diff --git a/src/librustc_mir/borrow_check/diagnostics/conflict_errors.rs b/src/librustc_mir/borrow_check/diagnostics/conflict_errors.rs
index 27a8616939704..8f18fb4a30ed3 100644
--- a/src/librustc_mir/borrow_check/diagnostics/conflict_errors.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_mir/borrow_check/diagnostics/conflict_errors.rs
@@ -256,14 +256,8 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
             "report_move_out_while_borrowed: location={:?} place={:?} span={:?} borrow={:?}",
             location, place, span, borrow
         );
-        let value_msg = match self.describe_place(place.as_ref()) {
-            Some(name) => format!("`{}`", name),
-            None => "value".to_owned(),
-        };
-        let borrow_msg = match self.describe_place(borrow.borrowed_place.as_ref()) {
-            Some(name) => format!("`{}`", name),
-            None => "value".to_owned(),
-        };
+        let value_msg = self.describe_any_place(place.as_ref());
+        let borrow_msg = self.describe_any_place(borrow.borrowed_place.as_ref());
 
         let borrow_spans = self.retrieve_borrow_spans(borrow);
         let borrow_span = borrow_spans.args_or_use();
@@ -271,10 +265,8 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
         let move_spans = self.move_spans(place.as_ref(), location);
         let span = move_spans.args_or_use();
 
-        let mut err = self.cannot_move_when_borrowed(
-            span,
-            &self.describe_place(place.as_ref()).unwrap_or_else(|| "_".to_owned()),
-        );
+        let mut err =
+            self.cannot_move_when_borrowed(span, &self.describe_any_place(place.as_ref()));
         err.span_label(borrow_span, format!("borrow of {} occurs here", borrow_msg));
         err.span_label(span, format!("move out of {} occurs here", value_msg));
 
@@ -314,16 +306,15 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
 
         let mut err = self.cannot_use_when_mutably_borrowed(
             span,
-            &self.describe_place(place.as_ref()).unwrap_or_else(|| "_".to_owned()),
+            &self.describe_any_place(place.as_ref()),
             borrow_span,
-            &self.describe_place(borrow.borrowed_place.as_ref()).unwrap_or_else(|| "_".to_owned()),
+            &self.describe_any_place(borrow.borrowed_place.as_ref()),
         );
 
         borrow_spans.var_span_label(&mut err, {
             let place = &borrow.borrowed_place;
-            let desc_place = self.describe_place(place.as_ref()).unwrap_or_else(|| "_".to_owned());
-
-            format!("borrow occurs due to use of `{}`{}", desc_place, borrow_spans.describe())
+            let desc_place = self.describe_any_place(place.as_ref());
+            format!("borrow occurs due to use of {}{}", desc_place, borrow_spans.describe())
         });
 
         self.explain_why_borrow_contains_point(location, borrow, None)
@@ -433,7 +424,7 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
                     borrow_spans.var_span_label(
                         &mut err,
                         format!(
-                            "borrow occurs due to use of `{}`{}",
+                            "borrow occurs due to use of {}{}",
                             desc_place,
                             borrow_spans.describe(),
                         ),
@@ -511,16 +502,15 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
         if issued_spans == borrow_spans {
             borrow_spans.var_span_label(
                 &mut err,
-                format!("borrows occur due to use of `{}`{}", desc_place, borrow_spans.describe()),
+                format!("borrows occur due to use of {}{}", desc_place, borrow_spans.describe()),
             );
         } else {
             let borrow_place = &issued_borrow.borrowed_place;
-            let borrow_place_desc =
-                self.describe_place(borrow_place.as_ref()).unwrap_or_else(|| "_".to_owned());
+            let borrow_place_desc = self.describe_any_place(borrow_place.as_ref());
             issued_spans.var_span_label(
                 &mut err,
                 format!(
-                    "first borrow occurs due to use of `{}`{}",
+                    "first borrow occurs due to use of {}{}",
                     borrow_place_desc,
                     issued_spans.describe(),
                 ),
@@ -529,7 +519,7 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
             borrow_spans.var_span_label(
                 &mut err,
                 format!(
-                    "second borrow occurs due to use of `{}`{}",
+                    "second borrow occurs due to use of {}{}",
                     desc_place,
                     borrow_spans.describe(),
                 ),
@@ -538,7 +528,7 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
 
         if union_type_name != "" {
             err.note(&format!(
-                "`{}` is a field of the union `{}`, so it overlaps the field `{}`",
+                "{} is a field of the union `{}`, so it overlaps the field {}",
                 msg_place, union_type_name, msg_borrow,
             ));
         }
@@ -606,7 +596,6 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
             let ty = Place::ty_from(place_base, place_projection, *self.body, self.infcx.tcx).ty;
             ty.ty_adt_def().filter(|adt| adt.is_union()).map(|_| ty)
         };
-        let describe_place = |place| self.describe_place(place).unwrap_or_else(|| "_".to_owned());
 
         // Start with an empty tuple, so we can use the functions on `Option` to reduce some
         // code duplication (particularly around returning an empty description in the failure
@@ -645,30 +634,25 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
             .and_then(|(target_base, target_field)| {
                 // With the place of a union and a field access into it, we traverse the second
                 // borrowed place and look for a access to a different field of the same union.
-                let Place { local, projection } = second_borrowed_place;
+                let Place { local, ref projection } = *second_borrowed_place;
 
                 let mut cursor = &projection[..];
                 while let [proj_base @ .., elem] = cursor {
                     cursor = proj_base;
 
                     if let ProjectionElem::Field(field, _) = elem {
-                        if let Some(union_ty) = union_ty(*local, proj_base) {
+                        if let Some(union_ty) = union_ty(local, proj_base) {
                             if field != target_field
-                                && *local == target_base.local
+                                && local == target_base.local
                                 && proj_base == target_base.projection
                             {
-                                // FIXME when we avoid clone reuse describe_place closure
-                                let describe_base_place = self
-                                    .describe_place(PlaceRef {
-                                        local: *local,
-                                        projection: proj_base,
-                                    })
-                                    .unwrap_or_else(|| "_".to_owned());
-
                                 return Some((
-                                    describe_base_place,
-                                    describe_place(first_borrowed_place.as_ref()),
-                                    describe_place(second_borrowed_place.as_ref()),
+                                    self.describe_any_place(PlaceRef {
+                                        local,
+                                        projection: proj_base,
+                                    }),
+                                    self.describe_any_place(first_borrowed_place.as_ref()),
+                                    self.describe_any_place(second_borrowed_place.as_ref()),
                                     union_ty.to_string(),
                                 ));
                             }
@@ -681,7 +665,7 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
                 // If we didn't find a field access into a union, or both places match, then
                 // only return the description of the first place.
                 (
-                    describe_place(first_borrowed_place.as_ref()),
+                    self.describe_any_place(first_borrowed_place.as_ref()),
                     "".to_string(),
                     "".to_string(),
                     "".to_string(),
@@ -1404,12 +1388,13 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
         let loan_spans = self.retrieve_borrow_spans(loan);
         let loan_span = loan_spans.args_or_use();
 
+        let descr_place = self.describe_any_place(place.as_ref());
         if loan.kind == BorrowKind::Shallow {
             if let Some(section) = self.classify_immutable_section(&loan.assigned_place) {
                 let mut err = self.cannot_mutate_in_immutable_section(
                     span,
                     loan_span,
-                    &self.describe_place(place.as_ref()).unwrap_or_else(|| "_".to_owned()),
+                    &descr_place,
                     section,
                     "assign",
                 );
@@ -1424,11 +1409,7 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
             }
         }
 
-        let mut err = self.cannot_assign_to_borrowed(
-            span,
-            loan_span,
-            &self.describe_place(place.as_ref()).unwrap_or_else(|| "_".to_owned()),
-        );
+        let mut err = self.cannot_assign_to_borrowed(span, loan_span, &descr_place);
 
         loan_spans
             .var_span_label(&mut err, format!("borrow occurs due to use{}", loan_spans.describe()));
@@ -1482,15 +1463,11 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
             })
             | Some(LocalDecl { local_info: LocalInfo::StaticRef { .. }, .. })
             | Some(LocalDecl { local_info: LocalInfo::Other, .. })
-            | None => (self.describe_place(place.as_ref()), assigned_span),
-            Some(decl) => (self.describe_place(err_place.as_ref()), decl.source_info.span),
+            | None => (self.describe_any_place(place.as_ref()), assigned_span),
+            Some(decl) => (self.describe_any_place(err_place.as_ref()), decl.source_info.span),
         };
 
-        let mut err = self.cannot_reassign_immutable(
-            span,
-            place_description.as_ref().map(AsRef::as_ref).unwrap_or("_"),
-            from_arg,
-        );
+        let mut err = self.cannot_reassign_immutable(span, &place_description, from_arg);
         let msg = if from_arg {
             "cannot assign to immutable argument"
         } else {
@@ -1498,11 +1475,7 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
         };
         if span != assigned_span {
             if !from_arg {
-                let value_msg = match place_description {
-                    Some(name) => format!("`{}`", name),
-                    None => "value".to_owned(),
-                };
-                err.span_label(assigned_span, format!("first assignment to {}", value_msg));
+                err.span_label(assigned_span, format!("first assignment to {}", place_description));
             }
         }
         if let Some(decl) = local_decl {
diff --git a/src/librustc_mir/borrow_check/diagnostics/mod.rs b/src/librustc_mir/borrow_check/diagnostics/mod.rs
index 7110a4a3058a6..605093d8acad2 100644
--- a/src/librustc_mir/borrow_check/diagnostics/mod.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_mir/borrow_check/diagnostics/mod.rs
@@ -137,8 +137,23 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
         }
     }
 
-    /// End-user visible description of `place` if one can be found. If the
-    /// place is a temporary for instance, None will be returned.
+    /// End-user visible description of `place` if one can be found.
+    /// If the place is a temporary for instance, `"value"` will be returned.
+    pub(super) fn describe_any_place(&self, place_ref: PlaceRef<'tcx>) -> String {
+        match self.describe_place(place_ref) {
+            Some(mut descr) => {
+                // Surround descr with `backticks`.
+                descr.reserve(2);
+                descr.insert_str(0, "`");
+                descr.push_str("`");
+                descr
+            }
+            None => "value".to_string(),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// End-user visible description of `place` if one can be found.
+    /// If the place is a temporary for instance, None will be returned.
     pub(super) fn describe_place(&self, place_ref: PlaceRef<'tcx>) -> Option<String> {
         self.describe_place_with_options(place_ref, IncludingDowncast(false))
     }
diff --git a/src/librustc_mir/borrow_check/diagnostics/move_errors.rs b/src/librustc_mir/borrow_check/diagnostics/move_errors.rs
index 83bc9849cafe9..2cdc1ced0bbea 100644
--- a/src/librustc_mir/borrow_check/diagnostics/move_errors.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_mir/borrow_check/diagnostics/move_errors.rs
@@ -272,14 +272,14 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
         span: Span,
     ) -> DiagnosticBuilder<'a> {
         let description = if place.projection.len() == 1 {
-            format!("static item `{}`", self.describe_place(place.as_ref()).unwrap())
+            format!("static item {}", self.describe_any_place(place.as_ref()))
         } else {
             let base_static = PlaceRef { local: place.local, projection: &[ProjectionElem::Deref] };
 
             format!(
-                "`{:?}` as `{:?}` is a static item",
-                self.describe_place(place.as_ref()).unwrap(),
-                self.describe_place(base_static).unwrap(),
+                "{} as {} is a static item",
+                self.describe_any_place(place.as_ref()),
+                self.describe_any_place(base_static),
             )
         };
 
@@ -349,16 +349,14 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
                 let upvar_name = upvar.name;
                 let upvar_span = self.infcx.tcx.hir().span(upvar_hir_id);
 
-                let place_name = self.describe_place(move_place.as_ref()).unwrap();
+                let place_name = self.describe_any_place(move_place.as_ref());
 
-                let place_description = if self
-                    .is_upvar_field_projection(move_place.as_ref())
-                    .is_some()
-                {
-                    format!("`{}`, a {}", place_name, capture_description)
-                } else {
-                    format!("`{}`, as `{}` is a {}", place_name, upvar_name, capture_description,)
-                };
+                let place_description =
+                    if self.is_upvar_field_projection(move_place.as_ref()).is_some() {
+                        format!("{}, a {}", place_name, capture_description)
+                    } else {
+                        format!("{}, as `{}` is a {}", place_name, upvar_name, capture_description)
+                    };
 
                 debug!(
                     "report: closure_kind_ty={:?} closure_kind={:?} place_description={:?}",
diff --git a/src/librustc_mir/borrow_check/diagnostics/mutability_errors.rs b/src/librustc_mir/borrow_check/diagnostics/mutability_errors.rs
index ee654431d8892..f224041270dcc 100644
--- a/src/librustc_mir/borrow_check/diagnostics/mutability_errors.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_mir/borrow_check/diagnostics/mutability_errors.rs
@@ -169,9 +169,8 @@ impl<'a, 'tcx> MirBorrowckCtxt<'a, 'tcx> {
                 borrow_spans.var_span_label(
                     &mut err,
                     format!(
-                        "mutable borrow occurs due to use of `{}` in closure",
-                        // always Some() if the message is printed.
-                        self.describe_place(access_place.as_ref()).unwrap_or_default(),
+                        "mutable borrow occurs due to use of {} in closure",
+                        self.describe_any_place(access_place.as_ref()),
                     ),
                 );
                 borrow_span
diff --git a/src/librustc_mir/util/borrowck_errors.rs b/src/librustc_mir/util/borrowck_errors.rs
index d8ee059f1a6b6..6e6bbabd35b3c 100644
--- a/src/librustc_mir/util/borrowck_errors.rs
+++ b/src/librustc_mir/util/borrowck_errors.rs
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ use rustc_span::{MultiSpan, Span};
 
 impl<'cx, 'tcx> crate::borrow_check::MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
     crate fn cannot_move_when_borrowed(&self, span: Span, desc: &str) -> DiagnosticBuilder<'cx> {
-        struct_span_err!(self, span, E0505, "cannot move out of `{}` because it is borrowed", desc,)
+        struct_span_err!(self, span, E0505, "cannot move out of {} because it is borrowed", desc,)
     }
 
     crate fn cannot_use_when_mutably_borrowed(
@@ -18,12 +18,12 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> crate::borrow_check::MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
             self,
             span,
             E0503,
-            "cannot use `{}` because it was mutably borrowed",
+            "cannot use {} because it was mutably borrowed",
             desc,
         );
 
-        err.span_label(borrow_span, format!("borrow of `{}` occurs here", borrow_desc));
-        err.span_label(span, format!("use of borrowed `{}`", borrow_desc));
+        err.span_label(borrow_span, format!("borrow of {} occurs here", borrow_desc));
+        err.span_label(span, format!("use of borrowed {}", borrow_desc));
         err
     }
 
@@ -53,12 +53,12 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> crate::borrow_check::MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
         old_load_end_span: Option<Span>,
     ) -> DiagnosticBuilder<'cx> {
         let via =
-            |msg: &str| if msg.is_empty() { msg.to_string() } else { format!(" (via `{}`)", msg) };
+            |msg: &str| if msg.is_empty() { "".to_string() } else { format!(" (via {})", msg) };
         let mut err = struct_span_err!(
             self,
             new_loan_span,
             E0499,
-            "cannot borrow `{}`{} as mutable more than once at a time",
+            "cannot borrow {}{} as mutable more than once at a time",
             desc,
             via(opt_via),
         );
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> crate::borrow_check::MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
             self,
             new_loan_span,
             E0524,
-            "two closures require unique access to `{}` at the same time",
+            "two closures require unique access to {} at the same time",
             desc,
         );
         if old_loan_span == new_loan_span {
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> crate::borrow_check::MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
             self,
             new_loan_span,
             E0500,
-            "closure requires unique access to `{}` but {} is already borrowed{}",
+            "closure requires unique access to {} but {} is already borrowed{}",
             desc_new,
             noun_old,
             old_opt_via,
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> crate::borrow_check::MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
             self,
             new_loan_span,
             E0501,
-            "cannot borrow `{}`{} as {} because previous closure \
+            "cannot borrow {}{} as {} because previous closure \
              requires unique access",
             desc_new,
             opt_via,
@@ -201,13 +201,12 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> crate::borrow_check::MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
         old_load_end_span: Option<Span>,
     ) -> DiagnosticBuilder<'cx> {
         let via =
-            |msg: &str| if msg.is_empty() { msg.to_string() } else { format!(" (via `{}`)", msg) };
+            |msg: &str| if msg.is_empty() { "".to_string() } else { format!(" (via {})", msg) };
         let mut err = struct_span_err!(
             self,
             span,
             E0502,
-            "cannot borrow `{}`{} as {} because {} is also borrowed \
-             as {}{}",
+            "cannot borrow {}{} as {} because {} is also borrowed as {}{}",
             desc_new,
             via(msg_new),
             kind_new,
@@ -225,7 +224,7 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> crate::borrow_check::MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
             err.span_label(
                 span,
                 format!(
-                    "{} borrow of `{}` -- which overlaps with `{}` -- occurs here",
+                    "{} borrow of {} -- which overlaps with {} -- occurs here",
                     kind_new, msg_new, msg_old,
                 ),
             );
@@ -248,12 +247,12 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> crate::borrow_check::MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
             self,
             span,
             E0506,
-            "cannot assign to `{}` because it is borrowed",
+            "cannot assign to {} because it is borrowed",
             desc,
         );
 
-        err.span_label(borrow_span, format!("borrow of `{}` occurs here", desc));
-        err.span_label(span, format!("assignment to borrowed `{}` occurs here", desc));
+        err.span_label(borrow_span, format!("borrow of {} occurs here", desc));
+        err.span_label(span, format!("assignment to borrowed {} occurs here", desc));
         err
     }
 
@@ -264,7 +263,7 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> crate::borrow_check::MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
         is_arg: bool,
     ) -> DiagnosticBuilder<'cx> {
         let msg = if is_arg { "to immutable argument" } else { "twice to immutable variable" };
-        struct_span_err!(self, span, E0384, "cannot assign {} `{}`", msg, desc,)
+        struct_span_err!(self, span, E0384, "cannot assign {} {}", msg, desc)
     }
 
     crate fn cannot_assign(&self, span: Span, desc: &str) -> DiagnosticBuilder<'cx> {
@@ -362,7 +361,7 @@ impl<'cx, 'tcx> crate::borrow_check::MirBorrowckCtxt<'cx, 'tcx> {
             self,
             mutate_span,
             E0510,
-            "cannot {} `{}` in {}",
+            "cannot {} {} in {}",
             action,
             immutable_place,
             immutable_section,
diff --git a/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-at-and-box.rs b/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-at-and-box.rs
index 32c638bcbcca3..f1680e9e8884e 100644
--- a/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-at-and-box.rs
+++ b/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-at-and-box.rs
@@ -45,19 +45,19 @@ fn main() {
     *b = NC;
     let ref a @ box ref mut b = Box::new(NC);
     //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
-    //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
+    //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
     *b = NC;
     drop(a);
 
     let ref mut a @ box ref b = Box::new(NC);
     //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
-    //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
+    //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
     *a = Box::new(NC);
     drop(b);
 
     fn f5(ref mut a @ box ref b: Box<NC>) {
         //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
-        //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
+        //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
         *a = Box::new(NC);
         drop(b);
     }
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ fn main() {
     match Box::new(nc()) {
         ref mut a @ box ref b => {
             //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
-            //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
+            //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
             *a = Box::new(NC);
             drop(b);
         }
diff --git a/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-at-and-box.stderr b/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-at-and-box.stderr
index 5534d0a75e63d..5ce546f08bf6f 100644
--- a/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-at-and-box.stderr
+++ b/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-at-and-box.stderr
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ LL |         a @ box b => {}
    |         |       value used here after move
    |         value moved here
 
-error[E0502]: cannot borrow `_` as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
+error[E0502]: cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-at-and-box.rs:46:21
    |
 LL |     let ref a @ box ref mut b = Box::new(NC);
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ LL |     let ref a @ box ref mut b = Box::new(NC);
 LL |     drop(a);
    |          - immutable borrow later used here
 
-error[E0502]: cannot borrow `_` as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
+error[E0502]: cannot borrow value as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-at-and-box.rs:52:25
    |
 LL |     let ref mut a @ box ref b = Box::new(NC);
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ LL |     let ref mut a @ box ref b = Box::new(NC);
 LL |     *a = Box::new(NC);
    |     -- mutable borrow later used here
 
-error[E0502]: cannot borrow `_` as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
+error[E0502]: cannot borrow value as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-at-and-box.rs:66:25
    |
 LL |         ref mut a @ box ref b => {
@@ -155,7 +155,7 @@ LL |     fn f2(a @ box b: Box<C>) {}
    |           value moved here
    |           move occurs because value has type `std::boxed::Box<C>`, which does not implement the `Copy` trait
 
-error[E0502]: cannot borrow `_` as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
+error[E0502]: cannot borrow value as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-at-and-box.rs:58:27
    |
 LL |     fn f5(ref mut a @ box ref b: Box<NC>) {
diff --git a/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.rs b/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.rs
index 58d4a9b018cee..2b5e339c6396e 100644
--- a/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.rs
+++ b/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.rs
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ fn main() {
     match &mut Some(1) {
         ref mut z @ &mut Some(ref a) => {
         //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
-        //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
+        //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
             **z = None;
             println!("{}", *a);
         }
@@ -47,12 +47,12 @@ fn main() {
 
     let ref mut a @ ref b = u();
     //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
-    //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
+    //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
     *a = u();
     drop(b);
     let ref a @ ref mut b = u();
     //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
-    //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
+    //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
     *b = u();
     drop(a);
 
@@ -78,8 +78,8 @@ fn main() {
         ref a @ Ok(ref mut b) | ref a @ Err(ref mut b) => {
             //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
             //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
-            //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
-            //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
+            //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
+            //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
             *b = U;
             drop(a);
         }
@@ -123,15 +123,15 @@ fn main() {
 
     let ref a @ (ref mut b, ref mut c) = (U, U);
     //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
-    //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
-    //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
+    //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
+    //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
     *b = U;
     drop(a);
 
     let ref a @ (ref mut b, ref mut c) = (U, U);
     //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
-    *b = U; //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
-    *c = U; //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
+    *b = U; //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
+    *c = U; //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
     drop(a);
     let ref mut a @ (ref b, ref c) = (U, U);
     //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
diff --git a/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.stderr b/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.stderr
index 8c6ca888e0762..b161054414a30 100644
--- a/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.stderr
+++ b/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.stderr
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ LL |     fn f4_also_moved(ref a @ ref mut b @ c: U) {}
    |                              |           value moved into `c` here
    |                              value borrowed, by `b`, here
 
-error[E0502]: cannot borrow `_` as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
+error[E0502]: cannot borrow value as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.rs:11:31
    |
 LL |         ref mut z @ &mut Some(ref a) => {
@@ -306,7 +306,7 @@ LL |         ref mut z @ &mut Some(ref a) => {
 LL |             **z = None;
    |             ---------- mutable borrow later used here
 
-error[E0502]: cannot borrow `_` as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
+error[E0502]: cannot borrow value as immutable because it is also borrowed as mutable
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.rs:48:21
    |
 LL |     let ref mut a @ ref b = u();
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ LL |     let ref mut a @ ref b = u();
 LL |     *a = u();
    |     -------- mutable borrow later used here
 
-error[E0502]: cannot borrow `_` as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
+error[E0502]: cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.rs:53:17
    |
 LL |     let ref a @ ref mut b = u();
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ LL |     let ref a @ ref mut b = u();
 LL |     drop(a);
    |          - immutable borrow later used here
 
-error[E0502]: cannot borrow `_` as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
+error[E0502]: cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.rs:78:20
    |
 LL |         ref a @ Ok(ref mut b) | ref a @ Err(ref mut b) => {
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ LL |         ref a @ Ok(ref mut b) | ref a @ Err(ref mut b) => {
 LL |             drop(a);
    |                  - immutable borrow later used here
 
-error[E0502]: cannot borrow `_` as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
+error[E0502]: cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.rs:78:45
    |
 LL |         ref a @ Ok(ref mut b) | ref a @ Err(ref mut b) => {
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ LL |         ref mut a @ Ok(ref b) | ref mut a @ Err(ref b) if { drop(a); false
    |
    = note: variables bound in patterns cannot be moved from until after the end of the pattern guard
 
-error[E0502]: cannot borrow `_` as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
+error[E0502]: cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.rs:124:18
    |
 LL |     let ref a @ (ref mut b, ref mut c) = (U, U);
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ LL |     let ref a @ (ref mut b, ref mut c) = (U, U);
 LL |     drop(a);
    |          - immutable borrow later used here
 
-error[E0502]: cannot borrow `_` as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
+error[E0502]: cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.rs:124:29
    |
 LL |     let ref a @ (ref mut b, ref mut c) = (U, U);
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ LL |     let ref a @ (ref mut b, ref mut c) = (U, U);
 LL |     drop(a);
    |          - immutable borrow later used here
 
-error[E0502]: cannot borrow `_` as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
+error[E0502]: cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.rs:131:18
    |
 LL |     let ref a @ (ref mut b, ref mut c) = (U, U);
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ LL |     let ref a @ (ref mut b, ref mut c) = (U, U);
 LL |     drop(a);
    |          - immutable borrow later used here
 
-error[E0502]: cannot borrow `_` as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
+error[E0502]: cannot borrow value as mutable because it is also borrowed as immutable
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-and-ref.rs:131:29
    |
 LL |     let ref a @ (ref mut b, ref mut c) = (U, U);
diff --git a/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-twice.rs b/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-twice.rs
index f5c39a7ac5276..a208d0087ff53 100644
--- a/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-twice.rs
+++ b/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-twice.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ fn main() {
 
     let ref mut a @ ref mut b = U;
     //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
-    //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as mutable more than once at a time
+    //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
     drop(a);
     let ref mut a @ ref mut b = U;
     //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ fn main() {
 
     let ref mut a @ ref mut b = U;
     //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
-    //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as mutable more than once at a time
+    //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
     *a = U;
     let ref mut a @ ref mut b = U;
     //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
@@ -95,11 +95,11 @@ fn main() {
         ref mut a @ Ok(ref mut b) | ref mut a @ Err(ref mut b) => {
             //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
             //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
-            //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as mutable more than once at a time
-            //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as mutable more than once at a time
+            //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
+            //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
             *a = Err(U);
 
-            // FIXME: The binding name `_` used above makes for problematic diagnostics.
+            // FIXME: The binding name value used above makes for problematic diagnostics.
             // Resolve that somehow...
         }
     }
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ fn main() {
         ref mut a @ Ok(ref mut b) | ref mut a @ Err(ref mut b) => {
             //~^ ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
             //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
-            //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as mutable more than once at a time
-            //~| ERROR cannot borrow `_` as mutable more than once at a time
+            //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
+            //~| ERROR cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
             drop(a);
         }
     }
diff --git a/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-twice.stderr b/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-twice.stderr
index e74f227b5e48c..ae7c8f38e1eb4 100644
--- a/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-twice.stderr
+++ b/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-twice.stderr
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ LL |     fn f4_also_moved(ref mut a @ ref mut b @ c: U) {}
    |                                  |           value moved into `c` here
    |                                  value borrowed, by `b`, here
 
-error[E0499]: cannot borrow `_` as mutable more than once at a time
+error[E0499]: cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-twice.rs:28:21
    |
 LL |     let ref mut a @ ref mut b = U;
@@ -270,7 +270,7 @@ LL |     let ref mut a @ ref mut b = U;
 LL |     drop(a);
    |          - first borrow later used here
 
-error[E0499]: cannot borrow `_` as mutable more than once at a time
+error[E0499]: cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-twice.rs:38:21
    |
 LL |     let ref mut a @ ref mut b = U;
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ LL |     let a @ &mut (ref mut b, ref mut c) = &mut (U, U);
    |         |                    value borrowed here after move
    |         value moved here
 
-error[E0499]: cannot borrow `_` as mutable more than once at a time
+error[E0499]: cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-twice.rs:95:24
    |
 LL |         ref mut a @ Ok(ref mut b) | ref mut a @ Err(ref mut b) => {
@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ LL |         ref mut a @ Ok(ref mut b) | ref mut a @ Err(ref mut b) => {
 LL |             *a = Err(U);
    |             ----------- first borrow later used here
 
-error[E0499]: cannot borrow `_` as mutable more than once at a time
+error[E0499]: cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-twice.rs:95:53
    |
 LL |         ref mut a @ Ok(ref mut b) | ref mut a @ Err(ref mut b) => {
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ LL |         ref mut a @ Ok(ref mut b) | ref mut a @ Err(ref mut b) => {
 LL |             *a = Err(U);
    |             ----------- first borrow later used here
 
-error[E0499]: cannot borrow `_` as mutable more than once at a time
+error[E0499]: cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-twice.rs:107:24
    |
 LL |         ref mut a @ Ok(ref mut b) | ref mut a @ Err(ref mut b) => {
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ LL |         ref mut a @ Ok(ref mut b) | ref mut a @ Err(ref mut b) => {
 LL |             drop(a);
    |                  - first borrow later used here
 
-error[E0499]: cannot borrow `_` as mutable more than once at a time
+error[E0499]: cannot borrow value as mutable more than once at a time
   --> $DIR/borrowck-pat-ref-mut-twice.rs:107:53
    |
 LL |         ref mut a @ Ok(ref mut b) | ref mut a @ Err(ref mut b) => {
diff --git a/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/default-binding-modes-both-sides-independent.rs b/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/default-binding-modes-both-sides-independent.rs
index b40c3e3358aa3..a45497229ac9e 100644
--- a/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/default-binding-modes-both-sides-independent.rs
+++ b/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/default-binding-modes-both-sides-independent.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ fn main() {
     let _a: &NotCopy = a;
     let _b: NotCopy = b;
     let ref mut a @ b = NotCopy; //~ ERROR cannot move out of value because it is borrowed
-    //~^ ERROR cannot move out of `_` because it is borrowed
+    //~^ ERROR cannot move out of value because it is borrowed
     let _a: &NotCopy = a;
     let _b: NotCopy = b;
     match Ok(NotCopy) {
diff --git a/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/default-binding-modes-both-sides-independent.stderr b/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/default-binding-modes-both-sides-independent.stderr
index 19e815a1ae8ad..141d667c7460c 100644
--- a/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/default-binding-modes-both-sides-independent.stderr
+++ b/src/test/ui/pattern/bindings-after-at/default-binding-modes-both-sides-independent.stderr
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ LL |         ref a @ b => {
    |         |       value moved into `b` here
    |         value borrowed, by `a`, here
 
-error[E0505]: cannot move out of `_` because it is borrowed
+error[E0505]: cannot move out of value because it is borrowed
   --> $DIR/default-binding-modes-both-sides-independent.rs:31:21
    |
 LL |     let ref mut a @ b = NotCopy;