-run');
+    runMochaJSON(fixture, args, function(err, res) {
+      if (err) {
+        return done(err);
+      }
+
+      expect(res, 'to have passed')
+        .and(
+          'to have passed tests',
+          'test2 - report as passed',
+          'test3 - report as passed',
+          'test4 - report as passed'
+        )
+        .and('to have passed test count', 3)
+        .and('to have pending test count', 1)
+        .and('to have failed test count', 0);
+      done();
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/integration/reporters.spec.js b/test/integration/reporters.spec.js
index 944f94f552..17bbcd2f41 100644
--- a/test/integration/reporters.spec.js
+++ b/test/integration/reporters.spec.js
@@ -5,8 +5,6 @@ var fs = require('fs');
 var crypto = require('crypto');
 var path = require('path');
 var run = require('./helpers').runMocha;
-var utils = require('../../lib/utils');
-var dQuote = utils.dQuote;
 
 describe('reporters', function() {
   describe('markdown', function() {
@@ -215,9 +213,7 @@ describe('reporters', function() {
             return;
           }
 
-          var pattern =
-            '^Error: invalid or unsupported TAP version: ' +
-            dQuote(invalidTapVersion);
+          var pattern = `^Error: invalid or unsupported TAP version: "${invalidTapVersion}"`;
           expect(res, 'to satisfy', {
             code: 1,
             output: new RegExp(pattern, 'm')
diff --git a/test/reporters/json-stream.spec.js b/test/reporters/json-stream.spec.js
index 58694e3f19..f4610200c1 100644
--- a/test/reporters/json-stream.spec.js
+++ b/test/reporters/json-stream.spec.js
@@ -3,11 +3,9 @@
 var events = require('../../').Runner.constants;
 var helpers = require('./helpers');
 var reporters = require('../../').reporters;
-var utils = require('../../lib/utils');
 
 var JSONStream = reporters.JSONStream;
 var createMockRunner = helpers.createMockRunner;
-var dQuote = utils.dQuote;
 var makeExpectedTest = helpers.makeExpectedTest;
 var makeRunReporter = helpers.createRunReporterFunction;
 
@@ -71,17 +69,17 @@ describe('JSON Stream reporter', function() {
           stdout[0],
           'to equal',
           '["pass",{"title":' +
-            dQuote(expectedTitle) +
+            `"${expectedTitle}"` +
             ',"fullTitle":' +
-            dQuote(expectedFullTitle) +
+            `"${expectedFullTitle}"` +
             ',"file":' +
-            dQuote(expectedFile) +
+            `"${expectedFile}"` +
             ',"duration":' +
             expectedDuration +
             ',"currentRetry":' +
             currentRetry +
             ',"speed":' +
-            dQuote(expectedSpeed) +
+            `"${expectedSpeed}"` +
             '}]\n'
         );
       });
@@ -106,21 +104,21 @@ describe('JSON Stream reporter', function() {
             stdout[0],
             'to equal',
             '["fail",{"title":' +
-              dQuote(expectedTitle) +
+              `"${expectedTitle}"` +
               ',"fullTitle":' +
-              dQuote(expectedFullTitle) +
+              `"${expectedFullTitle}"` +
               ',"file":' +
-              dQuote(expectedFile) +
+              `"${expectedFile}"` +
               ',"duration":' +
               expectedDuration +
               ',"currentRetry":' +
               currentRetry +
               ',"speed":' +
-              dQuote(expectedSpeed) +
+              `"${expectedSpeed}"` +
               ',"err":' +
-              dQuote(expectedErrorMessage) +
+              `"${expectedErrorMessage}"` +
               ',"stack":' +
-              dQuote(expectedErrorStack) +
+              `"${expectedErrorStack}"` +
               '}]\n'
           );
         });
@@ -144,19 +142,19 @@ describe('JSON Stream reporter', function() {
             stdout[0],
             'to equal',
             '["fail",{"title":' +
-              dQuote(expectedTitle) +
+              `"${expectedTitle}"` +
               ',"fullTitle":' +
-              dQuote(expectedFullTitle) +
+              `"${expectedFullTitle}"` +
               ',"file":' +
-              dQuote(expectedFile) +
+              `"${expectedFile}"` +
               ',"duration":' +
               expectedDuration +
               ',"currentRetry":' +
               currentRetry +
               ',"speed":' +
-              dQuote(expectedSpeed) +
+              `"${expectedSpeed}"` +
               ',"err":' +
-              dQuote(expectedErrorMessage) +
+              `"${expectedErrorMessage}"` +
               ',"stack":null}]\n'
           );
         });
diff --git a/test/unit/mocha.spec.js b/test/unit/mocha.spec.js
index 142018b54c..35f7abd327 100644
--- a/test/unit/mocha.spec.js
+++ b/test/unit/mocha.spec.js
@@ -352,6 +352,20 @@ describe('Mocha', function() {
       });
     });
 
+    describe('dryRun()', function() {
+      it('should set the dryRun option to true', function() {
+        mocha.dryRun();
+        expect(mocha.options, 'to have property', 'dryRun', true);
+      });
+
+      describe('when provided `false` argument', function() {
+        it('should set the dryRun option to false', function() {
+          mocha.dryRun(false);
+          expect(mocha.options, 'to have property', 'dryRun', false);
+        });
+      });
+    });
+
     describe('dispose()', function() {
       it('should dispose the root suite', function() {
         mocha.dispose();
diff --git a/test/unit/utils.spec.js b/test/unit/utils.spec.js
index 53d4f20f32..9e4068b9bf 100644
--- a/test/unit/utils.spec.js
+++ b/test/unit/utils.spec.js
@@ -669,24 +669,6 @@ describe('lib/utils', function() {
     });
   });
 
-  describe('sQuote()', function() {
-    var str = 'xxx';
-
-    it('should return its input as string wrapped in single quotes', function() {
-      var expected = "'xxx'";
-      expect(utils.sQuote(str), 'to be', expected);
-    });
-  });
-
-  describe('dQuote()', function() {
-    var str = 'xxx';
-
-    it('should return its input as string wrapped in double quotes', function() {
-      var expected = '"xxx"';
-      expect(utils.dQuote(str), 'to be', expected);
-    });
-  });
-
   describe('createMap()', function() {
     it('should return an object with a null prototype', function() {
       expect(Object.getPrototypeOf(utils.createMap()), 'to be', null);