diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index b16dae0d0..95e0511ed 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -2925,6 +2925,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "codespan-reporting",
  "comemo",
  "dirs",
+ "ecow",
  "env_proxy",
  "flate2",
  "inferno",
diff --git a/crates/typst-cli/Cargo.toml b/crates/typst-cli/Cargo.toml
index 4b1676513..d24183073 100644
--- a/crates/typst-cli/Cargo.toml
+++ b/crates/typst-cli/Cargo.toml
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ chrono = { version = "0.4.24", default-features = false, features = ["clock", "s
 clap = { version = "4.2.4", features = ["derive", "env"] }
 codespan-reporting = "0.11"
 comemo = "0.3"
+ecow = "0.1.1"
 dirs = "5"
 flate2 = "1"
 inferno = "0.11.15"
diff --git a/crates/typst-cli/src/compile.rs b/crates/typst-cli/src/compile.rs
index c4800171c..8cec89536 100644
--- a/crates/typst-cli/src/compile.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-cli/src/compile.rs
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ pub fn compile_once(
             }
 
             print_diagnostics(world, &[], &warnings, command.common.diagnostic_format)
-                .map_err(|_| "failed to print diagnostics")?;
+                .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to print diagnostics ({err})"))?;
 
             if let Some(open) = command.open.take() {
                 open_file(open.as_deref(), &command.output())?;
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ pub fn compile_once(
                 &warnings,
                 command.common.diagnostic_format,
             )
-            .map_err(|_| "failed to print diagnostics")?;
+            .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to print diagnostics ({err})"))?;
         }
     }
 
@@ -135,7 +135,8 @@ fn export(document: &Document, command: &CompileCommand) -> StrResult<()> {
 fn export_pdf(document: &Document, command: &CompileCommand) -> StrResult<()> {
     let output = command.output();
     let buffer = typst::export::pdf(document);
-    fs::write(output, buffer).map_err(|_| "failed to write PDF file")?;
+    fs::write(output, buffer)
+        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to write PDF file ({err})"))?;
     Ok(())
 }
 
@@ -176,11 +177,14 @@ fn export_image(
             ImageExportFormat::Png => {
                 let pixmap =
                     typst::export::render(frame, command.ppi / 72.0, Color::WHITE);
-                pixmap.save_png(path).map_err(|_| "failed to write PNG file")?;
+                pixmap
+                    .save_png(path)
+                    .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to write PNG file ({err})"))?;
             }
             ImageExportFormat::Svg => {
                 let svg = typst::export::svg(frame);
-                fs::write(path, svg).map_err(|_| "failed to write SVG file")?;
+                fs::write(path, svg)
+                    .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to write SVG file ({err})"))?;
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/crates/typst-cli/src/main.rs b/crates/typst-cli/src/main.rs
index a6e60e5b8..c5cfd5145 100644
--- a/crates/typst-cli/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-cli/src/main.rs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ fn main() -> ExitCode {
     let _guard = match crate::tracing::setup_tracing(&ARGS) {
         Ok(guard) => guard,
         Err(err) => {
-            eprintln!("failed to initialize tracing {}", err);
+            eprintln!("failed to initialize tracing ({err})");
             None
         }
     };
diff --git a/crates/typst-cli/src/package.rs b/crates/typst-cli/src/package.rs
index bec865167..51a8e4bcb 100644
--- a/crates/typst-cli/src/package.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-cli/src/package.rs
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ use std::io::{self, Write};
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 
 use codespan_reporting::term::{self, termcolor};
+use ecow::eco_format;
 use termcolor::WriteColor;
 use typst::diag::{PackageError, PackageResult};
 use typst::syntax::PackageSpec;
@@ -50,18 +51,19 @@ fn download_package(spec: &PackageSpec, package_dir: &Path) -> PackageResult<()>
     );
 
     print_downloading(spec).unwrap();
+
     let data = match download_with_progress(&url) {
         Ok(data) => data,
         Err(ureq::Error::Status(404, _)) => {
             return Err(PackageError::NotFound(spec.clone()))
         }
-        Err(_) => return Err(PackageError::NetworkFailed),
+        Err(err) => return Err(PackageError::NetworkFailed(Some(eco_format!("{err}")))),
     };
 
     let decompressed = flate2::read::GzDecoder::new(data.as_slice());
-    tar::Archive::new(decompressed).unpack(package_dir).map_err(|_| {
+    tar::Archive::new(decompressed).unpack(package_dir).map_err(|err| {
         fs::remove_dir_all(package_dir).ok();
-        PackageError::MalformedArchive
+        PackageError::MalformedArchive(Some(eco_format!("{err}")))
     })
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/typst-cli/src/query.rs b/crates/typst-cli/src/query.rs
index 68cf33196..55f04fe80 100644
--- a/crates/typst-cli/src/query.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-cli/src/query.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ pub fn query(command: &QueryCommand) -> StrResult<()> {
             let serialized = format(data, command)?;
             println!("{serialized}");
             print_diagnostics(&world, &[], &warnings, command.common.diagnostic_format)
-                .map_err(|_| "failed to print diagnostics")?;
+                .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to print diagnostics ({err})"))?;
         }
 
         // Print diagnostics.
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ pub fn query(command: &QueryCommand) -> StrResult<()> {
                 &warnings,
                 command.common.diagnostic_format,
             )
-            .map_err(|_| "failed to print diagnostics")?;
+            .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to print diagnostics ({err})"))?;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/typst-cli/src/tracing.rs b/crates/typst-cli/src/tracing.rs
index 80c2ff651..c01efd6d0 100644
--- a/crates/typst-cli/src/tracing.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-cli/src/tracing.rs
@@ -128,10 +128,10 @@ impl TracingGuard {
 impl Drop for TracingGuard {
     fn drop(&mut self) {
         if !std::thread::panicking() {
-            if let Err(e) = self.finish() {
+            if let Err(err) = self.finish() {
                 // Since we are finished, we cannot rely on tracing to log the
                 // error.
-                eprintln!("failed to flush tracing flamegraph: {e}");
+                eprintln!("failed to flush tracing flamegraph ({err})");
             }
         }
     }
diff --git a/crates/typst-cli/src/update.rs b/crates/typst-cli/src/update.rs
index 562d7d2d2..95418d038 100644
--- a/crates/typst-cli/src/update.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-cli/src/update.rs
@@ -51,15 +51,15 @@ pub fn update(command: &UpdateCommand) -> StrResult<()> {
 
         return self_replace::self_replace(&backup_path)
             .and_then(|_| fs::remove_file(&backup_path))
-            .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to revert to backup: {err}"));
+            .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to revert to backup ({err})"));
     }
 
     let current_exe = env::current_exe().map_err(|err| {
-        eco_format!("failed to locate path of the running executable: {err}")
+        eco_format!("failed to locate path of the running executable ({err})")
     })?;
 
     fs::copy(current_exe, &backup_path)
-        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to create backup: {err}"))?;
+        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to create backup ({err})"))?;
 
     let release = Release::from_tag(command.version.as_ref())?;
     if !update_needed(&release)? && !command.force {
@@ -69,14 +69,14 @@ pub fn update(command: &UpdateCommand) -> StrResult<()> {
 
     let binary_data = release.download_binary(needed_asset()?)?;
     let mut temp_exe = NamedTempFile::new()
-        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to create temporary file: {err}"))?;
+        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to create temporary file ({err})"))?;
     temp_exe
         .write_all(&binary_data)
-        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to write binary data: {err}"))?;
+        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to write binary data ({err})"))?;
 
     self_replace::self_replace(&temp_exe).map_err(|err| {
         fs::remove_file(&temp_exe).ok();
-        eco_format!("failed to self-replace running executable: {err}")
+        eco_format!("failed to self-replace running executable ({err})")
     })
 }
 
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ impl Release {
             Err(ureq::Error::Status(404, _)) => {
                 bail!("release not found (searched at {url})")
             }
-            Err(_) => bail!("failed to download release (network failed)"),
+            Err(err) => bail!("failed to download release ({err})"),
         }
     }
 
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ impl Release {
             Err(ureq::Error::Status(404, _)) => {
                 bail!("asset not found (searched for {})", asset.name);
             }
-            Err(_) => bail!("failed to load asset (network failed)"),
+            Err(err) => bail!("failed to download asset ({err})"),
         };
 
         if asset_name.contains("windows") {
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ impl Release {
 /// Extract the Typst binary from a ZIP archive.
 fn extract_binary_from_zip(data: &[u8], asset_name: &str) -> StrResult<Vec<u8>> {
     let mut archive = ZipArchive::new(Cursor::new(data))
-        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to extract ZIP archive: {err}"))?;
+        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to extract ZIP archive ({err})"))?;
 
     let mut file = archive
         .by_name(&format!("{asset_name}/typst.exe"))
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ fn extract_binary_from_zip(data: &[u8], asset_name: &str) -> StrResult<Vec<u8>>
 
     let mut buffer = vec![];
     file.read_to_end(&mut buffer).map_err(|err| {
-        eco_format!("failed to read binary data from ZIP archive: {err}")
+        eco_format!("failed to read binary data from ZIP archive ({err})")
     })?;
 
     Ok(buffer)
@@ -172,14 +172,14 @@ fn extract_binary_from_tar_xz(data: &[u8]) -> StrResult<Vec<u8>> {
 
     let mut file = archive
         .entries()
-        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to extract tar.xz archive: {err}"))?
+        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to extract tar.xz archive ({err})"))?
         .filter_map(Result::ok)
         .find(|e| e.path().unwrap_or_default().ends_with("typst"))
         .ok_or("tar.xz archive did not contain Typst binary")?;
 
     let mut buffer = vec![];
     file.read_to_end(&mut buffer).map_err(|err| {
-        eco_format!("failed to read binary data from tar.xz archive: {err}")
+        eco_format!("failed to read binary data from tar.xz archive ({err})")
     })?;
 
     Ok(buffer)
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ fn backup_path() -> StrResult<PathBuf> {
     let backup_dir = root_backup_dir.join("typst");
 
     fs::create_dir_all(&backup_dir)
-        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to create backup directory: {err}"))?;
+        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to create backup directory ({err})"))?;
 
     Ok(backup_dir.join("typst_backup.part"))
 }
diff --git a/crates/typst-cli/src/watch.rs b/crates/typst-cli/src/watch.rs
index b320c6518..f53cb5fd8 100644
--- a/crates/typst-cli/src/watch.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-cli/src/watch.rs
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ pub fn watch(mut command: CompileCommand) -> StrResult<()> {
     // Setup file watching.
     let (tx, rx) = std::sync::mpsc::channel();
     let mut watcher = RecommendedWatcher::new(tx, notify::Config::default())
-        .map_err(|_| "failed to setup file watching")?;
+        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to setup file watching ({err})"))?;
 
     // Watch all the files that are used by the input file and its dependencies.
     watch_dependencies(&mut world, &mut watcher, HashSet::new())?;
@@ -41,7 +41,8 @@ pub fn watch(mut command: CompileCommand) -> StrResult<()> {
             .into_iter()
             .chain(std::iter::from_fn(|| rx.recv_timeout(timeout).ok()))
         {
-            let event = event.map_err(|_| "failed to watch directory")?;
+            let event =
+                event.map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to watch directory ({err})"))?;
 
             // Workaround for notify-rs' implicit unwatch on remove/rename
             // (triggered by some editors when saving files) with the inotify
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@ fn watch_dependencies(
             tracing::info!("Watching {}", path.display());
             watcher
                 .watch(path, RecursiveMode::NonRecursive)
-                .map_err(|_| eco_format!("failed to watch {path:?}"))?;
+                .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to watch {path:?} ({err})"))?;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/typst-library/src/compute/data.rs b/crates/typst-library/src/compute/data.rs
index 92c462e62..222b14d35 100644
--- a/crates/typst-library/src/compute/data.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-library/src/compute/data.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use typst::diag::{format_xml_like_error, FileError};
 use typst::eval::Bytes;
+use typst::syntax::is_newline;
 
 use crate::prelude::*;
 
@@ -197,15 +198,16 @@ cast! {
 }
 
 /// Format the user-facing CSV error message.
-fn format_csv_error(error: csv::Error, line: usize) -> EcoString {
-    match error.kind() {
+fn format_csv_error(err: csv::Error, line: usize) -> EcoString {
+    match err.kind() {
         csv::ErrorKind::Utf8 { .. } => "file is not valid utf-8".into(),
         csv::ErrorKind::UnequalLengths { expected_len, len, .. } => {
             eco_format!(
-                "failed to parse csv file: found {len} instead of {expected_len} fields in line {line}"
+                "failed to parse CSV (found {len} instead of \
+                 {expected_len} fields in line {line})"
             )
         }
-        _ => "failed to parse csv file".into(),
+        _ => eco_format!("failed to parse CSV ({err})"),
     }
 }
 
@@ -278,7 +280,7 @@ pub fn json_decode(
 ) -> SourceResult<Value> {
     let Spanned { v: data, span } = data;
     serde_json::from_slice(data.as_slice())
-        .map_err(format_json_error)
+        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to parse JSON ({err})"))
         .at(span)
 }
 
@@ -302,16 +304,10 @@ pub fn json_encode(
         serde_json::to_string(&value)
     }
     .map(|v| v.into())
-    .map_err(|e| eco_format!("failed to encode value as json: {e}"))
+    .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to encode value as JSON ({err})"))
     .at(span)
 }
 
-/// Format the user-facing JSON error message.
-fn format_json_error(error: serde_json::Error) -> EcoString {
-    assert!(error.is_syntax() || error.is_eof());
-    eco_format!("failed to parse json file: syntax error in line {}", error.line())
-}
-
 /// Reads structured data from a TOML file.
 ///
 /// The file must contain a valid TOML table. TOML tables will be converted into
@@ -366,7 +362,9 @@ pub fn toml_decode(
     let raw = std::str::from_utf8(data.as_slice())
         .map_err(|_| "file is not valid utf-8")
         .at(span)?;
-    toml::from_str(raw).map_err(format_toml_error).at(span)
+    toml::from_str(raw)
+        .map_err(|err| format_toml_error(err, raw))
+        .at(span)
 }
 
 /// Encodes structured data into a TOML string.
@@ -385,21 +383,21 @@ pub fn toml_encode(
     let Spanned { v: value, span } = value;
     if pretty { toml::to_string_pretty(&value) } else { toml::to_string(&value) }
         .map(|v| v.into())
-        .map_err(|e| eco_format!("failed to encode value as toml: {e}"))
+        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to encode value as TOML ({err})"))
         .at(span)
 }
 
 /// Format the user-facing TOML error message.
-fn format_toml_error(error: toml::de::Error) -> EcoString {
-    if let Some(range) = error.span() {
+fn format_toml_error(error: toml::de::Error, raw: &str) -> EcoString {
+    if let Some(head) = error.span().and_then(|range| raw.get(..range.start)) {
+        let line = head.lines().count();
+        let column = 1 + head.chars().rev().take_while(|&c| !is_newline(c)).count();
         eco_format!(
-            "failed to parse toml file: {}, index {}-{}",
+            "failed to parse TOML ({} at line {line} column {column})",
             error.message(),
-            range.start,
-            range.end
         )
     } else {
-        eco_format!("failed to parse toml file: {}", error.message())
+        eco_format!("failed to parse TOML ({})", error.message())
     }
 }
 
@@ -464,7 +462,7 @@ pub fn yaml_decode(
 ) -> SourceResult<Value> {
     let Spanned { v: data, span } = data;
     serde_yaml::from_slice(data.as_slice())
-        .map_err(format_yaml_error)
+        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to parse YAML ({err})"))
         .at(span)
 }
 
@@ -480,15 +478,10 @@ pub fn yaml_encode(
     let Spanned { v: value, span } = value;
     serde_yaml::to_string(&value)
         .map(|v| v.into())
-        .map_err(|e| eco_format!("failed to encode value as yaml: {e}"))
+        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to encode value as YAML ({err})"))
         .at(span)
 }
 
-/// Format the user-facing YAML error message.
-fn format_yaml_error(error: serde_yaml::Error) -> EcoString {
-    eco_format!("failed to parse yaml file: {}", error.to_string().trim())
-}
-
 /// Reads structured data from a CBOR file.
 ///
 /// The file must contain a valid cbor serialization. Mappings will be
@@ -529,7 +522,7 @@ pub fn cbor_decode(
 ) -> SourceResult<Value> {
     let Spanned { v: data, span } = data;
     ciborium::from_reader(data.as_slice())
-        .map_err(|e| eco_format!("failed to parse cbor: {e}"))
+        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to parse CBOR ({err})"))
         .at(span)
 }
 
@@ -546,7 +539,7 @@ pub fn cbor_encode(
     let mut res = Vec::new();
     ciborium::into_writer(&value, &mut res)
         .map(|_| res.into())
-        .map_err(|e| eco_format!("failed to encode value as cbor: {e}"))
+        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to encode value as CBOR ({err})"))
         .at(span)
 }
 
@@ -661,5 +654,5 @@ fn convert_xml(node: roxmltree::Node) -> Value {
 
 /// Format the user-facing XML error message.
 fn format_xml_error(error: roxmltree::Error) -> EcoString {
-    format_xml_like_error("xml file", error)
+    format_xml_like_error("XML", error)
 }
diff --git a/crates/typst-library/src/meta/bibliography.rs b/crates/typst-library/src/meta/bibliography.rs
index 164b1c11f..d871db232 100644
--- a/crates/typst-library/src/meta/bibliography.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-library/src/meta/bibliography.rs
@@ -650,8 +650,8 @@ fn parse_bib(path_str: &str, src: &str) -> StrResult<Vec<hayagriva::Entry>> {
 }
 
 /// Format a Hayagriva loading error.
-fn format_hayagriva_error(error: YamlBibliographyError) -> EcoString {
-    eco_format!("{error}")
+fn format_hayagriva_error(err: YamlBibliographyError) -> EcoString {
+    eco_format!("{err}")
 }
 
 /// Format a BibLaTeX loading error.
diff --git a/crates/typst-library/src/text/raw.rs b/crates/typst-library/src/text/raw.rs
index a9d404140..a5699afd9 100644
--- a/crates/typst-library/src/text/raw.rs
+++ b/crates/typst-library/src/text/raw.rs
@@ -485,10 +485,9 @@ fn load_syntaxes(paths: &SyntaxPaths, bytes: &[Bytes]) -> StrResult<Arc<SyntaxSe
     // We might have multiple sublime-syntax/yaml files
     for (path, bytes) in paths.0.iter().zip(bytes.iter()) {
         let src = std::str::from_utf8(bytes).map_err(FileError::from)?;
-        out.add(
-            SyntaxDefinition::load_from_str(src, false, None)
-                .map_err(|e| eco_format!("failed to parse syntax file `{path}`: {e}"))?,
-        );
+        out.add(SyntaxDefinition::load_from_str(src, false, None).map_err(|err| {
+            eco_format!("failed to parse syntax file `{path}` ({err})")
+        })?);
     }
 
     Ok(Arc::new(out.build()))
@@ -528,7 +527,7 @@ fn load_theme(path: EcoString, bytes: Bytes) -> StrResult<Arc<synt::Theme>> {
 
     synt::ThemeSet::load_from_reader(&mut cursor)
         .map(Arc::new)
-        .map_err(|e| eco_format!("failed to parse theme file `{path}`: {e}"))
+        .map_err(|err| eco_format!("failed to parse theme file `{path}` ({err})"))
 }
 
 /// Function to parse the theme argument.
diff --git a/crates/typst/src/diag.rs b/crates/typst/src/diag.rs
index 7c298ec03..a6379d65f 100644
--- a/crates/typst/src/diag.rs
+++ b/crates/typst/src/diag.rs
@@ -320,21 +320,23 @@ pub enum FileError {
     /// The package the file is part of could not be loaded.
     Package(PackageError),
     /// Another error.
-    Other,
+    ///
+    /// The optional string can give more details, if available.
+    Other(Option<EcoString>),
 }
 
 impl FileError {
     /// Create a file error from an I/O error.
-    pub fn from_io(error: io::Error, path: &Path) -> Self {
-        match error.kind() {
+    pub fn from_io(err: io::Error, path: &Path) -> Self {
+        match err.kind() {
             io::ErrorKind::NotFound => Self::NotFound(path.into()),
             io::ErrorKind::PermissionDenied => Self::AccessDenied,
             io::ErrorKind::InvalidData
-                if error.to_string().contains("stream did not contain valid UTF-8") =>
+                if err.to_string().contains("stream did not contain valid UTF-8") =>
             {
                 Self::InvalidUtf8
             }
-            _ => Self::Other,
+            _ => Self::Other(Some(eco_format!("{err}"))),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -352,7 +354,8 @@ impl Display for FileError {
             Self::NotSource => f.pad("not a typst source file"),
             Self::InvalidUtf8 => f.pad("file is not valid utf-8"),
             Self::Package(error) => error.fmt(f),
-            Self::Other => f.pad("failed to load file"),
+            Self::Other(Some(err)) => write!(f, "failed to load file ({err})"),
+            Self::Other(None) => f.pad("failed to load file"),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -370,14 +373,14 @@ impl From<FromUtf8Error> for FileError {
 }
 
 impl From<PackageError> for FileError {
-    fn from(error: PackageError) -> Self {
-        Self::Package(error)
+    fn from(err: PackageError) -> Self {
+        Self::Package(err)
     }
 }
 
 impl From<FileError> for EcoString {
-    fn from(error: FileError) -> Self {
-        eco_format!("{error}")
+    fn from(err: FileError) -> Self {
+        eco_format!("{err}")
     }
 }
 
@@ -385,16 +388,18 @@ impl From<FileError> for EcoString {
 pub type PackageResult<T> = Result<T, PackageError>;
 
 /// An error that occured while trying to load a package.
+///
+/// Some variants have an optional string can give more details, if available.
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Eq, PartialEq, Hash)]
 pub enum PackageError {
     /// The specified package does not exist.
     NotFound(PackageSpec),
     /// Failed to retrieve the package through the network.
-    NetworkFailed,
+    NetworkFailed(Option<EcoString>),
     /// The package archive was malformed.
-    MalformedArchive,
+    MalformedArchive(Option<EcoString>),
     /// Another error.
-    Other,
+    Other(Option<EcoString>),
 }
 
 impl std::error::Error for PackageError {}
@@ -405,16 +410,25 @@ impl Display for PackageError {
             Self::NotFound(spec) => {
                 write!(f, "package not found (searched for {spec})",)
             }
-            Self::NetworkFailed => f.pad("failed to load package (network failed)"),
-            Self::MalformedArchive => f.pad("failed to load package (archive malformed)"),
-            Self::Other => f.pad("failed to load package"),
+            Self::NetworkFailed(Some(err)) => {
+                write!(f, "failed to download package ({err})")
+            }
+            Self::NetworkFailed(None) => f.pad("failed to download package"),
+            Self::MalformedArchive(Some(err)) => {
+                write!(f, "failed to decompress package ({err})")
+            }
+            Self::MalformedArchive(None) => {
+                f.pad("failed to decompress package (archive malformed)")
+            }
+            Self::Other(Some(err)) => write!(f, "failed to load package ({err})"),
+            Self::Other(None) => f.pad("failed to load package"),
         }
     }
 }
 
 impl From<PackageError> for EcoString {
-    fn from(error: PackageError) -> Self {
-        eco_format!("{error}")
+    fn from(err: PackageError) -> Self {
+        eco_format!("{err}")
     }
 }
 
@@ -423,26 +437,26 @@ pub fn format_xml_like_error(format: &str, error: roxmltree::Error) -> EcoString
     match error {
         roxmltree::Error::UnexpectedCloseTag { expected, actual, pos } => {
             eco_format!(
-                "failed to parse {format}: found closing tag '{actual}' \
-                 instead of '{expected}' in line {}",
+                "failed to parse {format} (found closing tag '{actual}' \
+                 instead of '{expected}' in line {})",
                 pos.row
             )
         }
         roxmltree::Error::UnknownEntityReference(entity, pos) => {
             eco_format!(
-                "failed to parse {format}: unknown entity '{entity}' in line {}",
+                "failed to parse {format} (unknown entity '{entity}' in line {})",
                 pos.row
             )
         }
         roxmltree::Error::DuplicatedAttribute(attr, pos) => {
             eco_format!(
-                "failed to parse {format}: duplicate attribute '{attr}' in line {}",
+                "failed to parse {format}: (duplicate attribute '{attr}' in line {})",
                 pos.row
             )
         }
         roxmltree::Error::NoRootNode => {
-            eco_format!("failed to parse {format}: missing root node")
+            eco_format!("failed to parse {format} (missing root node)")
         }
-        _ => eco_format!("failed to parse {format}"),
+        err => eco_format!("failed to parse {format} ({err})"),
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/typst/src/eval/datetime.rs b/crates/typst/src/eval/datetime.rs
index 96127e9d4..ff2d76347 100644
--- a/crates/typst/src/eval/datetime.rs
+++ b/crates/typst/src/eval/datetime.rs
@@ -228,7 +228,10 @@ impl Debug for Datetime {
 fn format_time_format_error(error: Format) -> EcoString {
     match error {
         Format::InvalidComponent(name) => eco_format!("invalid component '{}'", name),
-        _ => "failed to format datetime in the requested format".into(),
+        Format::InsufficientTypeInformation { .. } => {
+            "failed to format datetime (insufficient information)".into()
+        }
+        err => eco_format!("failed to format datetime in the requested format ({err})"),
     }
 }
 
@@ -263,6 +266,6 @@ fn format_time_invalid_format_description_error(
         InvalidFormatDescription::NotSupported { context, what, index, .. } => {
             eco_format!("{} is not supported in {} at index {}", what, context, index)
         }
-        _ => "failed to parse datetime format".into(),
+        err => eco_format!("failed to parse datetime format ({err})"),
     }
 }
diff --git a/crates/typst/src/eval/plugin.rs b/crates/typst/src/eval/plugin.rs
index 82bb5b6ae..7dbc8b3ef 100644
--- a/crates/typst/src/eval/plugin.rs
+++ b/crates/typst/src/eval/plugin.rs
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ impl Plugin {
     pub fn new(bytes: Bytes) -> StrResult<Self> {
         let engine = Engine::default();
         let module = Module::new(&engine, bytes.as_slice())
-            .map_err(|err| format!("failed to load WebAssembly module: {err}"))?;
+            .map_err(|err| format!("failed to load WebAssembly module ({err})"))?;
 
         let mut linker = Linker::new(&engine);
         linker
diff --git a/crates/typst/src/image.rs b/crates/typst/src/image.rs
index 83d8f3a78..3c2cae880 100644
--- a/crates/typst/src/image.rs
+++ b/crates/typst/src/image.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ use std::rc::Rc;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use comemo::{Prehashed, Track, Tracked};
-use ecow::{EcoString, EcoVec};
+use ecow::{eco_format, EcoString, EcoVec};
 use image::codecs::gif::GifDecoder;
 use image::codecs::jpeg::JpegDecoder;
 use image::codecs::png::PngDecoder;
@@ -463,7 +463,7 @@ impl SvgFontLoader for PreparedLoader {
 fn format_image_error(error: image::ImageError) -> EcoString {
     match error {
         image::ImageError::Limits(_) => "file is too large".into(),
-        _ => "failed to decode image".into(),
+        err => eco_format!("failed to decode image ({err})"),
     }
 }
 
@@ -474,8 +474,8 @@ fn format_usvg_error(error: usvg::Error) -> EcoString {
         usvg::Error::MalformedGZip => "file is not compressed correctly".into(),
         usvg::Error::ElementsLimitReached => "file is too large".into(),
         usvg::Error::InvalidSize => {
-            "failed to parse svg: width, height, or viewbox is invalid".into()
+            "failed to parse SVG (width, height, or viewbox is invalid)".into()
         }
-        usvg::Error::ParsingFailed(error) => format_xml_like_error("svg", error),
+        usvg::Error::ParsingFailed(error) => format_xml_like_error("SVG", error),
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/typ/compute/construct.typ b/tests/typ/compute/construct.typ
index ea9d28161..80e0876a5 100644
--- a/tests/typ/compute/construct.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/compute/construct.typ
@@ -221,5 +221,5 @@
 #datetime.today().display("  []")
 
 ---
-// Error: 26-36 failed to format datetime in the requested format
+// Error: 26-36 failed to format datetime (insufficient information)
 #datetime.today().display("[hour]")
diff --git a/tests/typ/compute/data.typ b/tests/typ/compute/data.typ
index c613c479a..a8c79da15 100644
--- a/tests/typ/compute/data.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/compute/data.typ
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 #csv("nope.csv")
 
 ---
-// Error: 6-22 failed to parse csv file: found 3 instead of 2 fields in line 3
+// Error: 6-22 failed to parse CSV (found 3 instead of 2 fields in line 3)
 #csv("/files/bad.csv")
 
 ---
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 #test(data.at(2).weight, 150)
 
 ---
-// Error: 7-24 failed to parse json file: syntax error in line 3
+// Error: 7-24 failed to parse JSON (expected value at line 3 column 14)
 #json("/files/bad.json")
 
 ---
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@
 ))
 
 ---
-// Error: 7-24 failed to parse toml file: expected `.`, `=`, index 15-16
+// Error: 7-24 failed to parse TOML (expected `.`, `=` at line 1 column 16)
 #toml("/files/bad.toml")
 
 ---
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
 #test(data.at("1"), "ok")
 
 ---
-// Error: 7-24 failed to parse yaml file: while parsing a flow sequence, expected ',' or ']' at line 2 column 1
+// Error: 7-24 failed to parse YAML (while parsing a flow sequence, expected ',' or ']' at line 2 column 1)
 #yaml("/files/bad.yaml")
 
 ---
@@ -127,5 +127,5 @@
 ),))
 
 ---
-// Error: 6-22 failed to parse xml file: found closing tag 'data' instead of 'hello' in line 3
+// Error: 6-22 failed to parse XML (found closing tag 'data' instead of 'hello' in line 3)
 #xml("/files/bad.xml")
diff --git a/tests/typ/visualize/image.typ b/tests/typ/visualize/image.typ
index 60ce4f683..0e256eb86 100644
--- a/tests/typ/visualize/image.typ
+++ b/tests/typ/visualize/image.typ
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ A #box(image("/files/tiger.jpg", height: 1cm, width: 80%)) B
 #image("./image.typ")
 
 ---
-// Error: 2-25 failed to parse svg: found closing tag 'g' instead of 'style' in line 4
+// Error: 2-25 failed to parse SVG (found closing tag 'g' instead of 'style' in line 4)
 #image("/files/bad.svg")
 
 ---
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ A #box(image("/files/tiger.jpg", height: 1cm, width: 80%)) B
 #image.decode(`<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="140" width="500"><ellipse cx="200" cy="80" rx="100" ry="50" style="fill:yellow;stroke:purple;stroke-width:2" /></svg>`.text, format: "svg")
 
 ---
-// Error: 2-168 failed to parse svg: missing root node
+// Error: 2-168 failed to parse SVG (missing root node)
 #image.decode(`<svg height="140" width="500"><ellipse cx="200" cy="80" rx="100" ry="50" style="fill:yellow;stroke:purple;stroke-width:2" /></svg>`.text, format: "svg")
 
 ---
@@ -78,5 +78,5 @@ A #box(image("/files/tiger.jpg", height: 1cm, width: 80%)) B
 #image.decode(read("/files/tiger.jpg", encoding: none), format: "jpg", width: 80%)
 
 ---
-// Error: 2-83 failed to decode image
+// Error: 2-83 failed to decode image (Format error decoding Png: Invalid PNG signature.)
 #image.decode(read("/files/tiger.jpg", encoding: none), format: "png", width: 80%)