diff --git a/notebook/services/contents/filemanager.py b/notebook/services/contents/filemanager.py
index e69ee7a48..5754e9407 100644
--- a/notebook/services/contents/filemanager.py
+++ b/notebook/services/contents/filemanager.py
@@ -437,7 +437,7 @@ class FileContentsManager(FileManagerMixin, ContentsManager):
             raise web.HTTPError(404, four_o_four)
 
         if is_hidden(os_path, self.root_dir) and not self.allow_hidden:
-            self.log.info("Refusing to serve hidden file or file in hidden directory %r, via 404 Error", os_path)
+            self.log.info("Refusing to serve hidden file or directory %r, via 404 Error", os_path)
             raise web.HTTPError(404, four_o_four)
 
         
@@ -459,7 +459,7 @@ class FileContentsManager(FileManagerMixin, ContentsManager):
     def _save_directory(self, os_path, model, path=''):
         """create a directory"""
         if is_hidden(os_path, self.root_dir) and not self.allow_hidden:
-            raise web.HTTPError(400, f'Cannot create hidden directory {os_path!r}')
+            raise web.HTTPError(400, f'Cannot create directory {os_path!r}')
         if not os.path.exists(os_path):
             with self.perm_to_403():
                 os.mkdir(os_path)
@@ -480,7 +480,7 @@ class FileContentsManager(FileManagerMixin, ContentsManager):
         os_path = self._get_os_path(path)
 
         if is_hidden(os_path, self.root_dir) and not self.allow_hidden:
-            raise web.HTTPError(400, f'Cannot create hidden file or directory {os_path!r}')
+            raise web.HTTPError(400, f'Cannot create file or directory {os_path!r}')
 
         self.log.debug("Saving %s", os_path)
 
@@ -532,7 +532,7 @@ class FileContentsManager(FileManagerMixin, ContentsManager):
             raise web.HTTPError(404, four_o_four)
 
         if is_hidden(os_path, self.root_dir) and not self.allow_hidden:
-            raise web.HTTPError(400, f'Cannot delete hidden file or directory {os_path!r}')
+            raise web.HTTPError(400, f'Cannot delete file or directory {os_path!r}')
 
         def is_non_empty_dir(os_path):
             if os.path.isdir(os_path):
@@ -576,7 +576,7 @@ class FileContentsManager(FileManagerMixin, ContentsManager):
             return
 
         if (is_hidden(old_path, self.root_dir) or is_hidden(new_path, self.root_dir)) and not self.allow_hidden:
-            raise web.HTTPError(400, f'Cannot rename hidden file or directory {os_path!r}')
+            raise web.HTTPError(400, f'Cannot rename file or directory {os_path!r}')
 
         # Perform path validation prior to converting to os-specific value since this
         # is still relative to root_dir.
diff --git a/notebook/services/contents/handlers.py b/notebook/services/contents/handlers.py
index 4c9158d18..45932448e 100644
--- a/notebook/services/contents/handlers.py
+++ b/notebook/services/contents/handlers.py
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ class ContentsHandler(APIHandler):
         model = self.get_json_body()
         old_path = model.get('path')
         if old_path and (cm.is_hidden(path) or cm.is_hidden(old_path))  and not cm.allow_hidden:
-            raise web.HTTPError(400, f'Cannot rename hidden file or directory {path!r}')
+            raise web.HTTPError(400, f'Cannot rename file or directory {path!r}')
         if model is None:
             raise web.HTTPError(400, 'JSON body missing')
         model = yield maybe_future(cm.update(model, path))
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ class ContentsHandler(APIHandler):
         model = self.get_json_body()
         copy_from = model.get('copy_from')
         if copy_from and (cm.is_hidden(path) or cm.is_hidden(copy_from))  and not cm.allow_hidden:
-            raise web.HTTPError(400, f'Cannot copy hidden file or directory {path!r}')
+            raise web.HTTPError(400, f'Cannot copy file or directory {path!r}')
 
         if model is not None:
             copy_from = model.get('copy_from')
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ class ContentsHandler(APIHandler):
             if model.get('copy_from'):
                 raise web.HTTPError(400, "Cannot copy with PUT, only POST")
             if model.get('path') and (cm.is_hidden(path) or cm.is_hidden(model.get('path')))  and not cm.allow_hidden:
-                raise web.HTTPError(400, f'Cannot create hidden file or directory {path!r}')
+                raise web.HTTPError(400, f'Cannot create file or directory {path!r}')
             exists = yield maybe_future(self.contents_manager.file_exists(path))
             if exists:
                 yield maybe_future(self._save(model, path))
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ class ContentsHandler(APIHandler):
         cm = self.contents_manager
 
         if cm.is_hidden(path) and not cm.allow_hidden:
-            raise web.HTTPError(400, f'Cannot delete hidden file or directory {path!r}')
+            raise web.HTTPError(400, f'Cannot delete file or directory {path!r}')
 
         self.log.warning('delete %s', path)
         yield maybe_future(cm.delete(path))