diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index 978cbf725c..777d755861 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -274,6 +274,7 @@ Collate:
     'theme.R'
     'theme-defaults.R'
     'theme-current.R'
+    'theme-sub.R'
     'utilities-break.R'
     'utilities-grid.R'
     'utilities-help.R'
diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index 391f435b30..690b9fb0ed 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -725,6 +725,17 @@ export(theme_linedraw)
 export(theme_minimal)
 export(theme_replace)
 export(theme_set)
+export(theme_sub_axis)
+export(theme_sub_axis_bottom)
+export(theme_sub_axis_left)
+export(theme_sub_axis_right)
+export(theme_sub_axis_top)
+export(theme_sub_axis_x)
+export(theme_sub_axis_y)
+export(theme_sub_legend)
+export(theme_sub_panel)
+export(theme_sub_plot)
+export(theme_sub_strip)
 export(theme_test)
 export(theme_transparent)
 export(theme_update)
diff --git a/NEWS.md b/NEWS.md
index 539dee258c..62a18cfd4d 100644
--- a/NEWS.md
+++ b/NEWS.md
@@ -1,5 +1,10 @@
 # ggplot2 (development version)
 
+* New function family for setting parts of a theme. For example, you can now use 
+  `theme_sub_axis(line, text, ticks, ticks.length, line)` as a substitute for
+  `theme(axis.line, axis.text, axis.ticks, axis.ticks.length, axis.line)`. This
+  should allow slightly terser and more organised theme declarations 
+  (@teunbrand, #5301).
 * `scale_{x/y}_discrete(continuous.limits)` is a new argument to control the
   display range of discrete scales (@teunbrand, #4174, #6259).
 * `geom_ribbon()` now appropriately warns about, and removes, missing values 
diff --git a/R/theme-sub.R b/R/theme-sub.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..abfb178c44
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/theme-sub.R
@@ -0,0 +1,144 @@
+#' Shortcuts for theme settings
+#'
+#' This collection of functions serves as a shortcut for [`theme()`][theme] with
+#' shorter argument names. Besides the shorter arguments, it also helps in
+#' keeping theme declarations more organised.
+#'
+#' @eval subtheme_param_doc()
+#'
+#' @return A `theme`-class object that can be added to a plot.
+#' @name subtheme
+#'
+#' @examples
+#' # A standard plot
+#' p <- ggplot(mtcars, aes(disp, mpg, colour = drat)) +
+#'   geom_point()
+#'
+#' red_text <- element_text(colour = "red")
+#' red_line <- element_line(colour = "red")
+#'
+#' # The theme settings below:
+#' p + theme(
+#'   axis.title.x.bottom = red_text,
+#'   axis.text.x.bottom  = red_text,
+#'   axis.line.x.bottom  = red_line,
+#'   axis.ticks.x.bottom = red_line
+#' )
+#'
+#' # Are equivalent to these less verbose theme settings
+#' p + theme_sub_axis_bottom(
+#'   title = red_text,
+#'   text  = red_text,
+#'   line  = red_line,
+#'   ticks = red_line
+#' )
+NULL
+
+subtheme <- function(elements, prefix = "", suffix = "", call = caller_env()) {
+  if (length(elements) < 1) {
+    return(theme())
+  }
+  names(elements) <- paste0(prefix, names(elements), suffix)
+
+  extra <- setdiff(names(elements), names(get_element_tree()))
+  if (length(extra) > 0) {
+    cli::cli_warn(
+      "Ignoring unknown {.fn theme} element{?s}: {.and {.field {extra}}}.",
+      call = call
+    )
+    elements <- elements[setdiff(names(elements), extra)]
+  }
+
+  exec(theme, !!!elements)
+}
+
+#' @export
+#' @describeIn subtheme Theme specification for all axes.
+theme_sub_axis <- function(title, text, ticks, ticks.length, line) {
+  subtheme(find_args(), "axis.")
+}
+
+#' @export
+#' @describeIn subtheme Theme specification for both x axes.
+theme_sub_axis_x <- function(title, text, ticks, ticks.length, line) {
+  subtheme(find_args(), "axis.", ".x")
+}
+
+#' @export
+#' @describeIn subtheme Theme specification for both y axes.
+theme_sub_axis_y <- function(title, text, ticks, ticks.length, line) {
+  subtheme(find_args(), "axis.", ".y")
+}
+
+#' @export
+#' @describeIn subtheme Theme specification for the bottom x axis.
+theme_sub_axis_bottom <- function(title, text, ticks, ticks.length, line) {
+  subtheme(find_args(), "axis.", ".x.bottom")
+}
+
+#' @export
+#' @describeIn subtheme Theme specification for the top x axis.
+theme_sub_axis_top <- function(title, text, ticks, ticks.length, line) {
+  subtheme(find_args(), "axis.", ".x.top")
+}
+
+#' @export
+#' @describeIn subtheme Theme specification for the left y axis.
+theme_sub_axis_left <- function(title, text, ticks, ticks.length, line) {
+  subtheme(find_args(), "axis.", ".y.left")
+}
+
+#' @export
+#' @describeIn subtheme Theme specification for the right y axis.
+theme_sub_axis_right <- function(title, text, ticks, ticks.length, line) {
+  subtheme(find_args(), "axis.", ".y.right")
+}
+
+#' @export
+#' @describeIn subtheme Theme specification for the legend.
+theme_sub_legend <- function(background, margin, spacing, spacing.x, spacing.y,
+                             key, key.size, key.height, key.width, text, title,
+                             position, direction, justification, box, box.just,
+                             box.margin, box.background, box.spacing) {
+  subtheme(find_args(), "legend.")
+}
+
+#' @export
+#' @describeIn subtheme Theme specification for the panels.
+theme_sub_panel <- function(background, border, spacing, spacing.x, spacing.y,
+                            grid, grid.major, grid.minor, grid.major.x,
+                            grid.major.y, grid.minor.x, grid.minor.y, ontop) {
+  subtheme(find_args(), "panel.")
+}
+
+#' @export
+#' @describeIn subtheme Theme specification for the whole plot.
+theme_sub_plot <- function(background, title, title.position, subtitle, caption,
+                           caption.position, tag, tag.position, tag.location,
+                           margin) {
+  subtheme(find_args(), "plot.")
+}
+
+#' @export
+#' @describeIn subtheme Theme specification for facet strips.
+theme_sub_strip <- function(background, background.x, background.y, clip,
+                            placement, text, text.x, text.x.bottom, text.x.top,
+                            text.y, text.y.left, text.y.right,
+                            switch.pad.grid, switch.pad.wrap) {
+  subtheme(find_args(), "strip.")
+}
+
+subtheme_param_doc <- function() {
+  funs <- list(
+    theme_sub_axis, theme_sub_axis_x, theme_sub_axis_y, theme_sub_axis_bottom,
+    theme_sub_axis_top, theme_sub_axis_left, theme_sub_axis_right, theme_sub_legend,
+    theme_sub_panel, theme_sub_plot, theme_sub_strip
+  )
+  args <- sort(unique(unlist(lapply(funs, fn_fmls_names), use.names = FALSE)))
+  paste0(
+    "@param ",
+    paste0(args, collapse = ","),
+    " Arguments that are renamed and passed on to ",
+    "\\code{\\link[=theme]{theme()}}."
+  )
+}
diff --git a/_pkgdown.yml b/_pkgdown.yml
index 593f015590..0259312234 100644
--- a/_pkgdown.yml
+++ b/_pkgdown.yml
@@ -186,6 +186,7 @@ reference:
   - theme
   - theme_bw
   - theme_update
+  - subtheme
   - element_line
   - margin
 
diff --git a/man/subtheme.Rd b/man/subtheme.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..a05a98a54c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/subtheme.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,159 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/theme-sub.R
+\name{subtheme}
+\alias{subtheme}
+\alias{theme_sub_axis}
+\alias{theme_sub_axis_x}
+\alias{theme_sub_axis_y}
+\alias{theme_sub_axis_bottom}
+\alias{theme_sub_axis_top}
+\alias{theme_sub_axis_left}
+\alias{theme_sub_axis_right}
+\alias{theme_sub_legend}
+\alias{theme_sub_panel}
+\alias{theme_sub_plot}
+\alias{theme_sub_strip}
+\title{Shortcuts for theme settings}
+\usage{
+theme_sub_axis(title, text, ticks, ticks.length, line)
+
+theme_sub_axis_x(title, text, ticks, ticks.length, line)
+
+theme_sub_axis_y(title, text, ticks, ticks.length, line)
+
+theme_sub_axis_bottom(title, text, ticks, ticks.length, line)
+
+theme_sub_axis_top(title, text, ticks, ticks.length, line)
+
+theme_sub_axis_left(title, text, ticks, ticks.length, line)
+
+theme_sub_axis_right(title, text, ticks, ticks.length, line)
+
+theme_sub_legend(
+  background,
+  margin,
+  spacing,
+  spacing.x,
+  spacing.y,
+  key,
+  key.size,
+  key.height,
+  key.width,
+  text,
+  title,
+  position,
+  direction,
+  justification,
+  box,
+  box.just,
+  box.margin,
+  box.background,
+  box.spacing
+)
+
+theme_sub_panel(
+  background,
+  border,
+  spacing,
+  spacing.x,
+  spacing.y,
+  grid,
+  grid.major,
+  grid.minor,
+  grid.major.x,
+  grid.major.y,
+  grid.minor.x,
+  grid.minor.y,
+  ontop
+)
+
+theme_sub_plot(
+  background,
+  title,
+  title.position,
+  subtitle,
+  caption,
+  caption.position,
+  tag,
+  tag.position,
+  tag.location,
+  margin
+)
+
+theme_sub_strip(
+  background,
+  background.x,
+  background.y,
+  clip,
+  placement,
+  text,
+  text.x,
+  text.x.bottom,
+  text.x.top,
+  text.y,
+  text.y.left,
+  text.y.right,
+  switch.pad.grid,
+  switch.pad.wrap
+)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{background, background.x, background.y, border, box, box.background, box.just, box.margin, box.spacing, caption, caption.position, clip, direction, grid, grid.major, grid.major.x, grid.major.y, grid.minor, grid.minor.x, grid.minor.y, justification, key, key.height, key.size, key.width, line, margin, ontop, placement, position, spacing, spacing.x, spacing.y, subtitle, switch.pad.grid, switch.pad.wrap, tag, tag.location, tag.position, text, text.x, text.x.bottom, text.x.top, text.y, text.y.left, text.y.right, ticks, ticks.length, title, title.position}{Arguments that are renamed and passed on to \code{\link[=theme]{theme()}}.}
+}
+\value{
+A \code{theme}-class object that can be added to a plot.
+}
+\description{
+This collection of functions serves as a shortcut for \code{\link[=theme]{theme()}} with
+shorter argument names. Besides the shorter arguments, it also helps in
+keeping theme declarations more organised.
+}
+\section{Functions}{
+\itemize{
+\item \code{theme_sub_axis()}: Theme specification for all axes.
+
+\item \code{theme_sub_axis_x()}: Theme specification for both x axes.
+
+\item \code{theme_sub_axis_y()}: Theme specification for both y axes.
+
+\item \code{theme_sub_axis_bottom()}: Theme specification for the bottom x axis.
+
+\item \code{theme_sub_axis_top()}: Theme specification for the top x axis.
+
+\item \code{theme_sub_axis_left()}: Theme specification for the left y axis.
+
+\item \code{theme_sub_axis_right()}: Theme specification for the right y axis.
+
+\item \code{theme_sub_legend()}: Theme specification for the legend.
+
+\item \code{theme_sub_panel()}: Theme specification for the panels.
+
+\item \code{theme_sub_plot()}: Theme specification for the whole plot.
+
+\item \code{theme_sub_strip()}: Theme specification for facet strips.
+
+}}
+\examples{
+# A standard plot
+p <- ggplot(mtcars, aes(disp, mpg, colour = drat)) +
+  geom_point()
+
+red_text <- element_text(colour = "red")
+red_line <- element_line(colour = "red")
+
+# The theme settings below:
+p + theme(
+  axis.title.x.bottom = red_text,
+  axis.text.x.bottom  = red_text,
+  axis.line.x.bottom  = red_line,
+  axis.ticks.x.bottom = red_line
+)
+
+# Are equivalent to these less verbose theme settings
+p + theme_sub_axis_bottom(
+  title = red_text,
+  text  = red_text,
+  line  = red_line,
+  ticks = red_line
+)
+}
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/theme.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/theme.md
index fa7237d37d..322cce92b7 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/theme.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/theme.md
@@ -77,6 +77,10 @@
     `plot.tag.position` must be one of "topleft", "top", "topright", "left", "right", "bottomleft", "bottom", or "bottomright", not "test".
     i Did you mean "left"?
 
+# subtheme functions rename arguments as intended
+
+    Ignoring unknown `theme()` elements: foo and bar.
+
 # Theme validation behaves as expected
 
     The `aspect.ratio` theme element must be a <numeric/integer> object.
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-theme.R b/tests/testthat/test-theme.R
index ef358b10b6..b6248acaa3 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-theme.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-theme.R
@@ -514,6 +514,32 @@ test_that("Theme elements are checked during build", {
   expect_snapshot_error(ggplotGrob(p))
 })
 
+test_that("subtheme functions rename arguments as intended", {
+
+  line <- element_line(colour = "red")
+  rect <- element_rect(colour = "red")
+
+  expect_equal(theme_sub_axis(ticks = line),        theme(axis.ticks = line))
+  expect_equal(theme_sub_axis_x(ticks = line),      theme(axis.ticks.x = line))
+  expect_equal(theme_sub_axis_y(ticks = line),      theme(axis.ticks.y = line))
+  expect_equal(theme_sub_axis_top(ticks = line),    theme(axis.ticks.x.top = line))
+  expect_equal(theme_sub_axis_bottom(ticks = line), theme(axis.ticks.x.bottom = line))
+  expect_equal(theme_sub_axis_left(ticks = line),   theme(axis.ticks.y.left = line))
+  expect_equal(theme_sub_axis_right(ticks = line),  theme(axis.ticks.y.right = line))
+  expect_equal(theme_sub_legend(key = rect),        theme(legend.key = rect))
+  expect_equal(theme_sub_panel(border = rect),      theme(panel.border = rect))
+  expect_equal(theme_sub_plot(background = rect),   theme(plot.background = rect))
+  expect_equal(theme_sub_strip(background = rect),  theme(strip.background = rect))
+
+  # Test rejection of unknown theme elements
+  expect_snapshot_warning(
+    expect_equal(
+      subtheme(list(foo = 1, bar = 2, axis.line = line)),
+      theme(axis.line = line)
+    )
+  )
+})
+
 test_that("Theme validation behaves as expected", {
   tree <- get_element_tree()
   expect_silent(validate_element(1,  "aspect.ratio", tree))