--- a/src/ex_cmds2.c
+++ b/src/ex_cmds2.c
@@ -146,22 +146,22 @@ do_debug(char_u *cmd)
 	MSG(_("Entering Debug mode.  Type \"cont\" to continue."));
     if (debug_oldval != NULL)
     {
-	smsg((char_u *)_("Oldval = \"%s\""), debug_oldval);
+	smsg(_("Oldval = \"%s\""), debug_oldval);
 	vim_free(debug_oldval);
 	debug_oldval = NULL;
     }
     if (debug_newval != NULL)
     {
-	smsg((char_u *)_("Newval = \"%s\""), debug_newval);
+	smsg(_("Newval = \"%s\""), debug_newval);
 	vim_free(debug_newval);
 	debug_newval = NULL;
     }
     if (sourcing_name != NULL)
 	msg(sourcing_name);
     if (sourcing_lnum != 0)
-	smsg((char_u *)_("line %ld: %s"), (long)sourcing_lnum, cmd);
+	smsg(_("line %ld: %s"), (long)sourcing_lnum, cmd);
     else
-	smsg((char_u *)_("cmd: %s"), cmd);
+	smsg(_("cmd: %s"), cmd);
     /*
      * Repeat getting a command and executing it.
      */
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ do_checkbacktracelevel(void)
 	if (debug_backtrace_level > max)
 	{
 	    debug_backtrace_level = max;
-	    smsg((char_u *)_("frame at highest level: %d"), max);
+	    smsg(_("frame at highest level: %d"), max);
 	}
     }
 }
@@ -421,9 +421,9 @@ do_showbacktrace(char_u *cmd)
 	    if (next != NULL)
 		*next = NUL;
 	    if (i == max - debug_backtrace_level)
-		smsg((char_u *)"->%d %s", max - i, cur);
+		smsg("->%d %s", max - i, cur);
 	    else
-		smsg((char_u *)"  %d %s", max - i, cur);
+		smsg("  %d %s", max - i, cur);
 	    ++i;
 	    if (next == NULL)
 		break;
@@ -432,9 +432,9 @@ do_showbacktrace(char_u *cmd)
 	}
     }
     if (sourcing_lnum != 0)
-       smsg((char_u *)_("line %ld: %s"), (long)sourcing_lnum, cmd);
+       smsg(_("line %ld: %s"), (long)sourcing_lnum, cmd);
     else
-       smsg((char_u *)_("cmd: %s"), cmd);
+       smsg(_("cmd: %s"), cmd);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ dbg_check_breakpoint(exarg_T *eap)
 		p = (char_u *)"<SNR>";
 	    else
 		p = (char_u *)"";
-	    smsg((char_u *)_("Breakpoint in \"%s%s\" line %ld"),
+	    smsg(_("Breakpoint in \"%s%s\" line %ld"),
 		    p,
 		    debug_breakpoint_name + (*p == NUL ? 0 : 3),
 		    (long)debug_breakpoint_lnum);
@@ -607,7 +607,7 @@ dbg_parsearg(
     {
 	if (curbuf->b_ffname == NULL)
 	{
-	    EMSG(_(e_noname));
+	    emsg(_(e_noname));
 	    return FAIL;
 	}
 	bp->dbg_type = DBG_FILE;
@@ -621,7 +621,7 @@ dbg_parsearg(
 	bp->dbg_type = DBG_EXPR;
     else
     {
-	EMSG2(_(e_invarg2), p);
+	semsg(_(e_invarg2), p);
 	return FAIL;
     }
     p = skipwhite(p + 4);
@@ -646,7 +646,7 @@ dbg_parsearg(
 	    || (here && *p != NUL)
 	    || (bp->dbg_type == DBG_FUNC && strstr((char *)p, "()") != NULL))
     {
-	EMSG2(_(e_invarg2), arg);
+	semsg(_(e_invarg2), arg);
 	return FAIL;
     }
 
@@ -817,7 +817,7 @@ ex_breakdel(exarg_T *eap)
     }
 
     if (todel < 0)
-	EMSG2(_("E161: Breakpoint not found: %s"), eap->arg);
+	semsg(_("E161: Breakpoint not found: %s"), eap->arg);
     else
     {
 	while (gap->ga_len > 0)
@@ -865,13 +865,13 @@ ex_breaklist(exarg_T *eap UNUSED)
 	    if (bp->dbg_type == DBG_FILE)
 		home_replace(NULL, bp->dbg_name, NameBuff, MAXPATHL, TRUE);
 	    if (bp->dbg_type != DBG_EXPR)
-		smsg((char_u *)_("%3d  %s %s  line %ld"),
+		smsg(_("%3d  %s %s  line %ld"),
 		    bp->dbg_nr,
 		    bp->dbg_type == DBG_FUNC ? "func" : "file",
 		    bp->dbg_type == DBG_FUNC ? bp->dbg_name : NameBuff,
 		    (long)bp->dbg_lnum);
 	    else
-		smsg((char_u *)_("%3d  expr %s"),
+		smsg(_("%3d  expr %s"),
 		    bp->dbg_nr, bp->dbg_name);
 	}
 }
@@ -1726,7 +1726,7 @@ ex_profile(exarg_T *eap)
 	set_vim_var_nr(VV_PROFILING, 1L);
     }
     else if (do_profiling == PROF_NONE)
-	EMSG(_("E750: First use \":profile start {fname}\""));
+	emsg(_("E750: First use \":profile start {fname}\""));
     else if (STRCMP(eap->arg, "pause") == 0)
     {
 	if (do_profiling == PROF_YES)
@@ -1828,7 +1828,7 @@ profile_dump(void)
     {
 	fd = mch_fopen((char *)profile_fname, "w");
 	if (fd == NULL)
-	    EMSG2(_(e_notopen), profile_fname);
+	    semsg(_(e_notopen), profile_fname);
 	else
 	{
 	    script_dump_profile(fd);
@@ -2357,11 +2357,11 @@ check_changed_any(
 	if (
 #ifdef FEAT_TERMINAL
 		term_job_running(buf->b_term)
-		    ? EMSG2(_("E947: Job still running in buffer \"%s\""),
+		    ? semsg(_("E947: Job still running in buffer \"%s\""),
 								  buf->b_fname)
 		    :
 #endif
-		EMSG2(_("E162: No write since last change for buffer \"%s\""),
+		semsg(_("E162: No write since last change for buffer \"%s\""),
 		    buf_spname(buf) != NULL ? buf_spname(buf) : buf->b_fname))
 	{
 	    save = no_wait_return;
@@ -2407,7 +2407,7 @@ check_fname(void)
 {
     if (curbuf->b_ffname == NULL)
     {
-	EMSG(_(e_noname));
+	emsg(_(e_noname));
 	return FAIL;
     }
     return OK;
@@ -2629,7 +2629,7 @@ do_arglist(
 	    vim_regfree(regmatch.regprog);
 	    vim_free(p);
 	    if (!didone)
-		EMSG2(_(e_nomatch2), ((char_u **)new_ga.ga_data)[i]);
+		semsg(_(e_nomatch2), ((char_u **)new_ga.ga_data)[i]);
 	}
 	ga_clear(&new_ga);
     }
@@ -2640,7 +2640,7 @@ do_arglist(
 	ga_clear(&new_ga);
 	if (i == FAIL || exp_count == 0)
 	{
-	    EMSG(_(e_nomatch));
+	    emsg(_(e_nomatch));
 	    return FAIL;
 	}
 
@@ -2847,11 +2847,11 @@ do_argfile(exarg_T *eap, int argn)
     if (argn < 0 || argn >= ARGCOUNT)
     {
 	if (ARGCOUNT <= 1)
-	    EMSG(_("E163: There is only one file to edit"));
+	    emsg(_("E163: There is only one file to edit"));
 	else if (argn < 0)
-	    EMSG(_("E164: Cannot go before first file"));
+	    emsg(_("E164: Cannot go before first file"));
 	else
-	    EMSG(_("E165: Cannot go beyond last file"));
+	    emsg(_("E165: Cannot go beyond last file"));
     }
     else
     {
@@ -2992,12 +2992,12 @@ ex_argdelete(exarg_T *eap)
 	n = eap->line2 - eap->line1 + 1;
 	if (*eap->arg != NUL)
 	    /* Can't have both a range and an argument. */
-	    EMSG(_(e_invarg));
+	    emsg(_(e_invarg));
 	else if (n <= 0)
 	{
 	    /* Don't give an error for ":%argdel" if the list is empty. */
 	    if (eap->line1 != 1 || eap->line2 != 0)
-		EMSG(_(e_invrange));
+		emsg(_(e_invrange));
 	}
 	else
 	{
@@ -3017,7 +3017,7 @@ ex_argdelete(exarg_T *eap)
 	}
     }
     else if (*eap->arg == NUL)
-	EMSG(_(e_argreq));
+	emsg(_(e_argreq));
     else
 	do_arglist(eap->arg, AL_DEL, 0, FALSE);
 #ifdef FEAT_TITLE
@@ -3364,7 +3364,7 @@ ex_compiler(exarg_T *eap)
 
 	    sprintf((char *)buf, "compiler/%s.vim", eap->arg);
 	    if (source_runtime(buf, DIP_ALL) == FAIL)
-		EMSG2(_("E666: compiler not supported: %s"), eap->arg);
+		semsg(_("E666: compiler not supported: %s"), eap->arg);
 	    vim_free(buf);
 
 	    do_cmdline_cmd((char_u *)":delcommand CompilerSet");
@@ -3476,7 +3476,7 @@ do_in_path(
 	if (p_verbose > 1 && name != NULL)
 	{
 	    verbose_enter();
-	    smsg((char_u *)_("Searching for \"%s\" in \"%s\""),
+	    smsg(_("Searching for \"%s\" in \"%s\""),
 						 (char *)name, (char *)path);
 	    verbose_leave();
 	}
@@ -3524,7 +3524,7 @@ do_in_path(
 		    if (p_verbose > 2)
 		    {
 			verbose_enter();
-			smsg((char_u *)_("Searching for \"%s\""), buf);
+			smsg(_("Searching for \"%s\""), buf);
 			verbose_leave();
 		    }
 
@@ -3552,11 +3552,11 @@ do_in_path(
 	char *basepath = path == p_rtp ? "runtimepath" : "packpath";
 
 	if (flags & DIP_ERR)
-	    EMSG3(_(e_dirnotf), basepath, name);
+	    semsg(_(e_dirnotf), basepath, name);
 	else if (p_verbose > 0)
 	{
 	    verbose_enter();
-	    smsg((char_u *)_("not found in '%s': \"%s\""), basepath, name);
+	    smsg(_("not found in '%s': \"%s\""), basepath, name);
 	    verbose_leave();
 	}
     }
@@ -4208,7 +4208,7 @@ ex_source(exarg_T *eap)
 cmd_source(char_u *fname, exarg_T *eap)
 {
     if (*fname == NUL)
-	EMSG(_(e_argreq));
+	emsg(_(e_argreq));
 
     else if (eap != NULL && eap->forceit)
 	/* ":source!": read Normal mode commands
@@ -4227,7 +4227,7 @@ cmd_source(char_u *fname, exarg_T *eap)
 
     /* ":source" read ex commands */
     else if (do_source(fname, FALSE, DOSO_NONE) == FAIL)
-	EMSG2(_(e_notopen), fname);
+	semsg(_(e_notopen), fname);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -4371,7 +4371,7 @@ do_source(
 	return retval;
     if (mch_isdir(fname_exp))
     {
-	smsg((char_u *)_("Cannot source a directory: \"%s\""), fname);
+	smsg(_("Cannot source a directory: \"%s\""), fname);
 	goto theend;
     }
 
@@ -4430,9 +4430,9 @@ do_source(
 	{
 	    verbose_enter();
 	    if (sourcing_name == NULL)
-		smsg((char_u *)_("could not source \"%s\""), fname);
+		smsg(_("could not source \"%s\""), fname);
 	    else
-		smsg((char_u *)_("line %ld: could not source \"%s\""),
+		smsg(_("line %ld: could not source \"%s\""),
 							sourcing_lnum, fname);
 	    verbose_leave();
 	}
@@ -4448,9 +4448,9 @@ do_source(
     {
 	verbose_enter();
 	if (sourcing_name == NULL)
-	    smsg((char_u *)_("sourcing \"%s\""), fname);
+	    smsg(_("sourcing \"%s\""), fname);
 	else
-	    smsg((char_u *)_("line %ld: sourcing \"%s\""),
+	    smsg(_("line %ld: sourcing \"%s\""),
 							sourcing_lnum, fname);
 	verbose_leave();
     }
@@ -4638,15 +4638,15 @@ do_source(
 #endif
 
     if (got_int)
-	EMSG(_(e_interr));
+	emsg(_(e_interr));
     sourcing_name = save_sourcing_name;
     sourcing_lnum = save_sourcing_lnum;
     if (p_verbose > 1)
     {
 	verbose_enter();
-	smsg((char_u *)_("finished sourcing %s"), fname);
+	smsg(_("finished sourcing %s"), fname);
 	if (sourcing_name != NULL)
-	    smsg((char_u *)_("continuing in %s"), sourcing_name);
+	    smsg(_("continuing in %s"), sourcing_name);
 	verbose_leave();
     }
 #ifdef STARTUPTIME
@@ -4709,7 +4709,7 @@ ex_scriptnames(exarg_T *eap)
     {
 	// :script {scriptId}: edit the script
 	if (eap->line2 < 1 || eap->line2 > script_items.ga_len)
-	    EMSG(_(e_invarg));
+	    emsg(_(e_invarg));
 	else
 	{
 	    eap->arg = SCRIPT_ITEM(eap->line2).sn_name;
@@ -4723,7 +4723,7 @@ ex_scriptnames(exarg_T *eap)
 	{
 	    home_replace(NULL, SCRIPT_ITEM(i).sn_name,
 						    NameBuff, MAXPATHL, TRUE);
-	    smsg((char_u *)"%3d: %s", i, NameBuff);
+	    smsg("%3d: %s", i, NameBuff);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -5067,7 +5067,7 @@ get_one_sourceline(struct source_cookie 
 		    if (!sp->error)
 		    {
 			msg_source(HL_ATTR(HLF_W));
-			EMSG(_("W15: Warning: Wrong line separator, ^M may be missing"));
+			emsg(_("W15: Warning: Wrong line separator, ^M may be missing"));
 		    }
 		    sp->error = TRUE;
 		    sp->fileformat = EOL_UNIX;
@@ -5200,7 +5200,7 @@ ex_scriptencoding(exarg_T *eap UNUSED)
 
     if (!getline_equal(eap->getline, eap->cookie, getsourceline))
     {
-	EMSG(_("E167: :scriptencoding used outside of a sourced file"));
+	emsg(_("E167: :scriptencoding used outside of a sourced file"));
 	return;
     }
 
@@ -5232,7 +5232,7 @@ ex_finish(exarg_T *eap)
     if (getline_equal(eap->getline, eap->cookie, getsourceline))
 	do_finish(eap, FALSE);
     else
-	EMSG(_("E168: :finish used outside of a sourced file"));
+	emsg(_("E168: :finish used outside of a sourced file"));
 }
 
 /*
@@ -5553,7 +5553,7 @@ ex_language(exarg_T *eap)
 	    p = (char_u *)setlocale(what, NULL);
 	if (p == NULL || *p == NUL)
 	    p = (char_u *)"Unknown";
-	smsg((char_u *)_("Current %slanguage: \"%s\""), whatstr, p);
+	smsg(_("Current %slanguage: \"%s\""), whatstr, p);
     }
     else
     {
@@ -5570,7 +5570,7 @@ ex_language(exarg_T *eap)
 #endif
 	}
 	if (loc == NULL)
-	    EMSG2(_("E197: Cannot set language to \"%s\""), name);
+	    semsg(_("E197: Cannot set language to \"%s\""), name);
 	else
 	{
 #ifdef HAVE_NL_MSG_CAT_CNTR