--- a/src/message.c
+++ b/src/message.c
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
 static void add_msg_hist(char_u *s, int len, int attr);
 static void hit_return_msg(void);
 static void msg_home_replace_attr(char_u *fname, int attr);
-static void msg_puts_attr_len(char_u *str, int maxlen, int attr);
+static void msg_puts_attr_len(char *str, int maxlen, int attr);
 static void msg_puts_display(char_u *str, int maxlen, int attr, int recurse);
 static void msg_scroll_up(void);
 static void inc_msg_scrolled(void);
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ static int  verbose_did_open = FALSE;
  * return TRUE if wait_return not called
  */
     int
-msg(char_u *s)
+msg(char *s)
 {
     return msg_attr_keep(s, 0, FALSE);
 }
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ msg(char_u *s)
  * Like msg() but keep it silent when 'verbosefile' is set.
  */
     int
-verb_msg(char_u *s)
+verb_msg(char *s)
 {
     int		n;
 
@@ -120,14 +120,14 @@ verb_msg(char_u *s)
 #endif
 
     int
-msg_attr(char_u *s, int attr)
+msg_attr(char *s, int attr)
 {
     return msg_attr_keep(s, attr, FALSE);
 }
 
     int
 msg_attr_keep(
-    char_u	*s,
+    char	*s,
     int		attr,
     int		keep)	    /* TRUE: set keep_msg if it doesn't scroll */
 {
@@ -137,12 +137,12 @@ msg_attr_keep(
 
     /* Skip messages not matching ":filter pattern".
      * Don't filter when there is an error. */
-    if (!emsg_on_display && message_filtered(s))
+    if (!emsg_on_display && message_filtered((char_u *)s))
 	return TRUE;
 
 #ifdef FEAT_EVAL
     if (attr == 0)
-	set_vim_var_string(VV_STATUSMSG, s, -1);
+	set_vim_var_string(VV_STATUSMSG, (char_u *)s, -1);
 #endif
 
     /*
@@ -156,12 +156,12 @@ msg_attr_keep(
 
     /* Add message to history (unless it's a repeated kept message or a
      * truncated message) */
-    if (s != keep_msg
+    if ((char_u *)s != keep_msg
 	    || (*s != '<'
 		&& last_msg_hist != NULL
 		&& last_msg_hist->msg != NULL
 		&& STRCMP(s, last_msg_hist->msg)))
-	add_msg_hist(s, -1, attr);
+	add_msg_hist((char_u *)s, -1, attr);
 
 #ifdef FEAT_JOB_CHANNEL
     if (emsg_to_channel_log)
@@ -171,22 +171,22 @@ msg_attr_keep(
 
     /* When displaying keep_msg, don't let msg_start() free it, caller must do
      * that. */
-    if (s == keep_msg)
+    if ((char_u *)s == keep_msg)
 	keep_msg = NULL;
 
     /* Truncate the message if needed. */
     msg_start();
-    buf = msg_strtrunc(s, FALSE);
+    buf = msg_strtrunc((char_u *)s, FALSE);
     if (buf != NULL)
-	s = buf;
-
-    msg_outtrans_attr(s, attr);
+	s = (char *)buf;
+
+    msg_outtrans_attr((char_u *)s, attr);
     msg_clr_eos();
     retval = msg_end();
 
-    if (keep && retval && vim_strsize(s) < (int)(Rows - cmdline_row - 1)
-							   * Columns + sc_col)
-	set_keep_msg(s, 0);
+    if (keep && retval && vim_strsize((char_u *)s)
+			    < (int)(Rows - cmdline_row - 1) * Columns + sc_col)
+	set_keep_msg((char_u *)s, 0);
 
     vim_free(buf);
     --entered;
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ smsg(const char *s, ...)
     va_start(arglist, s);
     vim_vsnprintf((char *)IObuff, IOSIZE, s, arglist);
     va_end(arglist);
-    return msg(IObuff);
+    return msg((char *)IObuff);
 }
 
     int
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ smsg_attr(int attr, const char *s, ...)
     va_start(arglist, s);
     vim_vsnprintf((char *)IObuff, IOSIZE, s, arglist);
     va_end(arglist);
-    return msg_attr(IObuff, attr);
+    return msg_attr((char *)IObuff, attr);
 }
 
     int
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ smsg_attr_keep(int attr, const char *s, 
     va_start(arglist, s);
     vim_vsnprintf((char *)IObuff, IOSIZE, s, arglist);
     va_end(arglist);
-    return msg_attr_keep(IObuff, attr, TRUE);
+    return msg_attr_keep((char *)IObuff, attr, TRUE);
 }
 
 #endif
@@ -502,13 +502,13 @@ msg_source(int attr)
     p = get_emsg_source();
     if (p != NULL)
     {
-	msg_attr(p, attr);
+	msg_attr((char *)p, attr);
 	vim_free(p);
     }
     p = get_emsg_lnum();
     if (p != NULL)
     {
-	msg_attr(p, HL_ATTR(HLF_N));
+	msg_attr((char *)p, HL_ATTR(HLF_N));
 	vim_free(p);
 	last_sourcing_lnum = sourcing_lnum;  /* only once for each line */
     }
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ emsg_core(char_u *s)
     /* When testing some errors are turned into a normal message. */
     if (ignore_error(s))
 	/* don't call msg() if it results in a dialog */
-	return msg_use_printf() ? FALSE : msg(s);
+	return msg_use_printf() ? FALSE : msg((char *)s);
 #endif
 
     called_emsg = TRUE;
@@ -716,7 +716,7 @@ emsg_core(char_u *s)
      * Display the error message itself.
      */
     msg_nowait = FALSE;			/* wait for this msg */
-    r = msg_attr(s, attr);
+    r = msg_attr((char *)s, attr);
 
 #ifdef FEAT_JOB_CHANNEL
     emsg_to_channel_log = FALSE;
@@ -817,22 +817,23 @@ emsg_invreg(int name)
  * Careful: The string may be changed by msg_may_trunc()!
  * Returns a pointer to the printed message, if wait_return() not called.
  */
-    char_u *
-msg_trunc_attr(char_u *s, int force, int attr)
+    char *
+msg_trunc_attr(char *s, int force, int attr)
 {
     int		n;
+    char	*ts;
 
     /* Add message to history before truncating */
-    add_msg_hist(s, -1, attr);
-
-    s = msg_may_trunc(force, s);
+    add_msg_hist((char_u *)s, -1, attr);
+
+    ts = (char *)msg_may_trunc(force, (char_u *)s);
 
     msg_hist_off = TRUE;
-    n = msg_attr(s, attr);
+    n = msg_attr(ts, attr);
     msg_hist_off = FALSE;
 
     if (n)
-	return s;
+	return ts;
     return NULL;
 }
 
@@ -983,7 +984,7 @@ ex_messages(exarg_T *eap)
 	if (s != NULL && *s != NUL)
 	    // The next comment is extracted by xgettext and put in po file for
 	    // translators to read.
-	    msg_attr((char_u *)
+	    msg_attr(
 		    // Translator: Please replace the name and email address
 		    // with the appropriate text for your translation.
 		    _("Messages maintainer: Bram Moolenaar <Bram@vim.org>"),
@@ -993,7 +994,7 @@ ex_messages(exarg_T *eap)
     /* Display what was not skipped. */
     for (; p != NULL && !got_int; p = p->next)
 	if (p->msg != NULL)
-	    msg_attr(p->msg, p->attr);
+	    msg_attr((char *)p->msg, p->attr);
 
     msg_hist_off = FALSE;
 }
@@ -1016,10 +1017,10 @@ msg_end_prompt(void)
 #endif
 
 /*
- * wait for the user to hit a key (normally a return)
- * if 'redraw' is TRUE, clear and redraw the screen
- * if 'redraw' is FALSE, just redraw the screen
- * if 'redraw' is -1, don't redraw at all
+ * Wait for the user to hit a key (normally Enter).
+ * If "redraw" is TRUE, clear and redraw the screen.
+ * If "redraw" is FALSE, just redraw the screen.
+ * If "redraw" is -1, don't redraw at all.
  */
     void
 wait_return(int redraw)
@@ -1065,7 +1066,7 @@ wait_return(int redraw)
     }
     else if (exmode_active)
     {
-	MSG_PUTS(" ");		/* make sure the cursor is on the right line */
+	msg_puts(" ");		/* make sure the cursor is on the right line */
 	c = CAR;		/* no need for a return in ex mode */
 	got_int = FALSE;
     }
@@ -1281,9 +1282,9 @@ hit_return_msg(void)
     if (msg_didout)	/* start on a new line */
 	msg_putchar('\n');
     if (got_int)
-	MSG_PUTS(_("Interrupt: "));
-
-    MSG_PUTS_ATTR(_("Press ENTER or type command to continue"), HL_ATTR(HLF_R));
+	msg_puts(_("Interrupt: "));
+
+    msg_puts_attr(_("Press ENTER or type command to continue"), HL_ATTR(HLF_R));
     if (!msg_use_printf())
 	msg_clr_eos();
     p_more = save_p_more;
@@ -1388,9 +1389,9 @@ msg_putchar(int c)
 msg_putchar_attr(int c, int attr)
 {
 #ifdef FEAT_MBYTE
-    char_u	buf[MB_MAXBYTES + 1];
+    char	buf[MB_MAXBYTES + 1];
 #else
-    char_u	buf[4];
+    char	buf[4];
 #endif
 
     if (IS_SPECIAL(c))
@@ -1403,7 +1404,7 @@ msg_putchar_attr(int c, int attr)
     else
     {
 #ifdef FEAT_MBYTE
-	buf[(*mb_char2bytes)(c, buf)] = NUL;
+	buf[(*mb_char2bytes)(c, (char_u *)buf)] = NUL;
 #else
 	buf[0] = c;
 	buf[1] = NUL;
@@ -1415,9 +1416,9 @@ msg_putchar_attr(int c, int attr)
     void
 msg_outnum(long n)
 {
-    char_u	buf[20];
-
-    sprintf((char *)buf, "%ld", n);
+    char	buf[20];
+
+    sprintf(buf, "%ld", n);
     msg_puts(buf);
 }
 
@@ -1486,7 +1487,7 @@ msg_outtrans_one(char_u *p, int attr)
 	return p + l;
     }
 #endif
-    msg_puts_attr(transchar_byte(*p), attr);
+    msg_puts_attr((char *)transchar_byte(*p), attr);
     return p + 1;
 }
 
@@ -1513,7 +1514,7 @@ msg_outtrans_len_attr(char_u *msgstr, in
     /* If the string starts with a composing character first draw a space on
      * which the composing char can be drawn. */
     if (enc_utf8 && utf_iscomposing(utf_ptr2char(msgstr)))
-	msg_puts_attr((char_u *)" ", attr);
+	msg_puts_attr(" ", attr);
 #endif
 
     /*
@@ -1541,10 +1542,11 @@ msg_outtrans_len_attr(char_u *msgstr, in
 		/* unprintable multi-byte char: print the printable chars so
 		 * far and the translation of the unprintable char. */
 		if (str > plain_start)
-		    msg_puts_attr_len(plain_start, (int)(str - plain_start),
-									attr);
+		    msg_puts_attr_len((char *)plain_start,
+					       (int)(str - plain_start), attr);
 		plain_start = str + mb_l;
-		msg_puts_attr(transchar(c), attr == 0 ? HL_ATTR(HLF_8) : attr);
+		msg_puts_attr((char *)transchar(c),
+					    attr == 0 ? HL_ATTR(HLF_8) : attr);
 		retval += char2cells(c);
 	    }
 	    len -= mb_l - 1;
@@ -1559,10 +1561,10 @@ msg_outtrans_len_attr(char_u *msgstr, in
 		/* unprintable char: print the printable chars so far and the
 		 * translation of the unprintable char. */
 		if (str > plain_start)
-		    msg_puts_attr_len(plain_start, (int)(str - plain_start),
-									attr);
+		    msg_puts_attr_len((char *)plain_start,
+					       (int)(str - plain_start), attr);
 		plain_start = str + 1;
-		msg_puts_attr(s, attr == 0 ? HL_ATTR(HLF_8) : attr);
+		msg_puts_attr((char *)s, attr == 0 ? HL_ATTR(HLF_8) : attr);
 		retval += (int)STRLEN(s);
 	    }
 	    else
@@ -1573,7 +1575,7 @@ msg_outtrans_len_attr(char_u *msgstr, in
 
     if (str > plain_start)
 	/* print the printable chars at the end */
-	msg_puts_attr_len(plain_start, (int)(str - plain_start), attr);
+	msg_puts_attr_len((char *)plain_start, (int)(str - plain_start), attr);
 
     return retval;
 }
@@ -1619,7 +1621,7 @@ msg_outtrans_special(
 {
     char_u	*str = strstart;
     int		retval = 0;
-    char_u	*string;
+    char	*text;
     int		attr;
     int		len;
 
@@ -1629,16 +1631,16 @@ msg_outtrans_special(
 	/* Leading and trailing spaces need to be displayed in <> form. */
 	if ((str == strstart || str[1] == NUL) && *str == ' ')
 	{
-	    string = (char_u *)"<Space>";
+	    text = "<Space>";
 	    ++str;
 	}
 	else
-	    string = str2special(&str, from);
-	len = vim_strsize(string);
+	    text = (char *)str2special(&str, from);
+	len = vim_strsize((char_u *)text);
 	/* Highlight special keys */
-	msg_puts_attr(string, len > 1
+	msg_puts_attr(text, len > 1
 #ifdef FEAT_MBYTE
-		&& (*mb_ptr2len)(string) <= 1
+		&& (*mb_ptr2len)((char_u *)text) <= 1
 #endif
 		? attr : 0);
 	retval += len;
@@ -1825,7 +1827,7 @@ msg_prt_line(char_u *s, int list)
 		mch_memmove(buf, s, (size_t)l);
 		buf[l] = NUL;
 	    }
-	    msg_puts(buf);
+	    msg_puts((char *)buf);
 	    s += l;
 	    continue;
 	}
@@ -1957,14 +1959,13 @@ screen_puts_mbyte(char_u *s, int l, int 
  * Update msg_row and msg_col for the next message.
  */
     void
-msg_puts(char_u *s)
+msg_puts(char *s)
 {
     msg_puts_attr(s, 0);
 }
 
     void
-msg_puts_title(
-    char_u	*s)
+msg_puts_title(char *s)
 {
     msg_puts_attr(s, HL_ATTR(HLF_T));
 }
@@ -1975,13 +1976,13 @@ msg_puts_title(
  * Does not handle multi-byte characters!
  */
     void
-msg_puts_long_attr(char_u *longstr, int attr)
+msg_outtrans_long_attr(char_u *longstr, int attr)
 {
-    msg_puts_long_len_attr(longstr, (int)STRLEN(longstr), attr);
+    msg_outtrans_long_len_attr(longstr, (int)STRLEN(longstr), attr);
 }
 
     void
-msg_puts_long_len_attr(char_u *longstr, int len, int attr)
+msg_outtrans_long_len_attr(char_u *longstr, int len, int attr)
 {
     int		slen = len;
     int		room;
@@ -1991,7 +1992,7 @@ msg_puts_long_len_attr(char_u *longstr, 
     {
 	slen = (room - 3) / 2;
 	msg_outtrans_len_attr(longstr, slen, attr);
-	msg_puts_attr((char_u *)"...", HL_ATTR(HLF_8));
+	msg_puts_attr("...", HL_ATTR(HLF_8));
     }
     msg_outtrans_len_attr(longstr + len - slen, slen, attr);
 }
@@ -2000,7 +2001,7 @@ msg_puts_long_len_attr(char_u *longstr, 
  * Basic function for writing a message with highlight attributes.
  */
     void
-msg_puts_attr(char_u *s, int attr)
+msg_puts_attr(char *s, int attr)
 {
     msg_puts_attr_len(s, -1, attr);
 }
@@ -2011,12 +2012,12 @@ msg_puts_attr(char_u *s, int attr)
  * When "maxlen" is >= 0 the message is not put in the history.
  */
     static void
-msg_puts_attr_len(char_u *str, int maxlen, int attr)
+msg_puts_attr_len(char *str, int maxlen, int attr)
 {
     /*
      * If redirection is on, also write to the redirection file.
      */
-    redir_write(str, maxlen);
+    redir_write((char_u *)str, maxlen);
 
     /*
      * Don't print anything when using ":silent cmd".
@@ -2027,7 +2028,7 @@ msg_puts_attr_len(char_u *str, int maxle
     /* if MSG_HIST flag set, add message to history */
     if ((attr & MSG_HIST) && maxlen < 0)
     {
-	add_msg_hist(str, -1, attr);
+	add_msg_hist((char_u *)str, -1, attr);
 	attr &= ~MSG_HIST;
     }
 
@@ -2049,9 +2050,9 @@ msg_puts_attr_len(char_u *str, int maxle
      * cursor is.
      */
     if (msg_use_printf())
-	msg_puts_printf(str, maxlen);
+	msg_puts_printf((char_u *)str, maxlen);
     else
-	msg_puts_display(str, maxlen, attr, FALSE);
+	msg_puts_display((char_u *)str, maxlen, attr, FALSE);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -3497,7 +3498,7 @@ give_warning(char_u *message, int hl)
 	keep_msg_attr = HL_ATTR(HLF_W);
     else
 	keep_msg_attr = 0;
-    if (msg_attr(message, keep_msg_attr) && msg_scrolled == 0)
+    if (msg_attr((char *)message, keep_msg_attr) && msg_scrolled == 0)
 	set_keep_msg(message, keep_msg_attr);
     msg_didout = FALSE;	    /* overwrite this message */
     msg_nowait = TRUE;	    /* don't wait for this message */
@@ -3891,7 +3892,7 @@ display_confirm_msg(void)
     /* avoid that 'q' at the more prompt truncates the message here */
     ++confirm_msg_used;
     if (confirm_msg != NULL)
-	msg_puts_attr(confirm_msg, HL_ATTR(HLF_M));
+	msg_puts_attr((char *)confirm_msg, HL_ATTR(HLF_M));
     --confirm_msg_used;
 }