diff --git a/.github/workflows/README.md b/.github/workflows/README.md
index fe74f65..7bfa79c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/README.md
+++ b/.github/workflows/README.md
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@ Compose validation, and the deployment script test suite
 selection, the transactional Nginx switch and its restore-on-failure paths, and
 the preflight checks.
 
+`ci.yml`'s `swagger-docs` job regenerates `server/docs` with the pinned `swag`
+version from `server/Dockerfile` and fails on any diff. The image build already
+regenerates the spec, so the binary is always current; this guards the
+*committed* copy, which is what `pages.yml` publishes.
+
 `publish.yml` runs only from a successful `CI` workflow run on `main` that was
 triggered by a trusted push. It validates
 `github.event.workflow_run.head_sha` as a 40-character hexadecimal SHA and
@@ -27,3 +32,10 @@ deployment. `slot: auto` targets whichever slot is currently inactive; `blue` or
 `green` names one explicitly. To recover an *older* image SHA instead, run
 `deploy.yml` manually with that SHA — rollback only moves traffic between the two
 slots that are already up.
+
+`pages.yml` publishes the committed Swagger spec as a static Swagger UI site on
+GitHub Pages (<https://drexeltriangle.github.io/triangle-cms/>). It is independent of
+the CI -> Publish -> Deploy chain: it holds no `packages` permission, touches no
+slot, and never runs on the self-hosted runner. Swagger UI's assets are vendored
+into the artifact at build time from a pinned `swagger-ui-dist`, so the published
+page loads nothing from a third-party CDN at runtime.
diff --git a/.github/workflows/ci.yml b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
index c54be76..03c10d8 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ci.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ci.yml
@@ -56,6 +56,36 @@ jobs:
       - name: Build
         run: npm run build
 
+  # The Docker build regenerates the Swagger docs from the handler annotations,
+  # so the binary always serves a current spec -- but server/docs is also
+  # committed, and the Pages site publishes that committed copy. Nothing forced
+  # the two to agree, so annotations could change without a follow-up
+  # `swag init` and the published reference would drift from the real API with
+  # no signal. Regenerate here and fail on any diff.
+  swagger-docs:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    defaults:
+      run:
+        working-directory: server
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+      - uses: actions/setup-go@v5
+        with:
+          go-version-file: server/go.mod
+          cache-dependency-path: server/go.sum
+      # Pinned to the same version server/Dockerfile installs. A different
+      # version would report drift the real build never produces.
+      - name: Install swag
+        run: go install github.com/swaggo/swag/cmd/swag@v1.16.6
+      - name: Regenerate docs
+        run: swag init --parseDependency --parseInternal
+      - name: Committed docs are current
+        run: |
+          if ! git diff --exit-code -- docs; then
+            echo "::error file=server/docs/swagger.json::server/docs is stale. Run 'swag init --parseDependency --parseInternal' in server/ and commit the result."
+            exit 1
+          fi
+
   docker-builds:
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
     steps:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pages.yml b/.github/workflows/pages.yml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fbffec4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.github/workflows/pages.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,66 @@
+name: Publish API Docs
+
+# Publishes the committed Swagger spec (server/docs/swagger.json) as a static
+# Swagger UI site on GitHub Pages, so the API reference is readable without
+# running the server or reaching the VPN-only deployment. It publishes the spec
+# that is checked in — the same one the binary embeds and serves at /swagger/ —
+# rather than regenerating it, so the page always matches the deployed API
+# surface. Refresh it by running `swag init` and committing the result.
+
+on:
+  push:
+    branches:
+      - main
+    paths:
+      - server/docs/swagger.json
+      - docs/api/**
+      - .github/workflows/pages.yml
+  workflow_dispatch:
+
+# Pages deployments are not slot-switched like the app: one site, last write
+# wins. Serialise them, but let a newer commit supersede a queued older one.
+concurrency:
+  group: pages
+  cancel-in-progress: true
+
+permissions:
+  contents: read
+
+jobs:
+  build:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/checkout@v4
+
+      - name: Assemble site
+        env:
+          # Pinned: an unpinned CDN or range would let the docs page change
+          # under us without a commit.
+          SWAGGER_UI_VERSION: 5.32.14
+        run: |
+          set -euo pipefail
+          mkdir -p site
+          cp docs/api/index.html site/
+          cp server/docs/swagger.json site/
+          npm pack "swagger-ui-dist@${SWAGGER_UI_VERSION}"
+          tar -xzf "swagger-ui-dist-${SWAGGER_UI_VERSION}.tgz"
+          for asset in swagger-ui.css swagger-ui-bundle.js swagger-ui-standalone-preset.js; do
+            cp "package/${asset}" site/
+          done
+
+      - uses: actions/upload-pages-artifact@v3
+        with:
+          path: site
+
+  deploy:
+    needs: build
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    environment:
+      name: github-pages
+      url: ${{ steps.deployment.outputs.page_url }}
+    permissions:
+      pages: write
+      id-token: write
+    steps:
+      - id: deployment
+        uses: actions/deploy-pages@v4
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 43420c7..0321f03 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -248,7 +248,14 @@ Generated files:
 
 ## API Docs (Swagger)
 
-Swagger UI is available at `https://localhost:8080/swagger/index.html` when the server is running.
+A read-only copy of the API reference is published to GitHub Pages at
+<https://drexeltriangle.github.io/triangle-cms/> — no server, no VPN. It renders the
+`server/docs/swagger.json` committed on `main`, so it is only as current as the last
+`swag init` that was committed, and "Try it out" is disabled (the spec's host is the
+local dev server).
+
+The live, interactive Swagger UI is available at `https://localhost:8080/swagger/index.html`
+when the server is running.
 
 The docs are generated automatically during the Docker build — no manual step needed.
 
diff --git a/docs/api/index.html b/docs/api/index.html
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd0e444
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/api/index.html
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html>
+<html lang="en">
+  <head>
+    <meta charset="utf-8" />
+    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" />
+    <title>Triangle CMS API</title>
+    <!-- Assets are vendored next to this file by .github/workflows/pages.yml,
+         so the published page loads nothing from a third-party CDN. -->
+    <link rel="stylesheet" href="./swagger-ui.css" />
+    <style>
+      body { margin: 0; background: #fafafa; }
+      /* The spec's `host` is the local dev server, so "Try it out" would fire
+         requests at the reader's own machine. Hide it: this page is reference
+         documentation, not a live client. */
+      .swagger-ui .try-out { display: none; }
+      /* Nothing is submittable, so the Authorize dialog has no effect. The
+         per-operation padlocks stay, so readers still see what needs a token. */
+      .swagger-ui .auth-wrapper { display: none; }
+    </style>
+  </head>
+  <body>
+    <div id="swagger-ui"></div>
+    <script src="./swagger-ui-bundle.js" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
+    <script src="./swagger-ui-standalone-preset.js" crossorigin="anonymous"></script>
+    <script>
+      window.onload = function () {
+        window.ui = SwaggerUIBundle({
+          url: './swagger.json',
+          dom_id: '#swagger-ui',
+          deepLinking: true,
+          supportedSubmitMethods: [],
+          docExpansion: 'none',
+          defaultModelsExpandDepth: 0,
+          presets: [SwaggerUIBundle.presets.apis, SwaggerUIStandalonePreset],
+          plugins: [SwaggerUIBundle.plugins.DownloadUrl],
+          layout: 'BaseLayout',
+        });
+      };
+    </script>
+  </body>
+</html>
diff --git a/frontend/src/App.tsx b/frontend/src/App.tsx
index 3e90e91..91bcdff 100644
--- a/frontend/src/App.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/App.tsx
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ const AUTH_ROUTES = ["/login"]
 function RouteFallback() {
   return (
     <div className="flex items-center justify-center h-full">
-      <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Loading…</p>
+      <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Loading...</p>
     </div>
   )
 }
@@ -57,9 +57,8 @@ function AppShell({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
 function ComingSoon({ page }: { page: string }) {
   return (
     <div className="flex flex-col items-center justify-center h-full gap-3 text-muted-foreground">
-      <div className="w-12 h-12 rounded-xl bg-muted flex items-center justify-center text-2xl">🚧</div>
       <p className="font-semibold text-foreground">{page}</p>
-      <p className="text-sm">This page is coming soon.</p>
+      <p className="text-sm">This screen is not available yet.</p>
     </div>
   )
 }
@@ -70,7 +69,7 @@ function AdminOnlyRoute({ children }: { children: React.ReactNode }) {
   if (isLoading) {
     return (
       <div className="min-h-screen flex items-center justify-center">
-        <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Loading…</p>
+        <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Loading...</p>
       </div>
     )
   }
@@ -90,7 +89,7 @@ export default function App() {
   if (auth.isLoading) {
     return (
       <div className="min-h-screen flex items-center justify-center">
-        <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Loading…</p>
+        <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Loading...</p>
       </div>
     )
   }
@@ -108,7 +107,7 @@ export default function App() {
     if (auth.hasPendingAuthFlow) {
       return (
         <div className="min-h-screen flex items-center justify-center">
-          <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Finalizing sign-in…</p>
+          <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Finalizing sign-in...</p>
         </div>
       )
     }
@@ -125,7 +124,7 @@ export default function App() {
           <Route path="/developing-stories" element={<DevelopingStoriesView />} />
           <Route path="/developing-stories/:slug/edit" element={<EditArticleView />} />
           <Route path="/articles/new" element={<EditArticleView />} />
-          <Route path="/developing-stories/new" element={<ComingSoon page="New Developing Story" />} />
+          <Route path="/developing-stories/new" element={<ComingSoon page="New developing story" />} />
           <Route path="/newsletter" element={<NewsletterView />} />
           <Route path="/media" element={<MediaView />} />
           <Route path="/poll" element={<PollView />} />
diff --git a/frontend/src/auth/adminOnlyNotice.tsx b/frontend/src/auth/adminOnlyNotice.tsx
index 4ff1bc6..6ee1b75 100644
--- a/frontend/src/auth/adminOnlyNotice.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/auth/adminOnlyNotice.tsx
@@ -53,8 +53,7 @@ export function AdminOnlyNoticeProvider({ children }: { children: React.ReactNod
                   Admin only
                 </h2>
                 <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-                  This change needs an admin account, so it was not saved. Ask a web admin to make it
-                  for you.
+                  This action requires an admin account. Nothing was saved.
                 </p>
               </div>
             </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/FooterMenuEditor.tsx b/frontend/src/components/FooterMenuEditor.tsx
index 31c80aa..eb52f78 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/FooterMenuEditor.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/FooterMenuEditor.tsx
@@ -39,6 +39,15 @@ const inputClass =
   "w-full px-2.5 py-1.5 rounded-md border border-border bg-background text-sm focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-primary/40"
 const iconButtonClass = "p-1 rounded-md hover:bg-muted disabled:opacity-30 disabled:hover:bg-transparent"
 
+async function readErrorMessage(res: Response, fallback: string) {
+  try {
+    const body = await res.json() as { error?: string }
+    return body.error?.trim() || fallback
+  } catch {
+    return fallback
+  }
+}
+
 function normalizeEntry(raw: unknown): FooterEntry {
   const entry = (raw ?? {}) as Partial<FooterEntry>
   const kind: FooterEntryKind =
@@ -82,7 +91,7 @@ export default function FooterMenuEditor() {
     async function loadFooter() {
       try {
         const res = await apiFetch("/v1/settings/footer")
-        if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to load footer settings (${res.status})`)
+        if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not load footer settings (${res.status})`))
         const body = (await res.json()) as { columns?: unknown }
         const loaded = normalizeColumns(body.columns)
         if (!cancelled) {
@@ -90,7 +99,7 @@ export default function FooterMenuEditor() {
           setSaved(JSON.stringify(loaded))
         }
       } catch (err) {
-        if (!cancelled) setMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load footer settings")
+        if (!cancelled) setMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not load footer settings.")
       } finally {
         if (!cancelled) setLoading(false)
       }
@@ -145,7 +154,7 @@ export default function FooterMenuEditor() {
         headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
         body: JSON.stringify({ columns }),
       })
-      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to save footer settings (${res.status})`)
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not save footer settings (${res.status})`))
       // The server drops unlabelled entries and empty columns, so render what
       // it stored rather than the draft.
       const body = (await res.json()) as { columns?: unknown }
@@ -154,7 +163,7 @@ export default function FooterMenuEditor() {
       setSaved(JSON.stringify(stored))
       setMessage("Saved")
     } catch (err) {
-      setMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to save footer settings")
+      setMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not save footer settings.")
     } finally {
       setSaving(false)
     }
@@ -164,23 +173,22 @@ export default function FooterMenuEditor() {
 
   return (
     <SettingsSection
-      title="Footer Menu"
+      title="Footer"
       storageKey="footer"
       dirty={dirty}
       summary={
         loading
-          ? "Loading…"
+          ? "Loading..."
           : `${columns.length} column${columns.length === 1 ? "" : "s"}`
       }
-      description="Link columns shown in the public site footer, laid out left to right as they appear on the site. Headings are the bold entries; a spacer starts a new group inside the same column. Saving an empty menu restores the built-in default."
+      description="Links shown in the public site footer. Columns appear left to right; headings are bold entries; spacers split groups inside a column."
     >
       {loading ? (
-        <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Loading…</p>
+        <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Loading...</p>
       ) : columns.length === 0 ? (
         <div className="rounded-lg border border-dashed border-border p-8 flex flex-col items-center gap-3 text-center">
           <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground max-w-sm">
-            The footer menu is empty. Add a column to build it, or save as-is to restore the built-in
-            default footer.
+            The footer menu is empty. Add a column, or save to restore the default footer.
           </p>
           <button
             type="button"
@@ -335,7 +343,7 @@ export default function FooterMenuEditor() {
                           aria-label="Link target"
                           value={entry.href}
                           onChange={(e) => updateEntry(columnIndex, entryIndex, { href: e.target.value })}
-                          placeholder="/section or https://…"
+                          placeholder="/section or https://..."
                           className={`${inputClass} text-muted-foreground`}
                         />
                       </>
@@ -378,7 +386,7 @@ export default function FooterMenuEditor() {
           disabled={saving || loading || !dirty}
           className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 rounded-lg bg-primary text-primary-foreground text-sm font-medium hover:bg-primary/90 disabled:opacity-60"
         >
-          Save Footer
+          Save footer
         </button>
         {dirty && !saving && <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Unsaved changes</span>}
         {message && <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{message}</span>}
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/MediaPicker.tsx b/frontend/src/components/MediaPicker.tsx
index 01a4eb8..d3e4608 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/MediaPicker.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/MediaPicker.tsx
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ function MediaPicker({ onSelect, onClose, title = "Insert image", onUseUrl, init
         const response = await apiFetch(`/v1/media/gallery?${params.toString()}`, {
           signal: controller.signal,
         })
-        if (!response.ok) throw new Error(await errorMessage(response, `Request failed (${response.status})`))
+        if (!response.ok) throw new Error(await errorMessage(response, `Could not load media (${response.status})`))
         const payload = (await response.json()) as GalleryResponse
         if (controller.signal.aborted) return
         const page = payload.media ?? []
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ function MediaPicker({ onSelect, onClose, title = "Insert image", onUseUrl, init
               autoFocus
               className="w-full rounded-lg border border-border bg-background py-2 pl-9 pr-4 text-sm text-foreground placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus:border-primary focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-primary/40"
               onChange={(e) => setSearchInput(e.target.value)}
-              placeholder="Search by file name, alt text, or caption..."
+              placeholder="Search file name, alt text, or caption"
               type="search"
               value={searchInput}
             />
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ function MediaPicker({ onSelect, onClose, title = "Insert image", onUseUrl, init
               aria-label="Image URL"
               className="flex-1 rounded-lg border border-border bg-background px-3 py-2 text-sm text-foreground placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus:border-primary focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-primary/40"
               onChange={(e) => setUrlInput(e.target.value)}
-              placeholder="Or paste image URL"
+              placeholder="Paste image URL"
               type="url"
               value={urlInput}
             />
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/AuthCallback.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/AuthCallback.tsx
index 85441e6..3bf9d28 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/AuthCallback.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/AuthCallback.tsx
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ export default function AuthCallback() {
 
   return (
     <div className="min-h-screen flex items-center justify-center">
-      <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Signing you in…</p>
+      <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Signing you in...</p>
     </div>
   )
 }
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.tsx
index d2387a0..8b3c5d5 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/DashboardPage.tsx
@@ -284,12 +284,10 @@ export default function DashboardPage() {
       {/* Page header */}
       <div className="flex items-start justify-between">
         <div>
-          <p className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-widest text-primary mb-1">
-            COMMAND CENTER
-          </p>
+          <p className="text-xs font-semibold uppercase tracking-widest text-primary mb-1">Dashboard</p>
           <h1 className="text-3xl font-extrabold tracking-tight">{getHour()}, {displayName}.</h1>
           <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mt-1">
-            Here's what's happening at The Triangle today.
+            Recent CMS activity and quick drafting tools.
           </p>
         </div>
         <div className="flex gap-2.5 shrink-0">
@@ -313,7 +311,7 @@ export default function DashboardPage() {
       <div className="grid grid-cols-2 md:grid-cols-4 xl:grid-cols-6 gap-3">
         {[
           {
-            label: "Total Articles",
+            label: "Articles",
             value: stats.totalArticles != null ? stats.totalArticles.toLocaleString() : "—",
             icon: FileText,
             color: "text-primary",
@@ -366,7 +364,7 @@ export default function DashboardPage() {
           },
           {
             label: "API Status",
-            value: apiHealth === "checking" ? "…" : apiHealth === "ok" ? "Healthy" : "Error",
+            value: apiHealth === "checking" ? "..." : apiHealth === "ok" ? "Healthy" : "Error",
             icon: Server,
             color: apiHealth === "ok" ? "text-success" : apiHealth === "error" ? "text-destructive" : "text-muted-foreground",
             bg: apiHealth === "ok" ? "bg-success/10" : apiHealth === "error" ? "bg-destructive/10" : "bg-muted",
@@ -414,10 +412,10 @@ export default function DashboardPage() {
               <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
                 <CardTitle className="text-sm font-bold flex items-center gap-2">
                   <FileText className="w-4 h-4 text-primary" />
-                  All Recent Articles
+                  Recent Articles
                 </CardTitle>
                 <Button variant="ghost" size="sm" className="text-primary text-xs h-7 px-2" onClick={() => navigate("/articles")}>
-                  Manage →
+                  Manage
                 </Button>
               </div>
             </CardHeader>
@@ -488,7 +486,7 @@ export default function DashboardPage() {
                 />
               </div>
               <div>
-                <label className="text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground mb-1 block">What's on your mind?</label>
+                <label className="text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground mb-1 block">Notes</label>
                 <textarea
                   placeholder="Start writing..."
                   value={draftContent}
@@ -504,7 +502,7 @@ export default function DashboardPage() {
                 onClick={() => void createQuickDraft()}
               >
                 <Send className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
-                {isSavingDraft ? "Saving..." : "Save Draft"}
+                {isSavingDraft ? "Saving..." : "Save draft"}
               </Button>
               {draftError ? (
                 <p className="text-xs text-destructive">{draftError}</p>
@@ -522,7 +520,7 @@ export default function DashboardPage() {
             </CardHeader>
             <CardContent className="px-3 pb-3 space-y-1">
               {[
-                { label: "Write new article", icon: PenLine, path: "/articles/new", badge: null },
+                { label: "New article", icon: PenLine, path: "/articles/new", badge: null },
                 { label: "Manage authors", icon: Users, path: "/authors", badge: null },
                 { label: "Developing stories", icon: TrendingUp, path: "/developing-stories", badge: "Live" },
                 { label: "Upload media", icon: FileText, path: "/media", badge: null },
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/LoginPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/LoginPage.tsx
index 6db0e38..1bfb1a0 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/LoginPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/LoginPage.tsx
@@ -10,16 +10,16 @@ function LoginPage() {
     const error = new URLSearchParams(location.search).get("error")
     if (!error) return null
     const friendly: Record<string, string> = {
-      missing_state: "Login failed: missing state cookie.",
-      state_mismatch: "Login failed: state validation mismatch.",
-      missing_code: "Login failed: missing authorization code.",
-      token_exchange_failed: "Login failed: token exchange failed.",
-      invalid_token: "Login failed: invalid identity token.",
-      invalid_claims: "Login failed: invalid token claims.",
-      user_error: "Login failed while loading user profile.",
-      session_error: "Login failed while creating session.",
+      missing_state: "Sign-in expired. Start again.",
+      state_mismatch: "Sign-in expired. Start again.",
+      missing_code: "The identity provider did not return a sign-in code.",
+      token_exchange_failed: "Could not complete sign-in with the identity provider.",
+      invalid_token: "The identity provider returned an invalid token.",
+      invalid_claims: "Your account is missing required profile information.",
+      user_error: "Could not load your CMS profile.",
+      session_error: "Could not create your CMS session.",
     }
-    return friendly[error] ?? `Login failed: ${error}`
+    return friendly[error] ?? "Sign-in failed. Try again or contact a web admin."
   }, [location.search])
 
   return (
@@ -36,12 +36,12 @@ function LoginPage() {
 
         {/* Content */}
         <div className="flex-1 flex flex-col justify-center max-w-sm mx-auto w-full py-16">
-          <p className="text-xs font-bold text-primary uppercase tracking-[0.18em] mb-3">Welcome back</p>
+          <p className="text-xs font-bold text-primary uppercase tracking-[0.18em] mb-3">Triangle CMS</p>
           <h1 className="text-3xl font-bold text-foreground leading-tight mb-2">
-            Sign in to your account.
+            Sign in
           </h1>
           <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mb-10">
-            The Triangle's editorial platform. Publish, manage, and grow.
+            Use your newsroom account to edit and publish stories.
           </p>
 
           <button
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/activityView.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/activityView.tsx
index f1ad871..3cbe46c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/activityView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/activityView.tsx
@@ -81,6 +81,15 @@ function formatDate(value: string) {
   return date.toLocaleString()
 }
 
+async function readErrorMessage(response: Response, fallback: string) {
+  try {
+    const body = await response.json() as { error?: string }
+    return body.error?.trim() || fallback
+  } catch {
+    return fallback
+  }
+}
+
 export default function ActivityView() {
   const apiFetch = useApiFetch()
   const [search, setSearch] = useState("")
@@ -91,15 +100,15 @@ export default function ActivityView() {
 
   useEffect(() => {
     apiFetch("/v1/activity?limit=200")
-      .then((r) => {
-        if (!r.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed (${r.status})`)
+      .then(async (r) => {
+        if (!r.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(r, `Could not load activity (${r.status})`))
         return r.json() as Promise<ActivityResponse>
       })
       .then((data) => {
         setEvents(data.events ?? [])
         setTotalCount(data.total_count ?? data.events?.length ?? 0)
       })
-      .catch((err) => setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load activity"))
+      .catch((err) => setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not load activity."))
       .finally(() => setIsLoading(false))
   }, [apiFetch])
 
@@ -153,9 +162,9 @@ export default function ActivityView() {
     <div className="flex flex-col gap-6 p-6">
       <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
         <div>
-          <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold text-foreground">Activity Log</h1>
+          <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold text-foreground">Activity</h1>
           <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mt-0.5">
-            {isLoading ? "Loading…" : `${totalCount} recent events`}
+            {isLoading ? "Loading..." : `${totalCount} recent events`}
           </p>
         </div>
         {error ? <p className="text-sm text-destructive">{error}</p> : null}
@@ -167,7 +176,7 @@ export default function ActivityView() {
             <Search className="absolute left-3 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 w-4 h-4 text-muted-foreground pointer-events-none" />
             <input
               className="w-full pl-9 pr-4 py-2 rounded-lg border border-border bg-background text-sm placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-primary/40 focus:border-primary transition"
-              placeholder="Search activity..."
+              placeholder="Search activity"
               value={search}
               onChange={(e) => setSearch(e.target.value)}
             />
@@ -176,7 +185,7 @@ export default function ActivityView() {
           <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
             {isLoading ? (
               <div className="rounded-xl border border-border bg-card px-4 py-8 text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground">
-                Loading activity…
+                Loading activity...
               </div>
             ) : filtered.length === 0 ? (
               <div className="rounded-xl border border-border bg-card px-4 py-8 text-center text-sm text-muted-foreground">
@@ -212,7 +221,7 @@ export default function ActivityView() {
 
         <div className="flex flex-col gap-4">
           <div className="rounded-xl border border-border bg-card p-4">
-            <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold text-foreground mb-3">Top Contributors</h3>
+            <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold text-foreground mb-3">Most Active Users</h3>
             <div className="flex flex-col gap-2">
               {topContributors.length === 0 ? (
                 <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">No contributors yet.</span>
@@ -231,7 +240,7 @@ export default function ActivityView() {
           </div>
 
           <div className="rounded-xl border border-border bg-card p-4">
-            <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold text-foreground mb-3">Actions Breakdown</h3>
+            <h3 className="text-sm font-semibold text-foreground mb-3">Action Counts</h3>
             <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
               {actionEntries.length === 0 ? (
                 <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">No actions recorded.</span>
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/articleView.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/articleView.tsx
index 4d53906..e537643 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/articleView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/articleView.tsx
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ function ArticleView({ pageTitle = "Articles", fixedType, excludeType }: Article
 
         const response = await apiFetch(`/v1/articles?${params.toString()}`)
         if (!response.ok) {
-          throw new Error(`Request failed (${response.status})`)
+          throw new Error(`Could not load articles (${response.status})`)
         }
 
         const payload = (await response.json()) as ApiArticleResponse
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ function ArticleView({ pageTitle = "Articles", fixedType, excludeType }: Article
           type="button"
         >
           <Plus className="w-4 h-4" aria-hidden="true" />
-          Add New
+          New article
         </button>
       </div>
 
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ function ArticleView({ pageTitle = "Articles", fixedType, excludeType }: Article
           aria-label={`Search ${listLabel}`}
           className="w-full pl-9 pr-4 py-2 rounded-lg border border-border bg-background text-sm text-foreground placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-primary/40 focus:border-primary transition"
           onChange={(e) => onSearch(e.target.value)}
-          placeholder={`Search ${listLabel}...`}
+          placeholder={`Search ${listLabel}`}
           type="search"
           value={searchQuery}
         />
@@ -678,7 +678,7 @@ function ArticleView({ pageTitle = "Articles", fixedType, excludeType }: Article
             ) : error ? (
               <tr>
                 <td className="px-4 py-8 text-center text-destructive" colSpan={6}>
-                  Failed to load articles: {error}
+                  Could not load articles: {error}
                 </td>
               </tr>
             ) : articles.length === 0 ? (
@@ -746,7 +746,7 @@ function ArticleView({ pageTitle = "Articles", fixedType, excludeType }: Article
                           target="_blank"
                         >
                           <ExternalLink className="w-3.5 h-3.5" />
-                          View Live
+                          View live
                         </a>
                       )}
                       {/* Unlike View Live this is offered at any status: the
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/authorsView.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/authorsView.tsx
index 754ec26..3dc3ba2 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/authorsView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/authorsView.tsx
@@ -85,8 +85,8 @@ function AuthorsView() {
     const archivedParam = activeTab === "trash" ? "&archived=1" : ""
     const { sortBy, sortDirection } = SORT_PARAMS[sortMode]
     return apiFetch(`/v1/authors?limit=${pageSize}&offset=${page * pageSize}&sort_by=${sortBy}&sort_direction=${sortDirection}${searchParam}${archivedParam}`)
-      .then((r) => {
-        if (!r.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed (${r.status})`)
+      .then(async (r) => {
+        if (!r.ok) throw new Error(await errorMessageFromResponse(r, `Could not load authors (${r.status})`))
         return r.json() as Promise<Author[] | AuthorsResponse>
       })
       .then((data) => {
@@ -97,14 +97,14 @@ function AuthorsView() {
         const fallbackTotalCount = (page * pageSize) + items.length + (hasMore ? 1 : 0)
         setTotalAuthorCount(typeof apiTotalCount === "number" ? apiTotalCount : fallbackTotalCount)
       })
-      .catch((err) => setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load authors"))
+      .catch((err) => setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not load authors."))
       .finally(() => setIsLoading(false))
   }, [activeTab, apiFetch, page, pageSize, debouncedSearch, sortMode])
 
   const loadTrashCount = useCallback(() => {
     return apiFetch("/v1/authors?limit=1&archived=1")
-      .then((r) => {
-        if (!r.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed (${r.status})`)
+      .then(async (r) => {
+        if (!r.ok) throw new Error(await errorMessageFromResponse(r, `Could not load trash count (${r.status})`))
         return r.json() as Promise<Author[] | AuthorsResponse>
       })
       .then((data) => {
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ function AuthorsView() {
         <div>
           <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold text-foreground">Authors</h1>
           <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mt-0.5">
-            {isLoading ? "Loading…" : `${effectiveTotalCount} authors total`}
+            {isLoading ? "Loading..." : `${effectiveTotalCount} authors total`}
           </p>
         </div>
         {activeTab !== "trash" && (
@@ -227,7 +227,7 @@ function AuthorsView() {
             onClick={() => setIsCreateOpen(true)}
           >
             <Plus className="w-4 h-4" />
-            Add New
+            New author
           </button>
         )}
       </div>
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ function AuthorsView() {
         <Search className="absolute left-3 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 w-4 h-4 text-muted-foreground pointer-events-none" />
         <input
           className="w-full pl-9 pr-4 py-2 rounded-lg border border-border bg-background text-sm placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-primary/40 focus:border-primary transition"
-          placeholder="Search authors..."
+          placeholder="Search authors"
           value={search}
           onChange={(e) => {
             setSearch(e.target.value)
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ function AuthorsView() {
           <tbody>
             {isLoading ? (
               <tr>
-                <td className="px-4 py-8 text-center text-muted-foreground" colSpan={6}>Loading authors…</td>
+                <td className="px-4 py-8 text-center text-muted-foreground" colSpan={6}>Loading authors...</td>
               </tr>
             ) : error ? (
               <tr>
@@ -484,11 +484,11 @@ function CreateAuthorModal({ onClose, onCreated }: { onClose: () => void; onCrea
         }),
       })
       if (!res.ok) {
-        throw new Error(await errorMessageFromResponse(res, `Failed to create author (${res.status})`))
+        throw new Error(await errorMessageFromResponse(res, `Could not create author (${res.status})`))
       }
       onCreated()
     } catch (err) {
-      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to create author")
+      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not create author.")
     } finally {
       setIsSaving(false)
     }
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ function CreateAuthorModal({ onClose, onCreated }: { onClose: () => void; onCrea
     <div className="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex items-center justify-center bg-black/50 p-4" onClick={onClose}>
       <div className="w-full max-w-md rounded-xl border border-border bg-card shadow-lg" onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}>
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between border-b border-border px-5 py-4">
-          <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold text-foreground">New Author</h2>
+          <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold text-foreground">New author</h2>
           <button className="p-1 rounded-lg text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-muted transition-colors" type="button" onClick={onClose} title="Close">
             <X className="w-4 h-4" />
           </button>
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ function CreateAuthorModal({ onClose, onCreated }: { onClose: () => void; onCrea
               type="submit"
               disabled={isSaving}
             >
-              {isSaving ? "Creating…" : "Create author"}
+              {isSaving ? "Creating..." : "Create author"}
             </button>
           </div>
         </form>
@@ -596,7 +596,7 @@ function EditAuthorModal({ author, onClose, onUpdated }: { author: Author; onClo
     apiFetch(`/v1/authors/${encodeURIComponent(author.slug)}`)
       .then(async (res) => {
         if (!res.ok) {
-          throw new Error(await errorMessageFromResponse(res, `Failed to load author (${res.status})`))
+          throw new Error(await errorMessageFromResponse(res, `Could not load author (${res.status})`))
         }
         return res.json() as Promise<Author>
       })
@@ -609,7 +609,7 @@ function EditAuthorModal({ author, onClose, onUpdated }: { author: Author; onClo
         setSlug(data.slug)
       })
       .catch((err) => {
-        if (!cancelled) setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load author")
+        if (!cancelled) setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not load author.")
       })
       .finally(() => {
         if (!cancelled) setIsLoading(false)
@@ -645,11 +645,11 @@ function EditAuthorModal({ author, onClose, onUpdated }: { author: Author; onClo
         }),
       })
       if (!res.ok) {
-        throw new Error(await errorMessageFromResponse(res, `Failed to update author (${res.status})`))
+        throw new Error(await errorMessageFromResponse(res, `Could not update author (${res.status})`))
       }
       onUpdated()
     } catch (err) {
-      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to update author")
+      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not update author.")
     } finally {
       setIsSaving(false)
     }
@@ -659,7 +659,7 @@ function EditAuthorModal({ author, onClose, onUpdated }: { author: Author; onClo
     <div className="fixed inset-0 z-50 flex items-center justify-center bg-black/50 p-4" onClick={onClose}>
       <div className="w-full max-w-md rounded-xl border border-border bg-card shadow-lg" onClick={(e) => e.stopPropagation()}>
         <div className="flex items-center justify-between border-b border-border px-5 py-4">
-          <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold text-foreground">Edit Author</h2>
+          <h2 className="text-lg font-semibold text-foreground">Edit author</h2>
           <button className="p-1 rounded-lg text-muted-foreground hover:text-foreground hover:bg-muted transition-colors" type="button" onClick={onClose} title="Close">
             <X className="w-4 h-4" />
           </button>
@@ -715,7 +715,7 @@ function EditAuthorModal({ author, onClose, onUpdated }: { author: Author; onClo
             />
           </label>
 
-          {isLoading && <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Loading author details…</p>}
+          {isLoading && <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Loading author details...</p>}
           {error && <p className="text-sm text-destructive">{error}</p>}
 
           <div className="flex items-center justify-end gap-2 pt-1">
@@ -732,7 +732,7 @@ function EditAuthorModal({ author, onClose, onUpdated }: { author: Author; onClo
               type="submit"
               disabled={isLoading || isSaving}
             >
-              {isSaving ? "Saving…" : "Save changes"}
+              {isSaving ? "Saving..." : "Save changes"}
             </button>
           </div>
         </form>
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/classifiedsView.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/classifiedsView.tsx
index 6578a87..7f59b56 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/classifiedsView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/classifiedsView.tsx
@@ -62,6 +62,15 @@ function isExpired(value: string) {
   return !Number.isNaN(parsed.getTime()) && parsed.getTime() < Date.now()
 }
 
+async function readErrorMessage(res: Response, fallback: string) {
+  try {
+    const body = await res.json() as { error?: string }
+    return body.error?.trim() || fallback
+  } catch {
+    return fallback
+  }
+}
+
 export default function ClassifiedsView() {
   const apiFetch = useApiFetch()
   const { isAdmin } = useCurrentUserRole()
@@ -80,13 +89,13 @@ export default function ClassifiedsView() {
     setError(null)
     try {
       const res = await apiFetch(`/v1/classifieds/manage?status=${filter}&limit=100`)
-      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to load classifieds (${res.status})`)
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not load classifieds (${res.status})`))
       const body = (await res.json()) as ManageResponse
       setItems(body.classifieds ?? [])
       setCounts(body.counts ?? {})
       setSlackConfigured(body.slack_configured !== false)
     } catch (err) {
-      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load classifieds")
+      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not load classifieds.")
     } finally {
       setLoading(false)
     }
@@ -105,10 +114,10 @@ export default function ClassifiedsView() {
         headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
         body: JSON.stringify({ status }),
       })
-      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to update classified (${res.status})`)
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not update classified (${res.status})`))
       await load()
     } catch (err) {
-      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to update classified")
+      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not update classified.")
     } finally {
       setBusyId(null)
     }
@@ -120,10 +129,10 @@ export default function ClassifiedsView() {
     setError(null)
     try {
       const res = await apiFetch(`/v1/classifieds/${id}`, { method: "DELETE" })
-      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to delete classified (${res.status})`)
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not delete classified (${res.status})`))
       await load()
     } catch (err) {
-      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to delete classified")
+      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not delete classified.")
     } finally {
       setBusyId(null)
     }
@@ -135,17 +144,16 @@ export default function ClassifiedsView() {
         <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold text-foreground">Classifieds</h1>
         <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mt-0.5">
           {slackConfigured
-            ? "Reader submissions awaiting review. Approving here and clicking Approve on the Slack notification do the same thing."
+            ? "Reader submissions awaiting review. Approving here matches the Slack Approve action."
             : "Reader submissions awaiting review."}
         </p>
       </div>
 
       {!slackConfigured && (
         <div className="rounded-lg border border-amber-500/40 bg-amber-500/10 px-4 py-3 text-sm text-amber-800 dark:text-amber-300">
-          Slack approvals are unavailable — the server is missing{" "}
+          Slack approvals are unavailable. The server is missing{" "}
           <code>SLACK_WEBHOOK_URL</code>, <code>SLACK_SIGNING_SECRET</code>, or both, so submissions
-          are either never posted to Slack or the Approve/Reject buttons are refused. Moderate here
-          instead; nothing is lost either way.
+          may not post to Slack or Slack buttons may be refused. Moderate here instead.
         </div>
       )}
 
@@ -176,7 +184,7 @@ export default function ClassifiedsView() {
       )}
 
       {loading ? (
-        <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Loading…</p>
+        <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Loading...</p>
       ) : items.length === 0 ? (
         <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">Nothing here.</p>
       ) : (
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/commentsView.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/commentsView.tsx
index 141011c..9a3061b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/commentsView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/commentsView.tsx
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ export default function CommentsView() {
     try {
       const response = await apiFetch(`/v1/comments?${params.toString()}`)
       if (!response.ok) {
-        throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(response, `Request failed (${response.status})`))
+        throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(response, `Could not load comments (${response.status})`))
       }
       const body = await response.json() as CommentsResponse
       const nextComments = body.comments ?? []
@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ export default function CommentsView() {
           <input
             aria-label="Search comments"
             className="w-full pl-9 pr-4 py-2 rounded-lg border border-border bg-background text-sm placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-primary/40 focus:border-primary transition"
-            placeholder="Search comments, authors, emails, or articles..."
+            placeholder="Search comments, authors, emails, or articles"
             type="search"
             value={search}
             onChange={(e) => {
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/developingStoriesView.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/developingStoriesView.tsx
index ea5fbe7..dcac5e8 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/developingStoriesView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/developingStoriesView.tsx
@@ -11,6 +11,15 @@ async function readJson<T>(res: Response): Promise<T> {
   return (await res.json()) as T
 }
 
+async function readErrorMessage(res: Response, fallback: string) {
+  try {
+    const body = await readJson<{ error?: string }>(res)
+    return body.error?.trim() || fallback
+  } catch {
+    return fallback
+  }
+}
+
 function DevelopingStoriesView() {
   const apiFetch = useApiFetch()
   const [stories, setStories] = useState<string[]>([])
@@ -25,11 +34,11 @@ function DevelopingStoriesView() {
     setError(null)
     try {
       const res = await apiFetch("/v1/developing-stories")
-      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed loading developing stories (${res.status})`)
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not load developing stories (${res.status})`))
       const body = await readJson<DevelopingStoriesResponse>(res)
       setStories(body.stories ?? [])
     } catch (err) {
-      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load developing stories")
+      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not load developing stories.")
     } finally {
       setIsLoading(false)
     }
@@ -55,11 +64,11 @@ function DevelopingStoriesView() {
         headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
         body: JSON.stringify({ title }),
       })
-      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to add developing story (${res.status})`)
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not add developing story (${res.status})`))
       setNewStoryTitle("")
       await loadStories()
     } catch (err) {
-      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to add developing story")
+      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not add developing story.")
     } finally {
       setIsSaving(false)
     }
@@ -76,10 +85,10 @@ function DevelopingStoriesView() {
         headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
         body: JSON.stringify({ title }),
       })
-      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to delete developing story (${res.status})`)
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not delete developing story (${res.status})`))
       await loadStories()
     } catch (err) {
-      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to delete developing story")
+      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not delete developing story.")
     } finally {
       setIsSaving(false)
     }
@@ -134,7 +143,7 @@ function DevelopingStoriesView() {
           aria-label="Search developing stories"
           className="w-full max-w-xl px-3 py-2 rounded-lg border border-border bg-background text-sm text-foreground placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-primary/40 focus:border-primary transition"
           onChange={(e) => setSearchQuery(e.target.value)}
-          placeholder="Search developing stories..."
+          placeholder="Search developing stories"
           type="search"
           value={searchQuery}
         />
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/editArticleView.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/editArticleView.tsx
index 69d1590..f95f08a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/editArticleView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/editArticleView.tsx
@@ -12,6 +12,15 @@ import { DateTimeField } from "../components/ui/datetime-field"
 // Lazy-loaded so the heavy yoastseo bundle only loads when editing an article.
 const SeoAnalysis = lazy(() => import("../components/SeoAnalysis"))
 
+async function readErrorMessage(response: Response, fallback: string) {
+  try {
+    const body = await response.json() as { error?: string }
+    return body.error?.trim() || fallback
+  } catch {
+    return fallback
+  }
+}
+
 type EditableStatus = "draft" | "published"
 type PublishTiming = "draft" | "now" | "schedule"
 
@@ -416,7 +425,7 @@ function EditArticleView() {
       try {
         const response = await apiFetch(`/v1/articles/${encodeURIComponent(slug)}`)
         if (!response.ok) {
-          throw new Error(`Request failed (${response.status})`)
+          throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(response, `Could not load article (${response.status})`))
         }
         const payload = (await response.json()) as ApiArticleDetail
         if (!cancelled) {
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/mediaView.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/mediaView.tsx
index 846a223..ff6dc56 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/mediaView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/mediaView.tsx
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ function MediaView() {
       if (galleryOnly) params.set("in_gallery", "true")
 
       const response = await apiFetch(`/v1/media?${params.toString()}`, { signal })
-      if (!response.ok) throw new Error(await errorMessage(response, `Request failed (${response.status})`))
+      if (!response.ok) throw new Error(await errorMessage(response, `Could not load media (${response.status})`))
       return (await response.json()) as MediaResponse
     },
     [apiFetch, search, galleryOnly],
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ function MediaView() {
             aria-label="Search media"
             className="w-full pl-9 pr-4 py-2 rounded-lg border border-border bg-background text-sm text-foreground placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-primary/40 focus:border-primary transition"
             onChange={(e) => setSearchInput(e.target.value)}
-            placeholder="Search by file name, alt text, or caption..."
+            placeholder="Search file name, alt text, or caption"
             type="search"
             value={searchInput}
           />
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ function MediaView() {
             {search
               ? `No results for "${search}"`
               : galleryOnly
-                ? "Nothing is on the public photo gallery yet. Open an image and tick “Show on the photo gallery”."
+                ? "No images are on the public photo gallery yet. Open an image and select \"Show on the photo gallery\"."
                 : "No media items yet."}
           </p>
           {/* Reindex lives in Settings, which is admin-only, so only admins are
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/newsletterView.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/newsletterView.tsx
index 4dec22a..d685771 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/newsletterView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/newsletterView.tsx
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ export default function NewsletterView() {
         <Search className="absolute left-3 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 w-4 h-4 text-muted-foreground pointer-events-none" />
         <input
           className="w-full pl-9 pr-4 py-2 rounded-lg border border-border bg-background text-sm placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-primary/40 focus:border-primary transition"
-          placeholder={tab === "campaigns" ? "Search campaigns..." : "Search subscribers..."}
+          placeholder={tab === "campaigns" ? "Search campaigns" : "Search subscribers"}
           value={search}
           onChange={(e) => setSearch(e.target.value)}
         />
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/pollView.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/pollView.tsx
index 0abd14e..8881daf 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/pollView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/pollView.tsx
@@ -41,6 +41,15 @@ type PollListResponse = {
   polls?: Poll[]
 }
 
+async function readErrorMessage(res: Response, fallback: string) {
+  try {
+    const body = await res.json() as { error?: string }
+    return body.error?.trim() || fallback
+  } catch {
+    return fallback
+  }
+}
+
 type StateMeta = { label: string; className: string }
 
 const UNKNOWN_STATE_META: StateMeta = {
@@ -131,22 +140,22 @@ function scheduleSummary(poll: Poll): string {
   switch (poll.state) {
     case "live":
       return poll.ends_at
-        ? `On the site now — closes ${relativeDate(poll.ends_at)}, ${formatRunDate(poll.ends_at)}`
-        : "On the site now — runs until you replace or close it"
+        ? `On the site now. Closes ${relativeDate(poll.ends_at)}, ${formatRunDate(poll.ends_at)}`
+        : "On the site now. Runs until you replace or close it."
     case "scheduled":
       return `Goes live ${relativeDate(poll.starts_at)}, ${formatRunDate(poll.starts_at)}${
-        poll.ends_at ? ` — closes ${formatRunDate(poll.ends_at)}` : ""
+        poll.ends_at ? `. Closes ${formatRunDate(poll.ends_at)}` : ""
       }`
     case "draft":
       return poll.starts_at
         ? `Not published. Publishing keeps its start date of ${formatRunDate(poll.starts_at)}`
-        : "Not published — readers cannot see this"
+        : "Not published. Readers cannot see this."
     case "ended":
       return `Ended ${relativeDate(poll.ends_at)}, ${formatRunDate(poll.ends_at)}`
     case "superseded":
       return "Taken off the site by a later poll"
     case "closed":
-      return poll.starts_at ? `Closed — ran from ${formatRunDate(poll.starts_at)}` : "Closed"
+      return poll.starts_at ? `Closed. Ran from ${formatRunDate(poll.starts_at)}` : "Closed"
     default:
       return poll.status === "active" ? "Published" : "Not published"
   }
@@ -222,11 +231,11 @@ export default function PollView() {
     setError(null)
     try {
       const res = await apiFetch("/v1/polls/manage")
-      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed loading polls (${res.status})`)
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not load polls (${res.status})`))
       const body = (await res.json()) as PollListResponse
       setPolls(body.polls ?? [])
     } catch (err) {
-      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load polls")
+      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not load polls.")
     } finally {
       setIsLoading(false)
     }
@@ -246,14 +255,7 @@ export default function PollView() {
       try {
         const res = await apiFetch(path, init)
         if (!res.ok) {
-          let detail = ""
-          try {
-            const body = (await res.json()) as { error?: string }
-            detail = body?.error ? `: ${body.error}` : ""
-          } catch {
-            detail = ""
-          }
-          throw new Error(`${failure} (${res.status})${detail}`)
+          throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `${failure} (${res.status})`))
         }
         await loadPolls()
         return true
@@ -293,7 +295,7 @@ export default function PollView() {
           ends_at: newTiming === "draft" ? null : localInputToISO(newEndsAt) || null,
         }),
       },
-      "Failed to create poll",
+      "Could not create poll",
     )
 
     if (ok) {
@@ -321,7 +323,7 @@ export default function PollView() {
           ends_at: localInputToISO(editEndsAt) || null,
         }),
       },
-      "Failed to update poll",
+      "Could not update poll",
     )
     if (ok) setEditingPollId(null)
   }
@@ -334,7 +336,7 @@ export default function PollView() {
         headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
         body: JSON.stringify({ status }),
       },
-      "Failed to change poll status",
+      "Could not change poll status",
     )
 
   // Publishing something that goes live immediately displaces the poll on the
@@ -361,7 +363,7 @@ export default function PollView() {
     ) {
       return
     }
-    void mutate(`/v1/polls/${poll.id}`, { method: "DELETE" }, "Failed to delete poll")
+    void mutate(`/v1/polls/${poll.id}`, { method: "DELETE" }, "Could not delete poll")
   }
 
   const addOption = async (e: FormEvent, pollId: number) => {
@@ -375,7 +377,7 @@ export default function PollView() {
         headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
         body: JSON.stringify({ option }),
       },
-      "Failed to add poll option",
+      "Could not add poll option",
     )
     if (ok) {
       setNewOptionName("")
@@ -394,7 +396,7 @@ export default function PollView() {
         headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
         body: JSON.stringify({ option }),
       },
-      "Failed to rename poll option",
+      "Could not rename poll option",
     )
     if (ok) setRenamingOptionId(null)
   }
@@ -404,7 +406,7 @@ export default function PollView() {
     void mutate(
       `/v1/polls/${pollId}/options/${option.id}`,
       { method: "DELETE" },
-      "Failed to delete poll option",
+      "Could not delete poll option",
     )
   }
 
@@ -656,8 +658,8 @@ export default function PollView() {
                         className="p-1.5 rounded-lg text-muted-foreground hover:text-emerald-600 hover:bg-emerald-500/10 transition-colors"
                         title={
                           startsLater(poll)
-                            ? `Publish — goes live ${formatRunDate(poll.starts_at)}`
-                            : "Publish — goes on the site now"
+                            ? `Publish. Goes live ${formatRunDate(poll.starts_at)}`
+                            : "Publish. Goes on the site now"
                         }
                       >
                         <Play className="w-4 h-4" />
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/sectionsView.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/sectionsView.tsx
index bb8730f..dff409a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/sectionsView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/sectionsView.tsx
@@ -89,9 +89,9 @@ const slugify = (value: string) =>
 async function readErrorMessage(response: Response) {
   try {
     const body = await response.json() as { error?: string }
-    return body.error ?? `Request failed (${response.status})`
+    return body.error?.trim() || `Could not complete request (${response.status})`
   } catch {
-    return `Request failed (${response.status})`
+    return `Could not complete request (${response.status})`
   }
 }
 
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ export default function SectionsView() {
       )
     } catch (err) {
       setItems([])
-      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load sections")
+      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not load sections.")
     } finally {
       setIsLoading(false)
     }
@@ -409,7 +409,7 @@ export default function SectionsView() {
       setSlugTouched(false)
       await loadSections()
     } catch (err) {
-      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Unable to save taxonomy item")
+      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not save section.")
     } finally {
       setIsSaving(false)
     }
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ export default function SectionsView() {
         row.id === item.id ? { ...row, is_visible: nextVisible } : row
       )))
     } catch (err) {
-      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Unable to change visibility")
+      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not change visibility.")
     } finally {
       setTogglingId(null)
     }
@@ -465,7 +465,7 @@ export default function SectionsView() {
       setDeleteTarget(null)
       await loadSections()
     } catch (err) {
-      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Unable to delete taxonomy item")
+      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not delete section.")
     } finally {
       setIsSaving(false)
     }
@@ -526,7 +526,7 @@ export default function SectionsView() {
         <Search className="absolute left-3 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 w-4 h-4 text-muted-foreground pointer-events-none" />
         <input
           className="w-full pl-9 pr-4 py-2 rounded-lg border border-border bg-background text-sm placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-primary/40 focus:border-primary transition"
-          placeholder="Search sections, columns, or slugs..."
+          placeholder="Search sections, columns, or slugs"
           type="search"
           value={search}
           onChange={(event) => setSearch(event.target.value)}
@@ -728,7 +728,7 @@ export default function SectionsView() {
                     ))}
                   </select>
                   <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
-                    A subsection can sit under a section or under another subsection &mdash;
+                    A subsection can sit under a section or under another subsection:
                     Beer Reviews sits under Food, which sits under Arts &amp; Entertainment.
                     Anything already {MAX_DEPTH} levels deep is left out, since nothing can hang below it.
                   </span>
@@ -746,8 +746,8 @@ export default function SectionsView() {
                 />
                 <span className="text-xs text-muted-foreground">
                   One per line. Articles are matched on the exact category name, so add one
-                  here whenever the name on the articles differs from the name above &mdash;
-                  the Entertainment section holds articles filed under &ldquo;Arts &amp; Entertainment&rdquo;.
+                  here whenever the name on the articles differs from the name above. The
+                  Entertainment section holds articles filed under "Arts &amp; Entertainment".
                   Leave empty when they match.
                 </span>
               </label>
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/seoView.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/seoView.tsx
index fd86823..b1d1d43 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/seoView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/seoView.tsx
@@ -36,6 +36,15 @@ const EMPTY_SETTINGS: SeoSettings = {
   robots_url: "",
 }
 
+async function readErrorMessage(res: Response, fallback: string) {
+  try {
+    const body = await res.json() as { error?: string }
+    return body.error?.trim() || fallback
+  } catch {
+    return fallback
+  }
+}
+
 export default function SeoView() {
   const apiFetch = useApiFetch()
   const navigate = useNavigate()
@@ -56,10 +65,10 @@ export default function SeoView() {
     setAuditError(null)
     try {
       const res = await apiFetch("/v1/seo/audit")
-      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to load SEO audit (${res.status})`)
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not load SEO audit (${res.status})`))
       setAudit((await res.json()) as SeoAudit)
     } catch (err) {
-      setAuditError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load SEO audit")
+      setAuditError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not load SEO audit.")
     } finally {
       setAuditLoading(false)
     }
@@ -75,7 +84,7 @@ export default function SeoView() {
           apiFetch("/v1/seo/audit"),
           apiFetch("/v1/settings/seo"),
         ])
-        if (!auditRes.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to load SEO audit (${auditRes.status})`)
+        if (!auditRes.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(auditRes, `Could not load SEO audit (${auditRes.status})`))
         const auditBody = (await auditRes.json()) as SeoAudit
         if (settingsRes.ok) {
           const settingsBody = (await settingsRes.json()) as SeoSettings
@@ -86,7 +95,7 @@ export default function SeoView() {
         }
         if (!cancelled) setAudit(auditBody)
       } catch (err) {
-        if (!cancelled) setAuditError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load SEO audit")
+        if (!cancelled) setAuditError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not load SEO audit.")
       } finally {
         if (!cancelled) setAuditLoading(false)
       }
@@ -106,13 +115,13 @@ export default function SeoView() {
         headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
         body: JSON.stringify(settingsDraft),
       })
-      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to save SEO settings (${res.status})`)
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not save SEO settings (${res.status})`))
       const saved = (await res.json()) as SeoSettings
       setSettings(saved)
       setSettingsDraft(saved)
       setSettingsMessage("Saved")
     } catch (err) {
-      setSettingsMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to save SEO settings")
+      setSettingsMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not save SEO settings.")
     } finally {
       setSettingsSaving(false)
     }
@@ -130,7 +139,7 @@ export default function SeoView() {
       <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
         <div>
           <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold text-foreground">SEO</h1>
-          <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mt-0.5">Search engine optimization overview</p>
+          <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mt-0.5">Metadata issues on recent published articles</p>
         </div>
         <button
           type="button"
@@ -146,13 +155,13 @@ export default function SeoView() {
       {/* Stats row */}
       <div className="grid grid-cols-2 gap-4">
         <div className="rounded-xl border border-border bg-card p-4">
-          <p className="text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide">Issues Found</p>
+          <p className="text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide">Issues</p>
           <p className={`text-2xl font-bold mt-1 ${totalIssues > 0 ? "text-destructive" : "text-foreground"}`}>
             {auditLoading ? "—" : totalIssues.toLocaleString()}
           </p>
         </div>
         <div className="rounded-xl border border-border bg-card p-4">
-          <p className="text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide">Articles Audited</p>
+          <p className="text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide">Articles Checked</p>
           <p className="text-2xl font-bold text-foreground mt-1">
             {auditLoading ? "—" : publishedCount.toLocaleString()}
           </p>
@@ -237,11 +246,11 @@ export default function SeoView() {
       <div className="rounded-xl border border-border bg-card p-5 flex flex-col gap-4">
         <h2 className="text-base font-semibold text-foreground flex items-center gap-2">
           <Globe className="w-4 h-4" />
-          Default Social / Open Graph Settings
+          Social Defaults
         </h2>
         <div className="grid grid-cols-1 md:grid-cols-2 gap-4">
           <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-            <label className="text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide">Default OG Title</label>
+            <label className="text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide">Open Graph Title</label>
             <input
               className="w-full px-3 py-2 rounded-lg border border-border bg-background text-sm focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-primary/40 focus:border-primary transition disabled:opacity-60"
               value={settingsDraft.og_title}
@@ -250,7 +259,7 @@ export default function SeoView() {
             />
           </div>
           <div className="flex flex-col gap-1.5">
-            <label className="text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide">Default OG Description</label>
+            <label className="text-xs font-semibold text-muted-foreground uppercase tracking-wide">Open Graph Description</label>
             <input
               className="w-full px-3 py-2 rounded-lg border border-border bg-background text-sm focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-primary/40 focus:border-primary transition disabled:opacity-60"
               value={settingsDraft.og_description}
@@ -308,7 +317,7 @@ export default function SeoView() {
               disabled={settingsSaving || !settingsDirty}
               className="px-4 py-2 rounded-lg bg-primary text-primary-foreground text-sm font-medium hover:bg-primary/90 transition-colors disabled:opacity-60"
             >
-              Save Changes
+              Save changes
             </button>
           </div>
         )}
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/settingsPage.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/settingsPage.tsx
index 377e406..2eb5e2a 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/settingsPage.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/settingsPage.tsx
@@ -45,6 +45,15 @@ function Field({ label, children }: { label: string; children: React.ReactNode }
   )
 }
 
+async function readErrorMessage(res: Response, fallback: string) {
+  try {
+    const body = await res.json() as { error?: string }
+    return body.error?.trim() || fallback
+  } catch {
+    return fallback
+  }
+}
+
 export default function SettingsPage() {
   const { user, logout } = useSessionAuth()
   const { isAdmin } = useCurrentUserRole()
@@ -82,7 +91,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
     async function loadSiteSettings() {
       try {
         const res = await apiFetch("/v1/settings/site")
-        if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to load site settings (${res.status})`)
+        if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not load site settings (${res.status})`))
         const body = (await res.json()) as { site_title?: string }
         const title = String(body.site_title ?? "").trim()
         if (!cancelled) {
@@ -91,7 +100,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
         }
       } catch (err) {
         if (!cancelled) {
-          setSiteTitleMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load site settings")
+          setSiteTitleMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not load site settings.")
         }
       }
     }
@@ -106,7 +115,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
     async function loadBreakingNews() {
       try {
         const res = await apiFetch("/v1/settings/breaking-news")
-        if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to load breaking-news settings (${res.status})`)
+        if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not load breaking news settings (${res.status})`))
         const body = (await res.json()) as { enabled?: boolean; text?: string }
         const enabled = Boolean(body.enabled)
         const text = String(body.text ?? "")
@@ -117,7 +126,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
         }
       } catch (err) {
         if (!cancelled) {
-          setBreakingMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load breaking-news settings")
+          setBreakingMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not load breaking news settings.")
         }
       }
     }
@@ -132,7 +141,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
     async function loadHomepageCarousel() {
       try {
         const res = await apiFetch("/v1/settings/homepage-carousel")
-        if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to load homepage carousel settings (${res.status})`)
+        if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not load homepage carousel settings (${res.status})`))
         const body = (await res.json()) as { slides?: CarouselSlide[] }
         const slides = Array.isArray(body.slides) ? body.slides : []
         if (!cancelled) {
@@ -141,7 +150,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
         }
       } catch (err) {
         if (!cancelled) {
-          setCarouselMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load homepage carousel settings")
+          setCarouselMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not load homepage carousel settings.")
         }
       }
     }
@@ -166,7 +175,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
         headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
         body: JSON.stringify({ enabled: breakingEnabled, text }),
       })
-      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to save breaking-news settings (${res.status})`)
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not save breaking news settings (${res.status})`))
       const body = (await res.json()) as { enabled?: boolean; text?: string }
       const savedEnabled = Boolean(body.enabled)
       const savedText = String(body.text ?? "")
@@ -175,7 +184,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
       setBreakingSaved({ enabled: savedEnabled, text: savedText })
       setBreakingMessage("Saved")
     } catch (err) {
-      setBreakingMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to save breaking-news settings")
+      setBreakingMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not save breaking news settings.")
     } finally {
       setBreakingSaving(false)
     }
@@ -196,12 +205,12 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
         headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
         body: JSON.stringify({ site_title: nextTitle }),
       })
-      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to save site settings (${res.status})`)
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not save site settings (${res.status})`))
       setSiteTitle(nextTitle)
       setSiteTitleDraft(nextTitle)
       setSiteTitleMessage("Saved")
     } catch (err) {
-      setSiteTitleMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to save site settings")
+      setSiteTitleMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not save site settings.")
     } finally {
       setSiteTitleSaving(false)
     }
@@ -254,14 +263,14 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
         headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
         body: JSON.stringify({ slides }),
       })
-      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to save homepage carousel settings (${res.status})`)
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not save homepage carousel settings (${res.status})`))
       const body = (await res.json()) as { slides?: CarouselSlide[] }
       const savedSlides = Array.isArray(body.slides) ? body.slides : []
       setCarouselSlides(savedSlides)
       setCarouselSaved(savedSlides)
       setCarouselMessage("Saved")
     } catch (err) {
-      setCarouselMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to save homepage carousel settings")
+      setCarouselMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not save homepage carousel settings.")
     } finally {
       setCarouselSaving(false)
     }
@@ -274,10 +283,10 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
       const res = await apiFetch("/v1/settings/taxonomy/rebuild", {
         method: "POST",
       })
-      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to rebuild taxonomy counts (${res.status})`)
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not rebuild taxonomy counts (${res.status})`))
       setTaxonomyRebuildMessage("Taxonomy article counts rebuilt.")
     } catch (err) {
-      setTaxonomyRebuildMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to rebuild taxonomy counts")
+      setTaxonomyRebuildMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not rebuild taxonomy counts.")
     } finally {
       setTaxonomyRebuildRunning(false)
     }
@@ -294,7 +303,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
     try {
       for (;;) {
         const res = await apiFetch("/v1/media/index")
-        if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Failed to read index status (${res.status})`)
+        if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not read index status (${res.status})`))
         const status = (await res.json()) as IndexStatus
         const p = status.progress
 
@@ -313,7 +322,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
         await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 2000))
       }
     } catch (err) {
-      setMediaIndexMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to read index status")
+      setMediaIndexMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not read index status.")
     } finally {
       mediaPollActive.current = false
       setMediaIndexRunning(false)
@@ -347,11 +356,11 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
       const res = await apiFetch("/v1/media/index", { method: "POST" })
       // 409 means one is already running — join its progress rather than error.
       if (!res.ok && res.status !== 409) {
-        throw new Error(`Failed to start reindex (${res.status})`)
+        throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not start media reindex (${res.status})`))
       }
       await followMediaIndex()
     } catch (err) {
-      setMediaIndexMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to start reindex")
+      setMediaIndexMessage(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not start media reindex.")
     }
   }
 
@@ -364,7 +373,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
       <div className="flex items-center justify-between">
         <div>
           <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold text-foreground">Settings</h1>
-          <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mt-0.5">Your account information</p>
+          <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mt-0.5">Account and site controls</p>
         </div>
         <button
           type="button"
@@ -431,7 +440,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
             disabled={siteTitleSaving || siteTitleDraft.trim() === "" || siteTitleDraft.trim() === siteTitle}
             className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 rounded-lg bg-primary text-primary-foreground text-sm font-medium hover:bg-primary/90 disabled:opacity-60"
           >
-            Save Site Title
+            Save site title
           </button>
           {siteTitleMessage && <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{siteTitleMessage}</span>}
         </div>
@@ -442,7 +451,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
         storageKey="carousel"
         dirty={carouselDirty}
         summary={`${carouselSlides.length} slide${carouselSlides.length === 1 ? "" : "s"}`}
-        description="Slides shown in Scalene's Splide carousel on the public homepage."
+        description="Slides shown in the public homepage carousel."
       >
         <div className="flex justify-end">
           <button
@@ -451,7 +460,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
             className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-3 py-2 rounded-lg border border-border text-sm text-foreground hover:bg-muted/40"
           >
             <Plus className="w-4 h-4" />
-            Add Slide
+            Add slide
           </button>
         </div>
 
@@ -609,14 +618,14 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
             disabled={carouselSaving || !carouselDirty}
             className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 rounded-lg bg-primary text-primary-foreground text-sm font-medium hover:bg-primary/90 disabled:opacity-60"
           >
-            Save Carousel
+            Save carousel
           </button>
           {carouselMessage && <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{carouselMessage}</span>}
         </div>
       </SettingsSection>
 
       <SettingsSection
-        title="Breaking News Banner"
+        title="Breaking News"
         storageKey="breaking-news"
         dirty={breakingDirty}
         summary={breakingEnabled ? "Enabled" : "Off"}
@@ -651,7 +660,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
             }
             className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 rounded-lg bg-primary text-primary-foreground text-sm font-medium hover:bg-primary/90 disabled:opacity-60"
           >
-            Save Banner
+            Save banner
           </button>
           {breakingMessage && <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{breakingMessage}</span>}
         </div>
@@ -672,7 +681,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
             disabled={taxonomyRebuildRunning}
             className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 rounded-lg bg-primary text-primary-foreground text-sm font-medium hover:bg-primary/90 disabled:opacity-60"
           >
-            Rebuild Taxonomy Counts
+            Rebuild counts
           </button>
           {taxonomyRebuildMessage && <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{taxonomyRebuildMessage}</span>}
         </div>
@@ -682,8 +691,8 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
         <SettingsSection
           title="Media Library"
           storageKey="media-library"
-          summary={mediaIndexRunning ? "Reindexing…" : undefined}
-          description="Scan the media filesystem for files missing from the library. This walks every asset on the media server and takes several minutes; existing entries are left untouched."
+          summary={mediaIndexRunning ? "Reindexing..." : undefined}
+          description="Scan the media server for files missing from the library. This can take several minutes; existing entries are left untouched."
         >
           <div className="flex items-center gap-3">
             <button
@@ -693,7 +702,7 @@ export default function SettingsPage() {
               className="inline-flex items-center gap-2 px-4 py-2 rounded-lg bg-primary text-primary-foreground text-sm font-medium hover:bg-primary/90 disabled:opacity-60"
             >
               <RefreshCw className={`w-4 h-4 ${mediaIndexRunning ? "animate-spin" : ""}`} aria-hidden="true" />
-              {mediaIndexRunning ? "Reindexing…" : "Reindex Media"}
+              {mediaIndexRunning ? "Reindexing..." : "Reindex media"}
             </button>
             {mediaIndexMessage && <span className="text-sm text-muted-foreground">{mediaIndexMessage}</span>}
           </div>
diff --git a/frontend/src/pages/usersView.tsx b/frontend/src/pages/usersView.tsx
index 2cd88e2..9372166 100644
--- a/frontend/src/pages/usersView.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/pages/usersView.tsx
@@ -27,6 +27,15 @@ function initials(name: string) {
   return name.split(" ").map((n) => n[0]).join("").slice(0, 2).toUpperCase()
 }
 
+async function readErrorMessage(response: Response, fallback: string) {
+  try {
+    const body = await response.json() as { error?: string }
+    return body.error?.trim() || fallback
+  } catch {
+    return fallback
+  }
+}
+
 const AVATAR_COLORS = [
   "bg-blue-500", "bg-violet-500", "bg-green-500", "bg-orange-500",
   "bg-rose-500", "bg-teal-500", "bg-indigo-500", "bg-amber-500",
@@ -46,13 +55,13 @@ export default function UsersView() {
     setIsLoading(true)
     apiFetch("/v1/users")
       .then((r) => {
-        if (!r.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed (${r.status})`)
+        if (!r.ok) throw new Error(`Could not load users (${r.status})`)
         return r.json() as Promise<CmsUser[]>
       })
       .then((data) => {
         setUsers(data)
       })
-      .catch((err) => setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load users"))
+      .catch((err) => setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not load users."))
       .finally(() => setIsLoading(false))
   }, [apiFetch])
 
@@ -70,10 +79,10 @@ export default function UsersView() {
         headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
         body: JSON.stringify({ role }),
       })
-      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed (${res.status})`)
+      if (!res.ok) throw new Error(await readErrorMessage(res, `Could not update role (${res.status})`))
       setUsers((prev) => prev.map((u) => (u.id === userId ? { ...u, role } : u)))
     } catch (err) {
-      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to update role")
+      setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not update role.")
     } finally {
       setSavingUserId(null)
     }
@@ -85,7 +94,7 @@ export default function UsersView() {
         <div>
           <h1 className="text-2xl font-bold text-foreground">Users</h1>
           <p className="text-sm text-muted-foreground mt-0.5">
-            {isLoading ? "Loading…" : `${users.length} users total`}
+            {isLoading ? "Loading..." : `${users.length} users total`}
           </p>
         </div>
         {error ? <p className="text-sm text-destructive">{error}</p> : null}
@@ -96,7 +105,7 @@ export default function UsersView() {
           <Search className="absolute left-3 top-1/2 -translate-y-1/2 w-4 h-4 text-muted-foreground pointer-events-none" />
           <input
             className="w-full pl-9 pr-4 py-2 rounded-lg border border-border bg-background text-sm placeholder:text-muted-foreground focus:outline-none focus:ring-2 focus:ring-primary/40 focus:border-primary transition"
-            placeholder="Search users..."
+            placeholder="Search users"
             value={search}
             onChange={(e) => setSearch(e.target.value)}
           />
diff --git a/frontend/src/seo/useYoastAnalysis.ts b/frontend/src/seo/useYoastAnalysis.ts
index 775afd6..743eaef 100644
--- a/frontend/src/seo/useYoastAnalysis.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/seo/useYoastAnalysis.ts
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ export function useYoastAnalysis(input: YoastInput): YoastAnalysis {
       })
       .catch((err: unknown) => {
         if (!cancelled) {
-          setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Failed to load SEO analysis.")
+          setError(err instanceof Error ? err.message : "Could not load SEO analysis.")
         }
       })
 
diff --git a/server/docs/docs.go b/server/docs/docs.go
index 03fe965..b10c0b8 100644
--- a/server/docs/docs.go
+++ b/server/docs/docs.go
@@ -5952,6 +5952,13 @@ const docTemplate = `{
                 },
                 "subsection": {
                     "$ref": "#/definitions/models.TaxonomySummary"
+                },
+                "subsections": {
+                    "description": "Subsections are this subsection's OWN visible children, so a middle row\nlike Food gets the same link strip a section page has. Empty for a leaf,\nwhich is most of them.",
+                    "type": "array",
+                    "items": {
+                        "$ref": "#/definitions/models.TaxonomySummary"
+                    }
                 }
             }
         },
diff --git a/server/docs/swagger.json b/server/docs/swagger.json
index 3b6903e..899d164 100644
--- a/server/docs/swagger.json
+++ b/server/docs/swagger.json
@@ -5949,6 +5949,13 @@
                 },
                 "subsection": {
                     "$ref": "#/definitions/models.TaxonomySummary"
+                },
+                "subsections": {
+                    "description": "Subsections are this subsection's OWN visible children, so a middle row\nlike Food gets the same link strip a section page has. Empty for a leaf,\nwhich is most of them.",
+                    "type": "array",
+                    "items": {
+                        "$ref": "#/definitions/models.TaxonomySummary"
+                    }
                 }
             }
         },
diff --git a/server/docs/swagger.yaml b/server/docs/swagger.yaml
index 2a8581d..4660bdc 100644
--- a/server/docs/swagger.yaml
+++ b/server/docs/swagger.yaml
@@ -1120,6 +1120,14 @@ definitions:
         $ref: '#/definitions/models.TaxonomySummary'
       subsection:
         $ref: '#/definitions/models.TaxonomySummary'
+      subsections:
+        description: |-
+          Subsections are this subsection's OWN visible children, so a middle row
+          like Food gets the same link strip a section page has. Empty for a leaf,
+          which is most of them.
+        items:
+          $ref: '#/definitions/models.TaxonomySummary'
+        type: array
     type: object
   models.TaxonomyInput:
     properties: