Error messages could say what to fix

Why does it matter?

"This field is required" repeated under every field tells people something is wrong, but not what. Heard out of context by a screen reader user, or read by someone with a cognitive disability, it may not say which field or what to enter.

Who it affects: Keyboard and screen reader users filling in forms, people with low vision who rely on clear hover and focus styles, people distracted or made unwell by motion, and anyone who finds their way around a site by its menus and help links.

What does Lumtera flag?

Found by Lumtera Pro's form tests (the Forms card of Lumtera → Checks → Page checks, "Test form"): error messages that match a list of generic English phrases such as "This field is required." or "Invalid", with a count. Always a tip, since a message read next to its field may be clear enough. Nothing is sent: a safety guard stops any email, form entry or order while the test runs.

Check ID form-error-not-specific, as shown in review mode and saved results.

How do I fix it in WordPress?

Make each message name the field and say what to enter, for example "Enter your email address, like name@example.com" instead of "This field is required." Most form plugins let you change the messages, per form or in their global settings.

Example

<p id="email-error">This field is required.</p>

<p id="email-error">Enter your email address, like name@example.com.</p>

How do I check the fix?

1. Run the page check again from Lumtera Pro's Page checks screen. The finding disappears once the page passes.
2. Submit the form with the required fields empty, using only the keyboard and then a screen reader: the errors should be announced, focus should move to them, and each message should say what to fix. Hover over and Tab to links and buttons to see that they stay readable, and compare the menus on a few pages.