diff --git a/pygmt/alias.py b/pygmt/alias.py
index 06b5186d07d..4a770fe8076 100644
--- a/pygmt/alias.py
+++ b/pygmt/alias.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 from typing import Any, Literal
 
 from pygmt.exceptions import GMTParameterError, GMTValueError
-from pygmt.helpers.utils import is_nonstr_iter, sequence_join
+from pygmt.helpers.utils import is_given, is_nonstr_iter, sequence_join
 
 
 def _to_string(
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ def _to_string(
     '2010-01-01/2010-03-01T00:00:00.000000/2015-01-01T12:00:00.123456/2005-01-01T08:00:00.000000000'
     """
     # None and False are converted to None.
-    if value is None or value is False:
+    if not is_given(value):
         return None
     # True is converted to an empty string with the optional prefix and suffix.
     if value is True:
diff --git a/pygmt/helpers/__init__.py b/pygmt/helpers/__init__.py
index 8cebc43cb77..8e746687f40 100644
--- a/pygmt/helpers/__init__.py
+++ b/pygmt/helpers/__init__.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
     args_in_kwargs,
     build_arg_list,
     data_kind,
+    is_given,
     is_nonstr_iter,
     launch_external_viewer,
     non_ascii_to_octal,
diff --git a/pygmt/helpers/utils.py b/pygmt/helpers/utils.py
index c26b1df85f7..1854beee478 100644
--- a/pygmt/helpers/utils.py
+++ b/pygmt/helpers/utils.py
@@ -563,7 +563,7 @@ def build_arg_list(  # noqa: PLR0912
         if len(key) > 2:  # Raise an exception for unrecognized options
             msg = f"Unrecognized parameter {key!r}."
             raise GMTInvalidInput(msg)
-        if value is None or value is False:  # Exclude arguments that are None or False
+        if not is_given(value):
             pass
         elif value is True:
             gmt_args.append(f"-{key}")
@@ -603,6 +603,44 @@ def build_arg_list(  # noqa: PLR0912
     return gmt_args
 
 
+def is_given(value: Any) -> bool:
+    """
+    Check if a parameter is given (not None and not False).
+
+    In PyGMT, most parameters default to ``False`` (for boolean-only parameters) or
+    ``None`` (for non-boolean parameters), which means the parameters are not given and
+    should not be used in building the CLI option string.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    value
+        The value to check.
+
+    Returns
+    -------
+    bool
+        ``True`` if the value is not ``None`` and not ``False``, otherwise ``False``.
+
+    Examples
+    --------
+    >>> is_given(None)
+    False
+    >>> is_given(False)
+    False
+    >>> is_given(True)
+    True
+    >>> is_given(0)
+    True
+    >>> is_given("")
+    True
+    >>> is_given([])
+    True
+    >>> is_given("value")
+    True
+    """
+    return value is not None and value is not False
+
+
 def is_nonstr_iter(value: Any) -> bool:
     """
     Check if the value is iterable (e.g., list, tuple, array) but not a string or a 0-D
@@ -720,9 +758,7 @@ def args_in_kwargs(args: Sequence[str], kwargs: dict[str, Any]) -> bool:
     >>> args_in_kwargs(args=["A", "B"], kwargs={"B": 0})
     True
     """
-    return any(
-        kwargs.get(arg) is not None and kwargs.get(arg) is not False for arg in args
-    )
+    return any(is_given(kwargs.get(arg)) for arg in args)
 
 
 def sequence_join(
diff --git a/pygmt/params/base.py b/pygmt/params/base.py
index b85591f58f3..79d680dcedb 100644
--- a/pygmt/params/base.py
+++ b/pygmt/params/base.py
@@ -4,6 +4,8 @@
 
 from abc import ABC, abstractmethod
 
+from pygmt.helpers import is_given
+
 
 class BaseParam(ABC):
     """
@@ -89,9 +91,5 @@ def __repr__(self):
         """
         String representation of the object.
         """
-        params = ", ".join(
-            f"{k}={v!r}"
-            for k, v in vars(self).items()
-            if v is not None and v is not False
-        )
+        params = ", ".join(f"{k}={v!r}" for k, v in vars(self).items() if is_given(v))
         return f"{self.__class__.__name__}({params})"
diff --git a/pygmt/src/_common.py b/pygmt/src/_common.py
index c5b0c01c752..8fff5e8e976 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/_common.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/_common.py
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@
 from typing import Any, ClassVar, Literal
 
 from pygmt.exceptions import GMTParameterError, GMTTypeError, GMTValueError
+from pygmt.helpers import is_given
 from pygmt.params.position import Position
 from pygmt.src.which import which
 
@@ -363,7 +364,7 @@ def _parse_position(
             if position in _valid_anchors:  # Anchor code
                 position = Position(position, cstype="inside")
             elif kwdict is not None:  # Raw GMT command string with potential conflicts.
-                if any(v is not None and v is not False for v in kwdict.values()):
+                if any(is_given(v) for v in kwdict.values()):
                     raise GMTParameterError(
                         conflicts_with=("position", kwdict.keys()),
                         reason="'position' is specified using the unrecommended GMT command string syntax.",
diff --git a/pygmt/src/basemap.py b/pygmt/src/basemap.py
index 4dbec079178..e3ec0af3d78 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/basemap.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/basemap.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 
 from pygmt.alias import Alias, AliasSystem
 from pygmt.clib import Session
-from pygmt.helpers import build_arg_list, fmt_docstring, use_alias
+from pygmt.helpers import build_arg_list, fmt_docstring, is_given, use_alias
 from pygmt.params import Axis, Box, Frame
 
 
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ def basemap(  # noqa: PLR0913
         ("compass", compass, "Figure.magnetic_rose"),
         ("rose", rose, "Figure.directional_rose"),
     ):
-        if value is not None and value is not False:
+        if is_given(value):
             warnings.warn(
                 f"The {name!r} parameter has been deprecated since v0.19.0. Use {recommendation!r} instead.",
                 category=FutureWarning,
diff --git a/pygmt/src/colorbar.py b/pygmt/src/colorbar.py
index b73ab072044..8b4e4d7d7a3 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/colorbar.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/colorbar.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 from pygmt.alias import Alias, AliasSystem
 from pygmt.clib import Session
 from pygmt.exceptions import GMTValueError
-from pygmt.helpers import build_arg_list, fmt_docstring, use_alias
+from pygmt.helpers import build_arg_list, fmt_docstring, is_given, use_alias
 from pygmt.helpers.utils import is_nonstr_iter
 from pygmt.params import Axis, Box, Frame, Position
 from pygmt.src._common import _parse_position
@@ -63,11 +63,11 @@ def _build_frame(
     >>> _build_frame()  # Passing no parameters returns None
     """
     # Using the old 'frame' parameter.
-    if frame is not None and frame is not False:
+    if is_given(frame):
         return frame
 
     _xaxis_is_set = any(
-        v is not None and v is not False
+        is_given(v)
         for v in {annot, tick, grid, annot_angle, annot_prefix, annot_unit, label}
     )
     _yaxis_is_set = unit is not None
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdfill.py b/pygmt/src/grdfill.py
index b665e682d4e..7fe8219d8b2 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdfill.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdfill.py
@@ -11,7 +11,13 @@
 from pygmt.alias import Alias, AliasSystem
 from pygmt.clib import Session
 from pygmt.exceptions import GMTParameterError
-from pygmt.helpers import build_arg_list, deprecate_parameter, fmt_docstring, use_alias
+from pygmt.helpers import (
+    build_arg_list,
+    deprecate_parameter,
+    fmt_docstring,
+    is_given,
+    use_alias,
+)
 
 __doctest_skip__ = ["grdfill"]
 
@@ -125,7 +131,7 @@ def grdfill(
         "spline_fill": spline_fill,
         "inquire": inquire,
     }
-    n_given = sum(v is not None and v is not False for v in params.values())
+    n_given = sum(is_given(v) for v in params.values())
     if n_given == 0:
         raise GMTParameterError(at_least_one=params)
     if n_given > 1:
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdfilter.py b/pygmt/src/grdfilter.py
index 352e40e0673..626c242224c 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdfilter.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdfilter.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 from pygmt.alias import Alias, AliasSystem
 from pygmt.clib import Session
 from pygmt.exceptions import GMTParameterError
-from pygmt.helpers import build_arg_list, fmt_docstring, use_alias
+from pygmt.helpers import build_arg_list, fmt_docstring, is_given, use_alias
 
 __doctest_skip__ = ["grdfilter"]
 
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def _alias_option_F(  # noqa: N802
 
     if _old_filter_syntax:
         kwdict = {"width": width, "highpass": highpass}
-        if any(v is not None and v is not False for v in kwdict.values()):
+        if any(is_given(v) for v in kwdict.values()):
             raise GMTParameterError(
                 conflicts_with=("filter", kwdict.keys()),
                 reason="'filter' is specified using the unrecommended GMT command string syntax.",
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdgradient.py b/pygmt/src/grdgradient.py
index ba269ab5c06..ed66aefb91c 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdgradient.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdgradient.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 from pygmt.alias import Alias, AliasSystem
 from pygmt.clib import Session
 from pygmt.exceptions import GMTParameterError
-from pygmt.helpers import build_arg_list, fmt_docstring, use_alias
+from pygmt.helpers import build_arg_list, fmt_docstring, is_given, use_alias
 
 __doctest_skip__ = ["grdgradient"]
 
@@ -50,10 +50,7 @@ def _alias_option_N(  # noqa: N802
     _normalize_mapping = {"laplace": "e", "cauchy": "t"}
     # Check for old syntax for normalize
     if isinstance(normalize, str) and normalize not in _normalize_mapping:
-        if any(
-            v is not None and v is not False
-            for v in [norm_amp, norm_ambient, norm_sigma, norm_offset]
-        ):
+        if any(is_given(v) for v in [norm_amp, norm_ambient, norm_sigma, norm_offset]):
             raise GMTParameterError(
                 conflicts_with=(
                     "normalize",
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdproject.py b/pygmt/src/grdproject.py
index 75e4df009c9..55c8cb83e5a 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdproject.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdproject.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 from pygmt.alias import Alias, AliasSystem
 from pygmt.clib import Session
 from pygmt.exceptions import GMTParameterError
-from pygmt.helpers import build_arg_list, fmt_docstring, use_alias
+from pygmt.helpers import build_arg_list, fmt_docstring, is_given, use_alias
 
 __doctest_skip__ = ["grdproject"]
 
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ def grdproject(  # noqa: PLR0913
     if kwargs.get("J", projection) is None:
         raise GMTParameterError(required="projection")
 
-    if kwargs.get("M", unit) is not None and kwargs.get("F", scaling) is not False:
+    if is_given(kwargs.get("M", unit)) and is_given(kwargs.get("F", scaling)):
         raise GMTParameterError(at_most_one=["unit", "scaling"])
 
     aliasdict = AliasSystem(
diff --git a/pygmt/src/grdview.py b/pygmt/src/grdview.py
index ecfda37a582..5fae8666fec 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/grdview.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/grdview.py
@@ -11,7 +11,13 @@
 from pygmt.alias import Alias, AliasSystem
 from pygmt.clib import Session, __gmt_version__
 from pygmt.exceptions import GMTParameterError
-from pygmt.helpers import build_arg_list, deprecate_parameter, fmt_docstring, use_alias
+from pygmt.helpers import (
+    build_arg_list,
+    deprecate_parameter,
+    fmt_docstring,
+    is_given,
+    use_alias,
+)
 from pygmt.params import Axis, Frame
 from pygmt.src.grdinfo import grdinfo
 
@@ -69,8 +75,7 @@ def _alias_option_Q(  # noqa: N802
     _old_surftype_syntax = surftype is not None and surftype not in _surftype_mapping
 
     if _old_surftype_syntax and any(
-        v is not None and v is not False
-        for v in (dpi, mesh_fill, monochrome, nan_transparent)
+        is_given(v) for v in (dpi, mesh_fill, monochrome, nan_transparent)
     ):
         raise GMTParameterError(
             conflicts_with=(
diff --git a/pygmt/src/subplot.py b/pygmt/src/subplot.py
index 539c39727d3..2ed9321242b 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/subplot.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/subplot.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
     build_arg_list,
     deprecate_parameter,
     fmt_docstring,
+    is_given,
     kwargs_to_strings,
     use_alias,
 )
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ def _alias_option_A(  # noqa: N802
     # Check conflicts with deprecated 'autolabel' parameter.
     if autolabel:
         if any(
-            v is not None and v is not False
+            is_given(v)
             for v in [tag, tag_position, tag_box, tag_number_style, tag_orientation]
         ):
             raise GMTParameterError(
@@ -83,8 +84,7 @@ def _alias_option_A(  # noqa: N802
     # Validate tag_box if provided.
     if tag_box:
         if any(
-            v is not None and v is not False
-            for v in {tag_box.inner_pen, tag_box.inner_gap, tag_box.radius}
+            is_given(v) for v in {tag_box.inner_pen, tag_box.inner_gap, tag_box.radius}
         ):
             raise GMTValueError(
                 tag_box,