diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index e752736e0..221d799df 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ S3method("$",vctrs_list_of)
 S3method("$",vctrs_rcrd)
 S3method("$",vctrs_sclr)
 S3method("$",vctrs_vctr)
+S3method("$<-",vctrs_error_subscript_type)
 S3method("$<-",vctrs_list_of)
 S3method("$<-",vctrs_rcrd)
 S3method("$<-",vctrs_sclr)
@@ -34,6 +35,7 @@ S3method("[[",vctrs_list_of)
 S3method("[[",vctrs_rcrd)
 S3method("[[",vctrs_sclr)
 S3method("[[",vctrs_vctr)
+S3method("[[<-",vctrs_error_subscript_type)
 S3method("[[<-",vctrs_list_of)
 S3method("[[<-",vctrs_rcrd)
 S3method("[[<-",vctrs_sclr)
@@ -100,7 +102,6 @@ S3method(cnd_body,vctrs_error_names_cannot_be_dot_dot)
 S3method(cnd_body,vctrs_error_names_cannot_be_empty)
 S3method(cnd_body,vctrs_error_names_must_be_unique)
 S3method(cnd_body,vctrs_error_subscript_oob)
-S3method(cnd_body,vctrs_error_subscript_type)
 S3method(cnd_header,vctrs_error_cast_lossy)
 S3method(cnd_header,vctrs_error_incompatible_size)
 S3method(cnd_header,vctrs_error_matches_incomplete)
diff --git a/R/subscript-loc.R b/R/subscript-loc.R
index 3fabb24b3..417ac0578 100644
--- a/R/subscript-loc.R
+++ b/R/subscript-loc.R
@@ -199,25 +199,18 @@ vec_as_location2_result <- function(i,
     arg = arg,
     call = call
   )
-
   if (!is_null(result$err)) {
-    parent <- result$err
-    return(result(err = new_error_location2_type(
-      i = i,
-      subscript_arg = arg,
-      body = parent$body,
-      call = call
-    )))
+    return(result)
   }
 
   # Locations must be size 1, can't be NA, and must be positive
   i <- result$ok
 
   if (length(i) != 1L) {
-    return(result(err = new_error_location2_type(
+    return(result(err = new_chained_error_location2_type(
       i = i,
       subscript_arg = arg,
-      body = cnd_bullets_location2_need_scalar,
+      header = cnd_header_location2_need_scalar,
       call = call
     )))
   }
@@ -229,10 +222,10 @@ vec_as_location2_result <- function(i,
 
   if (is.na(i)) {
     if (!allow_missing && is.na(i)) {
-      result <- result(err = new_error_location2_type(
+      result <- result(err = new_chained_error_location2_type(
         i = i,
         subscript_arg = arg,
-        body = cnd_bullets_location2_need_present,
+        header = cnd_header_location2_need_present,
         call = call
       ))
     } else {
@@ -242,19 +235,19 @@ vec_as_location2_result <- function(i,
   }
 
   if (identical(i, 0L)) {
-    return(result(err = new_error_location2_type(
+    return(result(err = new_chained_error_location2_type(
       i = i,
       subscript_arg = arg,
-      body = cnd_bullets_location2_need_positive,
+      header = cnd_header_location2_need_positive,
       call = call
     )))
   }
 
   if (!allow_negative && neg) {
-    return(result(err = new_error_location2_type(
+    return(result(err = new_chained_error_location2_type(
       i = i,
       subscript_arg = arg,
-      body = cnd_bullets_location2_need_positive,
+      header = cnd_header_location2_need_positive,
       call = call
     )))
   }
@@ -284,32 +277,72 @@ vec_as_location2_result <- function(i,
   }
 }
 
+new_error_location2_type <- function(i,
+                                     ...,
+                                     class = NULL) {
+  new_error_subscript2_type(
+    class = class,
+    i = i,
+    numeric = "cast",
+    character = "cast",
+    ...
+  )
+}
+new_chained_error_location2_type <- function(i,
+                                             ...,
+                                             header = NULL,
+                                             call = caller_env()) {
+  causal <- error_cnd(
+    i = i,
+    header = header,
+    ...,
+    call = NULL,
+    use_cli_format = TRUE
+  )
+  new_error_location2_type(
+    i = i,
+    ...,
+    body = function(...) chr(),
+    call = call,
+    parent = causal
+  )
+}
+
+cnd_header_location2_need_scalar <- function(cnd, ...) {
+  cnd$subscript_arg <- cnd_subscript_arg(cnd)
+  glue::glue_data(cnd, "{subscript_arg} must be size 1, not {length(i)}.")
+}
+cnd_header_location2_need_present <- function(cnd, ...) {
+  cnd$subscript_arg <- cnd_subscript_arg(cnd)
+  glue::glue_data(cnd, "{subscript_arg} must be a location, not {obj_type_friendly(i)}.")
+}
+cnd_header_location2_need_positive <- function(cnd, ...) {
+  cnd$subscript_arg <- cnd_subscript_arg(cnd)
+  glue::glue_data(cnd, "{subscript_arg} must be a positive location, not {i}.")
+}
 
 stop_location_negative_missing <- function(i, ..., call = caller_env()) {
-  cnd_signal(new_error_subscript_type(
+  cnd <- new_chained_error_subscript_type(
     i,
     ...,
-    body = cnd_body_vctrs_error_location_negative_missing,
+    header = cnd_header_location_negative_missing,
     call = call
-  ))
+  )
+  cnd_signal(cnd)
 }
-cnd_body_vctrs_error_location_negative_missing <- function(cnd, ...) {
+
+cnd_header_location_negative_missing <- function(cnd, ...) {
   missing_loc <- which(is.na(cnd$i))
-  arg <- append_arg("Subscript", cnd$subscript_arg)
+  arg <- cnd_subscript_arg(cnd)
 
-  if (length(missing_loc) == 1) {
-    loc <- glue::glue("{arg} has a missing value at location {missing_loc}.")
-  } else {
-    n_loc <- length(missing_loc)
-    missing_loc <- ensure_full_stop(enumerate(missing_loc))
-    loc <- glue::glue(
-      "{arg} has {n_loc} missing values at locations {missing_loc}"
+  n_loc <- length(missing_loc)
+
+  c(
+    "Negative locations can't have missing values.",
+    "x" = cli::format_inline(
+      "{arg} has {n_loc} missing value{?s} at location{?s} {missing_loc}."
     )
-  }
-  format_error_bullets(c(
-    x = "Negative locations can't have missing values.",
-    i = loc
-  ))
+  )
 }
 
 stop_location_negative_positive <- function(i, ..., call = caller_env()) {
@@ -339,64 +372,35 @@ cnd_body_vctrs_error_location_negative_positive <- function(cnd, ...) {
   ))
 }
 
-
-new_error_location2_type <- function(i,
-                                     ...,
-                                     class = NULL) {
-  new_error_subscript2_type(
-    class = class,
-    i = i,
-    numeric = "cast",
-    character = "cast",
-    ...
-  )
-}
-cnd_bullets_location2_need_scalar <- function(cnd, ...) {
-  cnd$subscript_arg <- append_arg("Subscript", cnd$subscript_arg)
-  format_error_bullets(c(
-    x = glue::glue_data(cnd, "{subscript_arg} must be size 1, not {length(i)}.")
-  ))
-}
-cnd_bullets_location2_need_present <- function(cnd, ...) {
-  cnd$subscript_arg <- append_arg("Subscript", cnd$subscript_arg)
-  format_error_bullets(c(
-    x = glue::glue_data(cnd, "{subscript_arg} must be a location, not {obj_type_friendly(i)}.")
-  ))
-}
-cnd_bullets_location2_need_positive <- function(cnd, ...) {
-  cnd$subscript_arg <- append_arg("Subscript", cnd$subscript_arg)
-  format_error_bullets(c(
-    x = glue::glue_data(cnd, "{subscript_arg} must be a positive location, not {i}.")
-  ))
-}
-
 stop_location_negative <- function(i, ..., call = caller_env()) {
-  cnd_signal(new_error_subscript_type(
+  cnd <- new_chained_error_subscript_type(
     i,
-    body = cnd_bullets_location_need_non_negative,
     ...,
+    header = cnd_header_location_need_non_negative,
     call = call
-  ))
+  )
+  cnd_signal(cnd)
 }
-cnd_bullets_location_need_non_negative <- function(cnd, ...) {
-  cnd$subscript_arg <- append_arg("Subscript", cnd$subscript_arg)
-  format_error_bullets(c(
-    x = glue::glue_data(cnd, "{subscript_arg} can't contain negative locations.")
-  ))
+cnd_header_location_need_non_negative <- function(cnd, ...) {
+  arg <- cnd_subscript_arg(cnd)
+  glue::glue("{arg} can't contain negative locations.")
 }
 
 stop_location_zero <- function(i, ..., call = caller_env()) {
-  cnd_signal(new_error_subscript_type(
+  cnd <- new_chained_error_subscript_type(
     i,
-    body = cnd_bullets_location_need_non_zero,
     ...,
+    header = cnd_header_location_need_non_zero,
     call = call
-  ))
+  )
+  cnd_signal(cnd)
 }
-cnd_bullets_location_need_non_zero <- function(cnd, ...) {
+cnd_header_location_need_non_zero <- function(cnd, ...) {
+  arg <- cnd_subscript_arg(cnd)
+  header <- glue::glue("{arg} can't contain `0` values.")
+
   zero_loc <- which(cnd$i == 0)
   zero_loc_size <- length(zero_loc)
-  arg <- append_arg("Subscript", cnd$subscript_arg)
 
   if (zero_loc_size == 1) {
     loc <- glue::glue("It has a `0` value at location {zero_loc}.")
@@ -406,22 +410,21 @@ cnd_bullets_location_need_non_zero <- function(cnd, ...) {
       "It has {zero_loc_size} `0` values at locations {zero_loc}"
     )
   }
-  format_error_bullets(c(
-    x = glue::glue("{arg} can't contain `0` values."),
-    i = loc
-  ))
+  c(header, i = loc)
 }
 
 stop_subscript_missing <- function(i, ..., call = caller_env()) {
-  cnd_signal(new_error_subscript_type(
-    i = i,
-    body = cnd_bullets_subscript_missing,
+  cnd <- new_chained_error_subscript_type(
+    i,
     ...,
+    header = cnd_header_subscript_missing,
     call = call
-  ))
+  )
+  cnd_signal(cnd)
 }
-cnd_bullets_subscript_missing <- function(cnd, ...) {
-  cnd$subscript_arg <- append_arg("Subscript", cnd$subscript_arg)
+cnd_header_subscript_missing <- function(cnd, ...) {
+  arg <- cnd_subscript_arg(cnd)
+  header <- glue::glue("{arg} can't contain missing values.")
 
   missing_loc <- which(is.na(cnd$i))
   if (length(missing_loc) == 1) {
@@ -431,52 +434,46 @@ cnd_bullets_subscript_missing <- function(cnd, ...) {
     missing_line <- glue::glue("It has missing values at locations {missing_enum}")
   }
 
-  format_error_bullets(c(
-    x = glue::glue_data(cnd, "{subscript_arg} can't contain missing values."),
-    x = missing_line
-  ))
+  c(header, x = missing_line)
 }
 
 stop_subscript_empty <- function(i, ..., call = caller_env()) {
-  cnd_signal(new_error_subscript_type(
-    i = i,
-    body = cnd_bullets_subscript_empty,
+  cnd <- new_chained_error_subscript_type(
+    i,
     ...,
+    header = cnd_bullets_subscript_empty,
     call = call
-  ))
+  )
+  cnd_signal(cnd)
 }
 cnd_bullets_subscript_empty <- function(cnd, ...) {
-  cnd$subscript_arg <- append_arg("Subscript", cnd$subscript_arg)
+  arg <- cnd_subscript_arg(cnd)
+  header <- glue::glue("{arg} can't contain the empty string.")
 
   loc <- which(cnd$i == "")
   if (length(loc) == 1) {
-    line <- glue::glue("It has an empty string at location {loc}.")
+    locations <- glue::glue("It has an empty string at location {loc}.")
   } else {
     enum <- ensure_full_stop(enumerate(loc))
-    line <- glue::glue("It has an empty string at locations {enum}")
+    locations <- glue::glue("It has an empty string at locations {enum}")
   }
 
-  format_error_bullets(c(
-    x = glue::glue_data(cnd, "{subscript_arg} can't contain the empty string."),
-    x = line
-  ))
+  c(header, x = locations)
 }
 
 stop_indicator_size <- function(i, n, ..., call = caller_env()) {
-  cnd_signal(new_error_subscript_size(
+  cnd <- new_chained_error_subscript_size(
     i,
     n = n,
     ...,
-    body = cnd_body_vctrs_error_indicator_size,
+    header = cnd_header_logical_subscript_size,
     call = call
-  ))
-}
-cnd_body_vctrs_error_indicator_size <- function(cnd, ...) {
-  cnd$subscript_arg <- append_arg("Logical subscript", cnd$subscript_arg)
-  glue_data_bullets(
-    cnd,
-    x = "{subscript_arg} must be size 1 or {n}, not {vec_size(i)}."
   )
+  cnd_signal(cnd)
+}
+cnd_header_logical_subscript_size <- function(cnd, ...) {
+  cnd$arg <- append_arg("Logical subscript", cnd$subscript_arg)
+  glue::glue_data(cnd, "{arg} must be size 1 or {n}, not {vec_size(i)}.")
 }
 
 stop_subscript_oob <- function(i,
@@ -511,7 +508,8 @@ cnd_header.vctrs_error_subscript_oob <- function(cnd, ...) {
 
 #' @export
 cnd_body.vctrs_error_subscript_oob <- function(cnd, ...) {
-  switch(cnd_subscript_type(cnd),
+  switch(
+    cnd_subscript_type(cnd),
     numeric =
       if (cnd_subscript_oob_non_consecutive(cnd)) {
         cnd_body_vctrs_error_subscript_oob_non_consecutive(cnd, ...)
@@ -520,7 +518,7 @@ cnd_body.vctrs_error_subscript_oob <- function(cnd, ...) {
       },
     character =
       cnd_body_vctrs_error_subscript_oob_name(cnd, ...),
-    abort("Internal error: subscript type can't be `logical` for OOB errors.")
+    abort("Subscript type can't be `logical` for OOB errors.", .internal = TRUE)
   )
 }
 cnd_body_vctrs_error_subscript_oob_location <- function(cnd, ...) {
diff --git a/R/subscript.R b/R/subscript.R
index 7b87c0ba0..317aa236a 100644
--- a/R/subscript.R
+++ b/R/subscript.R
@@ -173,29 +173,114 @@ new_error_subscript_type <- function(i,
   )
 }
 
+new_chained_error_subscript_type <- function(i,
+                                             ...,
+                                             header = NULL,
+                                             call = caller_env()) {
+  header <- header %||% cnd_header_subscript_type
+
+  causal <- error_cnd(
+    i = i,
+    header = header,
+    ...,
+    call = NULL,
+    use_cli_format = TRUE
+  )
+  new_error_subscript_type(
+    i,
+    ...,
+    body = function(...) chr(),
+    call = call,
+    parent = causal
+  )
+}
+new_chained_error_subscript_size <- function(i,
+                                             ...,
+                                             header = NULL,
+                                             call = caller_env()) {
+  causal <- error_cnd(
+    i = i,
+    header = header,
+    ...,
+    call = NULL,
+    use_cli_format = TRUE
+  )
+  new_error_subscript_size(
+    i,
+    ...,
+    body = function(...) chr(),
+    call = call,
+    parent = causal
+  )
+}
+
+# Subscripts errors are currently customised by rethrowing errors with
+# special fields. The setter methods forward these fields to parent
+# errors so that causal errors may benefit from these customisations.
+
+#' @export
+`$<-.vctrs_error_subscript_type` <- function(x, i, value) {
+  x <- NextMethod()
+  i <- as_string(i)
+
+  if (!is_null(x[["parent"]]) && is_subscript_field(i)) {
+    x[["parent"]][[i]] <- value
+  }
+
+  x
+}
+#' @export
+`[[<-.vctrs_error_subscript_type` <- function(x, i, value) {
+  x <- NextMethod()
+
+  if (!is_null(x[["parent"]]) && is_subscript_field(i)) {
+    x[["parent"]][[i]] <- value
+  }
+
+  x
+}
+
+is_subscript_field <- function(x) {
+  is_character(x) && x %in% c(
+    "i",
+    "subscript_arg",
+    "subscript_elt",
+    "subscript_action"
+  )
+}
+
+
 #' @export
 cnd_header.vctrs_error_subscript_type <- function(cnd) {
-  action <- cnd_subscript_action(cnd)
+  arg <- cnd[["subscript_arg"]]
+  if (is_subscript_arg(arg)) {
+    with <- glue::glue(" with {format_subscript_arg(arg)}")
+  } else {
+    with <- ""
+  }
+
+  action <- cnd_subscript_action(cnd, assign_to = FALSE)
   elt <- cnd_subscript_element(cnd)
+
   if (cnd_subscript_scalar(cnd)) {
-    glue::glue("Must {action} {elt[[1]]} with a single valid subscript.")
+    glue::glue("Can't {action} {elt[[1]]}{with}.")
   } else {
-    glue::glue("Must {action} {elt[[2]]} with a valid subscript vector.")
+    glue::glue("Can't {action} {elt[[2]]}{with}.")
   }
 }
-#' @export
-cnd_body.vctrs_error_subscript_type <- function(cnd) {
+
+cnd_header_subscript_type <- function(cnd, ...) {
   arg <- cnd_subscript_arg(cnd)
   type <- obj_type_friendly(cnd$i)
   expected_types <- cnd_subscript_expected_types(cnd)
 
-  format_error_bullets(c(
-    x = cli::format_inline("{arg} must be {.or {expected_types}}, not {type}.")
-  ))
+  cli::format_inline("{arg} must be {.or {expected_types}}, not {type}.")
 }
-new_cnd_bullets_subscript_lossy_cast <- function(lossy_err) {
+
+new_cnd_header_subscript_lossy_cast <- function(lossy_err) {
+  force(lossy_err)
   function(cnd, ...) {
-    format_error_bullets(c(x = cnd_header(lossy_err)))
+    cnd_header(lossy_err)
   }
 }
 
@@ -244,8 +329,8 @@ new_error_subscript2_type <- function(i,
   )
 }
 
-cnd_body_subscript_dim <- function(cnd, ...) {
-  arg <- append_arg("Subscript", cnd$subscript_arg)
+cnd_header_subscript_dim <- function(cnd, ...) {
+  arg <- cnd_subscript_arg(cnd)
 
   dim <- length(dim(cnd$i))
   if (dim < 2) {
@@ -257,9 +342,9 @@ cnd_body_subscript_dim <- function(cnd, ...) {
     shape <- "an array"
   }
 
-  format_error_bullets(c(
-    x = glue::glue("{arg} must be a simple vector, not {shape}.")
-  ))
+  c(
+    glue::glue("{arg} must be a simple vector, not {shape}.")
+  )
 }
 
 cnd_subscript_element <- function(cnd, capital = FALSE) {
diff --git a/src/decl/subscript-decl.h b/src/decl/subscript-decl.h
index 118c66e38..4e2f66ce7 100644
--- a/src/decl/subscript-decl.h
+++ b/src/decl/subscript-decl.h
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 static
-r_obj* fns_cnd_body_subscript_dim;
+r_obj* fns_cnd_header_subscript_dim;
 
 static
-r_obj* new_error_subscript_type(r_obj* subscript,
-                                const struct subscript_opts* opts,
-                                r_obj* body);
+r_obj* new_chained_error_subscript_type(r_obj* subscript,
+                                        const struct subscript_opts* opts,
+                                        r_obj* body);
 
 static
 enum subscript_type_action parse_subscript_arg_type(r_obj* x,
@@ -26,10 +26,10 @@ r_obj* dbl_cast_subscript_fallback(r_obj* subscript,
                                    ERR* err);
 
 static
-r_obj* syms_new_dbl_cast_subscript_body;
+r_obj* syms_new_cnd_header_subscript_lossy_cast;
 
 static
 r_obj* syms_lossy_err;
 
 static
-r_obj* syms_new_error_subscript_type;
+r_obj* syms_new_chained_error_subscript_type;
diff --git a/src/globals.c b/src/globals.c
index 772e4998a..141bdaaf0 100644
--- a/src/globals.c
+++ b/src/globals.c
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ void vctrs_init_globals(r_obj* ns) {
   syms.dot_error_arg = r_sym(".error_arg");
   syms.dot_error_call = r_sym(".error_call");
   syms.haystack_arg = r_sym("haystack_arg");
+  syms.header = r_sym("header");
   syms.needles_arg = r_sym("needles_arg");
   syms.recurse = r_sym("recurse");
   syms.repair_arg = r_sym("repair_arg");
diff --git a/src/globals.h b/src/globals.h
index b2a6e501d..b6b89e6ed 100644
--- a/src/globals.h
+++ b/src/globals.h
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ struct syms {
   r_obj* dot_error_arg;
   r_obj* dot_error_call;
   r_obj* haystack_arg;
+  r_obj* header;
   r_obj* needles_arg;
   r_obj* recurse;
   r_obj* repair_arg;
diff --git a/src/subscript.c b/src/subscript.c
index 99c99e77b..88a9e1576 100644
--- a/src/subscript.c
+++ b/src/subscript.c
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ r_obj* vec_as_subscript_opts(r_obj* subscript,
                              const struct subscript_opts* opts,
                              ERR* err) {
   if (vec_dim_n(subscript) != 1) {
-    *err = new_error_subscript_type(subscript, opts, fns_cnd_body_subscript_dim);
+    *err = new_chained_error_subscript_type(subscript, opts, fns_cnd_header_subscript_dim);
     return r_null;
   }
 
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ r_obj* vec_as_subscript_opts(r_obj* subscript,
   KEEP_AT(subscript, subscript_pi);
 
   if (!vec_is_vector(subscript)) {
-    *err = new_error_subscript_type(subscript, opts, r_null);
+    *err = new_chained_error_subscript_type(subscript, opts, r_null);
     FREE(2);
     return r_null;
   }
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ r_obj* vec_as_subscript_opts(r_obj* subscript,
   }
 
   if (action == SUBSCRIPT_TYPE_ACTION_ERROR) {
-    *err = new_error_subscript_type(subscript, opts, r_null);
+    *err = new_chained_error_subscript_type(subscript, opts, r_null);
     FREE(2);
     return r_null;
   }
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ r_obj* obj_cast_subscript(r_obj* subscript,
     return vec_cast_opts(&cast_opts);
   }
 
-  *err = new_error_subscript_type(subscript, opts, r_null);
+  *err = new_chained_error_subscript_type(subscript, opts, r_null);
   return r_null;
 }
 
@@ -185,10 +185,10 @@ r_obj* dbl_cast_subscript_fallback(r_obj* subscript,
   if (*err) {
     r_obj* err_obj = KEEP(*err);
 
-    r_obj* body = KEEP(vctrs_eval_mask1(syms_new_dbl_cast_subscript_body,
-                                        syms_lossy_err, err_obj));
+    r_obj* header = KEEP(vctrs_eval_mask1(syms_new_cnd_header_subscript_lossy_cast,
+                                          syms_lossy_err, err_obj));
 
-    *err = new_error_subscript_type(subscript, opts, body);
+    *err = new_chained_error_subscript_type(subscript, opts, header);
     FREE(3);
     return r_null;
   }
@@ -285,9 +285,9 @@ enum subscript_type_action parse_subscript_arg_type(r_obj* x,
 // Conditions ------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 static
-r_obj* new_error_subscript_type(r_obj* subscript,
-                                const struct subscript_opts* opts,
-                                r_obj* body) {
+r_obj* new_chained_error_subscript_type(r_obj* subscript,
+                                        const struct subscript_opts* opts,
+                                        r_obj* header) {
   r_obj* logical = subscript_type_action_chr(opts->logical);
   r_obj* numeric = subscript_type_action_chr(opts->numeric);
   r_obj* character = subscript_type_action_chr(opts->character);
@@ -296,7 +296,7 @@ r_obj* new_error_subscript_type(r_obj* subscript,
   r_obj* subscript_arg = KEEP(vctrs_arg(opts->subscript_arg));
   r_obj* ffi_call = r_lazy_eval_protect(opts->call);
 
-  r_obj* syms[] = {
+  r_obj* params[] = {
     syms_i,
     syms_subscript_arg,
     syms_subscript_action,
@@ -304,7 +304,7 @@ r_obj* new_error_subscript_type(r_obj* subscript,
     syms_logical,
     syms_numeric,
     syms_character,
-    syms_body,
+    syms.header,
     NULL
   };
   r_obj* args[] = {
@@ -315,11 +315,11 @@ r_obj* new_error_subscript_type(r_obj* subscript,
     logical,
     numeric,
     character,
-    body,
+    header,
     NULL
   };
 
-  r_obj* call = KEEP(r_call_n(syms_new_error_subscript_type, syms, args));
+  r_obj* call = KEEP(r_call_n(syms_new_chained_error_subscript_type, params, args));
   r_obj* out = r_eval(call, vctrs_ns_env);
 
   FREE(3);
@@ -330,21 +330,21 @@ r_obj* new_error_subscript_type(r_obj* subscript,
 // Init ----------------------------------------------------------------
 
 void vctrs_init_subscript(r_obj* ns) {
-  syms_new_error_subscript_type = r_sym("new_error_subscript_type");
-  syms_new_dbl_cast_subscript_body = r_sym("new_cnd_bullets_subscript_lossy_cast");
+  syms_new_chained_error_subscript_type = r_sym("new_chained_error_subscript_type");
+  syms_new_cnd_header_subscript_lossy_cast = r_sym("new_cnd_header_subscript_lossy_cast");
   syms_lossy_err = r_sym("lossy_err");
 
-  fns_cnd_body_subscript_dim = r_eval(r_sym("cnd_body_subscript_dim"), ns);
+  fns_cnd_header_subscript_dim = r_eval(r_sym("cnd_header_subscript_dim"), ns);
 }
 
 static
-r_obj* fns_cnd_body_subscript_dim = NULL;
+r_obj* fns_cnd_header_subscript_dim = NULL;
 
 static
-r_obj* syms_new_dbl_cast_subscript_body = NULL;
+r_obj* syms_new_cnd_header_subscript_lossy_cast = NULL;
 
 static
 r_obj* syms_lossy_err = NULL;
 
 static
-r_obj* syms_new_error_subscript_type = NULL;
+r_obj* syms_new_chained_error_subscript_type = NULL;
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/error-call.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/error-call.md
index eb9c1af3b..83ae58ac2 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/error-call.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/error-call.md
@@ -218,8 +218,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Can't convert from `my_arg` <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `my_arg`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Can't convert from `my_arg` <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
 
 ---
 
@@ -228,8 +229,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Can't convert from <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Can't convert from <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
 
 ---
 
@@ -238,8 +240,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x `my_arg` must be logical, numeric, or character, not an empty list.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `my_arg`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `my_arg` must be logical, numeric, or character, not an empty list.
 
 ---
 
@@ -258,8 +261,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript can't contain missing values.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript can't contain missing values.
       x It has a missing value at location 1.
 
 # `vec_ptype()` reports correct error call
@@ -326,8 +330,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `vec_slice()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x `i` must be logical, numeric, or character, not an environment.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `i`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `i` must be logical, numeric, or character, not an environment.
 
 # list_sizes() reports error context
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/slice-assign.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/slice-assign.md
index 5d1d2b540..7867502ce 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/slice-assign.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/slice-assign.md
@@ -16,8 +16,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_size>
       Error:
-      ! Must assign to elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Logical subscript must be size 1 or 2, not 3.
+      ! Can't assign elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Logical subscript must be size 1 or 2, not 3.
 
 ---
 
@@ -27,8 +28,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_size>
       Error:
-      ! Must assign to elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Logical subscript must be size 1 or 32, not 2.
+      ! Can't assign elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Logical subscript must be size 1 or 32, not 2.
 
 # must assign existing elements
 
@@ -72,7 +74,7 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must assign to elements with a valid subscript vector.
+      ! Can't assign elements.
       x Negative and positive locations can't be mixed.
       i Subscript has a positive value at location 2.
     Code
@@ -81,9 +83,10 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must assign to elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Negative locations can't have missing values.
-      i Subscript has a missing value at location 2.
+      ! Can't assign elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Negative locations can't have missing values.
+      x Subscript has 1 missing value at location 2.
 
 # `vec_assign()` error args can be overridden
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/slice-chop.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/slice-chop.md
index 97d2cd8d1..ed80d14bc 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/slice-chop.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/slice-chop.md
@@ -158,8 +158,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript can't contain `0` values.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript can't contain `0` values.
       i It has a `0` value at location 1.
     Code
       (expect_error(list_unchop(list(1), indices = list(-1)), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
@@ -167,8 +168,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript can't contain negative locations.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript can't contain negative locations.
 
 # list_unchop() fails with complex foreign S3 classes
 
@@ -298,16 +300,18 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript must be numeric, not the string "x".
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript must be numeric, not the string "x".
     Code
       (expect_error(list_unchop(list(1), indices = list(foobar(1L))), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript must be numeric, not a <vctrs_foobar> object.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript must be numeric, not a <vctrs_foobar> object.
 
 # can ignore names in `list_unchop()` by providing a `zap()` name-spec (#232)
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/slice.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/slice.md
index 62fed97f0..1a99298bc 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/slice.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/slice.md
@@ -5,16 +5,18 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `vec_slice()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x `i` must be logical, numeric, or character, not a <Date> object.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `i`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `i` must be logical, numeric, or character, not a <Date> object.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_slice(1:3, matrix(TRUE, nrow = 1)), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `vec_slice()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `i` must be a simple vector, not a matrix.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `i`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `i` must be a simple vector, not a matrix.
 
 # can't index beyond the end of a vector
 
@@ -42,8 +44,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Can't convert from `2^31` <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `2^31`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Can't convert from `2^31` <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
 
 # Unnamed vector with character subscript is caught
 
@@ -59,9 +62,10 @@
       vec_slice(1:3, -c(1L, NA))
     Condition
       Error in `vec_slice()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Negative locations can't have missing values.
-      i Subscript `i` has a missing value at location 2.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `i`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Negative locations can't have missing values.
+      x `i` has 1 missing value at location 2.
 
 ---
 
@@ -69,7 +73,7 @@
       vec_slice(1:3, c(-1L, 1L))
     Condition
       Error in `vec_slice()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `i`.
       x Negative and positive locations can't be mixed.
       i Subscript `i` has a positive value at location 2.
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/subscript-loc.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/subscript-loc.md
index 641f0af34..8fe851989 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/subscript-loc.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/subscript-loc.md
@@ -6,54 +6,61 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x `TRUE` must be numeric or character, not `TRUE`.
+      ! Can't extract element with `TRUE`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `TRUE` must be numeric or character, not `TRUE`.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(mtcars, 10L), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x `mtcars` must be numeric or character, not a <data.frame> object.
+      ! Can't extract element with `mtcars`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `mtcars` must be numeric or character, not a <data.frame> object.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(env(), 10L), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x `env()` must be numeric or character, not an environment.
+      ! Can't extract element with `env()`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `env()` must be numeric or character, not an environment.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(foobar(), 10L), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x `foobar()` must be numeric or character, not a <vctrs_foobar> object.
+      ! Can't extract element with `foobar()`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foobar()` must be numeric or character, not a <vctrs_foobar> object.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(2.5, 10L), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Can't convert from `2.5` <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
+      ! Can't extract element with `2.5`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Can't convert from `2.5` <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(Inf, 10L), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Can't convert from `Inf` <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
+      ! Can't extract element with `Inf`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Can't convert from `Inf` <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(-Inf, 10L), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Can't convert from `-Inf` <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
+      ! Can't extract element with `-Inf`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Can't convert from `-Inf` <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
     Code
       # Idem with custom `arg`
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(foobar(), 10L, arg = "foo", call = call(
@@ -61,24 +68,27 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x `foo` must be numeric or character, not a <vctrs_foobar> object.
+      ! Can't extract element with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo` must be numeric or character, not a <vctrs_foobar> object.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(2.5, 3L, arg = "foo", call = call("my_function")),
       class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Can't convert from `foo` <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
+      ! Can't extract element with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Can't convert from `foo` <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
     Code
       (expect_error(with_tibble_rows(vec_as_location2(TRUE)), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must remove row with a single valid subscript.
-      x `foo(bar)` must be numeric or character, not `TRUE`.
+      ! Can't remove row with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo(bar)` must be numeric or character, not `TRUE`.
 
 # vec_as_location() requires integer, character, or logical inputs
 
@@ -88,55 +98,62 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x `mtcars` must be logical, numeric, or character, not a <data.frame> object.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `mtcars`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `mtcars` must be logical, numeric, or character, not a <data.frame> object.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location(env(), 10L), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x `env()` must be logical, numeric, or character, not an environment.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `env()`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `env()` must be logical, numeric, or character, not an environment.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location(foobar(), 10L), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x `foobar()` must be logical, numeric, or character, not a <vctrs_foobar> object.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `foobar()`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foobar()` must be logical, numeric, or character, not a <vctrs_foobar> object.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location(2.5, 10L), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Can't convert from `2.5` <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `2.5`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Can't convert from `2.5` <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location(list(), 10L), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x `list()` must be logical, numeric, or character, not an empty list.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `list()`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `list()` must be logical, numeric, or character, not an empty list.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location(function() NULL, 10L), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x `function() NULL` must be logical, numeric, or character, not a function.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `function() NULL`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `function() NULL` must be logical, numeric, or character, not a function.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location(Sys.Date(), 3L), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x `Sys.Date()` must be logical, numeric, or character, not a <Date> object.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `Sys.Date()`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `Sys.Date()` must be logical, numeric, or character, not a <Date> object.
     Code
       # Idem with custom `arg`
       (expect_error(vec_as_location(env(), 10L, arg = "foo", call = call(
@@ -144,24 +161,27 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x `foo` must be logical, numeric, or character, not an environment.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo` must be logical, numeric, or character, not an environment.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location(foobar(), 10L, arg = "foo", call = call(
         "my_function")), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x `foo` must be logical, numeric, or character, not a <vctrs_foobar> object.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo` must be logical, numeric, or character, not a <vctrs_foobar> object.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location(2.5, 3L, arg = "foo", call = call("my_function")),
       class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Can't convert from `foo` <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Can't convert from `foo` <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
 
 # vec_as_location() and variants check for OOB elements (#1605)
 
@@ -223,16 +243,18 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `1:2` must be size 1, not 2.
+      ! Can't extract element with `1:2`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `1:2` must be size 1, not 2.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(c("foo", "bar"), 2L, c("foo", "bar")), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `c("foo", "bar")` must be size 1, not 2.
+      ! Can't extract element with `c("foo", "bar")`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `c("foo", "bar")` must be size 1, not 2.
     Code
       # Idem with custom `arg`
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(1:2, 2L, arg = "foo", call = call("my_function")),
@@ -240,24 +262,27 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `foo` must be size 1, not 2.
+      ! Can't extract element with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo` must be size 1, not 2.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(mtcars, 10L, arg = "foo", call = call(
         "my_function")), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x `foo` must be numeric or character, not a <data.frame> object.
+      ! Can't extract element with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo` must be numeric or character, not a <data.frame> object.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(1:2, 2L, arg = "foo", call = call("my_function")),
       class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `foo` must be size 1, not 2.
+      ! Can't extract element with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo` must be size 1, not 2.
 
 # vec_as_location2() requires positive integers
 
@@ -266,15 +291,17 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `0` must be a positive location, not 0.
+      ! Can't extract element with `0`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `0` must be a positive location, not 0.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(-1, 2L), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `-1` must be a positive location, not -1.
+      ! Can't extract element with `-1`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `-1` must be a positive location, not -1.
     Code
       # Idem with custom `arg`
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(0, 2L, arg = "foo", call = call("my_function")),
@@ -282,8 +309,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `foo` must be a positive location, not 0.
+      ! Can't extract element with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo` must be a positive location, not 0.
 
 # vec_as_location2() fails with NA
 
@@ -293,16 +321,18 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `na_int` must be a location, not an integer `NA`.
+      ! Can't extract element with `na_int`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `na_int` must be a location, not an integer `NA`.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(na_chr, 1L, names = "foo"), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `na_chr` must be a location, not a character `NA`.
+      ! Can't extract element with `na_chr`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `na_chr` must be a location, not a character `NA`.
     Code
       # Idem with custom `arg`
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(na_int, 2L, arg = "foo", call = call(
@@ -310,8 +340,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `foo` must be a location, not an integer `NA`.
+      ! Can't extract element with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo` must be a location, not an integer `NA`.
 
 # num_as_location() optionally forbids negative indices
 
@@ -321,8 +352,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `dbl(1, -1)` can't contain negative locations.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `dbl(1, -1)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `dbl(1, -1)` can't contain negative locations.
 
 # num_as_location() optionally forbids zero indices
 
@@ -332,8 +364,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `0L` can't contain `0` values.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `0L`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `0L` can't contain `0` values.
       i It has a `0` value at location 1.
     Code
       (expect_error(num_as_location(c(0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0), 1, zero = "error"), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
@@ -341,8 +374,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `c(0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0)` can't contain `0` values.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `c(0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `c(0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0)` can't contain `0` values.
       i It has 6 `0` values at locations 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, etc.
 
 # vec_as_location() checks for mix of negative and missing locations
@@ -353,18 +387,20 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Negative locations can't have missing values.
-      i Subscript `-c(1L, NA)` has a missing value at location 2.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `-c(1L, NA)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Negative locations can't have missing values.
+      x `-c(1L, NA)` has 1 missing value at location 2.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location(-c(1L, rep(NA, 10)), 30), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Negative locations can't have missing values.
-      i Subscript `-c(1L, rep(NA, 10))` has 10 missing values at locations 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `-c(1L, rep(NA, 10))`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Negative locations can't have missing values.
+      x `-c(1L, rep(NA, 10))` has 10 missing values at locations 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11.
 
 # vec_as_location() checks for mix of negative and positive locations
 
@@ -374,7 +410,7 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `c(-1L, 1L)`.
       x Negative and positive locations can't be mixed.
       i Subscript `c(-1L, 1L)` has a positive value at location 2.
     Code
@@ -383,7 +419,7 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `c(-1L, rep(1L, 10))`.
       x Negative and positive locations can't be mixed.
       i Subscript `c(-1L, rep(1L, 10))` has 10 positive values at locations 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc.
 
@@ -395,8 +431,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_size>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Logical subscript `c(TRUE, FALSE)` must be size 1 or 3, not 2.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `c(TRUE, FALSE)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Logical subscript `c(TRUE, FALSE)` must be size 1 or 3, not 2.
 
 # character subscripts require named vectors
 
@@ -481,8 +518,9 @@
       num_as_location(c(0, -1), n = 2L, negative = "invert", zero = "error")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `c(0, -1)` can't contain `0` values.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `c(0, -1)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `c(0, -1)` can't contain `0` values.
       i It has a `0` value at location 1.
 
 ---
@@ -491,8 +529,9 @@
       num_as_location(c(-1, 0), n = 2L, negative = "invert", zero = "error")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `c(-1, 0)` can't contain `0` values.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `c(-1, 0)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `c(-1, 0)` can't contain `0` values.
       i It has a `0` value at location 2.
 
 # num_as_location() with `oob = 'extend'` doesn't allow ignored oob negative values (#1614)
@@ -564,8 +603,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript can't contain missing values.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript can't contain missing values.
       x It has a missing value at location 2.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location(c(1, NA, 2, NA), 2, missing = "error", arg = "foo",
@@ -573,8 +613,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript can't contain missing values.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript can't contain missing values.
       x It has missing values at locations 2 and 4.
     Code
       (expect_error(with_tibble_cols(vec_as_location(c(1, NA, 2, NA), 2, missing = "error")),
@@ -582,8 +623,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must rename columns with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `foo(bar)` can't contain missing values.
+      ! Can't rename columns with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo(bar)` can't contain missing values.
       x It has missing values at locations 2 and 4.
     Code
       (expect_error(with_tibble_cols(vec_as_location(NA, 1, missing = "error")),
@@ -591,8 +633,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must rename columns with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `foo(bar)` can't contain missing values.
+      ! Can't rename columns with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo(bar)` can't contain missing values.
       x It has a missing value at location 1.
     Code
       (expect_error(with_tibble_cols(vec_as_location(NA, 3, missing = "error")),
@@ -600,8 +643,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must rename columns with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `foo(bar)` can't contain missing values.
+      ! Can't rename columns with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo(bar)` can't contain missing values.
       x It has a missing value at location 1.
     Code
       (expect_error(with_tibble_cols(vec_as_location(c(TRUE, NA, FALSE), 3, missing = "error")),
@@ -609,8 +653,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must rename columns with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `foo(bar)` can't contain missing values.
+      ! Can't rename columns with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo(bar)` can't contain missing values.
       x It has a missing value at location 2.
     Code
       (expect_error(with_tibble_cols(vec_as_location(NA_character_, 2, missing = "error",
@@ -618,8 +663,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must rename columns with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `foo(bar)` can't contain missing values.
+      ! Can't rename columns with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo(bar)` can't contain missing values.
       x It has a missing value at location 1.
 
 # can alter logical missing value handling (#1595)
@@ -628,8 +674,9 @@
       vec_as_location(x, n = 4L, missing = "error")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript can't contain missing values.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript can't contain missing values.
       x It has missing values at locations 2 and 4.
 
 ---
@@ -638,8 +685,9 @@
       vec_as_location(x, n = 2L, missing = "error")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript can't contain missing values.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript can't contain missing values.
       x It has a missing value at location 1.
 
 # can alter character missing value handling (#1595)
@@ -648,8 +696,9 @@
       vec_as_location(x, n = 2L, names = names, missing = "error")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript can't contain missing values.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript can't contain missing values.
       x It has missing values at locations 1 and 3.
 
 # can alter integer missing value handling (#1595)
@@ -658,8 +707,9 @@
       vec_as_location(x, n = 4L, missing = "error")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript can't contain missing values.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript can't contain missing values.
       x It has missing values at locations 1 and 3.
 
 # can alter negative integer missing value handling (#1595)
@@ -668,9 +718,10 @@
       num_as_location(x, n = 4L, missing = "propagate", negative = "invert")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Negative locations can't have missing values.
-      i Subscript `x` has 2 missing values at locations 2 and 3.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `x`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Negative locations can't have missing values.
+      x `x` has 2 missing values at locations 2 and 3.
 
 ---
 
@@ -678,9 +729,10 @@
       num_as_location(x, n = 4L, missing = "error", negative = "invert")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Negative locations can't have missing values.
-      i Subscript `x` has 2 missing values at locations 2 and 3.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `x`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Negative locations can't have missing values.
+      x `x` has 2 missing values at locations 2 and 3.
 
 # empty string character indices never match empty string names (#1489)
 
@@ -688,8 +740,9 @@
       vec_as_location("", n = 2L, names = names)
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript can't contain the empty string.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript can't contain the empty string.
       x It has an empty string at location 1.
 
 ---
@@ -698,8 +751,9 @@
       vec_as_location(c("", "y", ""), n = 2L, names = names)
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript can't contain the empty string.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript can't contain the empty string.
       x It has an empty string at locations 1 and 3.
 
 # can customise subscript type errors
@@ -711,64 +765,71 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `foo` can't contain negative locations.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo` can't contain negative locations.
     Code
       (expect_error(num_as_location2(-1, 2, negative = "error", arg = "foo", call = call(
         "my_function")), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `foo` must be a positive location, not -1.
+      ! Can't extract element with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo` must be a positive location, not -1.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(0, 2, arg = "foo", call = call("my_function")),
       class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `foo` must be a positive location, not 0.
+      ! Can't extract element with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo` must be a positive location, not 0.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(na_dbl, 2, arg = "foo", call = call(
         "my_function")), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `foo` must be a location, not an integer `NA`.
+      ! Can't extract element with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo` must be a location, not an integer `NA`.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location2(c(1, 2), 2, arg = "foo", call = call(
         "my_function")), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `foo` must be size 1, not 2.
+      ! Can't extract element with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo` must be size 1, not 2.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location(c(TRUE, FALSE), 3, arg = "foo", call = call(
         "my_function")), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_size"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_size>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Logical subscript `foo` must be size 1 or 3, not 2.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Logical subscript `foo` must be size 1 or 3, not 2.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location(c(-1, NA), 3, arg = "foo", call = call(
         "my_function")), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Negative locations can't have missing values.
-      i Subscript `foo` has a missing value at location 2.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Negative locations can't have missing values.
+      x `foo` has 1 missing value at location 2.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location(c(-1, 1), 3, arg = "foo", call = call(
         "my_function")), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `foo`.
       x Negative and positive locations can't be mixed.
       i Subscript `foo` has a positive value at location 2.
     Code
@@ -786,8 +847,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error in `my_function()`:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `foo` can't contain `0` values.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `foo`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo` can't contain `0` values.
       i It has a `0` value at location 1.
     Code
       # With tibble columns
@@ -796,64 +858,71 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must rename columns with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `foo(bar)` can't contain negative locations.
+      ! Can't rename columns with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo(bar)` can't contain negative locations.
     Code
       (expect_error(with_tibble_cols(num_as_location2(-1, 2, negative = "error")),
       class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must rename column with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `foo(bar)` must be a positive location, not -1.
+      ! Can't rename column with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo(bar)` must be a positive location, not -1.
     Code
       (expect_error(with_tibble_cols(vec_as_location2(0, 2)), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must rename column with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `foo(bar)` must be a positive location, not 0.
+      ! Can't rename column with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo(bar)` must be a positive location, not 0.
     Code
       (expect_error(with_tibble_cols(vec_as_location2(na_dbl, 2)), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must rename column with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `foo(bar)` must be a location, not an integer `NA`.
+      ! Can't rename column with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo(bar)` must be a location, not an integer `NA`.
     Code
       (expect_error(with_tibble_cols(vec_as_location2(c(1, 2), 2)), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must rename column with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript `foo(bar)` must be size 1, not 2.
+      ! Can't rename column with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo(bar)` must be size 1, not 2.
     Code
       (expect_error(with_tibble_cols(vec_as_location(c(TRUE, FALSE), 3)), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_size")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_size>
       Error:
-      ! Must rename columns with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Logical subscript `foo(bar)` must be size 1 or 3, not 2.
+      ! Can't rename columns with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Logical subscript `c(TRUE, FALSE)` must be size 1 or 3, not 2.
     Code
       (expect_error(with_tibble_cols(vec_as_location(c(-1, NA), 3)), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must rename columns with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Negative locations can't have missing values.
-      i Subscript `foo(bar)` has a missing value at location 2.
+      ! Can't rename columns with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Negative locations can't have missing values.
+      x `foo(bar)` has 1 missing value at location 2.
     Code
       (expect_error(with_tibble_cols(vec_as_location(c(-1, 1), 3)), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must rename columns with a valid subscript vector.
+      ! Can't rename columns with `foo(bar)`.
       x Negative and positive locations can't be mixed.
       i Subscript `foo(bar)` has a positive value at location 2.
     Code
@@ -871,8 +940,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must rename columns with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `foo(bar)` can't contain `0` values.
+      ! Can't rename columns with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo(bar)` can't contain `0` values.
       i It has a `0` value at location 1.
 
 # can customise OOB errors
@@ -1020,24 +1090,27 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `matrix(TRUE, nrow = 1)` must be a simple vector, not a matrix.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `matrix(TRUE, nrow = 1)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `matrix(TRUE, nrow = 1)` must be a simple vector, not a matrix.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_location(array(TRUE, dim = c(1, 1, 1)), 3L), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `array(TRUE, dim = c(1, 1, 1))` must be a simple vector, not an array.
+      ! Can't subset elements with `array(TRUE, dim = c(1, 1, 1))`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `array(TRUE, dim = c(1, 1, 1))` must be a simple vector, not an array.
     Code
       (expect_error(with_tibble_rows(vec_as_location(matrix(TRUE, nrow = 1), 3L)),
       class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must remove rows with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `foo(bar)` must be a simple vector, not a matrix.
+      ! Can't remove rows with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo(bar)` must be a simple vector, not a matrix.
 
 # vec_as_location() UI
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/subscript.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/subscript.md
index 1e0a13fa4..7385e7810 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/subscript.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/subscript.md
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must rename columns with a valid subscript vector.
-      x `foo(bar)` must be logical, numeric, or character, not an environment.
+      ! Can't rename columns with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo(bar)` must be logical, numeric, or character, not an environment.
 
 ---
 
@@ -17,8 +18,9 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must extract tables with a valid subscript vector.
-      x `foo(bar)` must be logical, numeric, or character, not an environment.
+      ! Can't extract tables with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo(bar)` must be logical, numeric, or character, not an environment.
 
 # vec_as_subscript() checks dimensionality
 
@@ -28,24 +30,27 @@
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript must be a simple vector, not a matrix.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript must be a simple vector, not a matrix.
     Code
       (expect_error(vec_as_subscript(array(TRUE, dim = c(1, 1, 1))), class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type")
       )
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript must be a simple vector, not an array.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript must be a simple vector, not an array.
     Code
       (expect_error(with_tibble_rows(vec_as_subscript(matrix(TRUE, nrow = 1))),
       class = "vctrs_error_subscript_type"))
     Output
       <error/vctrs_error_subscript_type>
       Error:
-      ! Must remove rows with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript `foo(bar)` must be a simple vector, not a matrix.
+      ! Can't remove rows with `foo(bar)`.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! `foo(bar)` must be a simple vector, not a matrix.
 
 # vec_as_subscript() forbids subscript types
 
@@ -53,8 +58,9 @@
       vec_as_subscript(1L, logical = "error", numeric = "error")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript must be character, not the number 1.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript must be character, not the number 1.
 
 ---
 
@@ -62,8 +68,9 @@
       vec_as_subscript("foo", logical = "error", character = "error")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript must be numeric, not the string "foo".
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript must be numeric, not the string "foo".
 
 ---
 
@@ -71,8 +78,9 @@
       vec_as_subscript(TRUE, logical = "error")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript must be numeric or character, not `TRUE`.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript must be numeric or character, not `TRUE`.
 
 ---
 
@@ -80,8 +88,9 @@
       vec_as_subscript("foo", character = "error")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript must be logical or numeric, not the string "foo".
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript must be logical or numeric, not the string "foo".
 
 ---
 
@@ -89,8 +98,9 @@
       vec_as_subscript(NULL, numeric = "error")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript must be logical or character, not `NULL`.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript must be logical or character, not `NULL`.
 
 ---
 
@@ -98,8 +108,9 @@
       vec_as_subscript(quote(foo), character = "error")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must subset elements with a valid subscript vector.
-      x Subscript must be logical or numeric, not a symbol.
+      ! Can't subset elements.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript must be logical or numeric, not a symbol.
 
 # vec_as_subscript2() forbids subscript types
 
@@ -107,8 +118,9 @@
       vec_as_subscript2(1L, numeric = "error")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript must be character, not the number 1.
+      ! Can't extract element.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript must be character, not the number 1.
 
 ---
 
@@ -116,8 +128,9 @@
       vec_as_subscript2("foo", character = "error")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript must be numeric, not the string "foo".
+      ! Can't extract element.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript must be numeric, not the string "foo".
 
 ---
 
@@ -125,8 +138,9 @@
       vec_as_subscript2(TRUE)
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript must be numeric or character, not `TRUE`.
+      ! Can't extract element.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript must be numeric or character, not `TRUE`.
 
 # vec_as_subscript2() retains the call when throwing vec_as_subscript() errors (#1605)
 
@@ -134,8 +148,9 @@
       vec_as_subscript2(1L, numeric = "error", call = call("foo"))
     Condition
       Error in `foo()`:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript must be character, not the number 1.
+      ! Can't extract element.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript must be character, not the number 1.
 
 ---
 
@@ -143,8 +158,9 @@
       vec_as_subscript2(1.5, call = call("foo"))
     Condition
       Error in `foo()`:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Can't convert from <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
+      ! Can't extract element.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Can't convert from <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
 
 # vec_as_subscript2() retains the call when erroring on logical input (#1605)
 
@@ -152,8 +168,9 @@
       vec_as_subscript2(TRUE, call = call("foo"))
     Condition
       Error in `foo()`:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript must be numeric or character, not `TRUE`.
+      ! Can't extract element.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript must be numeric or character, not `TRUE`.
 
 # `logical = 'cast'` is deprecated
 
@@ -169,8 +186,9 @@
       vec_as_subscript2(TRUE, logical = "error")
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Subscript must be numeric or character, not `TRUE`.
+      ! Can't extract element.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Subscript must be numeric or character, not `TRUE`.
 
 # lossy cast errors for scalar subscripts work (#1606)
 
@@ -178,6 +196,7 @@
       vec_as_subscript2(1.5)
     Condition
       Error:
-      ! Must extract element with a single valid subscript.
-      x Can't convert from <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.
+      ! Can't extract element.
+      Caused by error:
+      ! Can't convert from <double> to <integer> due to loss of precision.