diff --git a/applets/applets.c b/applets/applets.c
index 00102daa3..10d4c948c 100644
--- a/applets/applets.c
+++ b/applets/applets.c
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ static void parse_config_file(void)
 		|| !S_ISREG(st.st_mode)					/* Not a regular file? */
 		|| (st.st_uid != 0)						/* Not owned by root? */
 		|| (st.st_mode & (S_IWGRP | S_IWOTH))	/* Writable by non-root? */
-		|| !(f = fopen(config_file, "r"))		/* Can not open? */
+		|| !(f = fopen(config_file, "r"))		/* Cannot open? */
 		) {
 		return;
 	}
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ static void check_suid(struct BB_applet *applet)
 				m >>= 3;
 
 			if (!(m & S_IXOTH))           /* is x bit not set ? */
-				bb_error_msg_and_die ("You have no permission to run this applet!");
+				bb_error_msg_and_die("you have no permission to run this applet!");
 
 			if ((sct->m_mode & (S_ISGID | S_IXGRP)) == (S_ISGID | S_IXGRP)) {     /* *both* have to be set for sgid */
 				xsetgid(sct->m_gid);
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ static void check_suid(struct BB_applet *applet)
 #endif
 
 	if (applet->need_suid == _BB_SUID_ALWAYS) {
-		if (geteuid()) bb_error_msg_and_die("Applet requires root privileges!");
+		if (geteuid()) bb_error_msg_and_die("applet requires root privileges!");
 	} else if (applet->need_suid == _BB_SUID_NEVER) {
 		xsetgid(rgid);                          /* drop all privileges */
 		xsetuid(ruid);
diff --git a/archival/ar.c b/archival/ar.c
index 06a879b93..521e03799 100644
--- a/archival/ar.c
+++ b/archival/ar.c
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ int ar_main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	xread(archive_handle->src_fd, magic, 7);
 	if (strncmp(magic, "!<arch>", 7) != 0) {
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("Invalid ar magic");
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("invalid ar magic");
 	}
 	archive_handle->offset += 7;
 
diff --git a/archival/dpkg.c b/archival/dpkg.c
index 4d0f3fbf3..2f7372100 100644
--- a/archival/dpkg.c
+++ b/archival/dpkg.c
@@ -711,7 +711,7 @@ static unsigned int get_status(const unsigned int status_node, const int num)
 		/* skip past the separating spaces */
 		status_string += strspn(status_string, " ");
 	}
-	len = strcspn(status_string, " \n\0");
+	len = strcspn(status_string, " \n");
 	state_sub_string = xstrndup(status_string, len);
 	state_sub_num = search_name_hashtable(state_sub_string);
 	free(state_sub_string);
@@ -796,7 +796,7 @@ static void index_status_file(const char *filename)
 			if (status_line != NULL) {
 				status_line += 7;
 				status_line += strspn(status_line, " \n\t");
-				status_line = xstrndup(status_line, strcspn(status_line, "\n\0"));
+				status_line = xstrndup(status_line, strcspn(status_line, "\n"));
 				status_node->status = search_name_hashtable(status_line);
 				free(status_line);
 			}
@@ -849,7 +849,7 @@ static void write_status_file(deb_file_t **deb_file)
 
 		tmp_string += 8;
 		tmp_string += strspn(tmp_string, " \n\t");
-		package_name = xstrndup(tmp_string, strcspn(tmp_string, "\n\0"));
+		package_name = xstrndup(tmp_string, strcspn(tmp_string, "\n"));
 		write_flag = FALSE;
 		tmp_string = strstr(control_buffer, "Status:");
 		if (tmp_string != NULL) {
@@ -1374,8 +1374,8 @@ static void remove_package(const unsigned int package_num, int noisy)
 	sprintf(conffile_name, "/var/lib/dpkg/info/%s.conffiles", package_name);
 	exclude_files = create_list(conffile_name);
 
-	/* Some directories cant be removed straight away, so do multiple passes */
-	while (remove_file_array(remove_files, exclude_files));
+	/* Some directories can't be removed straight away, so do multiple passes */
+	while (remove_file_array(remove_files, exclude_files)) /*repeat */;
 	free_array(exclude_files);
 	free_array(remove_files);
 
@@ -1421,7 +1421,7 @@ static void purge_package(const unsigned int package_num)
 	exclude_files = xzalloc(sizeof(char*));
 
 	/* Some directories cant be removed straight away, so do multiple passes */
-	while (remove_file_array(remove_files, exclude_files));
+	while (remove_file_array(remove_files, exclude_files)) /* repeat */;
 	free_array(remove_files);
 
 	/* Create a list of all /var/lib/dpkg/info/<package> files */
diff --git a/archival/libunarchive/archive_xread_all_eof.c b/archival/libunarchive/archive_xread_all_eof.c
index e03fb0caa..8513ffecb 100644
--- a/archival/libunarchive/archive_xread_all_eof.c
+++ b/archival/libunarchive/archive_xread_all_eof.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ ssize_t archive_xread_all_eof(archive_handle_t *archive_handle, unsigned char *b
 
 	size = full_read(archive_handle->src_fd, buf, count);
 	if ((size != 0) && (size != count)) {
-		bb_perror_msg_and_die("Short read, read %ld of %ld", (long)size, (long)count);
+		bb_perror_msg_and_die("short read, read %ld of %ld", (long)size, (long)count);
 	}
 	return(size);
 }
diff --git a/archival/libunarchive/check_header_gzip.c b/archival/libunarchive/check_header_gzip.c
index 00d1919a7..3e42035b9 100644
--- a/archival/libunarchive/check_header_gzip.c
+++ b/archival/libunarchive/check_header_gzip.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ void check_header_gzip(int src_fd)
 
 	/* Check the compression method */
 	if (header.formatted.method != 8) {
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("Unknown compression method %d",
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("unknown compression method %d",
 						  header.formatted.method);
 	}
 
diff --git a/archival/libunarchive/decompress_unzip.c b/archival/libunarchive/decompress_unzip.c
index 27b4ddbcf..9e3e98dd5 100644
--- a/archival/libunarchive/decompress_unzip.c
+++ b/archival/libunarchive/decompress_unzip.c
@@ -745,7 +745,7 @@ static int inflate_block(int *e)
 
 		if ((i = huft_build(ll, nl, 257, cplens, cplext, &tl, &bl)) != 0) {
 			if (i == 1) {
-				bb_error_msg_and_die("Incomplete literal tree");
+				bb_error_msg_and_die("incomplete literal tree");
 				huft_free(tl);
 			}
 			return i;	/* incomplete code set */
diff --git a/archival/libunarchive/get_header_cpio.c b/archival/libunarchive/get_header_cpio.c
index 56862f137..dd48cb09b 100644
--- a/archival/libunarchive/get_header_cpio.c
+++ b/archival/libunarchive/get_header_cpio.c
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ char get_header_cpio(archive_handle_t *archive_handle)
 	archive_handle->offset += 110;
 
 	if ((strncmp(&cpio_header[0], "07070", 5) != 0) || ((cpio_header[5] != '1') && (cpio_header[5] != '2'))) {
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("Unsupported cpio format, use newc or crc");
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("unsupported cpio format, use newc or crc");
 	}
 
 	{
diff --git a/archival/libunarchive/get_header_tar_bz2.c b/archival/libunarchive/get_header_tar_bz2.c
index e3cb328fc..e7a80fc41 100644
--- a/archival/libunarchive/get_header_tar_bz2.c
+++ b/archival/libunarchive/get_header_tar_bz2.c
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 
 char get_header_tar_bz2(archive_handle_t *archive_handle)
 {
-	/* Cant lseek over pipe's */
+	/* Can't lseek over pipes */
 	archive_handle->seek = seek_by_read;
 
 	archive_handle->src_fd = open_transformer(archive_handle->src_fd, uncompressStream);
diff --git a/archival/libunarchive/get_header_tar_gz.c b/archival/libunarchive/get_header_tar_gz.c
index af059a187..41c02e16a 100644
--- a/archival/libunarchive/get_header_tar_gz.c
+++ b/archival/libunarchive/get_header_tar_gz.c
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ char get_header_tar_gz(archive_handle_t *archive_handle)
 {
 	unsigned char magic[2];
 
-	/* Cant lseek over pipe's */
+	/* Can't lseek over pipes */
 	archive_handle->seek = seek_by_read;
 
 	xread(archive_handle->src_fd, &magic, 2);
diff --git a/archival/libunarchive/seek_by_jump.c b/archival/libunarchive/seek_by_jump.c
index e1917dd2a..d605f61dd 100644
--- a/archival/libunarchive/seek_by_jump.c
+++ b/archival/libunarchive/seek_by_jump.c
@@ -19,6 +19,6 @@ void seek_by_jump(const archive_handle_t *archive_handle, const unsigned int amo
 			seek_by_read(archive_handle, amount);
 		} else
 #endif
-			bb_perror_msg_and_die("Seek failure");
+			bb_perror_msg_and_die("seek failure");
 	}
 }
diff --git a/archival/libunarchive/seek_by_read.c b/archival/libunarchive/seek_by_read.c
index 03cbb9ecc..d56f94b21 100644
--- a/archival/libunarchive/seek_by_read.c
+++ b/archival/libunarchive/seek_by_read.c
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 #include "unarchive.h"
 #include "libbb.h"
 
-/*  If we are reading through a pipe(), or from stdin then we cant lseek,
+/*  If we are reading through a pipe(), or from stdin then we can't lseek,
  *  we must read and discard the data to skip over it.
  */
 void seek_by_read(const archive_handle_t *archive_handle, const unsigned int jump_size)
diff --git a/archival/libunarchive/unpack_ar_archive.c b/archival/libunarchive/unpack_ar_archive.c
index eed528391..6a84ae811 100644
--- a/archival/libunarchive/unpack_ar_archive.c
+++ b/archival/libunarchive/unpack_ar_archive.c
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ void unpack_ar_archive(archive_handle_t *ar_archive)
 
 	xread(ar_archive->src_fd, magic, 7);
 	if (strncmp(magic, "!<arch>", 7) != 0) {
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("Invalid ar magic");
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("invalid ar magic");
 	}
 	ar_archive->offset += 7;
 
diff --git a/archival/rpm.c b/archival/rpm.c
index 448a479a0..2ef7232f4 100644
--- a/archival/rpm.c
+++ b/archival/rpm.c
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ static void extract_cpio_gz(int fd) {
 
 	xread(archive_handle->src_fd, &magic, 2);
 	if ((magic[0] != 0x1f) || (magic[1] != 0x8b)) {
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("Invalid gzip magic");
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("invalid gzip magic");
 	}
 	check_header_gzip(archive_handle->src_fd);
 	xchdir("/"); // Install RPM's to root
diff --git a/archival/rpm2cpio.c b/archival/rpm2cpio.c
index c00c6be65..3442046c4 100644
--- a/archival/rpm2cpio.c
+++ b/archival/rpm2cpio.c
@@ -37,10 +37,10 @@ static void skip_header(int rpm_fd)
 
 	xread(rpm_fd, &header, sizeof(struct rpm_header));
 	if (strncmp((char *) &header.magic, RPM_HEADER_MAGIC, 3) != 0) {
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("Invalid RPM header magic"); /* Invalid magic */
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("invalid RPM header magic"); /* Invalid magic */
 	}
 	if (header.version != 1) {
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("Unsupported RPM header version"); /* This program only supports v1 headers */
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("unsupported RPM header version"); /* This program only supports v1 headers */
 	}
 	header.entries = ntohl(header.entries);
 	header.size = ntohl(header.size);
diff --git a/archival/tar.c b/archival/tar.c
index 2c4280cc4..d96d20227 100644
--- a/archival/tar.c
+++ b/archival/tar.c
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ static int writeTarFile(const int tar_fd, const int verboseFlag,
 		freeHardLinkInfo(&tbInfo.hlInfoHead);
 
 	if (errorFlag)
-		bb_error_msg("Error exit delayed from previous errors");
+		bb_error_msg("error exit delayed from previous errors");
 
 	if (gzipPid && waitpid(gzipPid, NULL, 0)==-1)
 		bb_error_msg("cannot wait");
@@ -540,7 +540,7 @@ static llist_t *append_file_list_to_list(llist_t *list)
 #ifdef CONFIG_FEATURE_TAR_COMPRESS
 static char get_header_tar_Z(archive_handle_t *archive_handle)
 {
-	/* Cant lseek over pipe's */
+	/* Can't lseek over pipes */
 	archive_handle->seek = seek_by_read;
 
 	/* do the decompression, and cleanup */
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ static char get_header_tar_Z(archive_handle_t *archive_handle)
 		/* nothing */;
 
 	/* Can only do one file at a time */
-	return(EXIT_FAILURE);
+	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 }
 #else
 #define get_header_tar_Z	0
diff --git a/archival/uncompress.c b/archival/uncompress.c
index d1b0d2cb3..3c78961d5 100644
--- a/archival/uncompress.c
+++ b/archival/uncompress.c
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ int uncompress_main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 			extension = strrchr(uncompressed_file, '.');
 			if (!extension || (strcmp(extension, ".Z") != 0)) {
-				bb_error_msg_and_die("Invalid extension");
+				bb_error_msg_and_die("invalid extension");
 			}
 			*extension = '\0';
 
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ int uncompress_main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 		/* do the decompression, and cleanup */
 		if ((xread_char(src_fd) != 0x1f) || (xread_char(src_fd) != 0x9d)) {
-			bb_error_msg_and_die("Invalid magic");
+			bb_error_msg_and_die("invalid magic");
 		}
 
 		status = uncompress(src_fd, dst_fd);
diff --git a/console-tools/loadkmap.c b/console-tools/loadkmap.c
index ec55c3990..ce9b6817c 100644
--- a/console-tools/loadkmap.c
+++ b/console-tools/loadkmap.c
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ int loadkmap_main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	xread(0, buff, 7);
 	if (strncmp(buff, BINARY_KEYMAP_MAGIC, 7))
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("This is not a valid binary keymap.");
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("this is not a valid binary keymap");
 
 	xread(0, flags, MAX_NR_KEYMAPS);
 
diff --git a/coreutils/chown.c b/coreutils/chown.c
index b73f66a89..42f973f32 100644
--- a/coreutils/chown.c
+++ b/coreutils/chown.c
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ static int fileAction(const char *fileName, struct stat *statbuf,
 				(gid == (gid_t)-1) ? statbuf->st_gid : gid)) {
 		return TRUE;
 	}
-	bb_perror_msg("%s", fileName);	/* A filename could have % in it... */
+	bb_perror_msg("%s", fileName);	/* A filename can have % in it... */
 	return FALSE;
 }
 
diff --git a/coreutils/du.c b/coreutils/du.c
index f61d978b7..efc449097 100644
--- a/coreutils/du.c
+++ b/coreutils/du.c
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ int du_main(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 #endif
 
-	/* Note: SUSv3 specifies that -a and -s options can not be used together
+	/* Note: SUSv3 specifies that -a and -s options cannot be used together
 	 * in strictly conforming applications.  However, it also says that some
 	 * du implementations may produce output when -a and -s are used together.
 	 * gnu du exits with an error code in this case.  We choose to simply
diff --git a/coreutils/expr.c b/coreutils/expr.c
index e7fdc5f1e..ea99d8b5b 100644
--- a/coreutils/expr.c
+++ b/coreutils/expr.c
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ of a basic regular expression is not portable; it is being ignored", pv->u.s);
 	memset(&re_buffer, 0, sizeof(re_buffer));
 	memset(re_regs, 0, sizeof(*re_regs));
 	if (regcomp(&re_buffer, pv->u.s, 0) != 0)
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("Invalid regular expression");
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("invalid regular expression");
 
 	/* expr uses an anchored pattern match, so check that there was a
 	 * match and that the match starts at offset 0. */
diff --git a/coreutils/install.c b/coreutils/install.c
index 2178d435d..54adc2b6e 100644
--- a/coreutils/install.c
+++ b/coreutils/install.c
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ int install_main(int argc, char **argv)
 	umask(0);
 
 	/* Create directories
-	 * dont use bb_make_directory() as it cant change uid or gid
+	 * don't use bb_make_directory() as it can't change uid or gid
 	 * perhaps bb_make_directory() should be improved.
 	 */
 	if (flags & INSTALL_OPT_DIRECTORY) {
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ int install_main(int argc, char **argv)
 				}
 				if (mkdir(*argv, mode) == -1) {
 					if (errno != EEXIST) {
-						bb_perror_msg("coulnt create %s", *argv);
+						bb_perror_msg("cannot create %s", *argv);
 						ret = EXIT_FAILURE;
 						break;
 					}
diff --git a/coreutils/nohup.c b/coreutils/nohup.c
index 439fbb173..21adfc1c3 100644
--- a/coreutils/nohup.c
+++ b/coreutils/nohup.c
@@ -42,12 +42,12 @@ int nohup_main(int argc, char **argv)
 	 * Else redirect to /dev/null.
 	 */
 	temp = isatty(STDERR_FILENO);
-	if (temp) bb_error_msg("Appending to %s", nohupout);
+	if (temp) bb_error_msg("appending to %s", nohupout);
 	dup2(temp ? STDOUT_FILENO : nullfd, STDERR_FILENO);
 	close(nullfd);
 	signal (SIGHUP, SIG_IGN);
 
 	execvp(argv[1],argv+1);
 	if (00 && ENABLE_FEATURE_CLEAN_UP && home) free(nohupout);
-	bb_perror_msg_and_die("%s",argv[1]);
+	bb_perror_msg_and_die("%s", argv[1]);
 }
diff --git a/coreutils/realpath.c b/coreutils/realpath.c
index 993fa1c9d..0fd2c7625 100644
--- a/coreutils/realpath.c
+++ b/coreutils/realpath.c
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 /* Mar 16, 2003      Manuel Novoa III   (mjn3@codepoet.org)
  *
  * Now does proper error checking on output and returns a failure exit code
- * if one or more paths can not be resolved.
+ * if one or more paths cannot be resolved.
  *
  * Licensed under GPLv2 or later, see file LICENSE in this tarball for details.
  */
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/blkid/cache.c b/e2fsprogs/blkid/cache.c
index 57118e1d4..9bae6fb67 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/blkid/cache.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/blkid/cache.c
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ int main(int argc, char** argv)
 
 	blkid_debug_mask = DEBUG_ALL;
 	if ((argc > 2)) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "Usage: %s [filename] \n", argv[0]);
+		fprintf(stderr, "Usage: %s [filename]\n", argv[0]);
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/blkid/devno.c b/e2fsprogs/blkid/devno.c
index be93666be..4f3dd93cd 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/blkid/devno.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/blkid/devno.c
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ char *blkid_devno_to_devname(dev_t devno)
 
 	if (!devname) {
 		DBG(DEBUG_DEVNO,
-		    printf("blkid: couldn't find devno 0x%04lx\n",
+		    printf("blkid: cannot find devno 0x%04lx\n",
 			   (unsigned long) devno));
 	} else {
 		DBG(DEBUG_DEVNO,
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/blkid/tag.c b/e2fsprogs/blkid/tag.c
index 09712bab7..3bbd4c1f4 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/blkid/tag.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/blkid/tag.c
@@ -408,7 +408,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	dev = blkid_get_dev(cache, devname, flags);
 	if (!dev) {
-		fprintf(stderr, "%s: Can not find device in blkid cache\n");
+		fprintf(stderr, "%s: cannot find device in blkid cache\n");
 		exit(1);
 	}
 	if (search_type) {
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/e2fsck.c b/e2fsprogs/e2fsck.c
index 28139f4ea..77edbd871 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/e2fsck.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/e2fsck.c
@@ -6721,7 +6721,7 @@ static int update_dir_block(ext2_filsys fs FSCK_ATTR((unused)),
  * Then, pass3 interates over all directory inodes; for each directory
  * it attempts to trace up the filesystem tree, using dirinfo.parent
  * until it reaches a directory which has been marked "done".  If it
- * can not do so, then the directory must be disconnected, and e2fsck
+ * cannot do so, then the directory must be disconnected, and e2fsck
  * will offer to reconnect it to /lost+found.  While it is chasing
  * parent pointers up the filesystem tree, if pass3 sees a directory
  * twice, then it has detected a filesystem loop, and it will again
@@ -8587,7 +8587,7 @@ static const struct e2fsck_problem problem_table[] = {
 
 	/* Bad primary block */
 	{ PR_1_BAD_PRIMARY_BLOCK,
-	  N_("\nIf the @b is really bad, the @f can not be fixed.\n"),
+	  N_("\nIf the @b is really bad, the @f cannot be fixed.\n"),
 	  PROMPT_NONE, PR_AFTER_CODE, PR_1_BAD_PRIMARY_BLOCK_PROMPT },
 
 	/* Bad primary block prompt */
@@ -8952,7 +8952,7 @@ static const struct e2fsck_problem problem_table[] = {
 
 	/* File has duplicate blocks */
 	{ PR_1D_DUP_FILE,
-	  N_("File %Q (@i #%i, mod time %IM) \n"
+	  N_("File %Q (@i #%i, mod time %IM)\n"
 	  "  has %B @m @b(s), shared with %N file(s):\n"),
 	  PROMPT_NONE, 0 },
 
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/ext2fs/test_io.c b/e2fsprogs/ext2fs/test_io.c
index fb029e2f1..bd74225c0 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/ext2fs/test_io.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/ext2fs/test_io.c
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ static void test_dump_block(io_channel channel,
 	for (i=0, cp = buf; i < channel->block_size; i++, cp++) {
 		cksum += *cp;
 	}
-	fprintf(f, "Contents of block %lu, checksum %08lu: \n", block, cksum);
+	fprintf(f, "Contents of block %lu, checksum %08lu:\n", block, cksum);
 	for (i=0, cp = buf; i < channel->block_size; i++, cp++) {
 		if ((i % 16) == 0)
 			fprintf(f, "%04x: ", i);
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/fsck.c b/e2fsprogs/fsck.c
index e2f600329..06ba4b206 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/fsck.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/fsck.c
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ struct fsck_instance {
  * Return the "base device" given a particular device; this is used to
  * assure that we only fsck one partition on a particular drive at any
  * one time.  Otherwise, the disk heads will be seeking all over the
- * place.  If the base device can not be determined, return NULL.
+ * place.  If the base device cannot be determined, return NULL.
  *
  * The base_device() function returns an allocated string which must
  * be freed.
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/mke2fs.c b/e2fsprogs/mke2fs.c
index f2cce75a3..30110f8b6 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/mke2fs.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/mke2fs.c
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ static void test_disk(ext2_filsys fs, badblocks_list *bb_list)
 	mke2fs_verbose("Running command: %s\n", buf);
 	f = popen(buf, "r");
 	if (!f) {
-		bb_perror_msg_and_die("Could not run '%s'", buf);
+		bb_perror_msg_and_die("cannot run '%s'", buf);
 	}
 	retval = ext2fs_read_bb_FILE(fs, f, bb_list, invalid_block);
 	pclose(f);
@@ -1332,7 +1332,7 @@ int mke2fs_main (int argc, char *argv[])
 			retval = zero_blocks(fs, start, blocks - start,
 					     NULL, &ret_blk, NULL);
 
-		mke2fs_warning_msg(retval, "could not zero block %u at end of filesystem", ret_blk);
+		mke2fs_warning_msg(retval, "cannot zero block %u at end of filesystem", ret_blk);
 		write_inode_tables(fs);
 		create_root_dir(fs);
 		create_lost_and_found(fs);
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/tune2fs.c b/e2fsprogs/tune2fs.c
index 01ba31c68..d22deede2 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/tune2fs.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/tune2fs.c
@@ -615,7 +615,7 @@ int tune2fs_main(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 	retval = ext2fs_check_if_mounted(device_name, &mount_flags);
 	if (retval)
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("Could not determine if %s is mounted", device_name);
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot determine if %s is mounted", device_name);
 	/* Normally we only need to write out the superblock */
 	fs->flags |= EXT2_FLAG_SUPER_ONLY;
 
diff --git a/e2fsprogs/util.c b/e2fsprogs/util.c
index e68c457e7..b30c294b8 100644
--- a/e2fsprogs/util.c
+++ b/e2fsprogs/util.c
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ void check_mount(const char *device, int force, const char *type)
 
 	retval = ext2fs_check_if_mounted(device, &mount_flags);
 	if (retval) {
-		bb_error_msg("Could not determine if %s is mounted", device);
+		bb_error_msg("cannot determine if %s is mounted", device);
 		return;
 	}
 	if (mount_flags & EXT2_MF_MOUNTED) {
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ void make_journal_device(char *journal_device, ext2_filsys fs, int quiet, int fo
 					EXT2_FLAG_JOURNAL_DEV_OK, 0,
 					fs->blocksize, io_ptr, &jfs);
 	if (retval)
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("Could not journal device %s", journal_device);
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot journal device %s", journal_device);
 	if(!quiet)
 		printf("Adding journal to device %s: ", journal_device);
 	fflush(stdout);
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ void make_journal_blocks(ext2_filsys fs, int journal_size, int journal_flags, in
 	retval = ext2fs_add_journal_inode(fs, journal_blocks,
 						  journal_flags);
 	if(retval)
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("Could not create journal");
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot create journal");
 	if(!quiet)
 		puts("done");
 }
diff --git a/editors/awk.c b/editors/awk.c
index e74053e75..e91c37678 100644
--- a/editors/awk.c
+++ b/editors/awk.c
@@ -2716,7 +2716,7 @@ keep_going:
 		free(s);
 	}
 	if (opt & 0x8) // -W
-		bb_error_msg("Warning: unrecognized option '-W %s' ignored", opt_W);
+		bb_error_msg("warning: unrecognized option '-W %s' ignored", opt_W);
 
 	if (!from_file) {
 		if (argc == optind)
diff --git a/editors/patch.c b/editors/patch.c
index 545e70b50..4ddcd004d 100644
--- a/editors/patch.c
+++ b/editors/patch.c
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ static unsigned int copy_lines(FILE *src_stream, FILE *dest_stream, const unsign
 			break;
 		}
 		if (fputs(line, dest_stream) == EOF) {
-			bb_perror_msg_and_die("Error writing to new file");
+			bb_perror_msg_and_die("error writing to new file");
 		}
 		free(line);
 
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ int patch_main(int argc, char **argv)
 		patch_line = xmalloc_fgets(patch_file);
 		if (strncmp(patch_line, "+++ ", 4) != 0) {
 			ret = 2;
-			bb_error_msg("Invalid patch");
+			bb_error_msg("invalid patch");
 			continue;
 		}
 		new_filename = extract_filename(patch_line, patch_level);
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ int patch_main(int argc, char **argv)
 				/* src_beg_line will be 0 if its a new file */
 				count = src_beg_line - src_cur_line;
 				if (copy_lines(src_stream, dst_stream, count) != count) {
-					bb_error_msg_and_die("Bad src file");
+					bb_error_msg_and_die("bad src file");
 				}
 				src_cur_line += count;
 				dest_cur_line += count;
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ int patch_main(int argc, char **argv)
 							src_cur_line++;
 						}
 						if (strcmp(src_line, patch_line + 1) != 0) {
-							bb_error_msg("Hunk #%d FAILED at %d.", hunk_count, hunk_offset_start);
+							bb_error_msg("hunk #%d FAILED at %d", hunk_count, hunk_offset_start);
 							hunk_error++;
 							free(patch_line);
 							break;
diff --git a/editors/vi.c b/editors/vi.c
index a25e96657..82985ced0 100644
--- a/editors/vi.c
+++ b/editors/vi.c
@@ -1802,7 +1802,7 @@ static Byte *yank_delete(Byte * start, Byte * stop, int dist, int yf)
 		stop = p;
 	}
 	if (dist <= 0) {
-		// we can not cross NL boundaries
+		// we cannot cross NL boundaries
 		p = start;
 		if (*p == '\n')
 			return (p);
diff --git a/findutils/xargs.c b/findutils/xargs.c
index e7cc7c379..029d4077d 100644
--- a/findutils/xargs.c
+++ b/findutils/xargs.c
@@ -431,7 +431,7 @@ int xargs_main(int argc, char **argv)
 			n_chars += strlen(*argv) + 1;
 		}
 		if (n_max_chars < n_chars) {
-			bb_error_msg_and_die("can not fit single argument within argument list size limit");
+			bb_error_msg_and_die("cannot fit single argument within argument list size limit");
 		}
 		n_max_chars -= n_chars;
 	} else {
diff --git a/include/usage.h b/include/usage.h
index 287d5a1c8..ffd00cfc8 100644
--- a/include/usage.h
+++ b/include/usage.h
@@ -762,8 +762,8 @@ USE_FEATURE_DATE_ISOFMT( \
 	"\t( EXPRESSION )              value of EXPRESSION\n\n" \
 	"Beware that many operators need to be escaped or quoted for shells.\n" \
 	"Comparisons are arithmetic if both ARGs are numbers, else\n" \
-	"lexicographical.  Pattern matches return the string matched between \n" \
-	"\\( and \\) or null; if \\( and \\) are not used, they return the number \n" \
+	"lexicographical.  Pattern matches return the string matched between\n" \
+	"\\( and \\) or null; if \\( and \\) are not used, they return the number\n" \
 	"of characters matched or 0."
 
 #define fakeidentd_trivial_usage \
@@ -1272,10 +1272,10 @@ USE_FEATURE_DATE_ISOFMT( \
 "This version of init is designed to be run only by the kernel.\n" \
 "\n" \
 "BusyBox init doesn't support multiple runlevels.  The runlevels field of\n" \
-"the /etc/inittab file is completely ignored by BusyBox init. If you want \n" \
+"the /etc/inittab file is completely ignored by BusyBox init. If you want\n" \
 "runlevels, use sysvinit.\n" \
 "\n" \
-"BusyBox init works just fine without an inittab.  If no inittab is found, \n" \
+"BusyBox init works just fine without an inittab.  If no inittab is found,\n" \
 "it has the following default behavior:\n" \
 "\n" \
 "	::sysinit:/etc/init.d/rcS\n" \
@@ -2898,7 +2898,7 @@ USE_FEATURE_START_STOP_DAEMON_FANCY( \
 	USE_FEATURE_FANCY_TAIL( "\n\t-q\t\tnever output headers giving file names\n" \
 	"\t-s SEC\t\twait SEC seconds between reads with -f\n" \
 	"\t-v\t\talways output headers giving file names\n\n" \
-	"If the first character of N (bytes or lines) is a '+', output begins with \n" \
+	"If the first character of N (bytes or lines) is a '+', output begins with\n" \
 	"the Nth item from the start of each file, otherwise, print the last N items\n" \
 	"in the file. N bytes may be suffixed by k (x1024), b (x512), or m (1024^2)." )
 #define tail_example_usage \
@@ -3156,7 +3156,7 @@ USE_FEATURE_START_STOP_DAEMON_FANCY( \
 	"\n\t-f\tForce umount (i.e., unreachable NFS server)" \
 	USE_FEATURE_MOUNT_LOOP("\n\t-D\tDo not free loop device (if a loop device has been used)")
 #define umount_example_usage \
-	"$ umount /dev/hdc1 \n"
+	"$ umount /dev/hdc1\n"
 
 #define uname_trivial_usage \
 	"[OPTION]..."
diff --git a/init/halt.c b/init/halt.c
index 9e3cbb1cf..3ab41f1f2 100644
--- a/init/halt.c
+++ b/init/halt.c
@@ -48,6 +48,6 @@ RB_AUTOBOOT
 		if (rc) rc = kill(1,signals[which]);
 	} else rc = reboot(magic[which]);
 
-	if (rc) bb_error_msg("No.");
+	if (rc) bb_error_msg("no");
 	return rc;
 }
diff --git a/init/init.c b/init/init.c
index 99a11e526..beb2b28f0 100644
--- a/init/init.c
+++ b/init/init.c
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ static void message(int device, const char *fmt, ...)
 	if (log_fd < 0) {
 		if ((log_fd = device_open(log_console, O_RDWR | O_NONBLOCK | O_NOCTTY)) < 0) {
 			log_fd = -2;
-			bb_error_msg("Bummer, can't write to log on %s!", log_console);
+			bb_error_msg("bummer, can't write to log on %s!", log_console);
 			device = CONSOLE;
 		} else {
 			fcntl(log_fd, F_SETFD, FD_CLOEXEC);
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ static void message(int device, const char *fmt, ...)
 #if ENABLE_DEBUG_INIT
 		/* all descriptors may be closed */
 		} else {
-			bb_error_msg("Bummer, can't print: ");
+			bb_error_msg("bummer, can't print: ");
 			va_start(arguments, fmt);
 			vfprintf(stderr, fmt, arguments);
 			va_end(arguments);
diff --git a/libbb/bb_pwd.c b/libbb/bb_pwd.c
index 3a214ca33..1776fa4f6 100644
--- a/libbb/bb_pwd.c
+++ b/libbb/bb_pwd.c
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ long bb_xgetpwnam(const char *name)
  /* Hacked by Tito Ragusa (c) 2004 <farmatito@tiscali.it> to make it more
   * flexible :
   *
-  * if bufsize is > 0 char *name can not be set to NULL.
+  * if bufsize is > 0 char *name cannot be set to NULL.
   *                   On success username is written on the static allocated
   *                   buffer name (and a pointer to it is returned).
   *                   On failure uid as string is written to the static
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ char * bb_getpwuid(char *name, long uid, int bufsize)
 }
 
  /*
-  * if bufsize is > 0 char *buffer can not be set to NULL.
+  * if bufsize is > 0 char *buffer cannot be set to NULL.
   *                   If idname is not NULL it is written on the static
   *                   allocated buffer (and a pointer to it is returned).
   *                   if idname is NULL, id as string is written to the static
diff --git a/libbb/make_directory.c b/libbb/make_directory.c
index 01a864119..fbec4e20e 100644
--- a/libbb/make_directory.c
+++ b/libbb/make_directory.c
@@ -99,6 +99,6 @@ int bb_make_directory (char *path, long mode, int flags)
 
 	} while (1);
 
-	bb_perror_msg ("Cannot %s directory `%s'", fail_msg, path);
+	bb_perror_msg ("cannot %s directory '%s'", fail_msg, path);
 	return -1;
 }
diff --git a/libbb/xfuncs.c b/libbb/xfuncs.c
index 0a5abb878..0a6d90de5 100644
--- a/libbb/xfuncs.c
+++ b/libbb/xfuncs.c
@@ -265,7 +265,7 @@ void xsetgid(gid_t gid)
 	if (setgid(gid)) bb_error_msg_and_die("setgid");
 }
 
-// Die with an error message if we cant' set uid.  (See xsetgid() for why.)
+// Die with an error message if we can't set uid.  (See xsetgid() for why.)
 void xsetuid(uid_t uid)
 {
 	if (setuid(uid)) bb_error_msg_and_die("setuid");
diff --git a/loginutils/adduser.c b/loginutils/adduser.c
index a99f47d68..e358f70eb 100644
--- a/loginutils/adduser.c
+++ b/loginutils/adduser.c
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ static void passwd_wrapper(const char *login)
 {
 	static const char prog[] = "passwd";
 	execlp(prog, prog, login, NULL);
-	bb_error_msg_and_die("Failed to execute '%s', you must set the password for '%s' manually", prog, login);
+	bb_error_msg_and_die("failed to execute '%s', you must set the password for '%s' manually", prog, login);
 }
 
 /* putpwent(3) remix */
diff --git a/loginutils/vlock.c b/loginutils/vlock.c
index 9ab097b77..7a44d9405 100644
--- a/loginutils/vlock.c
+++ b/loginutils/vlock.c
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ int vlock_main(int argc, char **argv)
 	o_lock_all = getopt32(argc, argv, "a");
 
 	if((pw = getpwuid(getuid())) == NULL) {
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("Unknown uid %d", getuid());
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("unknown uid %d", getuid());
 	}
 
 	vfd = xopen(CURRENT_TTY, O_RDWR);
diff --git a/miscutils/crond.c b/miscutils/crond.c
index eaed1ea69..4fc940b79 100644
--- a/miscutils/crond.c
+++ b/miscutils/crond.c
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ static void startlogger(void)
 		if ((logfd = open(LogFile, O_WRONLY | O_CREAT | O_APPEND, 0600)) >= 0) {
 			close(logfd);
 		} else {
-			bb_perror_msg("Failed to open log file '%s' reason", LogFile);
+			bb_perror_msg("failed to open log file '%s': ", LogFile);
 		}
 	}
 #endif
@@ -883,7 +883,7 @@ ForkJob(const char *user, CronLine * line, int mailFd,
 		exit(0);
 	} else if (pid < 0) {
 		/* FORK FAILED */
-		crondlog("\024couldn't fork, user %s\n", user);
+		crondlog("\024cannot fork, user %s\n", user);
 		line->cl_Pid = 0;
 		if (mailf) {
 			remove(mailf);
@@ -1008,7 +1008,7 @@ static void RunJob(const char *user, CronLine * line)
 		exit(0);
 	} else if (pid < 0) {
 		/* FORK FAILED */
-		crondlog("\024couldn't fork, user %s\n", user);
+		crondlog("\024cannot, user %s\n", user);
 		pid = 0;
 	}
 	line->cl_Pid = pid;
diff --git a/miscutils/hdparm.c b/miscutils/hdparm.c
index 1c9a99e13..a30f4e0d7 100644
--- a/miscutils/hdparm.c
+++ b/miscutils/hdparm.c
@@ -595,7 +595,7 @@ static void identify(uint16_t *id_supplied)
 	}
 	else
 		/*"Unknown device type:\n\tbits 15&14 of general configuration word 0 both set to 1.\n"*/
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("Unknown device type");
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("unknown device type");
 
 	printf("%sremovable media\n", !(val[GEN_CONFIG] & MEDIA_REMOVABLE) ? "non-" : "");
 	/* Info from the specific configuration word says whether or not the
diff --git a/miscutils/less.c b/miscutils/less.c
index 63389dcd7..11f1d8baa 100644
--- a/miscutils/less.c
+++ b/miscutils/less.c
@@ -1113,7 +1113,7 @@ int less_main(int argc, char **argv) {
 		if (ttyname(STDIN_FILENO) == NULL)
 			inp_stdin = 1;
 		else {
-			bb_error_msg("Missing filename");
+			bb_error_msg("missing filename");
 			bb_show_usage();
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/miscutils/makedevs.c b/miscutils/makedevs.c
index 6ff5cc223..3bc1559c7 100644
--- a/miscutils/makedevs.c
+++ b/miscutils/makedevs.c
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ int makedevs_main(int argc, char **argv)
 	/* if mode != S_IFCHR and != S_IFBLK third param in mknod() ignored */
 
 		if (mknod(nodname, mode, makedev(Smajor, Sminor)))
-			bb_error_msg("Failed to create: %s", nodname);
+			bb_error_msg("failed to create: %s", nodname);
 
 		if (nodname == basedev) /* ex. /dev/hda - to /dev/hda1 ... */
 			nodname = buf;
diff --git a/modutils/insmod.c b/modutils/insmod.c
index 882fcf80f..00e25f5e3 100644
--- a/modutils/insmod.c
+++ b/modutils/insmod.c
@@ -4113,7 +4113,7 @@ int insmod_main( int argc, char **argv)
 
 		if (strncmp(uts_info.release, m_strversion, STRVERSIONLEN) != 0) {
 			if (flag_force_load) {
-				bb_error_msg("Warning: kernel-module version mismatch\n"
+				bb_error_msg("warning: kernel-module version mismatch\n"
 						"\t%s was compiled for kernel version %s\n"
 						"\twhile this kernel is version %s",
 						m_filename, m_strversion, uts_info.release);
@@ -4134,7 +4134,7 @@ int insmod_main( int argc, char **argv)
 			goto out;
 		k_crcs = new_is_kernel_checksummed();
 	} else {
-		bb_error_msg("Not configured to support old kernels");
+		bb_error_msg("not configured to support old kernels");
 		goto out;
 	}
 
diff --git a/modutils/modprobe.c b/modutils/modprobe.c
index ab595c847..ba24791f9 100644
--- a/modutils/modprobe.c
+++ b/modutils/modprobe.c
@@ -758,7 +758,7 @@ static void check_dep ( char *mod, struct mod_list_t **head, struct mod_list_t *
 			}
 		}
 		else {
-			bb_error_msg ("Bad alias %s", dt-> m_name);
+			bb_error_msg ("bad alias %s", dt-> m_name);
 			return;
 		}
 	}
@@ -897,7 +897,7 @@ int modprobe_main(int argc, char** argv)
 		} while ( ++optind < argc );
 	} else {
 		if (optind >= argc)
-			bb_error_msg_and_die ( "No module or pattern provided" );
+			bb_error_msg_and_die ( "no module or pattern provided" );
 
 		if ( mod_insert ( argv [optind], argc - optind - 1, argv + optind + 1 ))
 			bb_error_msg_and_die ( "failed to load module %s", argv [optind] );
diff --git a/networking/arping.c b/networking/arping.c
index b9605985c..e4c9b86a9 100644
--- a/networking/arping.c
+++ b/networking/arping.c
@@ -392,7 +392,7 @@ int arping_main(int argc, char **argv)
 		}
 	}
 	if (me.sll_halen == 0) {
-		bb_error_msg("Interface \"%s\" is not ARPable (no ll address)", device);
+		bb_error_msg("interface \"%s\" is not ARPable (no ll address)", device);
 		exit(cfg&dad ? 0 : 2);
 	}
 	he = me;
diff --git a/networking/ether-wake.c b/networking/ether-wake.c
index 294a9dd3c..9d616d561 100644
--- a/networking/ether-wake.c
+++ b/networking/ether-wake.c
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ static inline int get_wol_pw(const char *ethoptarg, unsigned char *wol_passwd)
 		byte_cnt = sscanf(ethoptarg, "%d.%d.%d.%d",
 		                  &passwd[0], &passwd[1], &passwd[2], &passwd[3]);
 	if (byte_cnt < 4) {
-		bb_error_msg("Unable to read the Wake-On-LAN pass");
+		bb_error_msg("unable to read the Wake-On-LAN pass");
 		return 0;
 	}
 
diff --git a/networking/httpd.c b/networking/httpd.c
index bbb2dfe7f..803c45e6e 100644
--- a/networking/httpd.c
+++ b/networking/httpd.c
@@ -1317,7 +1317,7 @@ static int sendFile(const char *url)
 		close(f);
 	} else {
 #if DEBUG
-		bb_perror_msg("Unable to open '%s'", url);
+		bb_perror_msg("unable to open '%s'", url);
 #endif
 		sendHeaders(HTTP_NOT_FOUND);
 	}
diff --git a/networking/interface.c b/networking/interface.c
index 8e2498d27..4594293e4 100644
--- a/networking/interface.c
+++ b/networking/interface.c
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ static int sockets_open(int family)
 			sfd = af->fd;
 	}
 	if (sfd < 0) {
-		bb_error_msg("No usable address families found.");
+		bb_error_msg("no usable address families found");
 	}
 	return sfd;
 }
@@ -557,7 +557,7 @@ static int if_readlist_proc(char *target)
 
 	fh = fopen(_PATH_PROCNET_DEV, "r");
 	if (!fh) {
-		bb_perror_msg("Warning: cannot open %s. Limited output.", _PATH_PROCNET_DEV);
+		bb_perror_msg("warning: cannot open %s, limiting output", _PATH_PROCNET_DEV);
 		return if_readconf();
 	}
 	fgets(buf, sizeof buf, fh);	/* eat line */
diff --git a/networking/libiproute/iplink.c b/networking/libiproute/iplink.c
index d9f28374b..f79dab402 100644
--- a/networking/libiproute/iplink.c
+++ b/networking/libiproute/iplink.c
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 /* vi: set sw=4 ts=4: */
 /*
- * iplink.c		"ip link".
+ * iplink.c "ip link".
  *
- * Authors:	Alexey Kuznetsov, <kuznet@ms2.inr.ac.ru>
+ * Authors: Alexey Kuznetsov, <kuznet@ms2.inr.ac.ru>
  *
  * Licensed under GPLv2 or later, see file LICENSE in this tarball for details.
  */
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@
 
 static int on_off(char *msg)
 {
-	bb_error_msg("Error: argument of \"%s\" must be \"on\" or \"off\"", msg);
+	bb_error_msg("error: argument of \"%s\" must be \"on\" or \"off\"", msg);
 	return -1;
 }
 
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ static int parse_address(char *dev, int hatype, int halen, char *lla, struct ifr
 	if (alen < 0)
 		return -1;
 	if (alen != halen) {
-		bb_error_msg("Wrong address (%s) length: expected %d bytes", lla, halen);
+		bb_error_msg("wrong address (%s) length: expected %d bytes", lla, halen);
 		return -1;
 	}
 	return 0;
@@ -349,6 +349,6 @@ int do_iplink(int argc, char **argv)
 	} else
 		return ipaddr_list_link(0, NULL);
 
-	bb_error_msg("Command \"%s\" is unknown.", *argv);
+	bb_error_msg("command \"%s\" is unknown", *argv);
 	exit(-1);
 }
diff --git a/networking/libiproute/utils.c b/networking/libiproute/utils.c
index 094a3b0ac..552f4bf77 100644
--- a/networking/libiproute/utils.c
+++ b/networking/libiproute/utils.c
@@ -206,10 +206,10 @@ int get_prefix_1(inet_prefix * dst, char *arg, int family)
 int get_addr(inet_prefix * dst, char *arg, int family)
 {
 	if (family == AF_PACKET) {
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("\"%s\" may be inet address, but it is not allowed in this context.", arg);
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("\"%s\" may be inet address, but it is not allowed in this context", arg);
 	}
 	if (get_addr_1(dst, arg, family)) {
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("an inet address is expected rather than \"%s\".", arg);
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("an inet address is expected rather than \"%s\"", arg);
 	}
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -217,10 +217,10 @@ int get_addr(inet_prefix * dst, char *arg, int family)
 int get_prefix(inet_prefix * dst, char *arg, int family)
 {
 	if (family == AF_PACKET) {
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("\"%s\" may be inet address, but it is not allowed in this context.", arg);
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("\"%s\" may be inet address, but it is not allowed in this context", arg);
 	}
 	if (get_prefix_1(dst, arg, family)) {
-		bb_error_msg_and_die("an inet address is expected rather than \"%s\".", arg);
+		bb_error_msg_and_die("an inet address is expected rather than \"%s\"", arg);
 	}
 	return 0;
 }
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ __u32 get_addr32(char *name)
 
 void incomplete_command(void)
 {
-	bb_error_msg("Command line is not complete. Try option \"help\"");
+	bb_error_msg("command line is not complete, try option \"help\"");
 	exit(-1);
 }
 
@@ -249,13 +249,13 @@ void invarg(const char * const arg, const char * const opt)
 
 void duparg(char *key, char *arg)
 {
-	bb_error_msg("duplicate \"%s\": \"%s\" is the second value.", key, arg);
+	bb_error_msg("duplicate \"%s\": \"%s\" is the second value", key, arg);
 	exit(-1);
 }
 
 void duparg2(char *key, char *arg)
 {
-	bb_error_msg("either \"%s\" is duplicate, or \"%s\" is a garbage.", key, arg);
+	bb_error_msg("either \"%s\" is duplicate, or \"%s\" is a garbage", key, arg);
 	exit(-1);
 }
 
diff --git a/networking/netstat.c b/networking/netstat.c
index 8e481f67b..3dad57a40 100644
--- a/networking/netstat.c
+++ b/networking/netstat.c
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ int netstat_main(int argc, char **argv)
 			else
 				printf("(w/o servers)");
 		}
-		printf("\nProto Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address           Foreign Address         State      \n");
+		printf("\nProto Recv-Q Send-Q Local Address           Foreign Address         State\n");
 	}
 	if (inet && flags&NETSTAT_TCP)
 		do_info(_PATH_PROCNET_TCP,"AF INET (tcp)",tcp_do_one);
diff --git a/networking/ping.c b/networking/ping.c
index 8ca8be9b9..ebde007b6 100644
--- a/networking/ping.c
+++ b/networking/ping.c
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ static void unpack(char *buf, int sz, struct sockaddr_in *from)
 		printf("\n");
 	} else
 		if (icmppkt->icmp_type != ICMP_ECHO)
-			bb_error_msg("Warning: Got ICMP %d (%s)",
+			bb_error_msg("warning: got ICMP %d (%s)",
 					icmppkt->icmp_type, icmp_type_name(icmppkt->icmp_type));
 	fflush(stdout);
 }
diff --git a/networking/ping6.c b/networking/ping6.c
index 0d6a739bf..62dc4cc2d 100644
--- a/networking/ping6.c
+++ b/networking/ping6.c
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ static void unpack(char *packet, int sz, struct sockaddr_in6 *from, int hoplimit
 		printf("\n");
 	} else
 		if (icmppkt->icmp6_type != ICMP6_ECHO_REQUEST)
-			bb_error_msg("Warning: Got ICMP %d (%s)",
+			bb_error_msg("warning: got ICMP %d (%s)",
 					icmppkt->icmp6_type, icmp6_type_name(icmppkt->icmp6_type));
 }
 
diff --git a/networking/udhcp/arpping.c b/networking/udhcp/arpping.c
index 086692082..2716a28c6 100644
--- a/networking/udhcp/arpping.c
+++ b/networking/udhcp/arpping.c
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ int arpping(uint32_t yiaddr, uint32_t ip, uint8_t *mac, char *interface)
 		FD_SET(s, &fdset);
 		tm.tv_sec = timeout;
 		if (select(s + 1, &fdset, (fd_set *) NULL, (fd_set *) NULL, &tm) < 0) {
-			bb_perror_msg("Error on ARPING request");
+			bb_perror_msg("error on ARPING request");
 			if (errno != EINTR) rv = 0;
 		} else if (FD_ISSET(s, &fdset)) {
 			if (recv(s, &arp, sizeof(arp), 0) < 0 ) rv = 0;
diff --git a/networking/udhcp/clientpacket.c b/networking/udhcp/clientpacket.c
index 439aa0250..58b26c171 100644
--- a/networking/udhcp/clientpacket.c
+++ b/networking/udhcp/clientpacket.c
@@ -216,14 +216,14 @@ int get_raw_packet(struct dhcpMessage *payload, int fd)
 	packet.ip.daddr = dest;
 	packet.ip.tot_len = packet.udp.len; /* cheat on the psuedo-header */
 	if (check && check != udhcp_checksum(&packet, bytes)) {
-		bb_error_msg("Packet with bad UDP checksum received, ignoring");
+		bb_error_msg("packet with bad UDP checksum received, ignoring");
 		return -2;
 	}
 
 	memcpy(payload, &(packet.data), bytes - (sizeof(packet.ip) + sizeof(packet.udp)));
 
 	if (ntohl(payload->cookie) != DHCP_MAGIC) {
-		bb_error_msg("Received bogus message (bad magic) - ignoring");
+		bb_error_msg("received bogus message (bad magic) - ignoring");
 		return -2;
 	}
 	DEBUG("oooooh!!! got some!");
diff --git a/networking/udhcp/common.c b/networking/udhcp/common.c
index ca0c79b95..a0a21fdce 100644
--- a/networking/udhcp/common.c
+++ b/networking/udhcp/common.c
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ static inline void sanitize_fds(void)
 void udhcp_background(const char *pidfile)
 {
 #ifdef __uClinux__
-	bb_error_msg("Cannot background in uclinux (yet)");
+	bb_error_msg("cannot background in uclinux (yet)");
 #else /* __uClinux__ */
 	int pid_fd;
 
diff --git a/networking/udhcp/files.c b/networking/udhcp/files.c
index 52d383869..36bcc31d9 100644
--- a/networking/udhcp/files.c
+++ b/networking/udhcp/files.c
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ int read_config(const char *file)
 			keywords[i].handler(keywords[i].def, keywords[i].var);
 
 	if (!(in = fopen(file, "r"))) {
-		bb_error_msg("Unable to open config file: %s", file);
+		bb_error_msg("unable to open config file: %s", file);
 		return 0;
 	}
 
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ int read_config(const char *file)
 		for (i = 0; keywords[i].keyword[0]; i++)
 			if (!strcasecmp(token, keywords[i].keyword))
 				if (!keywords[i].handler(line, keywords[i].var)) {
-					bb_error_msg("Failure parsing line %d of %s", lm, file);
+					bb_error_msg("failure parsing line %d of %s", lm, file);
 					if (ENABLE_FEATURE_UDHCP_DEBUG)
 						bb_error_msg("unable to parse '%s'", debug_orig);
 					/* reset back to the default value */
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ void write_leases(void)
 	unsigned long tmp_time;
 
 	if (!(fp = fopen(server_config.lease_file, "w"))) {
-		bb_error_msg("Unable to open %s for writing", server_config.lease_file);
+		bb_error_msg("unable to open %s for writing", server_config.lease_file);
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ void read_leases(const char *file)
 	struct dhcpOfferedAddr lease;
 
 	if (!(fp = fopen(file, "r"))) {
-		bb_error_msg("Unable to open %s for reading", file);
+		bb_error_msg("unable to open %s for reading", file);
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -377,7 +377,7 @@ void read_leases(const char *file)
 			lease.expires = ntohl(lease.expires);
 			if (!server_config.remaining) lease.expires -= time(0);
 			if (!(add_lease(lease.chaddr, lease.yiaddr, lease.expires))) {
-				bb_error_msg("Too many leases while loading %s", file);
+				bb_error_msg("too many leases while loading %s", file);
 				break;
 			}
 			i++;
diff --git a/networking/udhcp/options.c b/networking/udhcp/options.c
index 8dba2ef69..5cc08cca0 100644
--- a/networking/udhcp/options.c
+++ b/networking/udhcp/options.c
@@ -76,12 +76,12 @@ uint8_t *get_option(struct dhcpMessage *packet, int code)
 	length = 308;
 	while (!done) {
 		if (i >= length) {
-			bb_error_msg("Bogus packet, option fields too long");
+			bb_error_msg("bogus packet, option fields too long");
 			return NULL;
 		}
 		if (optionptr[i + OPT_CODE] == code) {
 			if (i + 1 + optionptr[i + OPT_LEN] >= length) {
-				bb_error_msg("Bogus packet, option fields too long");
+				bb_error_msg("bogus packet, option fields too long");
 				return NULL;
 			}
 			return optionptr + i + 2;
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ uint8_t *get_option(struct dhcpMessage *packet, int code)
 			break;
 		case DHCP_OPTION_OVER:
 			if (i + 1 + optionptr[i + OPT_LEN] >= length) {
-				bb_error_msg("Bogus packet, option fields too long");
+				bb_error_msg("bogus packet, option fields too long");
 				return NULL;
 			}
 			over = optionptr[i + 3];
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ int add_option_string(uint8_t *optionptr, uint8_t *string)
 
 	/* end position + string length + option code/length + end option */
 	if (end + string[OPT_LEN] + 2 + 1 >= 308) {
-		bb_error_msg("Option 0x%02x did not fit into the packet",
+		bb_error_msg("option 0x%02x did not fit into the packet",
 				string[OPT_CODE]);
 		return 0;
 	}
diff --git a/networking/udhcp/packet.c b/networking/udhcp/packet.c
index 30675eaab..f12ecd6ec 100644
--- a/networking/udhcp/packet.c
+++ b/networking/udhcp/packet.c
@@ -58,12 +58,12 @@ int udhcp_get_packet(struct dhcpMessage *packet, int fd)
 	memset(packet, 0, sizeof(struct dhcpMessage));
 	bytes = read(fd, packet, sizeof(struct dhcpMessage));
 	if (bytes < 0) {
-		DEBUG("couldn't read on listening socket, ignoring");
+		DEBUG("cannot read on listening socket, ignoring");
 		return -1;
 	}
 
 	if (ntohl(packet->cookie) != DHCP_MAGIC) {
-		bb_error_msg("Received bogus message, ignoring");
+		bb_error_msg("received bogus message, ignoring");
 		return -2;
 	}
 	DEBUG("Received a packet");
diff --git a/networking/udhcp/pidfile.c b/networking/udhcp/pidfile.c
index 148b07b34..6673c9502 100644
--- a/networking/udhcp/pidfile.c
+++ b/networking/udhcp/pidfile.c
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ int pidfile_acquire(const char *pidfile)
 
 	pid_fd = open(pidfile, O_CREAT | O_WRONLY, 0644);
 	if (pid_fd < 0) {
-		bb_perror_msg("Unable to open pidfile %s", pidfile);
+		bb_perror_msg("unable to open pidfile %s", pidfile);
 	} else {
 		lockf(pid_fd, F_LOCK, 0);
 		if (!saved_pidfile)
@@ -63,14 +63,11 @@ void pidfile_write_release(int pid_fd)
 
 	if (pid_fd < 0) return;
 
-	if ((out = fdopen(pid_fd, "w")) != NULL) {
+	out = fdopen(pid_fd, "w");
+	if (out) {
 		fprintf(out, "%d\n", getpid());
 		fclose(out);
 	}
 	lockf(pid_fd, F_UNLCK, 0);
 	close(pid_fd);
 }
-
-
-
-
diff --git a/networking/udhcp/serverpacket.c b/networking/udhcp/serverpacket.c
index cfead413c..b5cfcf405 100644
--- a/networking/udhcp/serverpacket.c
+++ b/networking/udhcp/serverpacket.c
@@ -158,12 +158,12 @@ int sendOffer(struct dhcpMessage *oldpacket)
 	}
 
 	if(!packet.yiaddr) {
-		bb_error_msg("No IP addresses to give - OFFER abandoned");
+		bb_error_msg("no IP addresses to give - OFFER abandoned");
 		return -1;
 	}
 
 	if (!add_lease(packet.chaddr, packet.yiaddr, server_config.offer_time)) {
-		bb_error_msg("Lease pool is full - OFFER abandoned");
+		bb_error_msg("lease pool is full - OFFER abandoned");
 		return -1;
 	}
 
diff --git a/scripts/kconfig/gconf.c b/scripts/kconfig/gconf.c
index 665bd5300..94118b059 100644
--- a/scripts/kconfig/gconf.c
+++ b/scripts/kconfig/gconf.c
@@ -755,7 +755,7 @@ void on_introduction1_activate(GtkMenuItem * menuitem, gpointer user_data)
 	    "are interested in, you can still view the help of a grayed-out\n"
 	    "option.\n"
 	    "\n"
-	    "Toggling Show Debug Info under the Options menu will show \n"
+	    "Toggling Show Debug Info under the Options menu will show\n"
 	    "the dependencies, which you can then match by examining other options.");
 
 	dialog = gtk_message_dialog_new(GTK_WINDOW(main_wnd),
diff --git a/shell/hush.c b/shell/hush.c
index 4d78b47a7..2013a9d2b 100644
--- a/shell/hush.c
+++ b/shell/hush.c
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ static int set_local_var(const char *s, int flg_export);
 /* Table of built-in functions.  They can be forked or not, depending on
  * context: within pipes, they fork.  As simple commands, they do not.
  * When used in non-forking context, they can change global variables
- * in the parent shell process.  If forked, of course they can not.
+ * in the parent shell process.  If forked, of course they cannot.
  * For example, 'unset foo | whatever' will parse and run, but foo will
  * still be set at the end. */
 static const struct built_in_command bltins[] = {
diff --git a/util-linux/fdisk.c b/util-linux/fdisk.c
index d5edaaa00..3061f0d8d 100644
--- a/util-linux/fdisk.c
+++ b/util-linux/fdisk.c
@@ -1371,7 +1371,7 @@ get_boot(enum action what)
 #endif
 			break;
 		default:
-			bb_error_msg_and_die(_("Internal error"));
+			bb_error_msg_and_die(_("internal error"));
 		}
 #endif /* CONFIG_FEATURE_FDISK_WRITABLE */
 	}
diff --git a/util-linux/switch_root.c b/util-linux/switch_root.c
index f2d9b6e69..45290c942 100644
--- a/util-linux/switch_root.c
+++ b/util-linux/switch_root.c
@@ -111,12 +111,12 @@ int switch_root_main(int argc, char *argv[])
 	if (console) {
 		close(0);
 		if(open(console, O_RDWR) < 0)
-			bb_error_msg_and_die("Bad console '%s'",console);
+			bb_error_msg_and_die("bad console '%s'",console);
 		dup2(0, 1);
 		dup2(0, 2);
 	}
 
 	// Exec real init.  (This is why we must be pid 1.)
 	execv(argv[optind],argv+optind);
-	bb_error_msg_and_die("Bad init '%s'",argv[optind]);
+	bb_error_msg_and_die("bad init '%s'",argv[optind]);
 }