diff --git a/crates/ruff_linter/resources/mdtest/flake8-bugbear/useless-expression.md b/crates/ruff_linter/resources/mdtest/flake8-bugbear/useless-expression.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..a91803a705fab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/ruff_linter/resources/mdtest/flake8-bugbear/useless-expression.md
@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+# `useless-expression` (`B018`)
+
+```toml
+lint.preview = true
+lint.select = ["B018"]
+```
+
+## String literals
+
+In preview, string literals and side-effect-free f-strings are useless
+expressions unless Ruff recognizes them as docstrings.
+
+```py
+"""Module docstring."""
+
+"Standalone module string."  # error: [useless-expression]
+
+f"Useless module f-string: {1}"  # error: [useless-expression]
+
+
+class Class:
+    """Class docstring."""
+
+    "Standalone class string."  # error: [useless-expression]
+    f"Useless class f-string: {1}"  # error: [useless-expression]
+
+    def method(self):
+        """Method docstring."""
+
+        "Standalone function string."  # error: [useless-expression]
+        f"Useless function f-string: {1}"  # error: [useless-expression]
+```
+
+## F-string formatting side effects
+
+Interpolating a value can call a user-defined `__format__` method, including
+when the value appears inside another interpolation's format specification.
+These f-strings are not useless expressions because formatting the value has
+an observable side effect.
+
+```py
+class Formatted:
+    def __format__(self, spec: str) -> str:
+        print("formatted")
+        return "1"
+
+
+value = Formatted()
+f"{value}"
+f"{1:{value}}"
+```
+
+## Strings after overloads
+
+A string after an overload is not a docstring for the preceding function.
+
+```py
+from typing import overload
+
+
+@overload
+def f(value: None) -> str: ...
+
+
+"None overload documentation."  # error: [useless-expression]
+
+
+@overload
+def f(value: list[str]) -> int: ...
+
+
+"List overload documentation."  # error: [useless-expression]
+
+
+def f(value):
+    return value
+```
+
+## Section separators
+
+A standalone string used as a visual separator is still a useless expression.
+
+```py
+def main():
+    pass
+
+
+"""MAIN"""  # error: [useless-expression]
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
+```
+
+## Attribute docstrings
+
+Ruff recognizes strings immediately following simple assignments, annotated
+assignments, and `type` statements at module or class scope as attribute
+docstrings. A second string is not part of the attribute docstring.
+
+```py
+module_attribute = 1
+"Module attribute docstring."
+
+annotated_module_attribute: int
+"Annotated module attribute docstring."
+
+type ModuleAlias = int
+"Module type alias docstring."
+
+
+class Class:
+    attribute = 1
+    "Class attribute docstring."
+
+    annotated_attribute: int
+    "Annotated class attribute docstring."
+
+    type ClassAlias = str
+    "Class type alias docstring."
+
+    "Not an attribute docstring."  # error: [useless-expression]
+
+
+def function():
+    type LocalAlias = bytes
+    "Not an attribute docstring."  # error: [useless-expression]
+```
+
+## Instance attribute docstrings
+
+Strings following instance attribute assignments directly in `__init__` are
+attribute docstrings. Local assignments, nested assignments, and assignments in
+other methods do not introduce attribute docstrings.
+
+```py
+class Class:
+    def __init__(this):
+        this.attribute = 1
+        "Instance attribute docstring."
+
+        this.annotated_attribute: int
+        "Annotated instance attribute docstring."
+
+        local = 1
+        "Not an instance attribute docstring."  # error: [useless-expression]
+
+        if local:
+            this.nested_attribute = 1
+            "Not a top-level assignment."  # error: [useless-expression]
+
+        this = object()
+        this.rebound_attribute = 1
+        "Not an instance attribute docstring."  # error: [useless-expression]
+
+    def method(self):
+        self.attribute = 1
+        "Not in an `__init__` method."  # error: [useless-expression]
+```
diff --git a/crates/ruff_linter/src/checkers/ast/mod.rs b/crates/ruff_linter/src/checkers/ast/mod.rs
index 029ac85d08f1b..04cb6efa32373 100644
--- a/crates/ruff_linter/src/checkers/ast/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/ruff_linter/src/checkers/ast/mod.rs
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ use ruff_python_parser::semantic_errors::{
 use ruff_python_parser::typing::{AnnotationKind, ParsedAnnotation, parse_type_annotation};
 use ruff_python_parser::{ParseError, Parsed};
 use ruff_python_semantic::all::{DunderAllDefinition, DunderAllFlags};
-use ruff_python_semantic::analyze::{imports, typing};
+use ruff_python_semantic::analyze::{imports, typing, visibility};
 use ruff_python_semantic::{
     BindingFlags, BindingId, BindingKind, Exceptions, Export, FromImport, GeneratorKind, Globals,
     Import, Module, ModuleKind, ModuleSource, NodeId, ScopeId, ScopeKind, SemanticModel,
@@ -178,6 +178,10 @@ pub(crate) enum ExpectedDocstringKind {
     /// class Foo:
     ///     b = 1
     ///     """This is the docstring for `Foo.b` class variable."""
+    ///
+    ///     def __init__(self) -> None:
+    ///         self.c = 1
+    ///         """This is the docstring for the `c` instance variable."""
     /// ```
     Attribute,
 }
@@ -666,6 +670,59 @@ impl<'a> Checker<'a> {
         self.context
     }
 
+    /// Return `true` if the statement assigns an instance attribute directly in an `__init__`
+    /// method.
+    fn is_init_instance_attribute_assignment(&self, stmt: &Stmt) -> bool {
+        let semantic = self.semantic();
+        let scope = semantic.current_scope();
+        let ScopeKind::Function(function) = scope.kind else {
+            return false;
+        };
+
+        if !visibility::is_init(&function.name)
+            || !semantic
+                .first_non_type_parent_scope(scope)
+                .is_some_and(|parent| parent.kind.is_class())
+            || !matches!(
+                semantic.current_statement_parent(),
+                Some(Stmt::FunctionDef(parent)) if std::ptr::eq(parent, function)
+            )
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        let Some(instance) = function
+            .parameters
+            .posonlyargs
+            .first()
+            .or_else(|| function.parameters.args.first())
+        else {
+            return false;
+        };
+
+        let is_instance_attribute = |target: &Expr| {
+            let Some(name) = target
+                .as_attribute_expr()
+                .and_then(|attribute| attribute.value.as_name_expr())
+            else {
+                return false;
+            };
+            let Some(binding_id) = semantic.resolve_name(name) else {
+                return false;
+            };
+            let binding = semantic.binding(binding_id);
+            binding.kind.is_argument() && binding.range == instance.parameter.name.range()
+        };
+
+        match stmt {
+            Stmt::Assign(ast::StmtAssign { targets, .. }) => {
+                matches!(targets.as_slice(), [target] if is_instance_attribute(target))
+            }
+            Stmt::AnnAssign(ast::StmtAnnAssign { target, .. }) => is_instance_attribute(target),
+            _ => false,
+        }
+    }
+
     /// Return the current [`DocstringState`].
     pub(crate) fn docstring_state(&self) -> DocstringState {
         self.docstring_state
@@ -1648,10 +1705,20 @@ impl<'a> Visitor<'a> for Checker<'a> {
                     self.docstring_state =
                         DocstringState::Expected(ExpectedDocstringKind::Attribute);
                 }
+                // Follow Pyright's convention for documenting PEP 695 type aliases:
+                // https://discuss.python.org/t/docstrings-for-new-type-aliases-as-defined-in-pep-695/39816
+                Stmt::TypeAlias(_) => {
+                    self.docstring_state =
+                        DocstringState::Expected(ExpectedDocstringKind::Attribute);
+                }
                 _ => {}
             }
         }
 
+        if self.is_init_instance_attribute_assignment(stmt) {
+            self.docstring_state = DocstringState::Expected(ExpectedDocstringKind::Attribute);
+        }
+
         // Step 3: Clean-up
 
         // Step 4: Analysis
diff --git a/crates/ruff_linter/src/preview.rs b/crates/ruff_linter/src/preview.rs
index 853063ec23dfe..844eb77270a16 100644
--- a/crates/ruff_linter/src/preview.rs
+++ b/crates/ruff_linter/src/preview.rs
@@ -26,6 +26,11 @@ pub(crate) const fn is_s103_extended_dangerous_bits_enabled(settings: &LinterSet
     settings.preview.is_enabled()
 }
 
+// https://github.com/astral-sh/ruff/issues/11292
+pub(crate) const fn is_useless_string_expression_enabled(settings: &LinterSettings) -> bool {
+    settings.preview.is_enabled()
+}
+
 // https://github.com/astral-sh/ruff/pull/21382
 pub(crate) const fn is_custom_exception_checking_enabled(settings: &LinterSettings) -> bool {
     settings.preview.is_enabled()
diff --git a/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/flake8_bugbear/rules/useless_expression.rs b/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/flake8_bugbear/rules/useless_expression.rs
index 1bcd6f638b819..49ae591fb0cb0 100644
--- a/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/flake8_bugbear/rules/useless_expression.rs
+++ b/crates/ruff_linter/src/rules/flake8_bugbear/rules/useless_expression.rs
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 use ruff_macros::{ViolationMetadata, derive_message_formats};
 use ruff_python_ast::Expr;
-use ruff_python_ast::helpers::contains_effect;
+use ruff_python_ast::helpers::side_effect;
 use ruff_text_size::Ranged;
 
 use crate::Violation;
 use crate::checkers::ast::Checker;
+use crate::preview::is_useless_string_expression_enabled;
 
 use crate::rules::flake8_bugbear::helpers::at_last_top_level_expression_in_cell;
 
@@ -26,6 +27,14 @@ use crate::rules::flake8_bugbear::helpers::at_last_top_level_expression_in_cell;
 /// foo = 1 + 1
 /// ```
 ///
+/// ## Preview
+/// When [preview] is enabled, this rule also flags standalone string literals
+/// and side-effect-free f-strings that are not docstrings or attribute docstrings.
+///
+/// Strings following PEP 695 `type` statements are also treated as attribute docstrings.
+///
+/// [preview]: https://docs.astral.sh/ruff/preview/
+///
 /// ## Notebook behavior
 /// For Jupyter Notebooks, this rule is not applied to the last top-level expression in a cell.
 /// This is because it's common to have a notebook cell that ends with an expression,
@@ -78,11 +87,17 @@ pub(crate) fn useless_expression(checker: &Checker, value: &Expr) {
         return;
     }
 
-    // Ignore strings, to avoid false positives with docstrings.
-    if matches!(
-        value,
-        Expr::FString(_) | Expr::StringLiteral(_) | Expr::EllipsisLiteral(_)
-    ) {
+    // In stable mode, ignore strings to avoid false positives with docstrings. In preview mode,
+    // only ignore strings that Ruff recognizes as PEP 257 or attribute docstrings.
+    if matches!(value, Expr::FString(_) | Expr::StringLiteral(_))
+        && (!is_useless_string_expression_enabled(checker.settings())
+            || checker.semantic().in_pep_257_docstring()
+            || checker.semantic().in_attribute_docstring())
+    {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    if value.is_ellipsis_literal_expr() {
         return;
     }
 
@@ -96,8 +111,9 @@ pub(crate) fn useless_expression(checker: &Checker, value: &Expr) {
         return;
     }
 
-    // Ignore statements that have side effects.
-    if contains_effect(value, |id| checker.semantic().has_builtin_binding(id)) {
+    // Formatting an interpolated value can invoke user-defined `__format__` or `__str__` methods.
+    let effect = side_effect(value, |id| checker.semantic().has_builtin_binding(id));
+    if effect.is_present() || (value.is_f_string_expr() && !effect.is_absent()) {
         // Flag attributes as useless expressions, even if they're attached to calls or other
         // expressions.
         if value.is_attribute_expr() {