diff --git a/go/vt/topo/memorytopo/file.go b/go/vt/topo/memorytopo/file.go
index f7dda922e48..ddeba947e97 100644
--- a/go/vt/topo/memorytopo/file.go
+++ b/go/vt/topo/memorytopo/file.go
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ func (c *Conn) Delete(ctx context.Context, filePath string, version topo.Version
 	// Check if it's a directory.
 	if n.isDirectory() {
 		//lint:ignore ST1005 Delete is a function name
-		return fmt.Errorf("Delete(%v, %v) failed: it's a directory", c.cell, filePath)
+		return fmt.Errorf("delete(%v, %v) failed: it's a directory", c.cell, filePath)
 	}
 
 	// Check the version.
diff --git a/go/vt/topo/stats_conn_test.go b/go/vt/topo/stats_conn_test.go
index 5148be26f48..501268092ea 100644
--- a/go/vt/topo/stats_conn_test.go
+++ b/go/vt/topo/stats_conn_test.go
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ func (st *fakeConn) Get(ctx context.Context, filePath string) (bytes []byte, ver
 // Delete is part of the Conn interface
 func (st *fakeConn) Delete(ctx context.Context, filePath string, version Version) (err error) {
 	if filePath == "error" {
-		return fmt.Errorf("Dummy error")
+		return fmt.Errorf("dummy error")
 	}
 	return err
 }
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ func (st *fakeConn) Delete(ctx context.Context, filePath string, version Version
 // Lock is part of the Conn interface
 func (st *fakeConn) Lock(ctx context.Context, dirPath, contents string) (lock LockDescriptor, err error) {
 	if dirPath == "error" {
-		return lock, fmt.Errorf("Dummy error")
+		return lock, fmt.Errorf("dummy error")
 
 	}
 	return lock, err
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func (st *fakeConn) Watch(ctx context.Context, filePath string) (current *WatchD
 // NewMasterParticipation is part of the Conn interface
 func (st *fakeConn) NewMasterParticipation(name, id string) (mp MasterParticipation, err error) {
 	if name == "error" {
-		return mp, fmt.Errorf("Dummy error")
+		return mp, fmt.Errorf("dummy error")
 
 	}
 	return mp, err
diff --git a/go/vt/vtctl/query.go b/go/vt/vtctl/query.go
index b6f068fedc5..3a97e961aaf 100644
--- a/go/vt/vtctl/query.go
+++ b/go/vt/vtctl/query.go
@@ -196,7 +196,7 @@ func commandVtGateExecute(ctx context.Context, wr *wrangler.Wrangler, subFlags *
 	qr, err := session.Execute(ctx, subFlags.Arg(0), bindVars)
 	if err != nil {
 		//lint:ignore ST1005 function name
-		return fmt.Errorf("Execute failed: %v", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("execute failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if *json {
 		return printJSON(wr.Logger(), qr)
@@ -445,7 +445,7 @@ func commandVtTabletExecute(ctx context.Context, wr *wrangler.Wrangler, subFlags
 	}, subFlags.Arg(1), bindVars, int64(*transactionID), executeOptions)
 	if err != nil {
 		//lint:ignore ST1005 function name
-		return fmt.Errorf("Execute failed: %v", err)
+		return fmt.Errorf("execute failed: %v", err)
 	}
 	if *json {
 		return printJSON(wr.Logger(), qr)
diff --git a/go/vt/workflow/long_polling.go b/go/vt/workflow/long_polling.go
index 85463a71a7d..007472a2b7b 100644
--- a/go/vt/workflow/long_polling.go
+++ b/go/vt/workflow/long_polling.go
@@ -249,7 +249,7 @@ func (m *Manager) HandleHTTPLongPolling(pattern string) {
 
 		ctx := context.TODO()
 		if err := m.NodeManager().Action(ctx, ap); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("Action failed: %v", err)
+			return fmt.Errorf("action failed: %v", err)
 		}
 		http.Error(w, "", http.StatusOK)
 		return nil
diff --git a/go/vt/workflow/node.go b/go/vt/workflow/node.go
index 7043370aeef..7895a3ba321 100644
--- a/go/vt/workflow/node.go
+++ b/go/vt/workflow/node.go
@@ -441,7 +441,7 @@ func (m *NodeManager) Action(ctx context.Context, ap *ActionParameters) error {
 
 	if n.Listener == nil {
 		m.mu.Unlock()
-		return fmt.Errorf("Action %v is invoked on a node without listener (node path is %v)", ap.Name, ap.Path)
+		return fmt.Errorf("action %v is invoked on a node without listener (node path is %v)", ap.Name, ap.Path)
 	}
 	nodeListener := n.Listener
 	m.mu.Unlock()