diff --git a/examples/capture_recapture/cjs.py b/examples/capture_recapture/cjs.py
index 38df3a15b7..3b6539c26d 100644
--- a/examples/capture_recapture/cjs.py
+++ b/examples/capture_recapture/cjs.py
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ def main(args):
         sex = torch.tensor(np.genfromtxt(sex_file, delimiter=',')).float()[:, 1]
         print("Loaded dipper sex data.")
     elif args.dataset == "vole" and args.model in ["4", "5"]:
-        raise ValueError("Cannot run model_{} on meadow voles data, since we lack sex " +
+        raise ValueError("Cannot run model_{} on meadow voles data, since we lack sex "
                          "information for these animals.".format(args.model))
     else:
         sex = None
diff --git a/examples/sparse_regression.py b/examples/sparse_regression.py
index 6f3876fe19..33317d3054 100644
--- a/examples/sparse_regression.py
+++ b/examples/sparse_regression.py
@@ -96,6 +96,8 @@ def model(X, Y, hypers, jitter=1.0e-4):
 hyperparameters (eta1, xisq, ...).
 Compare to theorem 5.1 in reference [1].
 """
+
+
 @torch.no_grad()
 def compute_posterior_stats(X, Y, msq, lam, eta1, xisq, c, var_obs, jitter=1.0e-4):
     N, P = X.shape
diff --git a/pyro/distributions/distribution.py b/pyro/distributions/distribution.py
index 9cbd4a899a..cb12d929b7 100644
--- a/pyro/distributions/distribution.py
+++ b/pyro/distributions/distribution.py
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ def has_rsample_(self, value):
         :rtype: Distribution
         """
         if not (value is True or value is False):
-            raise ValueError("Expected value in {False,True}, actual {}".format(value))
+            raise ValueError("Expected value in [False,True], actual {}".format(value))
         self.has_rsample = value
         return self
 
diff --git a/pyro/poutine/trace_struct.py b/pyro/poutine/trace_struct.py
index 4da96ce728..8596712d17 100644
--- a/pyro/poutine/trace_struct.py
+++ b/pyro/poutine/trace_struct.py
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ def log_prob_sum(self, site_filter=lambda name, site: True):
                     except ValueError:
                         _, exc_value, traceback = sys.exc_info()
                         shapes = self.format_shapes(last_site=site["name"])
-                        raise ValueError("Error while computing log_prob_sum at site '{}':\n{}\n"
+                        raise ValueError("Error while computing log_prob_sum at site '{}':\n{}\n{}\n"
                                          .format(name, exc_value, shapes)).with_traceback(traceback)
                     log_p = scale_and_mask(log_p, site["scale"], site["mask"]).sum()
                     site["log_prob_sum"] = log_p
diff --git a/pyro/util.py b/pyro/util.py
index 12b6013aab..cd02a6ccd9 100644
--- a/pyro/util.py
+++ b/pyro/util.py
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ def check_site_shape(site, max_plate_nesting):
                 expected_shape = [None] * (-f.dim - len(expected_shape)) + expected_shape
             if expected_shape[f.dim] is not None:
                 raise ValueError('\n  '.join([
-                    'at site "{}" within plate("", dim={}), dim collision'.format(site["name"], f.name, f.dim),
+                    'at site "{}" within plate("{}", dim={}), dim collision'.format(site["name"], f.name, f.dim),
                     'Try setting dim arg in other plates.']))
             expected_shape[f.dim] = f.size
     expected_shape = [-1 if e is None else e for e in expected_shape]
diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index 7f965ffb40..6440c2e4ce 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@
 try:
     long_description = open('README.md', encoding='utf-8').read()
 except Exception as e:
-    sys.stderr.write('Failed to read README.md\n'.format(e))
+    sys.stderr.write('Failed to read README.md: {}\n'.format(e))
     sys.stderr.flush()
     long_description = ''