# Custom field name for error messages

**URL:** <https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/custom-field-name-for-error-messages/148184>\
**Category:** Rails\
**Created:** [September 10, 2008, 7:42am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/custom-field-name-for-error-messages/148184 "2008-09-10T07:42:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![tim](https://www.ruby-forum.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ce73a5/32.png) [@tim](https://www.ruby-forum.com/u/tim)\
**Post date:** [September 10, 2008, 7:42am UTC](https://www.ruby-forum.com/t/custom-field-name-for-error-messages/148184/1 "2008-09-10T07:42:16Z")

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I know this may seem nit-picky, but I’m wondering if it’s possible to  
have a custom field name in the error messages instead of the  
attr\_name.

I’ve got a form field that is labeled “E-Mail Address”, but the error  
message looks like this:

- Email address is required

Perhaps a better example… The User model has a field called  
“active”, but the form field is labeled “Status” with options of  
“active” and “inactive”. The error messages end up looking like this:

- Active must be active or inactive

I’d love to have that say Status instead of Active.

Any way this is possible?