From 25cf94440d3a19d3818b78177085df4437e34a9c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: "Daniel (dB.) Doubrovkine" <dblock@dblock.org>
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2026 17:54:57 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 1/4] Standardize bare Ruby exception messages to lowercase,
 unpunctuated

Lowercase and remove trailing periods from ArgumentError messages in
dsl/entity.rb, dsl/inside_route.rb, dsl/validations.rb and
validations/types/dry_type_coercer.rb, matching the lowercase,
unpunctuated style already used everywhere else and consistent with
Ruby's own core/stdlib exceptions. Documents the convention in
CONTRIBUTING.md.

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
---
 CHANGELOG.md                                    |  1 +
 CONTRIBUTING.md                                 | 16 ++++++++++++++++
 lib/grape/dsl/entity.rb                         |  2 +-
 lib/grape/dsl/inside_route.rb                   |  6 +++---
 lib/grape/dsl/validations.rb                    |  4 ++--
 lib/grape/validations/types/dry_type_coercer.rb |  2 +-
 spec/grape/dsl/inside_route_spec.rb             |  6 +++---
 spec/grape/dsl/validations_spec.rb              |  4 ++--
 8 files changed, 29 insertions(+), 12 deletions(-)

diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index e8a391dae..f930db256 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -71,6 +71,7 @@
 * [#2900](https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape/pull/2900): Remove the deprecations announced in 3.2 and 3.3: `Grape::Router.normalize_path`, Hash access on middleware `Options` and their `DEFAULT_OPTIONS` constants, the positional options Hash for `auth`/`http_basic`/`desc`, a Hash returned from a `rescue_from` handler, and `@option` on validators (see UPGRADING) - [@ericproulx](https://github.com/ericproulx).
 * [#2896](https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape/pull/2896): Bring test suite line coverage to 100% - [@dblock](https://github.com/dblock).
 * [#2897](https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape/pull/2897): Improve test suite branch coverage - [@dblock](https://github.com/dblock).
+* [#2909](https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape/pull/2909): Standardize bare Ruby exception messages (`ArgumentError`, etc.) to lowercase, unpunctuated, matching Ruby's own core/stdlib style - [@dblock](https://github.com/dblock).
 * Your contribution here.
 
 #### Fixes
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 9b4fac85e..fbce70b13 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -74,6 +74,22 @@ Ruby style is enforced with [Rubocop](https://github.com/bbatsov/rubocop), run `
 
 Make sure that `bundle exec rake` completes without errors.
 
+##### Exception Messages
+
+When you `raise` a bare Ruby exception (`ArgumentError`, `NotImplementedError`, etc.) for programmer errors — invalid DSL usage, misconfiguration and the like — write the message as a lowercase fragment with no trailing period, matching Ruby's own core exceptions (e.g. `TypeError: no implicit conversion from nil to integer`). This reads naturally when Ruby prints it after the exception class name and colon in a backtrace:
+
+```ruby
+raise ArgumentError, 'a block is required'
+```
+
+rather than:
+
+```ruby
+raise ArgumentError, 'A block is required.'
+```
+
+This does not apply to `Grape::Exceptions::*` messages meant to be rendered in an API response body, which are already lowercase and unpunctuated by convention and typically come from locale YAML rather than inline strings.
+
 #### Write Documentation
 
 Document any external behavior in the [README](README.md).
diff --git a/lib/grape/dsl/entity.rb b/lib/grape/dsl/entity.rb
index 735753a16..bd7fa90b5 100644
--- a/lib/grape/dsl/entity.rb
+++ b/lib/grape/dsl/entity.rb
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def present(*args, root: nil, with: nil, **options)
         if key
           representation = body&.merge(key => representation) || { key => representation }
         elsif entity_class.present? && body
-          raise ArgumentError, "Representation of type #{representation.class} cannot be merged." unless representation.respond_to?(:merge)
+          raise ArgumentError, "representation of type #{representation.class} cannot be merged" unless representation.respond_to?(:merge)
 
           representation = body.merge(representation)
         end
diff --git a/lib/grape/dsl/inside_route.rb b/lib/grape/dsl/inside_route.rb
index ad4930cf3..f85bd86a5 100644
--- a/lib/grape/dsl/inside_route.rb
+++ b/lib/grape/dsl/inside_route.rb
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ def status(status = nil)
         when Symbol, Integer
           @status = Rack::Utils.status_code(status)
         else
-          raise ArgumentError, 'Status code must be Integer or Symbol.'
+          raise ArgumentError, 'status code must be Integer or Symbol'
         end
       end
 
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ def return_no_content
       def sendfile(value = nil)
         return stream if value.nil?
 
-        raise ArgumentError, 'Argument must be a file path' unless value.is_a?(String)
+        raise ArgumentError, 'argument must be a file path' unless value.is_a?(String)
 
         file_body = Grape::ServeStream::FileBody.new(value)
         @stream = Grape::ServeStream::StreamResponse.new(file_body)
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ def context
       def stream_body(value)
         return Grape::ServeStream::FileBody.new(value) if value.is_a?(String)
 
-        raise ArgumentError, 'Stream object must respond to :each.' unless value.respond_to?(:each)
+        raise ArgumentError, 'stream object must respond to :each' unless value.respond_to?(:each)
 
         value
       end
diff --git a/lib/grape/dsl/validations.rb b/lib/grape/dsl/validations.rb
index 6c79b7e50..9ef420632 100644
--- a/lib/grape/dsl/validations.rb
+++ b/lib/grape/dsl/validations.rb
@@ -17,8 +17,8 @@ def params(&)
       #   subclass, allowing to define the schema inline. When the
       #   +contract+ parameter is a schema, it will be used as a parent. Optional.
       def contract(contract = nil, &block)
-        raise ArgumentError, 'Either contract or block must be provided' unless contract || block
-        raise ArgumentError, 'Cannot inherit from contract, only schema' if block && contract.respond_to?(:schema)
+        raise ArgumentError, 'either contract or block must be provided' unless contract || block
+        raise ArgumentError, 'cannot inherit from contract, only schema' if block && contract.respond_to?(:schema)
 
         Grape::Validations::ContractScope.new(self, contract, &block)
       end
diff --git a/lib/grape/validations/types/dry_type_coercer.rb b/lib/grape/validations/types/dry_type_coercer.rb
index 7a8e36e1a..f879c07ad 100644
--- a/lib/grape/validations/types/dry_type_coercer.rb
+++ b/lib/grape/validations/types/dry_type_coercer.rb
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def collection_coercer_for(type)
             when Set
               SetCoercer
             else
-              raise ArgumentError, "Unknown type: #{type}"
+              raise ArgumentError, "unknown type: #{type}"
             end
           end
 
diff --git a/spec/grape/dsl/inside_route_spec.rb b/spec/grape/dsl/inside_route_spec.rb
index ec8ed8e06..948d85947 100644
--- a/spec/grape/dsl/inside_route_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/grape/dsl/inside_route_spec.rb
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ def header(key = nil, val = nil)
 
     it 'raises error if status is not a integer or symbol' do
       expect { subject.status Object.new }
-        .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'Status code must be Integer or Symbol.')
+        .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'status code must be Integer or Symbol')
     end
   end
 
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ def header(key = nil, val = nil)
         let(:file_object) { double('StreamerObject', each: nil) }
 
         it 'raises an error that only a file path is supported' do
-          expect { subject.sendfile file_object }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, /Argument must be a file path/)
+          expect { subject.sendfile file_object }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, /argument must be a file path/)
         end
       end
     end
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ def header(key = nil, val = nil)
           subject.present 'dummy1', with: entity_mock_one
           expect do
             subject.present 'dummy2', with: entity_mock_two
-          end.to raise_error ArgumentError, 'Representation of type String cannot be merged.'
+          end.to raise_error ArgumentError, 'representation of type String cannot be merged'
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/grape/dsl/validations_spec.rb b/spec/grape/dsl/validations_spec.rb
index 01668c92f..55776cc6c 100644
--- a/spec/grape/dsl/validations_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/grape/dsl/validations_spec.rb
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
   describe '.contract' do
     context 'when contract is nil and blockless' do
       it 'raises an ArgumentError' do
-        expect { dummy_class.contract }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'Either contract or block must be provided')
+        expect { dummy_class.contract }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'either contract or block must be provided')
       end
     end
 
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ def schema; end
         end
 
         it 'raises an ArgumentError' do
-          expect { dummy_class.contract(my_contract.new) { :my_block } }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'Cannot inherit from contract, only schema')
+          expect { dummy_class.contract(my_contract.new) { :my_block } }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'cannot inherit from contract, only schema')
         end
       end
     end

From 72fec8aa61a161412b68c11cc5a821fdf952f84a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: "Daniel (dB.) Doubrovkine" <dblock@dblock.org>
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2026 18:33:49 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 2/4] Enforce exception message style with
 rubocop-exception_messages

Add the rubocop-exception_messages RuboCop plugin
(https://github.com/dblock/rubocop-exception_messages) to catch any
future regressions in exception message casing/punctuation.

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
---
 .rubocop.yml | 1 +
 Gemfile      | 1 +
 2 files changed, 2 insertions(+)

diff --git a/.rubocop.yml b/.rubocop.yml
index 86d30d614..fa384638a 100644
--- a/.rubocop.yml
+++ b/.rubocop.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ AllCops:
     - benchmark/**/*
 
 plugins:
+  - rubocop-exception_messages
   - rubocop-performance
   - rubocop-rspec
 
diff --git a/Gemfile b/Gemfile
index 89c01fccb..6cfbb811a 100644
--- a/Gemfile
+++ b/Gemfile
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ group :development, :test do
   gem 'bundler'
   gem 'rake'
   gem 'rubocop', '1.88.0', require: false
+  gem 'rubocop-exception_messages', '0.1.0', require: false
   gem 'rubocop-performance', '1.26.1', require: false
   gem 'rubocop-rspec', '3.10.2', require: false
 end

From 524de97af54c681593cad06dcd4464309d194c6a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: "Daniel (dB.) Doubrovkine" <dblock@dblock.org>
Date: Sat, 5 Sep 2026 18:36:19 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 3/4] Fix spec exception message to match
 ExceptionMessages/Casing style

Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
---
 spec/grape/api_spec.rb | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/spec/grape/api_spec.rb b/spec/grape/api_spec.rb
index d5c3666eb..9ac740e8f 100644
--- a/spec/grape/api_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/grape/api_spec.rb
@@ -5311,7 +5311,7 @@ def uniqe_id_route
         rescue_from :all do
           error!(context.env, 400)
         end
-        get { raise ArgumentError, 'Oops!' }
+        get { raise ArgumentError, 'oops' }
       end
     end
 

From f848c6a703785713618fc7bcf6f98eab2282c585 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: "Daniel (dB.) Doubrovkine" <dblock@dblock.org>
Date: Sun, 6 Sep 2026 12:59:18 -0400
Subject: [PATCH 4/4] Wrap interpolated values in backticks with
 rubocop-exception_messages 0.2.0

Bump rubocop-exception_messages to 0.2.0, which adds the QuoteStyle
cop enforcing backtick-wrapped interpolated values in exception
messages by default. Autocorrect and fix affected spec assertions.
---
 CHANGELOG.md                                           |  2 +-
 Gemfile                                                |  2 +-
 lib/grape/dry_types.rb                                 |  2 +-
 lib/grape/dsl/entity.rb                                |  2 +-
 lib/grape/dsl/request_response.rb                      |  6 +++---
 lib/grape/dsl/routing.rb                               |  4 ++--
 lib/grape/validations/params_scope.rb                  |  2 +-
 lib/grape/validations/types/dry_type_coercer.rb        |  2 +-
 lib/grape/validations/validators/length_validator.rb   |  4 ++--
 spec/grape/api_spec.rb                                 |  2 +-
 spec/grape/dsl/inside_route_spec.rb                    |  2 +-
 spec/grape/dsl/request_response_spec.rb                | 10 +++++-----
 spec/grape/dsl/routing_spec.rb                         |  6 +++---
 spec/grape/middleware/error_spec.rb                    |  4 ++--
 spec/grape/validations/types/dry_type_coercer_spec.rb  |  2 +-
 spec/grape/validations/types/primitive_coercer_spec.rb |  2 +-
 spec/grape/validations/types_spec.rb                   |  6 +++---
 .../validations/validators/length_validator_spec.rb    | 10 +++++-----
 spec/support/versioned_helpers.rb                      |  4 ++--
 19 files changed, 37 insertions(+), 37 deletions(-)

diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index f930db256..0c9492667 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@
 * [#2900](https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape/pull/2900): Remove the deprecations announced in 3.2 and 3.3: `Grape::Router.normalize_path`, Hash access on middleware `Options` and their `DEFAULT_OPTIONS` constants, the positional options Hash for `auth`/`http_basic`/`desc`, a Hash returned from a `rescue_from` handler, and `@option` on validators (see UPGRADING) - [@ericproulx](https://github.com/ericproulx).
 * [#2896](https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape/pull/2896): Bring test suite line coverage to 100% - [@dblock](https://github.com/dblock).
 * [#2897](https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape/pull/2897): Improve test suite branch coverage - [@dblock](https://github.com/dblock).
-* [#2909](https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape/pull/2909): Standardize bare Ruby exception messages (`ArgumentError`, etc.) to lowercase, unpunctuated, matching Ruby's own core/stdlib style - [@dblock](https://github.com/dblock).
+* [#2909](https://github.com/ruby-grape/grape/pull/2909): Standardize bare Ruby exception messages (`ArgumentError`, etc.) to lowercase, unpunctuated, matching Ruby's own core/stdlib style, and wrap interpolated values in backticks via `rubocop-exception_messages` - [@dblock](https://github.com/dblock).
 * Your contribution here.
 
 #### Fixes
diff --git a/Gemfile b/Gemfile
index 6cfbb811a..e1d9f553a 100644
--- a/Gemfile
+++ b/Gemfile
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ group :development, :test do
   gem 'bundler'
   gem 'rake'
   gem 'rubocop', '1.88.0', require: false
-  gem 'rubocop-exception_messages', '0.1.0', require: false
+  gem 'rubocop-exception_messages', '0.2.0', require: false
   gem 'rubocop-performance', '1.26.1', require: false
   gem 'rubocop-rspec', '3.10.2', require: false
 end
diff --git a/lib/grape/dry_types.rb b/lib/grape/dry_types.rb
index 6a74e6124..b4766ea4e 100644
--- a/lib/grape/dry_types.rb
+++ b/lib/grape/dry_types.rb
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ def initialize
     def self.wrapped_dry_types_const_get(dry_type, type)
       dry_type.const_get(type.name, false)
     rescue NameError
-      raise ArgumentError, "type #{type} should support coercion via `[]`" unless type.respond_to?(:[])
+      raise ArgumentError, "type `#{type}` should support coercion via `[]`" unless type.respond_to?(:[])
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/lib/grape/dsl/entity.rb b/lib/grape/dsl/entity.rb
index bd7fa90b5..4733fed24 100644
--- a/lib/grape/dsl/entity.rb
+++ b/lib/grape/dsl/entity.rb
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def present(*args, root: nil, with: nil, **options)
         if key
           representation = body&.merge(key => representation) || { key => representation }
         elsif entity_class.present? && body
-          raise ArgumentError, "representation of type #{representation.class} cannot be merged" unless representation.respond_to?(:merge)
+          raise ArgumentError, "representation of type `#{representation.class}` cannot be merged" unless representation.respond_to?(:merge)
 
           representation = body.merge(representation)
         end
diff --git a/lib/grape/dsl/request_response.rb b/lib/grape/dsl/request_response.rb
index a2746199c..22dce56ff 100644
--- a/lib/grape/dsl/request_response.rb
+++ b/lib/grape/dsl/request_response.rb
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ def default_error_formatter(new_formatter_name = nil)
       # the call had never been made. Reject it here, where the mistake is.
       def error_formatter(format, options = nil, with: nil)
         formatter = with || options
-        raise ArgumentError, "error_formatter #{format.inspect} requires a formatter, given positionally or as `with:`" if formatter.nil?
+        raise ArgumentError, "error_formatter `#{format.inspect}` requires a formatter, given positionally or as `with:`" if formatter.nil?
 
         inheritable_setting.add_error_formatter(format.to_sym, formatter)
       end
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ def default_error_status(new_status = nil)
       def rescue_from(*args, with: nil, rescue_subclasses: true, backtrace: false, original_exception: false, &block)
         handler = extract_handler(args, with:, block:)
         meta_selector = (args & META_RESCUE_SELECTORS).first
-        raise ArgumentError, "rescue_from #{meta_selector.inspect} does not accept additional arguments" if meta_selector && args.size > 1
+        raise ArgumentError, "rescue_from `#{meta_selector.inspect}` does not accept additional arguments" if meta_selector && args.size > 1
 
         case meta_selector
         when :all
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ def extract_handler(args, with:, block:)
         case with
         when Proc, Symbol then with
         when String then with.to_sym
-        else raise ArgumentError, "with: #{with.class}, expected Symbol, String or Proc"
+        else raise ArgumentError, "with: `#{with.class}`, expected Symbol, String or Proc"
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/lib/grape/dsl/routing.rb b/lib/grape/dsl/routing.rb
index 51488e1aa..4c988722b 100644
--- a/lib/grape/dsl/routing.rb
+++ b/lib/grape/dsl/routing.rb
@@ -259,7 +259,7 @@ def route_param(param, requirements: nil, type: nil, **, &)
         # The param is named here, so the constraint is its own: nest whatever
         # it is, not just a Regexp. A Hash would name the param twice, or key a
         # capture this namespace does not introduce, and belongs on +namespace+.
-        raise ArgumentError, "route_param :#{param} constrains :#{param}; pass the constraint itself, or a Hash of requirements to the enclosing namespace" if requirements.respond_to?(:to_hash)
+        raise ArgumentError, "route_param :`#{param}` constrains :`#{param}`; pass the constraint itself, or a Hash of requirements to the enclosing namespace" if requirements.respond_to?(:to_hash)
 
         param_requirements = requirements ? { param.to_sym => requirements } : requirements
 
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ def versions
       def validate_requirements!(requirements)
         return if requirements.nil? || requirements.respond_to?(:to_hash)
 
-        raise ArgumentError, "requirements must be a Hash of param name => constraint, got #{requirements.class}"
+        raise ArgumentError, "requirements must be a Hash of param name => constraint, got `#{requirements.class}`"
       end
 
       # Compose a route's params: the declared params (+params do … end+) deep-merged
diff --git a/lib/grape/validations/params_scope.rb b/lib/grape/validations/params_scope.rb
index f76af4a3b..be26ab992 100644
--- a/lib/grape/validations/params_scope.rb
+++ b/lib/grape/validations/params_scope.rb
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ def require_required_and_optional_fields(context, using:, except: nil)
         end
         required_fields.each do |field|
           field_opts = using[field]
-          raise ArgumentError, "required field not exist: #{field}" unless field_opts
+          raise ArgumentError, "required field not exist: `#{field}`" unless field_opts
 
           requires(field, **field_opts)
         end
diff --git a/lib/grape/validations/types/dry_type_coercer.rb b/lib/grape/validations/types/dry_type_coercer.rb
index f879c07ad..a39fc02db 100644
--- a/lib/grape/validations/types/dry_type_coercer.rb
+++ b/lib/grape/validations/types/dry_type_coercer.rb
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def collection_coercer_for(type)
             when Set
               SetCoercer
             else
-              raise ArgumentError, "unknown type: #{type}"
+              raise ArgumentError, "unknown type: `#{type}`"
             end
           end
 
diff --git a/lib/grape/validations/validators/length_validator.rb b/lib/grape/validations/validators/length_validator.rb
index a67ebd8b8..e6bb55ac4 100644
--- a/lib/grape/validations/validators/length_validator.rb
+++ b/lib/grape/validations/validators/length_validator.rb
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ def initialize(attrs, options, required, scope, opts)
           @min, @max, @is = options.values_at(:min, :max, :is)
           validate_boundary!(:min, @min)
           validate_boundary!(:max, @max)
-          raise ArgumentError, "min #{@min} cannot be greater than max #{@max}" if @min && @max && @min > @max
+          raise ArgumentError, "min `#{@min}` cannot be greater than max `#{@max}`" if @min && @max && @min > @max
 
           return if @is.nil?
           raise ArgumentError, 'is must be an integer greater than zero' unless @is.is_a?(Integer) && @is.positive?
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def validate_param!(attr_name, params)
         private
 
         def validate_boundary!(name, val)
-          raise ArgumentError, "#{name} must be an integer greater than or equal to zero" if !val.nil? && (!val.is_a?(Integer) || val.negative?)
+          raise ArgumentError, "`#{name}` must be an integer greater than or equal to zero" if !val.nil? && (!val.is_a?(Integer) || val.negative?)
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/grape/api_spec.rb b/spec/grape/api_spec.rb
index 9ac740e8f..4b71db983 100644
--- a/spec/grape/api_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/grape/api_spec.rb
@@ -430,7 +430,7 @@ def first = raise('#first should not have been called')
               get { params[:id].to_json }
             end
           end
-        end.to raise_error(ArgumentError, /route_param :id constrains :id/)
+        end.to raise_error(ArgumentError, /route_param :`id` constrains :`id`/)
       end
 
       # The declared type still owns what the endpoint sees: validation runs
diff --git a/spec/grape/dsl/inside_route_spec.rb b/spec/grape/dsl/inside_route_spec.rb
index 948d85947..3ea897e76 100644
--- a/spec/grape/dsl/inside_route_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/grape/dsl/inside_route_spec.rb
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ def header(key = nil, val = nil)
           subject.present 'dummy1', with: entity_mock_one
           expect do
             subject.present 'dummy2', with: entity_mock_two
-          end.to raise_error ArgumentError, 'representation of type String cannot be merged'
+          end.to raise_error ArgumentError, 'representation of type `String` cannot be merged'
         end
       end
     end
diff --git a/spec/grape/dsl/request_response_spec.rb b/spec/grape/dsl/request_response_spec.rb
index 67bfeefbb..0107e7208 100644
--- a/spec/grape/dsl/request_response_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/grape/dsl/request_response_spec.rb
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
     end
 
     it 'raises when no formatter is given' do
-      expect { subject.error_formatter format }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'error_formatter "txt" requires a formatter, given positionally or as `with:`')
+      expect { subject.error_formatter format }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'error_formatter `"txt"` requires a formatter, given positionally or as `with:`')
       expect(subject.inheritable_setting.error_formatters).to be_nil
     end
 
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@
       end
 
       it 'abort if :with option value is not Symbol, String or Proc' do
-        expect { subject.rescue_from :all, with: 1234 }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, "with: #{integer_class_name}, expected Symbol, String or Proc")
+        expect { subject.rescue_from :all, with: 1234 }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, "with: `#{integer_class_name}`, expected Symbol, String or Proc")
       end
 
       it 'abort if both :with option and block are passed' do
@@ -198,17 +198,17 @@
     describe 'meta selector mixed with exception classes' do
       it 'raises ArgumentError for :all + exception class' do
         expect { subject.rescue_from :all, StandardError }
-          .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'rescue_from :all does not accept additional arguments')
+          .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'rescue_from `:all` does not accept additional arguments')
       end
 
       it 'raises ArgumentError for :grape_exceptions + exception class' do
         expect { subject.rescue_from :grape_exceptions, StandardError }
-          .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'rescue_from :grape_exceptions does not accept additional arguments')
+          .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'rescue_from `:grape_exceptions` does not accept additional arguments')
       end
 
       it 'raises ArgumentError for :internal_grape_exceptions + exception class' do
         expect { subject.rescue_from :internal_grape_exceptions, StandardError }
-          .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'rescue_from :internal_grape_exceptions does not accept additional arguments')
+          .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'rescue_from `:internal_grape_exceptions` does not accept additional arguments')
       end
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/grape/dsl/routing_spec.rb b/spec/grape/dsl/routing_spec.rb
index a242e8013..ea4867c51 100644
--- a/spec/grape/dsl/routing_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/grape/dsl/routing_spec.rb
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ class << self
     # on the first request rather than here.
     it 'rejects requirements that are not a Hash' do
       expect { subject.route(:any, '/', requirements: Integer) }
-        .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'requirements must be a Hash of param name => constraint, got Class')
+        .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'requirements must be a Hash of param name => constraint, got `Class`')
     end
 
     it 'does not duplicate identical endpoints' do
@@ -233,7 +233,7 @@ class << self
 
     it 'rejects requirements that are not a Hash' do
       expect { subject.namespace(:foo, requirements: Integer) {} }
-        .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'requirements must be a Hash of param name => constraint, got Class')
+        .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'requirements must be a Hash of param name => constraint, got `Class`')
     end
 
     it 'calls #joined_space_path on Namespace' do
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ class << self
     # does not introduce — Mustermann resolves that to no constraint at all.
     it 'rejects a Hash of requirements' do
       expect { subject.route_param('foo', requirements: { foo: Integer }, &proc {}) }
-        .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'route_param :foo constrains :foo; pass the constraint itself, or a Hash of requirements to the enclosing namespace')
+        .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'route_param :`foo` constrains :`foo`; pass the constraint itself, or a Hash of requirements to the enclosing namespace')
     end
   end
 
diff --git a/spec/grape/middleware/error_spec.rb b/spec/grape/middleware/error_spec.rb
index c2bd60212..174aeb56e 100644
--- a/spec/grape/middleware/error_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/grape/middleware/error_spec.rb
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ def self.call(_env)
           end
 
           rescue_from :all do |e|
-            raise custom_error_class, "wrapped(#{e.message})"
+            raise custom_error_class, "wrapped(`#{e.message}`)"
           end
 
           get('/') { raise ArgumentError, 'oops' }
@@ -267,7 +267,7 @@ def self.call(_env)
 
       it 'redispatches to the registered handler' do
         expect(response.status).to eq(422)
-        expect(response.body).to eq('custom-handled: wrapped(oops)')
+        expect(response.body).to eq('custom-handled: wrapped(`oops`)')
       end
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/grape/validations/types/dry_type_coercer_spec.rb b/spec/grape/validations/types/dry_type_coercer_spec.rb
index 35d81c2ce..f4dd98594 100644
--- a/spec/grape/validations/types/dry_type_coercer_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/grape/validations/types/dry_type_coercer_spec.rb
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
     end
 
     it 'raises an ArgumentError for any other type' do
-      expect { described_class.collection_coercer_for({}) }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, /Unknown type/)
+      expect { described_class.collection_coercer_for({}) }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, /unknown type/)
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/grape/validations/types/primitive_coercer_spec.rb b/spec/grape/validations/types/primitive_coercer_spec.rb
index 49396a0ac..d22d46f3a 100644
--- a/spec/grape/validations/types/primitive_coercer_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/grape/validations/types/primitive_coercer_spec.rb
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@
 
       it 'raises error on init' do
         expect(Grape::DryTypes::Params.constants).not_to include(type.name.to_sym)
-        expect { subject }.to raise_error(/type Complex should support coercion/)
+        expect { subject }.to raise_error(/type `Complex` should support coercion/)
       end
     end
 
diff --git a/spec/grape/validations/types_spec.rb b/spec/grape/validations/types_spec.rb
index 24e55ab95..d5cdfb901 100644
--- a/spec/grape/validations/types_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/grape/validations/types_spec.rb
@@ -107,12 +107,12 @@ def self.parse; end
 
       it 'raises for an Array of it' do
         expect { described_class.build_coercer(Array[UncoercibleType]) }
-          .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'type UncoercibleType should support coercion via `[]`')
+          .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'type `UncoercibleType` should support coercion via `[]`')
       end
 
       it 'raises for a Set of it' do
         expect { described_class.build_coercer(Set[UncoercibleType]) }
-          .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'type UncoercibleType should support coercion via `[]`')
+          .to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'type `UncoercibleType` should support coercion via `[]`')
       end
 
       it 'raises while the params block is evaluated' do
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ def self.parse; end
             params { requires :foos, type: Array[UncoercibleType] }
             get('/foos') { 'never reached' }
           end
-        end.to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'type UncoercibleType should support coercion via `[]`')
+        end.to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'type `UncoercibleType` should support coercion via `[]`')
       end
 
       # A one-argument `parse` makes it a custom type, which ::custom? accepts
diff --git a/spec/grape/validations/validators/length_validator_spec.rb b/spec/grape/validations/validators/length_validator_spec.rb
index d9d7f721c..f3b5823c4 100644
--- a/spec/grape/validations/validators/length_validator_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/grape/validations/validators/length_validator_spec.rb
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@
       end
 
       it 'raises an error' do
-        expect { post 'negative_min', list: [12] }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'min must be an integer greater than or equal to zero')
+        expect { post 'negative_min', list: [12] }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, '`min` must be an integer greater than or equal to zero')
       end
     end
   end
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@
       end
 
       it do
-        expect { post 'negative_max', list: [12] }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'max must be an integer greater than or equal to zero')
+        expect { post 'negative_max', list: [12] }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, '`max` must be an integer greater than or equal to zero')
       end
     end
   end
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@
       end
 
       it do
-        expect { post 'float_min', list: [12] }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'min must be an integer greater than or equal to zero')
+        expect { post 'float_min', list: [12] }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, '`min` must be an integer greater than or equal to zero')
       end
     end
   end
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@
       end
 
       it do
-        expect { post 'float_max', list: [12] }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'max must be an integer greater than or equal to zero')
+        expect { post 'float_max', list: [12] }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, '`max` must be an integer greater than or equal to zero')
       end
     end
   end
@@ -282,7 +282,7 @@
       end
 
       it do
-        expect { post 'min_greater_than_max', list: [12] }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'min 15 cannot be greater than max 3')
+        expect { post 'min_greater_than_max', list: [12] }.to raise_error(ArgumentError, 'min `15` cannot be greater than max `3`')
       end
     end
   end
diff --git a/spec/support/versioned_helpers.rb b/spec/support/versioned_helpers.rb
index 26e5a67c5..0521de91f 100644
--- a/spec/support/versioned_helpers.rb
+++ b/spec/support/versioned_helpers.rb
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ def versioned_path(options)
         when :param, :header, :accept_version_header
           File.join('/', options[:prefix] || '', options[:path])
         else
-          raise ArgumentError.new("unknown versioning strategy: #{options[:using]}")
+          raise ArgumentError.new("unknown versioning strategy: `#{options[:using]}`")
         end
       end
 
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def versioned_headers(options)
             'HTTP_ACCEPT_VERSION' => options[:version].to_s
           }
         else
-          raise ArgumentError.new("unknown versioning strategy: #{options[:using]}")
+          raise ArgumentError.new("unknown versioning strategy: `#{options[:using]}`")
         end
       end