diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Dates.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Dates.hs
index f4af2e1ab..a99b02630 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Dates.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Dates.hs
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ import Safe (headMay, lastMay, maximumMay, minimumMay)
 import Text.Megaparsec
 import Text.Megaparsec.Char (char, char', digitChar, string, string')
 import Text.Megaparsec.Char.Lexer (decimal, signed)
-import Text.Megaparsec.Custom (customErrorBundlePretty)
+import Text.Megaparsec.Custom (customErrorBundlePretty, HledgerParseErrors)
 import Text.Printf (printf)
 
 import Hledger.Data.Types
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ latestSpanContaining datespans = go
 -- | Parse a period expression to an Interval and overall DateSpan using
 -- the provided reference date, or return a parse error.
 parsePeriodExpr
-  :: Day -> Text -> Either (ParseErrorBundle Text CustomErr) (Interval, DateSpan)
+  :: Day -> Text -> Either HledgerParseErrors (Interval, DateSpan)
 parsePeriodExpr refdate s = parsewith (periodexprp refdate <* eof) (T.toLower s)
 
 -- | Like parsePeriodExpr, but call error' on failure.
@@ -408,14 +408,14 @@ spanFromSmartDate refdate sdate = DateSpan (Just b) (Just e)
 fixSmartDateStr :: Day -> Text -> Text
 fixSmartDateStr d s =
   either (error' . printf "could not parse date %s %s" (show s) . show) id $  -- PARTIAL:
-  (fixSmartDateStrEither d s :: Either (ParseErrorBundle Text CustomErr) Text)
+  (fixSmartDateStrEither d s :: Either HledgerParseErrors Text)
 
 -- | A safe version of fixSmartDateStr.
-fixSmartDateStrEither :: Day -> Text -> Either (ParseErrorBundle Text CustomErr) Text
+fixSmartDateStrEither :: Day -> Text -> Either HledgerParseErrors Text
 fixSmartDateStrEither d = fmap showDate . fixSmartDateStrEither' d
 
 fixSmartDateStrEither'
-  :: Day -> Text -> Either (ParseErrorBundle Text CustomErr) Day
+  :: Day -> Text -> Either HledgerParseErrors Day
 fixSmartDateStrEither' d s = case parsewith smartdateonly (T.toLower s) of
                                Right sd -> Right $ fixSmartDate d sd
                                Left e -> Left e
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Journal.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Journal.hs
index 222dbea97..e4ab359f5 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Journal.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Journal.hs
@@ -142,13 +142,13 @@ import Hledger.Query
 
 
 -- | A parser of text that runs in some monad, keeping a Journal as state.
-type JournalParser m a = StateT Journal (ParsecT CustomErr Text m) a
+type JournalParser m a = StateT Journal (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData Text m) a
 
 -- | A parser of text that runs in some monad, keeping a Journal as
 -- state, that can throw an exception to end parsing, preventing
 -- further parser backtracking.
 type ErroringJournalParser m a =
-  StateT Journal (ParsecT CustomErr Text (ExceptT FinalParseError m)) a
+  StateT Journal (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData Text (ExceptT FinalParseError m)) a
 
 -- deriving instance Show Journal
 instance Show Journal where
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/PeriodicTransaction.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/PeriodicTransaction.hs
index 340f19776..40358340b 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/PeriodicTransaction.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/PeriodicTransaction.hs
@@ -189,20 +189,20 @@ instance Show PeriodicTransaction where
 -- <BLANKLINE>
 --
 -- >>> _ptgen ""
--- *** Exception: failed to parse...
+-- *** Exception: Error: failed to parse...
 -- ...
 --
 -- >>> _ptgen "weekly from 2017"
--- *** Exception: Unable to generate transactions according to "weekly from 2017" because 2017-01-01 is not a first day of the Week
+-- *** Exception: Error: Unable to generate transactions according to "weekly from 2017" because 2017-01-01 is not a first day of the Week
 --
 -- >>> _ptgen "monthly from 2017/5/4"
--- *** Exception: Unable to generate transactions according to "monthly from 2017/5/4" because 2017-05-04 is not a first day of the Month
+-- *** Exception: Error: Unable to generate transactions according to "monthly from 2017/5/4" because 2017-05-04 is not a first day of the Month
 --
 -- >>> _ptgen "every quarter from 2017/1/2"
--- *** Exception: Unable to generate transactions according to "every quarter from 2017/1/2" because 2017-01-02 is not a first day of the Quarter
+-- *** Exception: Error: Unable to generate transactions according to "every quarter from 2017/1/2" because 2017-01-02 is not a first day of the Quarter
 --
 -- >>> _ptgen "yearly from 2017/1/14"
--- *** Exception: Unable to generate transactions according to "yearly from 2017/1/14" because 2017-01-14 is not a first day of the Year
+-- *** Exception: Error: Unable to generate transactions according to "yearly from 2017/1/14" because 2017-01-14 is not a first day of the Year
 --
 -- >>> let reportperiod="daily from 2018/01/03" in let (i,s) = parsePeriodExpr' nulldate reportperiod in runPeriodicTransaction (nullperiodictransaction{ptperiodexpr=reportperiod, ptspan=s, ptinterval=i, ptpostings=["a" `post` usd 1]}) (DateSpan (Just $ fromGregorian 2018 01 01) (Just $ fromGregorian 2018 01 03))
 -- []
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Transaction.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Transaction.hs
index 15de153bd..4ce0ce0d7 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Transaction.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Data/Transaction.hs
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ module Hledger.Data.Transaction
   -- * rendering
 , showTransaction
 , showTransactionOneLineAmounts
+, showTransactionLineFirstPart
 , transactionFile
   -- * tests
 , tests_Transaction
@@ -137,18 +138,22 @@ showTransactionHelper onelineamounts t =
     <> foldMap ((<> newline) . TB.fromText) (postingsAsLines onelineamounts $ tpostings t)
     <> newline
   where
-    descriptionline = T.stripEnd $ T.concat [date, status, code, desc, samelinecomment]
-    date = showDate (tdate t) <> maybe "" (("="<>) . showDate) (tdate2 t)
-    status | tstatus t == Cleared = " *"
-           | tstatus t == Pending = " !"
-           | otherwise            = ""
-    code = if T.null (tcode t) then "" else wrap " (" ")" $ tcode t
+    descriptionline = T.stripEnd $ showTransactionLineFirstPart t <> T.concat [desc, samelinecomment]
     desc = if T.null d then "" else " " <> d where d = tdescription t
     (samelinecomment, newlinecomments) =
       case renderCommentLines (tcomment t) of []   -> ("",[])
                                               c:cs -> (c,cs)
     newline = TB.singleton '\n'
 
+-- Useful when rendering error messages.
+showTransactionLineFirstPart t = T.concat [date, status, code]
+  where
+    date = showDate (tdate t) <> maybe "" (("="<>) . showDate) (tdate2 t)
+    status | tstatus t == Cleared = " *"
+           | tstatus t == Pending = " !"
+           | otherwise            = ""
+    code = if T.null (tcode t) then "" else wrap " (" ")" $ tcode t
+
 hasRealPostings :: Transaction -> Bool
 hasRealPostings = not . null . realPostings
 
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
index e3639dbb2..a10dd973e 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/Common.hs
@@ -112,6 +112,8 @@ module Hledger.Read.Common (
   skipNonNewlineSpaces,
   skipNonNewlineSpaces1,
   aliasesFromOpts,
+  makeTransactionErrorExcerpt,
+  makePostingErrorExcerpt,
 
   -- * tests
   tests_Common,
@@ -144,7 +146,7 @@ import Text.Megaparsec
 import Text.Megaparsec.Char (char, char', digitChar, newline, string)
 import Text.Megaparsec.Char.Lexer (decimal)
 import Text.Megaparsec.Custom
-  (FinalParseError, attachSource, customErrorBundlePretty, finalErrorBundlePretty, parseErrorAt, parseErrorAtRegion)
+  (FinalParseError, attachSource, customErrorBundlePretty, finalErrorBundlePretty, parseErrorAt, parseErrorAtRegion, HledgerParseErrors)
 
 import Hledger.Data
 import Hledger.Query (Query(..), filterQuery, parseQueryTerm, queryEndDate, queryStartDate, queryIsDate, simplifyQuery)
@@ -152,6 +154,7 @@ import Hledger.Reports.ReportOptions (ReportOpts(..), queryFromFlags, rawOptsToR
 import Hledger.Utils
 import Text.Printf (printf)
 import Hledger.Read.InputOptions
+import Safe (atMay)
 
 --- ** doctest setup
 -- $setup
@@ -271,7 +274,7 @@ initialiseAndParseJournal parser iopts f txt =
     y = first3 . toGregorian $ _ioDay iopts
     initJournal = nulljournal{jparsedefaultyear = Just y, jincludefilestack = [f]}
     -- Flatten parse errors and final parse errors, and output each as a pretty String.
-    prettyParseErrors :: ExceptT FinalParseError IO (Either (ParseErrorBundle Text CustomErr) a)
+    prettyParseErrors :: ExceptT FinalParseError IO (Either (ParseErrorBundle Text HledgerParseErrorData) a)
                       -> ExceptT String IO a
     prettyParseErrors = withExceptT customErrorBundlePretty . liftEither
                     <=< withExceptT (finalErrorBundlePretty . attachSource f txt)
@@ -362,59 +365,173 @@ journalCheckPayeesDeclared :: Journal -> Either String ()
 journalCheckPayeesDeclared j = mapM_ checkpayee (jtxns j)
   where
     checkpayee t
-      | p `elem` ps = Right ()
+      | payee `elem` journalPayeesDeclared j = Right ()
       | otherwise = Left $
-          printf "undeclared payee \"%s\"\nat: %s\n\n%s"
-            (T.unpack p)
-            (sourcePosPairPretty $ tsourcepos t)
-            (linesPrepend2 "> " "  " . (<>"\n") . textChomp $ showTransaction t)
+        printf "%s:%d:%d-%d:\n%sundeclared payee \"%s\"\n" f l col col2 ex payee
       where
-        p  = transactionPayee t
-        ps = journalPayeesDeclared j
+        payee = transactionPayee t
+        (f,l,mcols,ex) = makeTransactionErrorExcerpt t finderrcols
+        col  = maybe 0 fst mcols
+        col2 = maybe 0 (fromMaybe 0 . snd) mcols
+        finderrcols t = Just (col, Just col2)
+          where
+            col = T.length (showTransactionLineFirstPart t) + 2
+            col2 = col + T.length (transactionPayee t) - 1
 
 -- | Check that all the journal's postings are to accounts declared with
 -- account directives, returning an error message otherwise.
 journalCheckAccountsDeclared :: Journal -> Either String ()
 journalCheckAccountsDeclared j = mapM_ checkacct (journalPostings j)
   where
-    checkacct Posting{paccount,ptransaction}
-      | paccount `elem` as = Right ()
-      | otherwise = Left $
-          (printf "undeclared account \"%s\"\n" (T.unpack paccount))
-          ++ case ptransaction of
-              Nothing -> ""
-              Just t  -> printf "in transaction at: %s\n\n%s"
-                          (sourcePosPairPretty $ tsourcepos t)
-                          (linesPrepend "  " . (<>"\n") . textChomp $ showTransaction t)
-      where
-        as = journalAccountNamesDeclared j
+    checkacct p@Posting{paccount=a}
+      | a `elem` journalAccountNamesDeclared j = Right ()
+      | otherwise = Left $ 
+        printf "%s:%d:%d-%d:\n%sundeclared account \"%s\"\n" f l col col2 ex a
+        where
+          (f,l,mcols,ex) = makePostingErrorExcerpt p finderrcols
+          col  = maybe 0 fst mcols
+          col2 = maybe 0 (fromMaybe 0 . snd) mcols
+          finderrcols p _ _ = Just (col, Just col2)
+            where
+              col = 5 + if isVirtual p then 1 else 0
+              col2 = col + T.length a - 1
 
 -- | Check that all the commodities used in this journal's postings have been declared
 -- by commodity directives, returning an error message otherwise.
 journalCheckCommoditiesDeclared :: Journal -> Either String ()
-journalCheckCommoditiesDeclared j =
-  mapM_ checkcommodities (journalPostings j)
+journalCheckCommoditiesDeclared j = mapM_ checkcommodities (journalPostings j)
   where
-    checkcommodities Posting{..} =
-      case mfirstundeclaredcomm of
+    checkcommodities p =
+      case findundeclaredcomm p of
         Nothing -> Right ()
-        Just c  -> Left $
-          (printf "undeclared commodity \"%s\"\n" (T.unpack c))
-          ++ case ptransaction of
-              Nothing -> ""
-              Just t  -> printf "in transaction at: %s\n\n%s"
-                          (sourcePosPairPretty $ tsourcepos t)
-                          (linesPrepend "  " . (<>"\n") . textChomp $ showTransaction t)
+        Just (comm, _) ->
+          Left $ printf "%s:%d:%d-%d:\n%sundeclared commodity \"%s\"\n" f l col col2 ex comm
+          where
+            (f,l,mcols,ex) = makePostingErrorExcerpt p finderrcols
+            col  = maybe 0 fst mcols
+            col2 = maybe 0 (fromMaybe 0 . snd) mcols
       where
-        mfirstundeclaredcomm =
-          find (`M.notMember` jcommodities j)
-          . map acommodity
-          . (maybe id ((:) . baamount) pbalanceassertion)
-          . filter (not . isIgnorable)
-          $ amountsRaw pamount
+        -- Find the first undeclared commodity symbol in this posting's amount
+        -- or balance assertion amount, if any. The boolean will be true if
+        -- the undeclared symbol was in the posting amount.
+        findundeclaredcomm :: Posting -> Maybe (CommoditySymbol, Bool)
+        findundeclaredcomm Posting{pamount=amt,pbalanceassertion} =
+          case (findundeclared postingcomms, findundeclared assertioncomms) of
+            (Just c, _) -> Just (c, True)
+            (_, Just c) -> Just (c, False)
+            _           -> Nothing
+          where
+            postingcomms = map acommodity $ filter (not . isIgnorable) $ amountsRaw amt
+              where
+                -- Ignore missing amounts and zero amounts without commodity (#1767)
+                isIgnorable a = (T.null (acommodity a) && amountIsZero a) || a == missingamt
+            assertioncomms = [acommodity a | Just a <- [baamount <$> pbalanceassertion]]
+            findundeclared = find (`M.notMember` jcommodities j)
 
-    -- Ignore missing amounts and zero amounts without commodity (#1767)
-    isIgnorable a = (T.null (acommodity a) && amountIsZero a) || a == missingamt
+        -- Find the best position for an error column marker when this posting
+        -- is rendered by showTransaction.
+        -- Reliably locating a problem commodity symbol in showTransaction output
+        -- is really tricky. Some examples:
+        --
+        --     assets      "C $" -1 @ $ 2
+        --                            ^
+        --     assets      $1 = $$1
+        --                      ^
+        --     assets   [ANSI RED]$-1[ANSI RESET]
+        --              ^
+        --
+        -- To simplify, we will mark the whole amount + balance assertion region, like:
+        --     assets      "C $" -1 @ $ 2
+        --                 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+        finderrcols p t txntxt =
+          case transactionFindPostingIndex (==p) t of
+            Nothing     -> Nothing
+            Just pindex -> Just (amtstart, Just amtend)
+              where
+                tcommentlines = max 0 (length (T.lines $ tcomment t) - 1)
+                errrelline = 1 + tcommentlines + pindex   -- XXX doesn't count posting coment lines
+                errline = fromMaybe "" (T.lines txntxt `atMay` (errrelline-1))
+                acctend = 4 + T.length (paccount p) + if isVirtual p then 2 else 0
+                amtstart = acctend + (T.length $ T.takeWhile isSpace $ T.drop acctend errline) + 1
+                amtend = amtstart + (T.length $ T.stripEnd $ T.takeWhile (/=';') $ T.drop amtstart errline)
+
+-- | Given a problem transaction and a function calculating the best
+-- column(s) for marking the error region:
+-- render it as a megaparsec-style excerpt, showing the original line number
+-- on the transaction line, and a column(s) marker.
+-- Returns the file path, line number, column(s) if known,
+-- and the rendered excerpt, or as much of these as is possible.
+makeTransactionErrorExcerpt :: Transaction -> (Transaction -> Maybe (Int, Maybe Int)) -> (FilePath, Int, Maybe (Int, Maybe Int), Text)
+makeTransactionErrorExcerpt t findtxnerrorcolumns = (f, tl, merrcols, ex)
+  -- XXX findtxnerrorcolumns is awkward, I don't think this is the final form
+  where
+    (SourcePos f tpos _) = fst $ tsourcepos t
+    tl = unPos tpos
+    txntxt = showTransaction t & textChomp & (<>"\n")
+    merrcols = findtxnerrorcolumns t
+    ex = decorateTransactionErrorExcerpt tl merrcols txntxt
+
+-- | Add megaparsec-style left margin, line number, and optional column marker(s).
+decorateTransactionErrorExcerpt :: Int -> Maybe (Int, Maybe Int) -> Text -> Text
+decorateTransactionErrorExcerpt l mcols txt =
+  T.unlines $ ls' <> colmarkerline <> map (lineprefix<>) ms
+  where
+    (ls,ms) = splitAt 1 $ T.lines txt
+    ls' = map ((T.pack (show l) <> " | ") <>) ls
+    colmarkerline =
+      [lineprefix <> T.replicate (col-1) " " <> T.replicate regionw "^"
+      | Just (col, mendcol) <- [mcols]
+      , let regionw = maybe 1 (subtract col) mendcol + 1
+      ]
+    lineprefix = T.replicate marginw " " <> "| "
+      where  marginw = length (show l) + 1
+
+-- | Given a problem posting and a function calculating the best
+-- column(s) for marking the error region:
+-- look up error info from the parent transaction, and render the transaction
+-- as a megaparsec-style excerpt, showing the original line number
+-- on the problem posting's line, and a column indicator.
+-- Returns the file path, line number, column(s) if known,
+-- and the rendered excerpt, or as much of these as is possible.
+makePostingErrorExcerpt :: Posting -> (Posting -> Transaction -> Text -> Maybe (Int, Maybe Int)) -> (FilePath, Int, Maybe (Int, Maybe Int), Text)
+makePostingErrorExcerpt p findpostingerrorcolumns =
+  case ptransaction p of
+    Nothing -> ("-", 0, Nothing, "")
+    Just t  -> (f, errabsline, merrcols, ex)
+      where
+        (SourcePos f tl _) = fst $ tsourcepos t
+        tcommentlines = max 0 (length (T.lines $ tcomment t) - 1)
+        mpindex = transactionFindPostingIndex (==p) t
+        errrelline = maybe 0 (tcommentlines+) mpindex   -- XXX doesn't count posting coment lines
+        errabsline = unPos tl + errrelline
+        txntxt = showTransaction t & textChomp & (<>"\n")
+        merrcols = findpostingerrorcolumns p t txntxt
+        ex = decoratePostingErrorExcerpt errabsline errrelline merrcols txntxt
+
+-- | Add megaparsec-style left margin, line number, and optional column marker(s).
+decoratePostingErrorExcerpt :: Int -> Int -> Maybe (Int, Maybe Int) -> Text -> Text
+decoratePostingErrorExcerpt absline relline mcols txt =
+  T.unlines $ js' <> ks' <> colmarkerline <> ms'
+  where
+    (ls,ms) = splitAt (relline+1) $ T.lines txt
+    (js,ks) = splitAt (length ls - 1) ls
+    (js',ks') = case ks of
+      [k] -> (map (lineprefix<>) js, [T.pack (show absline) <> " | " <> k])
+      _   -> ([], [])
+    ms' = map (lineprefix<>) ms
+    colmarkerline =
+      [lineprefix <> T.replicate (col-1) " " <> T.replicate regionw "^"
+      | Just (col, mendcol) <- [mcols]
+      , let regionw = 1 + maybe 0 (subtract col) mendcol
+      ]
+    lineprefix = T.replicate marginw " " <> "| "
+      where  marginw = length (show absline) + 1
+
+-- | Find the 1-based index of the first posting in this transaction
+-- satisfying the given predicate.
+transactionFindPostingIndex :: (Posting -> Bool) -> Transaction -> Maybe Int
+transactionFindPostingIndex ppredicate = 
+  fmap fst . find (ppredicate.snd) . zip [1..] . tpostings
 
 setYear :: Year -> JournalParser m ()
 setYear y = modify' (\j -> j{jparsedefaultyear=Just y})
@@ -855,7 +972,7 @@ amountwithoutpricep mult = do
           Right (q,p,d,g) -> pure (q, Precision p, d, g)
 
 -- | Try to parse an amount from a string
-amountp'' :: String -> Either (ParseErrorBundle Text CustomErr) Amount
+amountp'' :: String -> Either HledgerParseErrors Amount
 amountp'' s = runParser (evalStateT (amountp <* eof) nulljournal) "" (T.pack s)
 
 -- | Parse an amount from a string, or get an error.
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/CsvReader.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/CsvReader.hs
index 303167c99..80897ec55 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/CsvReader.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/CsvReader.hs
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ parseAndValidateCsvRules rulesfile s =
       parseErrorPretty (FancyError 0 (S.singleton $ ErrorFail errorString) :: ParseError Text String)
 
 -- | Parse this text as CSV conversion rules. The file path is for error messages.
-parseCsvRules :: FilePath -> T.Text -> Either (ParseErrorBundle T.Text CustomErr) CsvRules
+parseCsvRules :: FilePath -> T.Text -> Either (ParseErrorBundle T.Text HledgerParseErrorData) CsvRules
 -- parseCsvRules rulesfile s = runParser csvrulesfile nullrules{baseAccount=takeBaseName rulesfile} rulesfile s
 parseCsvRules = runParser (evalStateT rulesp defrules)
 
@@ -1232,7 +1232,7 @@ renderTemplate rules record t = maybe t mconcat $ parseMaybe
         <|> replaceCsvFieldReference rules record <$> referencep)
     t
   where
-    referencep = liftA2 T.cons (char '%') (takeWhile1P (Just "reference") isFieldNameChar) :: Parsec CustomErr Text Text
+    referencep = liftA2 T.cons (char '%') (takeWhile1P (Just "reference") isFieldNameChar) :: Parsec HledgerParseErrorData Text Text
     isFieldNameChar c = isAlphaNum c || c == '_' || c == '-'
 
 -- | Replace something that looks like a reference to a csv field ("%date" or "%1)
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/JournalReader.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/JournalReader.hs
index 42902c37c..6377a9835 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/JournalReader.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Read/JournalReader.hs
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ import qualified Hledger.Read.CsvReader as CsvReader (reader)
 -- | Run a journal parser in some monad. See also: parseWithState.
 runJournalParser, rjp
   :: Monad m
-  => JournalParser m a -> Text -> m (Either (ParseErrorBundle Text CustomErr) a)
+  => JournalParser m a -> Text -> m (Either HledgerParseErrors a)
 runJournalParser p = runParserT (evalStateT p nulljournal) ""
 rjp = runJournalParser
 
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ runErroringJournalParser, rejp
   :: Monad m
   => ErroringJournalParser m a
   -> Text
-  -> m (Either FinalParseError (Either (ParseErrorBundle Text CustomErr) a))
+  -> m (Either FinalParseError (Either HledgerParseErrors a))
 runErroringJournalParser p t =
   runExceptT $ runParserT (evalStateT p nulljournal) "" t
 rejp = runErroringJournalParser
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/ReportOptions.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/ReportOptions.hs
index 6d9f8fb10..e213650a0 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/ReportOptions.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Reports/ReportOptions.hs
@@ -801,7 +801,7 @@ makeHledgerClassyLenses ''ReportSpec
 -- >>> _rsQuery $ set querystring ["assets"] defreportspec
 -- Acct (RegexpCI "assets")
 -- >>> _rsQuery $ set querystring ["(assets"] defreportspec
--- *** Exception: Updating ReportSpec failed: try using overEither instead of over or setEither instead of set
+-- *** Exception: Error: Updating ReportSpec failed: try using overEither instead of over or setEither instead of set
 -- >>> _rsQuery $ set period (MonthPeriod 2021 08) defreportspec
 -- Date DateSpan 2021-08
 class HasReportOptsNoUpdate a => HasReportOpts a where
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils.hs
index a80abc3ee..1f9a199ec 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils.hs
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ numDigitsInt n
 
 -- | Simpler alias for errorWithoutStackTrace
 error' :: String -> a
-error' = errorWithoutStackTrace
+error' = errorWithoutStackTrace . ("Error: " <>)
 
 -- | A version of errorWithoutStackTrace that adds a usage hint.
 usageError :: String -> a
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/Parse.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/Parse.hs
index e242ed70d..47b21b988 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/Parse.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/Parse.hs
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ module Hledger.Utils.Parse (
   skipNonNewlineSpaces',
 
   -- * re-exports
-  CustomErr
+  HledgerParseErrorData
 )
 where
 
@@ -54,13 +54,13 @@ import Text.Megaparsec.Custom
 import Text.Printf
 
 -- | A parser of string to some type.
-type SimpleStringParser a = Parsec CustomErr String a
+type SimpleStringParser a = Parsec HledgerParseErrorData String a
 
 -- | A parser of strict text to some type.
-type SimpleTextParser = Parsec CustomErr Text  -- XXX an "a" argument breaks the CsvRulesParser declaration somehow
+type SimpleTextParser = Parsec HledgerParseErrorData Text  -- XXX an "a" argument breaks the CsvRulesParser declaration somehow
 
 -- | A parser of text that runs in some monad.
-type TextParser m a = ParsecT CustomErr Text m a
+type TextParser m a = ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData Text m a
 
 -- | Render a pair of source positions in human-readable form, only displaying the range of lines.
 sourcePosPairPretty :: (SourcePos, SourcePos) -> String
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ choice' = choice . map try
 
 -- | Backtracking choice, use this when alternatives share a prefix.
 -- Consumes no input if all choices fail.
-choiceInState :: [StateT s (ParsecT CustomErr Text m) a] -> StateT s (ParsecT CustomErr Text m) a
+choiceInState :: [StateT s (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData Text m) a] -> StateT s (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData Text m) a
 choiceInState = choice . map try
 
 surroundedBy :: Applicative m => m openclose -> m a -> m a
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ parsewith p = runParser p ""
 
 -- | Run a text parser in the identity monad. See also: parseWithState.
 runTextParser, rtp
-  :: TextParser Identity a -> Text -> Either (ParseErrorBundle Text CustomErr) a
+  :: TextParser Identity a -> Text -> Either HledgerParseErrors a
 runTextParser = parsewith
 rtp = runTextParser
 
@@ -100,9 +100,9 @@ parsewithString p = runParser p ""
 parseWithState
   :: Monad m
   => st
-  -> StateT st (ParsecT CustomErr Text m) a
+  -> StateT st (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData Text m) a
   -> Text
-  -> m (Either (ParseErrorBundle Text CustomErr) a)
+  -> m (Either HledgerParseErrors a)
 parseWithState ctx p = runParserT (evalStateT p ctx) ""
 
 parseWithState'
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ nonspace = satisfy (not . isSpace)
 isNonNewlineSpace :: Char -> Bool
 isNonNewlineSpace c = not (isNewline c) && isSpace c
 
-spacenonewline :: (Stream s, Char ~ Token s) => ParsecT CustomErr s m Char
+spacenonewline :: (Stream s, Char ~ Token s) => ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData s m Char
 spacenonewline = satisfy isNonNewlineSpace
 {-# INLINABLE spacenonewline #-}
 
@@ -147,17 +147,17 @@ restofline :: TextParser m String
 restofline = anySingle `manyTill` eolof
 
 -- Skip many non-newline spaces.
-skipNonNewlineSpaces :: (Stream s, Token s ~ Char) => ParsecT CustomErr s m ()
+skipNonNewlineSpaces :: (Stream s, Token s ~ Char) => ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData s m ()
 skipNonNewlineSpaces = () <$ takeWhileP Nothing isNonNewlineSpace
 {-# INLINABLE skipNonNewlineSpaces #-}
 
 -- Skip many non-newline spaces, failing if there are none.
-skipNonNewlineSpaces1 :: (Stream s, Token s ~ Char) => ParsecT CustomErr s m ()
+skipNonNewlineSpaces1 :: (Stream s, Token s ~ Char) => ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData s m ()
 skipNonNewlineSpaces1 = () <$ takeWhile1P Nothing isNonNewlineSpace
 {-# INLINABLE skipNonNewlineSpaces1 #-}
 
 -- Skip many non-newline spaces, returning True if any have been skipped.
-skipNonNewlineSpaces' :: (Stream s, Token s ~ Char) => ParsecT CustomErr s m Bool
+skipNonNewlineSpaces' :: (Stream s, Token s ~ Char) => ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData s m Bool
 skipNonNewlineSpaces' = True <$ skipNonNewlineSpaces1 <|> pure False
 {-# INLINABLE skipNonNewlineSpaces' #-}
 
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/Test.hs b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/Test.hs
index 6cdf1af5a..e3fc9bef8 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/Test.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Hledger/Utils/Test.hs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ import Test.Tasty.HUnit
 -- import Test.Tasty.SmallCheck as SC
 import Text.Megaparsec
 import Text.Megaparsec.Custom
-  ( CustomErr,
+  ( HledgerParseErrorData,
     FinalParseError,
     attachSource,
     customErrorBundlePretty,
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ assertRight (Left a)  = assertFailure $ "expected Right, got (Left " ++ show a +
 
 -- | Run a parser on the given text and display a helpful error.
 parseHelper :: (HasCallStack, Default st, Monad m) =>
-  StateT st (ParsecT CustomErr T.Text m) a -> T.Text -> ExceptT String m a
+  StateT st (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData T.Text m) a -> T.Text -> ExceptT String m a
 parseHelper parser input =
   withExceptT (\e -> "\nparse error at " ++ customErrorBundlePretty e ++ "\n") . ExceptT
   $ runParserT (evalStateT (parser <* eof) def) "" input
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ parseHelper parser input =
 -- produce an 'Assertion'. Suitable for hledger's JournalParser parsers.
 assertParseHelper :: (HasCallStack, Default st) =>
   (String -> Assertion) -> (a -> Assertion)
-  -> StateT st (ParsecT CustomErr T.Text IO) a -> T.Text
+  -> StateT st (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData T.Text IO) a -> T.Text
   -> Assertion
 assertParseHelper onFailure onSuccess parser input =
   either onFailure onSuccess =<< runExceptT (parseHelper parser input)
@@ -74,25 +74,25 @@ assertParseHelper onFailure onSuccess parser input =
 -- all of the given input text, showing the parse error if it fails.
 -- Suitable for hledger's JournalParser parsers.
 assertParse :: (HasCallStack, Default st) =>
-  StateT st (ParsecT CustomErr T.Text IO) a -> T.Text -> Assertion
+  StateT st (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData T.Text IO) a -> T.Text -> Assertion
 assertParse = assertParseHelper assertFailure (const $ return ())
 
 -- | Assert a parser produces an expected value.
 assertParseEq :: (HasCallStack, Eq a, Show a, Default st) =>
-  StateT st (ParsecT CustomErr T.Text IO) a -> T.Text -> a -> Assertion
+  StateT st (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData T.Text IO) a -> T.Text -> a -> Assertion
 assertParseEq parser input = assertParseEqOn parser input id
 
 -- | Like assertParseEq, but transform the parse result with the given function
 -- before comparing it.
 assertParseEqOn :: (HasCallStack, Eq b, Show b, Default st) =>
-  StateT st (ParsecT CustomErr T.Text IO) a -> T.Text -> (a -> b) -> b -> Assertion
+  StateT st (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData T.Text IO) a -> T.Text -> (a -> b) -> b -> Assertion
 assertParseEqOn parser input f expected =
   assertParseHelper assertFailure (assertEqual "" expected . f) parser input
 
 -- | Assert that this stateful parser runnable in IO fails to parse
 -- the given input text, with a parse error containing the given string.
 assertParseError :: (HasCallStack, Eq a, Show a, Default st) =>
-  StateT st (ParsecT CustomErr T.Text IO) a -> T.Text -> String -> Assertion
+  StateT st (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData T.Text IO) a -> T.Text -> String -> Assertion
 assertParseError parser input errstr = assertParseHelper
   (\e -> unless (errstr `isInfixOf` e) $ assertFailure $ "\nparse error is not as expected:" ++ e)
   (\v -> assertFailure $ "\nparse succeeded unexpectedly, producing:\n" ++ pshow v ++ "\n")
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ assertParseError parser input errstr = assertParseHelper
 -- final state (the wrapped state, not megaparsec's internal state),
 -- transformed by the given function, matches the given expected value.
 assertParseStateOn :: (HasCallStack, Eq b, Show b, Default st) =>
-     StateT st (ParsecT CustomErr T.Text IO) a -> T.Text -> (st -> b) -> b -> Assertion
+     StateT st (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData T.Text IO) a -> T.Text -> (st -> b) -> b -> Assertion
 assertParseStateOn parser input f expected = do
   es <- runParserT (execStateT (parser <* eof) def) "" input
   case es of
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ assertParseStateOn parser input f expected = do
 
 -- | These "E" variants of the above are suitable for hledger's ErroringJournalParser parsers.
 parseHelperE :: (HasCallStack, Default st, Monad m) =>
-  StateT st (ParsecT CustomErr T.Text (ExceptT FinalParseError m)) a -> T.Text -> ExceptT String m a
+  StateT st (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData T.Text (ExceptT FinalParseError m)) a -> T.Text -> ExceptT String m a
 parseHelperE parser input = do
   withExceptT (\e -> "\nparse error at " ++ customErrorBundlePretty e ++ "\n") . liftEither
   =<< withExceptT (\e -> "parse error at " ++ finalErrorBundlePretty (attachSource "" input e))
@@ -119,30 +119,30 @@ parseHelperE parser input = do
 
 assertParseHelperE :: (HasCallStack, Default st) =>
   (String -> Assertion) -> (a -> Assertion)
-  -> StateT st (ParsecT CustomErr T.Text (ExceptT FinalParseError IO)) a -> T.Text
+  -> StateT st (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData T.Text (ExceptT FinalParseError IO)) a -> T.Text
   -> Assertion
 assertParseHelperE onFailure onSuccess parser input =
   either onFailure onSuccess =<< runExceptT (parseHelperE parser input)
 
 assertParseE
   :: (HasCallStack, Eq a, Show a, Default st)
-  => StateT st (ParsecT CustomErr T.Text (ExceptT FinalParseError IO)) a -> T.Text -> Assertion
+  => StateT st (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData T.Text (ExceptT FinalParseError IO)) a -> T.Text -> Assertion
 assertParseE = assertParseHelperE assertFailure (const $ return ())
 
 assertParseEqE
   :: (Default st, Eq a, Show a, HasCallStack)
-  => StateT st (ParsecT CustomErr T.Text (ExceptT FinalParseError IO)) a -> T.Text -> a -> Assertion
+  => StateT st (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData T.Text (ExceptT FinalParseError IO)) a -> T.Text -> a -> Assertion
 assertParseEqE parser input = assertParseEqOnE parser input id
 
 assertParseEqOnE
   :: (HasCallStack, Eq b, Show b, Default st)
-  => StateT st (ParsecT CustomErr T.Text (ExceptT FinalParseError IO)) a -> T.Text -> (a -> b) -> b -> Assertion
+  => StateT st (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData T.Text (ExceptT FinalParseError IO)) a -> T.Text -> (a -> b) -> b -> Assertion
 assertParseEqOnE parser input f expected =
   assertParseHelperE assertFailure (assertEqual "" expected . f) parser input
 
 assertParseErrorE
   :: (Default st, Eq a, Show a, HasCallStack)
-  => StateT st (ParsecT CustomErr T.Text (ExceptT FinalParseError IO)) a -> T.Text -> String -> Assertion
+  => StateT st (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData T.Text (ExceptT FinalParseError IO)) a -> T.Text -> String -> Assertion
 assertParseErrorE parser input errstr = assertParseHelperE
   (\e -> unless (errstr `isInfixOf` e) $ assertFailure $ "\nparse error is not as expected:" ++ e)
   (\v -> assertFailure $ "\nparse succeeded unexpectedly, producing:\n" ++ pshow v ++ "\n")
diff --git a/hledger-lib/Text/Megaparsec/Custom.hs b/hledger-lib/Text/Megaparsec/Custom.hs
index 436cba927..c0230a951 100644
--- a/hledger-lib/Text/Megaparsec/Custom.hs
+++ b/hledger-lib/Text/Megaparsec/Custom.hs
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@
 {-# LANGUAGE StandaloneDeriving #-} -- new
 
 module Text.Megaparsec.Custom (
-  -- * Custom parse error type
-  CustomErr,
+  -- * Custom parse error types
+  HledgerParseErrorData,
+  HledgerParseErrors,
 
   -- * Failing with an arbitrary source position
   parseErrorAt,
@@ -55,12 +56,10 @@ import Data.Text (Text)
 import Text.Megaparsec
 
 
---- * Custom parse error type
+--- * Custom parse error types
 
--- | A custom error type for the parser. The type is specialized to
--- parsers of 'Text' streams.
-
-data CustomErr
+-- | Custom error data for hledger parsers. Specialised for a 'Text' parse stream.
+data HledgerParseErrorData
   -- | Fail with a message at a specific source position interval. The
   -- interval must be contained within a single line.
   = ErrorFailAt Int -- Starting offset
@@ -69,21 +68,27 @@ data CustomErr
   -- | Re-throw parse errors obtained from the "re-parsing" of an excerpt
   -- of the source text.
   | ErrorReparsing
-      (NE.NonEmpty (ParseError Text CustomErr)) -- Source fragment parse errors
+      (NE.NonEmpty (ParseError Text HledgerParseErrorData)) -- Source fragment parse errors
   deriving (Show, Eq, Ord)
 
+-- | A specialised version of ParseErrorBundle: 
+-- a non-empty collection of hledger parse errors, 
+-- equipped with PosState to help pretty-print them.
+-- Specialised for a 'Text' parse stream.
+type HledgerParseErrors = ParseErrorBundle Text HledgerParseErrorData
+
 -- We require an 'Ord' instance for 'CustomError' so that they may be
 -- stored in a 'Set'. The actual instance is inconsequential, so we just
 -- derive it, but the derived instance requires an (orphan) instance for
 -- 'ParseError'. Hopefully this does not cause any trouble.
 
-deriving instance Ord (ParseError Text CustomErr)
+deriving instance Ord (ParseError Text HledgerParseErrorData)
 
--- Note: the pretty-printing of our 'CustomErr' type is only partally
+-- Note: the pretty-printing of our 'HledgerParseErrorData' type is only partally
 -- defined in its 'ShowErrorComponent' instance; we perform additional
 -- adjustments in 'customErrorBundlePretty'.
 
-instance ShowErrorComponent CustomErr where
+instance ShowErrorComponent HledgerParseErrorData where
   showErrorComponent (ErrorFailAt _ _ errMsg) = errMsg
   showErrorComponent (ErrorReparsing _) = "" -- dummy value
 
@@ -98,7 +103,7 @@ instance ShowErrorComponent CustomErr where
 -- start of the input stream (the number of tokens processed at that
 -- point).
 
-parseErrorAt :: Int -> String -> CustomErr
+parseErrorAt :: Int -> String -> HledgerParseErrorData
 parseErrorAt offset = ErrorFailAt offset (offset+1)
 
 -- | Fail at a specific source interval, given by the raw offsets of its
@@ -112,7 +117,7 @@ parseErrorAtRegion
   :: Int    -- ^ Start offset
   -> Int    -- ^ End end offset
   -> String -- ^ Error message
-  -> CustomErr
+  -> HledgerParseErrorData
 parseErrorAtRegion startOffset endOffset msg =
   if startOffset < endOffset
     then ErrorFailAt startOffset endOffset msg
@@ -142,7 +147,7 @@ getExcerptText (SourceExcerpt _ txt) = txt
 -- This function could be extended to return the result of 'p', but we don't
 -- currently need this.
 
-excerpt_ :: MonadParsec CustomErr Text m => m a -> m SourceExcerpt
+excerpt_ :: MonadParsec HledgerParseErrorData Text m => m a -> m SourceExcerpt
 excerpt_ p = do
   offset <- getOffset
   (!txt, _) <- match p
@@ -164,8 +169,8 @@ excerpt_ p = do
 reparseExcerpt
   :: Monad m
   => SourceExcerpt
-  -> ParsecT CustomErr Text m a
-  -> ParsecT CustomErr Text m a
+  -> ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData Text m a
+  -> ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData Text m a
 reparseExcerpt (SourceExcerpt offset txt) p = do
   (_, res) <- lift $ runParserT' p (offsetInitialState offset txt)
   case res of
@@ -210,7 +215,7 @@ reparseExcerpt (SourceExcerpt offset txt) p = do
 -- 0 (that is, the beginning of the source file), which is the
 -- case for 'ParseErrorBundle's returned from 'runParserT'.
 
-customErrorBundlePretty :: ParseErrorBundle Text CustomErr -> String
+customErrorBundlePretty :: HledgerParseErrors -> String
 customErrorBundlePretty errBundle =
   let errBundle' = errBundle { bundleErrors =
         NE.sortWith errorOffset $ -- megaparsec requires that the list of errors be sorted by their offsets
@@ -219,7 +224,7 @@ customErrorBundlePretty errBundle =
 
   where
     finalizeCustomError
-      :: ParseError Text CustomErr -> NE.NonEmpty (ParseError Text CustomErr)
+      :: ParseError Text HledgerParseErrorData -> NE.NonEmpty (ParseError Text HledgerParseErrorData)
     finalizeCustomError err = case findCustomError err of
       Nothing -> pure err
 
@@ -233,7 +238,7 @@ customErrorBundlePretty errBundle =
 
     -- If any custom errors are present, arbitrarily take the first one
     -- (since only one custom error should be used at a time).
-    findCustomError :: ParseError Text CustomErr -> Maybe CustomErr
+    findCustomError :: ParseError Text HledgerParseErrorData -> Maybe HledgerParseErrorData
     findCustomError err = case err of
       FancyError _ errSet ->
         finds (\case {ErrorCustom e -> Just e; _ -> Nothing}) errSet
@@ -280,7 +285,7 @@ data FinalParseError' e
   | FinalBundleWithStack (FinalParseErrorBundle' e)
   deriving (Show)
 
-type FinalParseError = FinalParseError' CustomErr
+type FinalParseError = FinalParseError' HledgerParseErrorData
 
 -- We need a 'Monoid' instance for 'FinalParseError' so that 'ExceptT
 -- FinalParseError m' is an instance of Alternative and MonadPlus, which
@@ -308,7 +313,7 @@ data FinalParseErrorBundle' e = FinalParseErrorBundle'
   , includeFileStack :: [FilePath]
   } deriving (Show)
 
-type FinalParseErrorBundle = FinalParseErrorBundle' CustomErr
+type FinalParseErrorBundle = FinalParseErrorBundle' HledgerParseErrorData
 
 
 --- * Constructing and throwing final parse errors
@@ -347,7 +352,7 @@ finalCustomFailure = finalFancyFailure . S.singleton . ErrorCustom
 -- 'attachSource' must be used on a "final" parse error before it can be
 -- pretty-printed.
 
-finalErrorBundlePretty :: FinalParseErrorBundle' CustomErr -> String
+finalErrorBundlePretty :: FinalParseErrorBundle' HledgerParseErrorData -> String
 finalErrorBundlePretty bundle =
      concatMap showIncludeFilepath (includeFileStack bundle)
   <> customErrorBundlePretty (finalErrorBundle bundle)
@@ -391,11 +396,11 @@ attachSource filePath sourceText finalParseError = case finalParseError of
 
 parseIncludeFile
   :: Monad m
-  => StateT st (ParsecT CustomErr Text (ExceptT FinalParseError m)) a
+  => StateT st (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData Text (ExceptT FinalParseError m)) a
   -> st
   -> FilePath
   -> Text
-  -> StateT st (ParsecT CustomErr Text (ExceptT FinalParseError m)) a
+  -> StateT st (ParsecT HledgerParseErrorData Text (ExceptT FinalParseError m)) a
 parseIncludeFile parser initialState filepath text =
   catchError parser' handler
   where
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Check.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Check.hs
index 4d5d1adae..b102c73e2 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Check.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Check.hs
@@ -14,8 +14,6 @@ import Data.Either (partitionEithers)
 import Data.List (isPrefixOf, find)
 import Control.Monad (forM_)
 import System.Console.CmdArgs.Explicit
-import System.Exit (exitFailure)
-import System.IO (stderr, hPutStrLn)
 
 import Hledger
 import Hledger.Cli.CliOptions
@@ -120,4 +118,4 @@ runCheck copts@CliOpts{rawopts_} j (check,args) = do
 
   case results of
     Right () -> return ()
-    Left err -> hPutStrLn stderr ("Error: "++err) >> exitFailure
+    Left err -> error' err
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Check/Ordereddates.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Check/Ordereddates.hs
index 117fb4780..01d85c525 100755
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Check/Ordereddates.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Check/Ordereddates.hs
@@ -3,11 +3,12 @@ module Hledger.Cli.Commands.Check.Ordereddates (
 )
 where
 
-import qualified Data.Text as T
 import Hledger
 import Hledger.Cli.CliOptions
 import Control.Monad (forM)
 import Data.List (groupBy)
+import Text.Printf (printf)
+import Data.Maybe (fromMaybe)
 
 journalCheckOrdereddates :: CliOpts -> Journal -> Either String ()
 journalCheckOrdereddates CliOpts{reportspec_=rspec} j = do
@@ -26,17 +27,17 @@ journalCheckOrdereddates CliOpts{reportspec_=rspec} j = do
     case checkTransactions compare ts of
       FoldAcc{fa_previous=Nothing} -> Right ()
       FoldAcc{fa_error=Nothing}    -> Right ()
-      FoldAcc{fa_error=Just error, fa_previous=Just previous} -> do
-        let
-          datestr = if date2_ ropts then "2" else ""
-          uniquestr = if checkunique then " and/or not unique" else ""
-          positionstr = sourcePosPairPretty $ tsourcepos error
-          txn1str = T.unpack . linesPrepend  (T.pack "  ")               $ showTransaction previous
-          txn2str = T.unpack . linesPrepend2 (T.pack "> ") (T.pack "  ") $ showTransaction error
-        Left $
-          "transaction date" <> datestr <> " is out of order"
-          <> uniquestr <> "\nat " <> positionstr <> ":\n\n"
-          <> txn1str <> txn2str
+      FoldAcc{fa_error=Just t, fa_previous=Just tprev} -> Left $ printf
+        "%s:%d:%d-%d:\n%stransaction date%s is out of order with previous transaction date %s%s" 
+        f l col col2 ex datenum tprevdate oruniquestr
+        where
+          (f,l,mcols,ex) = makeTransactionErrorExcerpt t finderrcols
+          col  = maybe 0 fst mcols
+          col2 = maybe 0 (fromMaybe 0 . snd) mcols
+          finderrcols _t = Just (1, Just 10)
+          datenum   = if date2_ ropts then "2" else ""
+          tprevdate = show $ (if date2_ ropts then transactionDate2 else tdate) tprev
+          oruniquestr = if checkunique then ", and/or not unique" else ""  -- XXX still used ?
 
 data FoldAcc a b = FoldAcc
  { fa_error    :: Maybe a
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Check/Uniqueleafnames.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Check/Uniqueleafnames.hs
index 8e66a3641..66baace69 100755
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Check/Uniqueleafnames.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Check/Uniqueleafnames.hs
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import Data.Text (Text)
 import qualified Data.Text as T
 import Hledger
 import Text.Printf (printf)
+import Data.Maybe (fromMaybe)
 
 -- | Check that all the journal's postings are to accounts with a unique leaf name.
 -- Otherwise, return an error message for the first offending posting.
@@ -38,16 +39,22 @@ journalLeafAndFullAccountNames = map leafAndAccountName . journalAccountNamesUse
   where leafAndAccountName a = (accountLeafName a, a)
 
 checkposting :: [(Text,[AccountName])] -> Posting -> Either String ()
-checkposting leafandfullnames Posting{paccount,ptransaction} =
-  case [lf | lf@(_,fs) <- leafandfullnames, paccount `elem` fs] of
+checkposting leafandfullnames p@Posting{paccount=a} =
+  case [lf | lf@(_,fs) <- leafandfullnames, a `elem` fs] of
     []             -> Right ()
     (leaf,fulls):_ -> Left $ printf
-      "account leaf names are not unique\nleaf name \"%s\" appears in account names: %s%s"
-      leaf
-      (T.intercalate ", " $ map (("\""<>).(<>"\"")) fulls)
-      (case ptransaction of
-        Nothing -> ""
-        Just t  -> printf "\nseen in \"%s\" in transaction at: %s\n\n%s"
-                    paccount
-                    (sourcePosPairPretty $ tsourcepos t)
-                    (linesPrepend "> " . (<>"\n") . textChomp $ showTransaction t) :: String)
+      "%s:%d:%d-%d:\n%saccount leaf name \"%s\" is not unique\nit is used in account names: %s" 
+      f l col col2 ex leaf accts
+      where
+        -- t = fromMaybe nulltransaction ptransaction  -- XXX sloppy
+        col  = maybe 0 fst mcols
+        col2 = maybe 0 (fromMaybe 0 . snd) mcols
+        (f,l,mcols,ex) = makePostingErrorExcerpt p finderrcols
+          where
+            finderrcols p _ _ = Just (col, Just col2)
+              where
+                alen = T.length $ paccount p
+                llen = T.length $ accountLeafName a
+                col = 5 + (if isVirtual p then 1 else 0) + alen - llen
+                col2 = col + llen - 1
+        accts = T.intercalate ", " $ map (("\""<>).(<>"\"")) fulls
diff --git a/hledger/test/check-uniqueleafnames.test b/hledger/test/check-uniqueleafnames.test
index 41d6cc373..1165f77e2 100644
--- a/hledger/test/check-uniqueleafnames.test
+++ b/hledger/test/check-uniqueleafnames.test
@@ -11,5 +11,5 @@ $ hledger -f- check uniqueleafnames
   (a)     1
   (b:a)   1
 $ hledger -f- check uniqueleafnames
->2 /account leaf names are not unique/
+>2 /account leaf name .* is not unique/
 >=1
diff --git a/hledger/test/csv.test b/hledger/test/csv.test
index b258d4f0d..7da5f240d 100644
--- a/hledger/test/csv.test
+++ b/hledger/test/csv.test
@@ -774,7 +774,7 @@ if|account2|comment
 %description Flubber|acct|
 $  ./csvtest.sh
 >2
-hledger: input.rules:6:1:
+hledger: Error: input.rules:6:1:
   |
 6 | %amount 150|acct2
   | ^
@@ -796,7 +796,7 @@ account2 acct
 comment cmt
 $  ./csvtest.sh
 >2
-hledger: input.rules:5:1:
+hledger: Error: input.rules:5:1:
   |
 5 | if Flubber
   | ^
@@ -822,7 +822,7 @@ if Flubber
 account2 %myaccount2
 $  ./csvtest.sh
 >2
-hledger: input.rules:6:3:
+hledger: Error: input.rules:6:3:
   |
 6 |   myaccount2 acct
   |   ^^^^^^^^^^^^
@@ -870,7 +870,7 @@ if account2 comment
 %description Flubber acct 
 $  ./csvtest.sh
 >2
-hledger: input.rules:5:1:
+hledger: Error: input.rules:5:1:
   |
 5 | if account2 comment
   | ^
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/Makefile b/hledger/test/errors/Makefile
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3e6cc6e2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/Makefile
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+# Check error messages of hledger in $PATH against current error tests.
+test:
+	@printf "Running error message tests with hledger $$(hledger --version | awk '{print $$2}'):\n"
+	shelltest *.test
+
+TESTJOURNALS=*.j
+
+# Update error message tests and readme based on the latest test journals
+# and error output of hledger in $PATH.
+update: tests readme
+
+tests:
+	@printf "Updating *.test with the error messages of hledger $$(hledger --version | awk '{print $$2}')\n"
+	@read -p "ok ? Press enter: "
+	for f in $(TESTJOURNALS); do make -s $$(basename $$f .j).test; done
+	make -s test
+
+# Generate a shelltest. Run the test script/journal to generate the error message.
+# Since the error will contain an absolute file path, we must:
+# 1. remove most of the file path
+# 2. test with a (multiline) regex rather than literal text
+# 3. backslash-quote most forward slashes in error messages
+# 4. neutralise any remaining problematic error text (eg in parseable-regexps.test)
+%.test: %.j
+	head -1 $< | sed -E 's%#!/usr/bin/env -S (.*)%$$$$$$ \1 $<%' >$@
+	printf ">>>2 /" >>$@
+	-./$< 2>&1 | sed -E \
+		-e 's%(hledger: Error: ).*/\./(.*)%\1.*\2%' \
+		-e 's%/%\\/%g' \
+		-e 's%alias \\/\(\\/%alias \\/\\(\\/%' \
+		-e 's%compiled: \(%compiled: \\(%' \
+		>>$@
+	printf "/\n>>>= 1" >>$@
+
+readme: $(TESTJOURNALS)
+	@printf "Updating README.md with the error messages of hledger $$(hledger --version | awk '{print $$2}')\n"
+	@read -p "ok ? Press enter: "
+	sed '/<!-- GENERATED: -->/q' <README.md >README.md.tmp
+	echo "$$(hledger --version | cut -d, -f1) error messages:" >>README.md.tmp
+	for f in $(TESTJOURNALS); do \
+		printf '\n### %s\n```\n%s\n```\n\n' "$$(basename "$$f" .j)" "$$(./"$$f" 2>&1)"; \
+	done >>README.md.tmp
+	mv README.md.tmp README.md
+
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/README.md b/hledger/test/errors/README.md
index f6e96c136..0a2e2b65c 100644
--- a/hledger/test/errors/README.md
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/README.md
@@ -20,36 +20,6 @@ Some files contain extra declarations to ease flycheck testing.
 [flycheck-hledger-10]: https://github.com/DamienCassou/flycheck-hledger/pull/10
 [#1436]:            https://github.com/simonmichael/hledger/issues/1436
 
-## Status
-
-Here is the current status
-(hledger 1.25, flycheck 87b275b9):
-
-|                          | format  | accurate line(s) | accurate column(s) | visual | flycheck detects | flycheck region |
-|--------------------------|---------|------------------|--------------------|--------|------------------|-----------------|
-| parseable                | format1 | Y                | Y                  | YY     | Y                | Y               |
-| parseable-dates          | format1 | Y                | Y                  | YY     | Y                | Y               |
-| parseable-regexps        | format1 | Y                | Y                  | YY     | Y                | Y               |
-| balanced                 |         | Y                | -                  | Y      | Y                |                 |
-| balancednoautoconversion |         | Y                | -                  | Y      | Y                |                 |
-| assertions               |         | Y                |                    | Y      | Y                | Y               |
-| accounts                 | format2 |                  |                    | Y      | Y                |                 |
-| commodities              | format2 |                  |                    | Y      | Y                |                 |
-| payees                   | format2 |                  |                    | Y      | Y                | Y               |
-| ordereddates             | format2 |                  |                    | Y      | Y                | Y               |
-| uniqueleafnames          |         |                  |                    | Y      | Y                |                 |
-
-Key:
-- format: the error message follows a standard format
-  (format1: location on first line, megaparsec-like.
-   format2: summary on first line, location on second line, rustc-like.
-   std: new standard format)
-- accurate line - the optimal line(s) is(are) selected
-- accurate column - the optimal column(s) is(are) selected
-- visual - the CLI error message shows a relevant excerpt (Y), ideally with the error highlighted (YY)
-- flycheck detects - flycheck recognises the error output, reports the error and doesn't give a "suspicious" warning
-- flycheck region - flycheck highlights a reasonably accurate text region containing the error
-
 ## Goals
 
 - [x] phase 1: update flycheck to detect journal errors of current hledger release (and keep a branch updated to detect errors of latest hledger master)
@@ -67,67 +37,84 @@ Key:
 - [x] phase 13: decide/add error ids/explanations/web pages ? not needed
 - [ ] phase 14: support Language Server Protocol & Visual Code
 
+## Current status
+
+Here is the current status
+(hledger 1.25.99-gd278c4c71-20220422, flycheck 87b275b9):
+
+|                          | std format | line | column     | excerpt | flycheck | flycheck region |
+|--------------------------|------------|------|------------|---------|----------|-----------------|
+| accounts                 | Y          | Y    | Y          | YY      |          |                 |
+| assertions               |            | Y    |            | Y       |          |                 |
+| balanced                 |            | Y    | -          | Y       |          |                 |
+| balancednoautoconversion |            | Y    | -          | Y       |          |                 |
+| commodities              | Y          | Y    | Y (approx) | YY      |          |                 |
+| ordereddates             | Y          | Y    | Y          | YY      |          |                 |
+| parseable                | Y          | Y    | Y          | YY      |          |                 |
+| parseable-dates          | Y          | Y    | Y          | YY      |          |                 |
+| parseable-regexps        | Y          | Y    | Y          | YY      |          |                 |
+| payees                   | Y          | Y    | Y          | YY      |          |                 |
+| uniqueleafnames          | Y          | Y    | Y          | YY      |          |                 |
+
+Key:
+- std format      - the error message follows a standard format (location on first line, megaparsec-like excerpt, description).
+- line            - the optimal line(s) is(are) selected
+- column          - the optimal column(s) is(are) selected
+- excerpt         - a useful excerpt is shown (Y), ideally with the error highlighted (YY)
+- flycheck        - latest flycheck release recognises and reports the error, with no "suspicious state" warning
+- flycheck region - flycheck highlights a reasonably accurate region containing the error
+
+## Preferred error format
+
+Here is our preferred error message layout for now:
+```
+hledger: Error: FILE:LOCATION:
+EXCERPT
+SUMMARY
+[DETAILS]
+```
+
+Notes (see also [#1436][]):
+
+- the "hledger: " prefix could be dropped later with a bit more effort
+- includes the word "Error" and the error position on line 1
+- FILE is the file path
+- LOCATION is `LINE[-ENDLINE][:COLUMN[-ENDCOLUMN]]`
+- we may show 0 for LINE or COLUMN when unknown
+- EXCERPT is a short visual snippet whenever possible, with the error region highlighted, line numbers, and colour when supported. This section must be easy for flycheck to ignore.
+- SUMMARY is a one line description/explanation of the problem. 
+  These are currently dynamic, they can include helpful contextual info.
+  ShellCheck uses static summaries.
+- DETAILS is optional additional details/advice when needed.
+- this layout is based on megaparsec's
+- for comparison: rustc puts summary on line 1 and location on line 2:
+  ```
+  Error[ID]: SUMMARY
+  at FILE:LOCATION
+  EXCERPT
+  [DETAILS]
+  ```
+- try https://github.com/mesabloo/diagnose later
+
 ## Current journal errors
 
 <!-- to update: erase the below then C-u M-! ./showall -->
-hledger 1.25.99-g133c54434-20220414 error messages, last updated 2022-04-15:
+<!-- GENERATED: -->
+hledger 1.25.99-g9bff671b5-20220424 error messages:
 
-### parseable
+### accounts
 ```
-hledger: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./parseable.j:3:2:
-  |
-3 | 1
-  |  ^
-unexpected newline
-expecting date separator or digit
-
+hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./accounts.j:4:6-6:
+  | 2022-01-01
+4 |     (a)               1
+  |      ^
+undeclared account "a"
 ```
 
-### parseable-dates
-```
-hledger: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./parseable-dates.j:3:1:
-  |
-3 | 2022/1/32
-  | ^^^^^^^^^
-well-formed but invalid date: 2022/1/32
-
-```
-
-### parseable-regexps
-```
-hledger: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./parseable-regexps.j:3:8:
-  |
-3 | alias /(/ = a
-  |        ^
-this regular expression could not be compiled: (
-
-```
-
-### balanced
-```
-hledger: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./balanced.j:3-4
-could not balance this transaction:
-real postings' sum should be 0 but is: 1
-2022-01-01
-    a               1
-
-```
-
-### balancednoautoconversion
-```
-hledger: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./balancednoautoconversion.j:6-8
-could not balance this transaction:
-real postings' sum should be 0 but is:  1 A
--1 B
-2022-01-01
-    a             1 A
-    b            -1 B
-
-```
 
 ### assertions
 ```
-hledger: balance assertion: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./assertions.j:4:8
+hledger: Error: balance assertion: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./assertions.j:4:8
 transaction:
 2022-01-01
     a               0 = 1
@@ -139,112 +126,99 @@ commodity:
 calculated: 0
 asserted:   1
 difference: 1
-
 ```
 
-### accounts
-```
-Error: undeclared account "a"
-in transaction at: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./accounts.j:3-4
-
-  2022-01-01
-      (a)               1
 
+### balanced
 ```
+hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./balanced.j:3-4
+could not balance this transaction:
+real postings' sum should be 0 but is: 1
+2022-01-01
+    a               1
+```
+
+
+### balancednoautoconversion
+```
+hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./balancednoautoconversion.j:6-8
+could not balance this transaction:
+real postings' sum should be 0 but is:  1 A
+-1 B
+2022-01-01
+    a             1 A
+    b            -1 B
+```
+
 
 ### commodities
 ```
-Error: undeclared commodity "A"
-in transaction at: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./commodities.j:5-6
-
-  2022-01-01
-      (a)             A 1
-
+hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./commodities.j:6:21-23:
+  | 2022-01-01
+6 |     (a)             A 1
+  |                     ^^^
+undeclared commodity "A"
 ```
 
-### payees
-```
-Error: undeclared payee "p"
-at: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./payees.j:6-7
-
-> 2022-01-01 p
-      (a)             A 1
-
-```
 
 ### ordereddates
 ```
-Error: transaction date is out of order
-at /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./ordereddates.j:10-11:
-
-  2022-01-02 p
-      (a)               1
-  
-> 2022-01-01 p
-      (a)               1
-  
-
+hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./ordereddates.j:10:1-10:
+10 | 2022-01-01 p
+   | ^^^^^^^^^^
+   |     (a)               1
+transaction date is out of order with previous transaction date 2022-01-02
 ```
 
+
+### parseable-dates
+```
+hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./parseable-dates.j:3:1:
+  |
+3 | 2022/1/32
+  | ^^^^^^^^^
+well-formed but invalid date: 2022/1/32
+```
+
+
+### parseable-regexps
+```
+hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./parseable-regexps.j:3:8:
+  |
+3 | alias /(/ = a
+  |        ^
+this regular expression could not be compiled: (
+```
+
+
+### parseable
+```
+hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./parseable.j:3:2:
+  |
+3 | 1
+  |  ^
+unexpected newline
+expecting date separator or digit
+```
+
+
+### payees
+```
+hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./payees.j:6:12-12:
+6 | 2022-01-01 p
+  |            ^
+  |     (a)             A 1
+undeclared payee "p"
+```
+
+
 ### uniqueleafnames
 ```
-Error: account leaf names are not unique
-leaf name "c" appears in account names: "a:c", "b:c"
-seen in "a:c" in transaction at: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./uniqueleafnames.j:8-9
-
-> 2022-01-01 p
->     (a:c)               1
-
+hledger: Error: /Users/simon/src/hledger/hledger/test/errors/./uniqueleafnames.j:9:8-8:
+  | 2022-01-01 p
+9 |     (a:c)               1
+  |        ^
+account leaf name "c" is not unique
+it is used in account names: "a:c", "b:c"
 ```
 
-
-## New error format
-
-The preferred standard error format for now is the following,
-similar to the one megaparsec gives us
-and probably the easiest to implement consistently:
-
-```
-Error: FILE:LOCATION:
-EXCERPT
-SUMMARY
-[DETAILS]
-```
-
-Other format notes (see also [#1436][]):
-
-megaparsec-like:
-
-```
-Error: [ID] FILE:LOCATION
-EXCERPT
-SUMMARY
-[DETAILS]
-```
-
-- begins with the word "Error"
-- ID is an optional error id, eg `HL1001` (in brackets ?). We might adopt these, similar to ShellCheck.
-- FILE is the file path.
-- LOCATION is `LINE[-ENDLINE][:COLUMN[-ENDCOLUMN]]`. Having location on the first line helps some tools, like Emacs M-x compile.
-- EXCERPT is a short visual snippet whenever possible, with the error region highlighted, line numbers, and colour when supported. This section must be easy for flycheck to ignore.
-- SUMMARY is a one line description/explanation of the problem. Currently we use dynamic summaries including contextual data for clarity. ShellCheck uses static summaries, which might have some advantages.
-- DETAILS is optional additional details/advice when needed.
-
-rustc-like:
-
-```
-Error[ID]: SUMMARY
-at FILE:LOCATION
-EXCERPT
-[DETAILS]
-```
-
-- Having summary on the first line can be helpful eg when grepping logged errors.
-
-Questions:
-
-- location needed on first line for maximum tool support ?
-- summary needed on first line for maximum concision/greppability ?
-- allow long, much-wider-than-80-char first lines or not ?
-- dynamic or static summary ?
-- error ids/explanations needed ? local and/or web based ? easily editable ? document old hledger versions ?
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/accounts.test b/hledger/test/errors/accounts.test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..79c152046
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/accounts.test
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+$$$ hledger check accounts -f accounts.j
+>>>2 /hledger: Error: .*accounts.j:4:6-6:
+  | 2022-01-01
+4 |     (a)               1
+  |      ^
+undeclared account "a"
+
+/
+>>>= 1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/assertions.test b/hledger/test/errors/assertions.test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0e2a6d462
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/assertions.test
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+$$$ hledger check -f assertions.j
+>>>2 /hledger: Error: .*assertions.j:4:8
+transaction:
+2022-01-01
+    a               0 = 1
+
+assertion details:
+date:       2022-01-01
+account:    a
+commodity:  
+calculated: 0
+asserted:   1
+difference: 1
+
+/
+>>>= 1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/balanced.test b/hledger/test/errors/balanced.test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..0ac26e501
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/balanced.test
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+$$$ hledger check -f balanced.j
+>>>2 /hledger: Error: .*balanced.j:3-4
+could not balance this transaction:
+real postings' sum should be 0 but is: 1
+2022-01-01
+    a               1
+
+/
+>>>= 1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/balancednoautoconversion.j b/hledger/test/errors/balancednoautoconversion.j
new file mode 100755
index 000000000..2189e1edc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/balancednoautoconversion.j
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env -S hledger check balancednoautoconversion -f
+# Show the error when balancedwithautoconversion is required
+# and an implicit commodity conversion is found.
+# Currently the same as the regular balancedwithautoconversion error.
+
+1/1
+  a   1 A
+  b  -1 B
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/balancednoautoconversion.test b/hledger/test/errors/balancednoautoconversion.test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..69ad32145
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/balancednoautoconversion.test
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+$$$ hledger check balancednoautoconversion -f balancednoautoconversion.j
+>>>2 /hledger: Error: .*balancednoautoconversion.j:6-8
+could not balance this transaction:
+real postings' sum should be 0 but is:  1 A
+-1 B
+2022-01-01
+    a             1 A
+    b            -1 B
+
+/
+>>>= 1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/commodities.test b/hledger/test/errors/commodities.test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6ecd7c466
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/commodities.test
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+$$$ hledger check commodities -f commodities.j
+>>>2 /hledger: Error: .*commodities.j:6:21-23:
+  | 2022-01-01
+6 |     (a)             A 1
+  |                     ^^^
+undeclared commodity "A"
+
+/
+>>>= 1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/ordereddates.test b/hledger/test/errors/ordereddates.test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7cc02a644
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/ordereddates.test
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+$$$ hledger check ordereddates -f ordereddates.j
+>>>2 /hledger: Error: .*ordereddates.j:10:1-10:
+10 | 2022-01-01 p
+   | ^^^^^^^^^^
+   |     (a)               1
+transaction date is out of order with previous transaction date 2022-01-02
+/
+>>>= 1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/parseable-dates.test b/hledger/test/errors/parseable-dates.test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b08e652f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/parseable-dates.test
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+$$$ hledger check -f parseable-dates.j
+>>>2 /hledger: Error: .*parseable-dates.j:3:1:
+  |
+3 | 2022\/1\/32
+  | ^^^^^^^^^
+well-formed but invalid date: 2022\/1\/32
+
+/
+>>>= 1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/parseable-regexps.test b/hledger/test/errors/parseable-regexps.test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..958e5a8b3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/parseable-regexps.test
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+$$$ hledger check -f parseable-regexps.j
+>>>2 /hledger: Error: .*parseable-regexps.j:3:8:
+  |
+3 | alias \/\(\/ = a
+  |        ^
+this regular expression could not be compiled: \(
+
+/
+>>>= 1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/parseable.test b/hledger/test/errors/parseable.test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e99de9e52
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/parseable.test
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+$$$ hledger check -f parseable.j
+>>>2 /hledger: Error: .*parseable.j:3:2:
+  |
+3 | 1
+  |  ^
+unexpected newline
+expecting date separator or digit
+
+/
+>>>= 1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/payees.test b/hledger/test/errors/payees.test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c46874bdc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/payees.test
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+$$$ hledger check payees -f payees.j
+>>>2 /hledger: Error: .*payees.j:6:12-12:
+6 | 2022-01-01 p
+  |            ^
+  |     (a)             A 1
+undeclared payee "p"
+
+/
+>>>= 1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/showall b/hledger/test/errors/showall
deleted file mode 100755
index aa619a12b..000000000
--- a/hledger/test/errors/showall
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,28 +0,0 @@
-#!/usr/bin/env sh
-# Execute all test journals, showing their error messages
-# (as README-ready markdown).
-
-# All test journals in this directory, in preferred test/display order
-testfiles="\
-  parseable.j \
-  parseable-dates.j \
-  parseable-regexps.j \
-  balanced.j \
-  balancednoautoconversion.j \
-  assertions.j \
-  accounts.j \
-  commodities.j \
-  payees.j \
-  ordereddates.j \
-  uniqueleafnames.j \
-  "
-
-printf '%s error messages, last updated %s:\n\n' \
-       "$(hledger --version | cut -d, -f1)" \
-       "$(date +%Y-%m-%d)"
-
-for f in $testfiles; do
-    printf '### %s\n```\n' "$(echo "$f" | cut -d. -f1)"
-    ./"$f" || true
-    printf '```\n\n'
-done
diff --git a/hledger/test/errors/uniqueleafnames.test b/hledger/test/errors/uniqueleafnames.test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..6934a3e32
--- /dev/null
+++ b/hledger/test/errors/uniqueleafnames.test
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+$$$ hledger check uniqueleafnames -f uniqueleafnames.j
+>>>2 /hledger: Error: .*uniqueleafnames.j:9:8-8:
+  | 2022-01-01 p
+9 |     (a:c)               1
+  |        ^
+account leaf name "c" is not unique
+it is used in account names: "a:c", "b:c"
+/
+>>>= 1
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/hledger/test/forecast.test b/hledger/test/forecast.test
index 09a9a1e3c..3307d070e 100644
--- a/hledger/test/forecast.test
+++ b/hledger/test/forecast.test
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ Balance changes in 2016-10-01..2017-01-31:
 $ hledger bal -M -b 2016-10 -e 2017-02 -f - --forecast=20160801-foobar
 >
 >2
-hledger: could not parse forecast period : 1:10:
+hledger: Error: could not parse forecast period : 1:10:
   |
 1 | 20160801-foobar
   |          ^
diff --git a/hledger/test/journal/parse-errors.test b/hledger/test/journal/parse-errors.test
index 4d0b93df5..57ad081bd 100644
--- a/hledger/test/journal/parse-errors.test
+++ b/hledger/test/journal/parse-errors.test
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 # 1.
 $ hledger -f - print
 >2
-hledger: -:1:5:
+hledger: Error: -:1:5:
   |
 1 | 2018
   |     ^
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ $ hledger -f- print
   b  1B
 $ hledger -f- print
 >2
-hledger: -:1-3
+hledger: Error: -:1-3
 could not balance this transaction:
 real postings all have the same sign
 2020-01-01
diff --git a/hledger/test/roi.test b/hledger/test/roi.test
index dfc1dcfdd..d360f06d0 100644
--- a/hledger/test/roi.test
+++ b/hledger/test/roi.test
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ hledger -f- roi -p 2019-11 --inv Investment --pnl PnL
   Assets:Checking    101 A
   Unrealized PnL
 >>>2
-hledger: Amounts could not be converted to a single cost basis: ["10 B","-10 B @@ 100 A"]
+hledger: Error: Amounts could not be converted to a single cost basis: ["10 B","-10 B @@ 100 A"]
 Consider using --value to force all costs to be in a single commodity.
 For example, "--cost --value=end,<commodity> --infer-market-prices", where commodity is the one that was used to pay for the investment.
 >>>=1