# Validation Messages


When you have an apostrophe (') in your last name you soon realize that a lot of sites don't handle them properly when entering your information. Normally I get a simple error or my last name will be converted to "D" or "Souza". Today I tried to register for a demo for a fairly popular application and received the following error message:

[![](https://cdn.hashnode.com/res/hashnode/image/upload/v1692190784466/00ba1166-d187-4800-b4fe-9dc378798b97.jpeg)](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_33EF80fk9sM/TFEM9QKa-AI/AAAAAAAADyY/02_dHPMaZ24/s1600/validation_101.jpg)
The error message says "Last Name contains errors". Someone clearly didn't do their job when creating this registration form. Besides the fact that I couldn't register with my last name, stating that my last name "contains errors" doesn't really make sense.

I know this post isn't specific to APEX but this is just a reminder when defining  validations to use meaningful error messages.