diff --git a/python/damask/_colormap.py b/python/damask/_colormap.py
index bab0c1c52..951655c38 100644
--- a/python/damask/_colormap.py
+++ b/python/damask/_colormap.py
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ class Colormap(mpl.colors.ListedColormap):
         )
 
         if model.lower() not in toMsh:
-            raise ValueError(f'Invalid color model "{model}"')
+            raise ValueError(f'invalid color model "{model}"')
 
         low_high = np.vstack((low,high)).astype(float)
         out_of_bounds = np.bool_(False)
diff --git a/python/damask/_crystal.py b/python/damask/_crystal.py
index 96be1fbc2..35977af28 100644
--- a/python/damask/_crystal.py
+++ b/python/damask/_crystal.py
@@ -64,9 +64,9 @@ class Crystal():
 
         """
         if family is not None and family not in list(lattice_symmetries.values()):
-            raise KeyError(f'Invalid crystal family "{family}"')
+            raise KeyError(f'invalid crystal family "{family}"')
         if lattice is not None and family is not None and family != lattice_symmetries[lattice]:
-            raise KeyError(f'Incompatible family "{family}" for lattice "{lattice}"')
+            raise KeyError(f'incompatible family "{family}" for lattice "{lattice}"')
 
         self.family = lattice_symmetries[lattice] if family is None else family
         self.lattice = lattice
@@ -101,13 +101,13 @@ class Crystal():
              or (self.alpha is None or ('alpha' in self.immutable and self.alpha != self.immutable['alpha'])) \
              or (self.beta  is None or ('beta'  in self.immutable and self.beta  != self.immutable['beta'])) \
              or (self.gamma is None or ('gamma' in self.immutable and self.gamma != self.immutable['gamma'])):
-                raise ValueError (f'Incompatible parameters {self.parameters} for crystal family {self.family}')
+                raise ValueError (f'incompatible parameters {self.parameters} for crystal family {self.family}')
 
             if np.any(np.array([self.alpha,self.beta,self.gamma]) <= 0):
-                raise ValueError ('Lattice angles must be positive')
+                raise ValueError ('lattice angles must be positive')
             if np.any([np.roll([self.alpha,self.beta,self.gamma],r)[0]
               >= np.sum(np.roll([self.alpha,self.beta,self.gamma],r)[1:]) for r in range(3)]):
-                raise ValueError ('Each lattice angle must be less than sum of others')
+                raise ValueError ('each lattice angle must be less than sum of others')
 
 
     def __repr__(self):
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ class Crystal():
 
         """
         if self.parameters is None:
-            raise KeyError('Missing crystal lattice parameters')
+            raise KeyError('missing crystal lattice parameters')
         return np.array([
                           [1,0,0],
                           [np.cos(self.gamma),np.sin(self.gamma),0],
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ class Crystal():
                      ],
                 }
 
-        if self.lattice is None: raise KeyError('No lattice type specified')
+        if self.lattice is None: raise KeyError('no lattice type specified')
         return np.array([[0,0,0]]
                         + _lattice_points.get(self.lattice if self.lattice == 'hP' else \
                                               self.lattice[-1],None),dtype=float)
@@ -333,7 +333,7 @@ class Crystal():
 
         """
         if (direction is not None) ^ (plane is None):
-            raise KeyError('Specify either "direction" or "plane"')
+            raise KeyError('specify either "direction" or "plane"')
         basis,axis = (self.basis_reciprocal,np.array(direction)) \
                      if plane is None else \
                      (self.basis_real,np.array(plane))
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ class Crystal():
 
         """
         if (uvw is not None) ^ (hkl is None):
-            raise KeyError('Specify either "uvw" or "hkl"')
+            raise KeyError('specify either "uvw" or "hkl"')
         basis,axis = (self.basis_real,np.array(uvw)) \
                      if hkl is None else \
                      (self.basis_reciprocal,np.array(hkl))
@@ -930,7 +930,7 @@ class Crystal():
         }
         orientation_relationships = {k:v for k,v in _orientation_relationships.items() if self.lattice in v}
         if model not in orientation_relationships:
-            raise KeyError(f'Unknown orientation relationship "{model}"')
+            raise KeyError(f'unknown orientation relationship "{model}"')
         r = orientation_relationships[model]
 
         sl = self.lattice
diff --git a/python/damask/_grid.py b/python/damask/_grid.py
index 3f6f6663a..5d4396d3b 100644
--- a/python/damask/_grid.py
+++ b/python/damask/_grid.py
@@ -105,9 +105,9 @@ class Grid:
     def material(self,
                  material: np.ndarray):
         if len(material.shape) != 3:
-            raise ValueError(f'Invalid material shape {material.shape}')
+            raise ValueError(f'invalid material shape {material.shape}')
         if material.dtype not in np.sctypes['float'] and material.dtype not in np.sctypes['int']:
-            raise TypeError(f'Invalid material data type {material.dtype}')
+            raise TypeError(f'invalid material data type "{material.dtype}"')
 
         self._material = np.copy(material)
 
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ class Grid:
     def size(self,
              size: FloatSequence):
         if len(size) != 3 or any(np.array(size) < 0):
-            raise ValueError(f'Invalid size {size}')
+            raise ValueError(f'invalid size {size}')
 
         self._size = np.array(size)
 
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ class Grid:
     def origin(self,
                origin: FloatSequence):
         if len(origin) != 3:
-            raise ValueError(f'Invalid origin {origin}')
+            raise ValueError(f'invalid origin {origin}')
 
         self._origin = np.array(origin)
 
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ class Grid:
         except ValueError:
             header_length,keyword = (-1, 'invalid')
         if not keyword.startswith('head') or header_length < 3:
-            raise TypeError('Header length information missing or invalid')
+            raise TypeError('invalid or missing header length information')
 
         comments = []
         content = f.readlines()
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ class Grid:
             i += len(items)
 
         if i != cells.prod():
-            raise TypeError(f'Invalid file: expected {cells.prod()} entries, found {i}')
+            raise TypeError(f'mismatch between {cells.prod()} expected entries and {i} found')
 
         if not np.any(np.mod(material,1) != 0.0):                                                   # no float present
             material = material.astype('int') - (1 if material.min() > 0 else 0)
@@ -811,7 +811,7 @@ class Grid:
 
         """
         if not set(directions).issubset(valid := ['x', 'y', 'z']):
-            raise ValueError(f'Invalid direction {set(directions).difference(valid)} specified')
+            raise ValueError(f'invalid direction "{set(directions).difference(valid)}" specified')
 
         limits: Sequence[Optional[int]] = [None,None] if reflect else [-2,0]
         mat = self.material.copy()
@@ -847,7 +847,7 @@ class Grid:
 
         """
         if not set(directions).issubset(valid := ['x', 'y', 'z']):
-            raise ValueError(f'Invalid direction {set(directions).difference(valid)} specified')
+            raise ValueError(f'invalid direction "{set(directions).difference(valid)}" specified')
 
 
         mat = np.flip(self.material, [valid.index(d) for d in directions if d in valid])
@@ -1184,7 +1184,7 @@ class Grid:
 
         """
         if not set(directions).issubset(valid := ['x', 'y', 'z']):
-            raise ValueError(f'Invalid direction {set(directions).difference(valid)} specified')
+            raise ValueError(f'invalid direction "{set(directions).difference(valid)}" specified')
 
         o = [[0, self.cells[0]+1,           np.prod(self.cells[:2]+1)+self.cells[0]+1, np.prod(self.cells[:2]+1)],
              [0, np.prod(self.cells[:2]+1), np.prod(self.cells[:2]+1)+1,               1],
diff --git a/python/damask/_orientation.py b/python/damask/_orientation.py
index f37b9b517..b7eb59476 100644
--- a/python/damask/_orientation.py
+++ b/python/damask/_orientation.py
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ class Orientation(Rotation,Crystal):
         if isinstance(other, (Orientation,Rotation)):
             return self.copy(Rotation(self.quaternion)*Rotation(other.quaternion))
         else:
-            raise TypeError('Use "O@b", i.e. matmul, to apply Orientation "O" to object "b"')
+            raise TypeError('use "O@b", i.e. matmul, to apply Orientation "O" to object "b"')
 
 
     @staticmethod
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ class Orientation(Rotation,Crystal):
 
         """
         if self.family != other.family:
-            raise NotImplementedError('Disorientation between different crystal families')
+            raise NotImplementedError('disorientation between different crystal families')
 
         blend = util.shapeblender(self.shape,other.shape)
         s = self.equivalent
@@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ class Orientation(Rotation,Crystal):
         """
         vector_ = np.array(vector,float)
         if vector_.shape[-1] != 3:
-            raise ValueError('Input is not a field of three-dimensional vectors')
+            raise ValueError('input is not a field of three-dimensional vectors')
         eq  = self.equivalent
         blend = util.shapeblender(eq.shape,vector_.shape[:-1])
         poles = eq.broadcast_to(blend,mode='right') @ np.broadcast_to(vector_,blend+(3,))
@@ -686,7 +686,7 @@ class Orientation(Rotation,Crystal):
         """
         vector_ = np.array(vector,float)
         if vector_.shape[-1] != 3:
-            raise ValueError('Input is not a field of three-dimensional vectors')
+            raise ValueError('input is not a field of three-dimensional vectors')
 
         if self.standard_triangle is None:                                                          # direct exit for no symmetry
             return np.ones_like(vector_[...,0],bool)
@@ -744,7 +744,7 @@ class Orientation(Rotation,Crystal):
 
         """
         if np.array(vector).shape[-1] != 3:
-            raise ValueError('Input is not a field of three-dimensional vectors')
+            raise ValueError('input is not a field of three-dimensional vectors')
 
         vector_ = self.to_SST(vector,proper) if in_SST else \
                   self @ np.broadcast_to(vector,self.shape+(3,))
@@ -918,7 +918,7 @@ class Orientation(Rotation,Crystal):
 
         """
         if (N_slip is not None) ^ (N_twin is None):
-            raise KeyError('Specify either "N_slip" or "N_twin"')
+            raise KeyError('specify either "N_slip" or "N_twin"')
 
         kinematics,active = (self.kinematics('slip'),N_slip) if N_twin is None else \
                             (self.kinematics('twin'),N_twin)
diff --git a/python/damask/_result.py b/python/damask/_result.py
index b7ab4861b..baabd93f4 100644
--- a/python/damask/_result.py
+++ b/python/damask/_result.py
@@ -32,10 +32,10 @@ def _view_transition(what,datasets,increments,times,phases,homogenizations,field
     if (datasets is not None and what is None) or (what is not None and datasets is None):
         raise ValueError('"what" and "datasets" need to be used as a pair')
     if datasets is not None or what is not None:
-        warnings.warn('Arguments "what" and "datasets" will be removed in DAMASK v3.0.0-alpha7', DeprecationWarning,2)
+        warnings.warn('arguments "what" and "datasets" will be removed in DAMASK v3.0.0-alpha7', DeprecationWarning,2)
         return what,datasets
     if sum(1 for _ in filter(None.__ne__, [increments,times,phases,homogenizations,fields])) > 1:
-        raise ValueError('Only one out of "increments", "times", "phases", "homogenizations", and "fields" can be used')
+        raise ValueError('only one out of "increments", "times", "phases", "homogenizations", and "fields" can be used')
     else:
         if increments is not None: return "increments", increments
         if times is not None: return "times", times
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ class Result:
             self.version_minor = f.attrs['DADF5_version_minor']
 
             if self.version_major != 0 or not 12 <= self.version_minor <= 14:
-                raise TypeError(f'Unsupported DADF5 version {self.version_major}.{self.version_minor}')
+                raise TypeError(f'unsupported DADF5 version "{self.version_major}.{self.version_minor}"')
             if self.version_major == 0 and self.version_minor < 14:
                 self.export_setup = None
 
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ class Result:
             self.increments = sorted([i for i in f.keys() if r.match(i)],key=util.natural_sort)
             self.times      = [round(f[i].attrs['t/s'],12) for i in self.increments]
             if len(self.increments) == 0:
-                raise ValueError('Incomplete DADF5 file')
+                raise ValueError('incomplete DADF5 file')
 
             self.N_materialpoints, self.N_constituents = np.shape(f['cell_to/phase'])
 
@@ -490,7 +490,7 @@ class Result:
 
         """
         if self._protected:
-            raise PermissionError('Renaming datasets not permitted')
+            raise PermissionError('rename datasets')
 
         with h5py.File(self.fname,'a') as f:
             for inc in self.visible['increments']:
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ class Result:
 
         """
         if self._protected:
-            raise PermissionError('Removing datasets not permitted')
+            raise PermissionError('delete datasets')
 
         with h5py.File(self.fname,'a') as f:
             for inc in self.visible['increments']:
@@ -639,7 +639,7 @@ class Result:
         data = eval(formula)
 
         if not hasattr(data,'shape') or data.shape[0] != kwargs[d]['data'].shape[0]:
-            raise ValueError("'{}' results in invalid shape".format(kwargs['formula']))
+            raise ValueError('"{}" results in invalid shape'.format(kwargs['formula']))
 
         return {
                 'data':  data,
@@ -939,7 +939,7 @@ class Result:
             elif T_sym['meta']['unit'] == 'Pa':
                 k = 'stress'
         if k not in ['stress', 'strain']:
-            raise ValueError(f'Invalid von Mises kind {kind}')
+            raise ValueError(f'invalid von Mises kind "{kind}"')
 
         return {
                 'data':  (mechanics.equivalent_strain_Mises if k=='strain' else \
@@ -993,7 +993,7 @@ class Result:
             t = 'tensor'
             if o is None: o = 'fro'
         else:
-            raise ValueError(f'Invalid shape of {x["label"]}')
+            raise ValueError(f'invalid shape of {x["label"]}')
 
         return {
                 'data':  np.linalg.norm(x['data'],ord=o,axis=axis,keepdims=True),
@@ -1633,7 +1633,7 @@ class Result:
         elif mode.lower()=='point':
             v = VTK.from_poly_data(self.coordinates0_point)
         else:
-            raise ValueError(f'Invalid mode {mode}')
+            raise ValueError(f'invalid mode "{mode}"')
 
         v.set_comments(util.execution_stamp('Result','export_VTK'))
 
diff --git a/python/damask/_rotation.py b/python/damask/_rotation.py
index 53fe31aba..de054ccc8 100644
--- a/python/damask/_rotation.py
+++ b/python/damask/_rotation.py
@@ -279,7 +279,7 @@ class Rotation:
             p = q_m*p_o + q_o*p_m + _P * np.cross(p_m,p_o)
             return self.copy(Rotation(np.block([q,p]))._standardize())
         else:
-            raise TypeError('Use "R@b", i.e. matmul, to apply rotation "R" to object "b"')
+            raise TypeError('use "R@b", i.e. matmul, to apply rotation "R" to object "b"')
 
     def __imul__(self: MyType,
                  other: MyType) -> MyType:
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ class Rotation:
         if isinstance(other,Rotation):
             return self*~other
         else:
-            raise TypeError('Use "R@b", i.e. matmul, to apply rotation "R" to object "b"')
+            raise TypeError('use "R@b", i.e. matmul, to apply rotation "R" to object "b"')
 
     def __itruediv__(self: MyType,
                      other: MyType) -> MyType:
@@ -365,11 +365,11 @@ class Rotation:
                 R = self.as_matrix()
                 return np.einsum('...im,...jn,...ko,...lp,...mnop',R,R,R,R,other)
             else:
-                raise ValueError('Can only rotate vectors, 2nd order tensors, and 4th order tensors')
+                raise ValueError('can only rotate vectors, 2nd order tensors, and 4th order tensors')
         elif isinstance(other, Rotation):
-            raise TypeError('Use "R1*R2", i.e. multiplication, to compose rotations "R1" and "R2"')
+            raise TypeError('use "R1*R2", i.e. multiplication, to compose rotations "R1" and "R2"')
         else:
-            raise TypeError(f'Cannot rotate {type(other)}')
+            raise TypeError(f'cannot rotate "{type(other)}"')
 
     apply = __matmul__
 
@@ -731,7 +731,7 @@ class Rotation:
         """
         qu = np.array(q,dtype=float)
         if qu.shape[:-2:-1] != (4,):
-            raise ValueError('Invalid shape')
+            raise ValueError('invalid shape')
         if abs(P) != 1:
             raise ValueError('P ∉ {-1,1}')
 
@@ -740,9 +740,9 @@ class Rotation:
             qu[qu[...,0] < 0.0] *= -1
         else:
             if np.any(qu[...,0] < 0.0):
-                raise ValueError('Quaternion with negative first (real) component')
+                raise ValueError('quaternion with negative first (real) component')
         if not np.all(np.isclose(np.linalg.norm(qu,axis=-1), 1.0,rtol=0.0)):
-            raise ValueError('Quaternion is not of unit length')
+            raise ValueError('quaternion is not of unit length')
 
         return Rotation(qu)
 
@@ -767,7 +767,7 @@ class Rotation:
         """
         eu = np.array(phi,dtype=float)
         if eu.shape[:-2:-1] != (3,):
-            raise ValueError('Invalid shape')
+            raise ValueError('invalid shape')
 
         eu = np.radians(eu) if degrees else eu
         if np.any(eu < 0.0) or np.any(eu > 2.0*np.pi) or np.any(eu[...,1] > np.pi):                 # ToDo: No separate check for PHI
@@ -798,7 +798,7 @@ class Rotation:
         """
         ax = np.array(axis_angle,dtype=float)
         if ax.shape[:-2:-1] != (4,):
-            raise ValueError('Invalid shape')
+            raise ValueError('invalid shape')
         if abs(P) != 1:
             raise ValueError('P ∉ {-1,1}')
 
@@ -806,10 +806,10 @@ class Rotation:
         if degrees:   ax[...,  3]  = np.radians(ax[...,3])
         if normalize: ax[...,0:3] /= np.linalg.norm(ax[...,0:3],axis=-1,keepdims=True)
         if np.any(ax[...,3] < 0.0) or np.any(ax[...,3] > np.pi):
-            raise ValueError('Axis–angle rotation angle outside of [0..π]')
+            raise ValueError('axis–angle rotation angle outside of [0..π]')
         if not np.all(np.isclose(np.linalg.norm(ax[...,0:3],axis=-1), 1.0)):
             print(np.linalg.norm(ax[...,0:3],axis=-1))
-            raise ValueError('Axis–angle rotation axis is not of unit length')
+            raise ValueError('axis–angle rotation axis is not of unit length')
 
         return Rotation(Rotation._ax2qu(ax))
 
@@ -832,7 +832,7 @@ class Rotation:
         """
         om = np.array(basis,dtype=float)
         if om.shape[-2:] != (3,3):
-            raise ValueError('Invalid shape')
+            raise ValueError('invalid shape')
 
         if reciprocal:
             om = np.linalg.inv(tensor.transpose(om)/np.pi)                                          # transform reciprocal basis set
@@ -841,11 +841,11 @@ class Rotation:
             (U,S,Vh) = np.linalg.svd(om)                                                            # singular value decomposition
             om = np.einsum('...ij,...jl',U,Vh)
         if not np.all(np.isclose(np.linalg.det(om),1.0)):
-            raise ValueError('Orientation matrix has determinant ≠ 1')
+            raise ValueError('orientation matrix has determinant ≠ 1')
         if    not np.all(np.isclose(np.einsum('...i,...i',om[...,0],om[...,1]), 0.0)) \
            or not np.all(np.isclose(np.einsum('...i,...i',om[...,1],om[...,2]), 0.0)) \
            or not np.all(np.isclose(np.einsum('...i,...i',om[...,2],om[...,0]), 0.0)):
-            raise ValueError('Orientation matrix is not orthogonal')
+            raise ValueError('orientation matrix is not orthogonal')
 
         return Rotation(Rotation._om2qu(om))
 
@@ -879,7 +879,7 @@ class Rotation:
         a_ = np.array(a)
         b_ = np.array(b)
         if a_.shape[-2:] != (2,3) or b_.shape[-2:] != (2,3) or a_.shape != b_.shape:
-            raise ValueError('Invalid shape')
+            raise ValueError('invalid shape')
         am = np.stack([          a_[...,0,:],
                                              a_[...,1,:],
                         np.cross(a_[...,0,:],a_[...,1,:]) ],axis=-2)
@@ -910,7 +910,7 @@ class Rotation:
         """
         ro = np.array(rho,dtype=float)
         if ro.shape[:-2:-1] != (4,):
-            raise ValueError('Invalid shape')
+            raise ValueError('invalid shape')
         if abs(P) != 1:
             raise ValueError('P ∉ {-1,1}')
 
@@ -939,14 +939,14 @@ class Rotation:
         """
         ho = np.array(h,dtype=float)
         if ho.shape[:-2:-1] != (3,):
-            raise ValueError('Invalid shape')
+            raise ValueError('invalid shape')
         if abs(P) != 1:
             raise ValueError('P ∉ {-1,1}')
 
         ho *= -P
 
         if np.any(np.linalg.norm(ho,axis=-1) >_R1+1e-9):
-            raise ValueError('Homochoric coordinate outside of the sphere')
+            raise ValueError('homochoric coordinate outside of the sphere')
 
         return Rotation(Rotation._ho2qu(ho))
 
@@ -966,12 +966,12 @@ class Rotation:
         """
         cu = np.array(x,dtype=float)
         if cu.shape[:-2:-1] != (3,):
-            raise ValueError('Invalid shape')
+            raise ValueError('invalid shape')
         if abs(P) != 1:
             raise ValueError('P ∉ {-1,1}')
 
         if np.abs(np.max(cu)) > np.pi**(2./3.) * 0.5+1e-9:
-            raise ValueError('Cubochoric coordinate outside of the cube')
+            raise ValueError('cubochoric coordinate outside of the cube')
 
         ho = -P * Rotation._cu2ho(cu)
 
diff --git a/python/damask/_table.py b/python/damask/_table.py
index fbb002afc..ecee444a6 100644
--- a/python/damask/_table.py
+++ b/python/damask/_table.py
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ class Table:
 
         """
         if self.shapes != other.shapes or not self.data.columns.equals(other.data.columns):
-            raise KeyError('Labels or shapes or order do not match')
+            raise KeyError('mismatch of shapes or labels or their order')
 
         dup = self.copy()
         dup.data = dup.data.append(other.data,ignore_index=True)
@@ -558,7 +558,7 @@ class Table:
 
         """
         if set(self.shapes) & set(other.shapes) or self.data.shape[0] != other.data.shape[0]:
-            raise KeyError('Duplicated keys or row count mismatch')
+            raise KeyError('duplicated keys or row count mismatch')
 
         dup = self.copy()
         dup.data = dup.data.join(other.data)
diff --git a/python/damask/_vtk.py b/python/damask/_vtk.py
index 73a8e059e..d32441307 100644
--- a/python/damask/_vtk.py
+++ b/python/damask/_vtk.py
@@ -201,12 +201,12 @@ class VTK:
 
         """
         if not os.path.isfile(fname):                                                               # vtk has a strange error handling
-            raise FileNotFoundError(f'No such file: {fname}')
+            raise FileNotFoundError(f'file "{fname}" not found')
         if (ext := Path(fname).suffix) == '.vtk' or dataset_type is not None:
             reader = vtk.vtkGenericDataObjectReader()
             reader.SetFileName(str(fname))
             if dataset_type is None:
-                raise TypeError('Dataset type for *.vtk file not given')
+                raise TypeError('dataset type for *.vtk file not given')
             elif dataset_type.lower().endswith(('imagedata','image_data')):
                 reader.Update()
                 vtk_data = reader.GetStructuredPointsOutput()
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ class VTK:
                 reader.Update()
                 vtk_data = reader.GetPolyDataOutput()
             else:
-                raise TypeError(f'Unknown dataset type "{dataset_type}" for vtk file')
+                raise TypeError(f'unknown dataset type "{dataset_type}" for vtk file')
         else:
             if   ext == '.vti':
                 reader = vtk.vtkXMLImageDataReader()
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ class VTK:
             elif ext == '.vtp':
                 reader = vtk.vtkXMLPolyDataReader()
             else:
-                raise TypeError(f'Unknown file extension "{ext}"')
+                raise TypeError(f'unknown file extension "{ext}"')
 
             reader.SetFileName(str(fname))
             reader.Update()
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ class VTK:
 
         if isinstance(data,np.ndarray):
             if label is None:
-                raise ValueError('No label defined for numpy.ndarray')
+                raise ValueError('no label defined for numpy.ndarray')
 
             N_data = data.shape[0]
             data_ = (data if not isinstance(data,np.ma.MaskedArray) else
@@ -336,7 +336,7 @@ class VTK:
             elif N_data == N_cells:
                 self.vtk_data.GetCellData().AddArray(d)
             else:
-                raise ValueError(f'Cell / point count ({N_cells} / {N_points}) differs from data ({N_data})')
+                raise ValueError(f'cell / point count ({N_cells} / {N_points}) differs from data ({N_data})')
         elif isinstance(data,Table):
             raise NotImplementedError('damask.Table')
         else:
@@ -383,7 +383,7 @@ class VTK:
             # string array
             return np.array([vtk_array.GetValue(i) for i in range(vtk_array.GetNumberOfValues())]).astype(str)
         except UnboundLocalError:
-            raise ValueError(f'Array "{label}" not found')
+            raise ValueError(f'array "{label}" not found')
 
 
     def get_comments(self) -> List[str]:
diff --git a/python/damask/grid_filters.py b/python/damask/grid_filters.py
index 84ccfbdfb..b6b907699 100644
--- a/python/damask/grid_filters.py
+++ b/python/damask/grid_filters.py
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ def cellsSizeOrigin_coordinates0_point(coordinates0: _np.ndarray,
     origin[_np.where(cells==1)] = 0.0
 
     if cells.prod() != len(coordinates0):
-        raise ValueError(f'Data count {len(coordinates0)} does not match cells {cells}')
+        raise ValueError(f'data count {len(coordinates0)} does not match cells {cells}')
 
     start = origin + delta*.5
     end   = origin - delta*.5 + size
@@ -309,11 +309,11 @@ def cellsSizeOrigin_coordinates0_point(coordinates0: _np.ndarray,
     if not (_np.allclose(coords[0],_np.linspace(start[0],end[0],cells[0]),atol=atol) and \
             _np.allclose(coords[1],_np.linspace(start[1],end[1],cells[1]),atol=atol) and \
             _np.allclose(coords[2],_np.linspace(start[2],end[2],cells[2]),atol=atol)):
-        raise ValueError('Non-uniform cell spacing')
+        raise ValueError('non-uniform cell spacing')
 
     if ordered and not _np.allclose(coordinates0.reshape(tuple(cells)+(3,),order='F'),
                                     coordinates0_point(list(cells),size,origin),atol=atol):
-        raise ValueError('Input data is not ordered (x fast, z slow)')
+        raise ValueError('input data is not ordered (x fast, z slow)')
 
     return (cells,size,origin)
 
@@ -460,17 +460,17 @@ def cellsSizeOrigin_coordinates0_node(coordinates0: _np.ndarray,
     origin    = mincorner
 
     if (cells+1).prod() != len(coordinates0):
-        raise ValueError(f'Data count {len(coordinates0)} does not match cells {cells}')
+        raise ValueError(f'data count {len(coordinates0)} does not match cells {cells}')
 
     atol = _np.max(size)*5e-2
     if not (_np.allclose(coords[0],_np.linspace(mincorner[0],maxcorner[0],cells[0]+1),atol=atol) and \
             _np.allclose(coords[1],_np.linspace(mincorner[1],maxcorner[1],cells[1]+1),atol=atol) and \
             _np.allclose(coords[2],_np.linspace(mincorner[2],maxcorner[2],cells[2]+1),atol=atol)):
-        raise ValueError('Non-uniform cell spacing')
+        raise ValueError('non-uniform cell spacing')
 
     if ordered and not _np.allclose(coordinates0.reshape(tuple(cells+1)+(3,),order='F'),
                                     coordinates0_node(list(cells),size,origin),atol=atol):
-        raise ValueError('Input data is not ordered (x fast, z slow)')
+        raise ValueError('input data is not ordered (x fast, z slow)')
 
     return (cells,size,origin)
 
diff --git a/python/damask/mechanics.py b/python/damask/mechanics.py
index 03c6ed656..76c7ae13b 100644
--- a/python/damask/mechanics.py
+++ b/python/damask/mechanics.py
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ def _polar_decomposition(T: _np.ndarray,
         Tensor of which the singular values are computed.
     requested : sequence of {'R', 'U', 'V'}
         Requested outputs: ‘R’ for the rotation tensor,
-        ‘V’ for left stretch tensor and ‘U’ for right stretch tensor.
+        ‘V’ for left stretch tensor, and ‘U’ for right stretch tensor.
 
     """
     u, _, vh = _np.linalg.svd(T)
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ def _polar_decomposition(T: _np.ndarray,
         output+=[_np.einsum('...ji,...jk',R,T)]
 
     if len(output) == 0:
-        raise ValueError('Output not in {V, R, U}')
+        raise ValueError('output not in {V, R, U}')
 
     return tuple(output)
 
diff --git a/python/damask/seeds.py b/python/damask/seeds.py
index 0ef9768cc..620395f3c 100644
--- a/python/damask/seeds.py
+++ b/python/damask/seeds.py
@@ -99,8 +99,8 @@ def from_Poisson_disc(size: _FloatSequence,
             s += 1
             progress.update(s)
 
-        if i == 100:
-            raise ValueError('Seeding not possible')
+        if i >= 100:
+            raise ValueError('seeding not possible')
 
     return coords
 
diff --git a/python/damask/util.py b/python/damask/util.py
index 2d6f64481..7ecb5ba54 100644
--- a/python/damask/util.py
+++ b/python/damask/util.py
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ def scale_to_coprime(v: FloatSequence) -> np.ndarray:
 
     with np.errstate(invalid='ignore'):
         if not np.allclose(np.ma.masked_invalid(v_/m),v_[np.argmax(abs(v_))]/m[np.argmax(abs(v_))]):
-            raise ValueError(f'Invalid result {m} for input {v_}. Insufficient precision?')
+            raise ValueError(f'invalid result "{m}" for input "{v_}"')
 
     return m
 
@@ -482,7 +482,7 @@ def shapeshifter(fro: Tuple[int, ...],
         assert match
         grp = match.groups()
     except AssertionError:
-        raise ValueError(f'Shapes can not be shifted {fro} --> {to}')
+        raise ValueError(f'shapes cannot be shifted {fro} --> {to}')
     fill: Any = ()
     for g,d in zip(grp,fro+(None,)):
         fill += (1,)*g.count(',')+(d,)
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ def DREAM3D_base_group(fname: Union[str, Path]) -> str:
         base_group = f.visit(lambda path: path.rsplit('/',2)[0] if '_SIMPL_GEOMETRY/SPACING' in path else None)
 
     if base_group is None:
-        raise ValueError(f'Could not determine base group in file {fname}')
+        raise ValueError(f'could not determine base group in file "{fname}"')
 
     return base_group
 
@@ -606,7 +606,7 @@ def DREAM3D_cell_data_group(fname: Union[str, Path]) -> str:
                                                    else None)
 
     if cell_data_group is None:
-        raise ValueError(f'Could not determine cell data group in file {fname}/{base_group}')
+        raise ValueError(f'could not determine cell-data group in file "{fname}/{base_group}"')
 
     return cell_data_group
 
@@ -629,7 +629,7 @@ def Bravais_to_Miller(*,
 
     """
     if (uvtw is not None) ^ (hkil is None):
-        raise KeyError('Specify either "uvtw" or "hkil"')
+        raise KeyError('specify either "uvtw" or "hkil"')
     axis,basis  = (np.array(uvtw),np.array([[1,0,-1,0],
                                             [0,1,-1,0],
                                             [0,0, 0,1]])) \
@@ -658,7 +658,7 @@ def Miller_to_Bravais(*,
 
     """
     if (uvw is not None) ^ (hkl is None):
-        raise KeyError('Specify either "uvw" or "hkl"')
+        raise KeyError('specify either "uvw" or "hkl"')
     axis,basis  = (np.array(uvw),np.array([[ 2,-1, 0],
                                            [-1, 2, 0],
                                            [-1,-1, 0],