diff --git a/api-server/server/boot/certificate.js b/api-server/server/boot/certificate.js
index 82345f5234..caf54a02b1 100644
--- a/api-server/server/boot/certificate.js
+++ b/api-server/server/boot/certificate.js
@@ -60,34 +60,6 @@ export function getFallbackFrontEndDate(completedChallenges, completedDate) {
   return latestCertDate ? latestCertDate : completedDate;
 }
 
-const noNameMessage = dedent`
-  We need your name so we can put it on your certification.
-  Add your name to your account settings and click the save button.
-  Then we can issue your certification.
-  `;
-
-const notCertifiedMessage = name => dedent`
-  It looks like you have not completed the necessary steps.
-  Please complete the required projects to claim the
-  ${name} Certification
-  `;
-
-const alreadyClaimedMessage = name => dedent`
-    It looks like you already have claimed the ${name} Certification
-    `;
-
-const successMessage = (username, name) => dedent`
-    @${username}, you have successfully claimed
-    the ${name} Certification!
-    Congratulations on behalf of the freeCodeCamp.org team!
-    `;
-
-const failureMessage = name => dedent`
-    Something went wrong with the verification of ${name}, please try again.
-    If you continue to receive this error, you can send a message to
-    support@freeCodeCamp.org to get help.
-    `;
-
 function ifNoSuperBlock404(req, res, next) {
   const { superBlock } = req.body;
   if (superBlock && superBlocks.includes(superBlock)) {
@@ -309,19 +281,31 @@ function createVerifyCert(certTypeIds, app) {
       .flatMap(challenge => {
         const certName = certText[certType];
         if (user[certType]) {
-          return Observable.just(alreadyClaimedMessage(certName));
+          return Observable.just({
+            type: 'info',
+            message: 'flash.msg-27',
+            variables: { name: certName }
+          });
         }
 
         // certificate doesn't exist or
         // connection error
         if (!challenge) {
           reportError(`Error claiming ${certName}`);
-          return Observable.just(failureMessage(certName));
+          return Observable.just({
+            type: 'danger',
+            message: 'flash.msg-29',
+            variables: { name: certName }
+          });
         }
 
         const { id, tests, challengeType } = challenge;
         if (!canClaim(tests, user.completedChallenges)) {
-          return Observable.just(notCertifiedMessage(certName));
+          return Observable.just({
+            type: 'info',
+            message: 'flash.msg-26',
+            variables: { name: certName }
+          });
         }
 
         const updateData = {
@@ -337,7 +321,10 @@ function createVerifyCert(certTypeIds, app) {
         };
 
         if (!user.name) {
-          return Observable.just(noNameMessage);
+          return Observable.just({
+            type: 'info',
+            message: 'flash.msg-25'
+          });
         }
         // set here so sendCertifiedEmail works properly
         // not used otherwise
@@ -362,15 +349,19 @@ function createVerifyCert(certTypeIds, app) {
             log(pledgeOrMessage);
           }
           log('Certificates updated');
-          return successMessage(user.username, certName);
+          return {
+            type: 'success',
+            message: 'flash.msg-28',
+            variables: {
+              username: user.username,
+              name: certName
+            }
+          };
         });
       })
       .subscribe(message => {
         return res.status(200).json({
-          response: {
-            type: message.includes('Congratulations') ? 'success' : 'info',
-            message
-          },
+          response: message,
           isCertMap: getUserIsCertMap(user),
           // send back the completed challenges
           // NOTE: we could just send back the latest challenge, but this
@@ -426,8 +417,8 @@ function createShowCert(app) {
           messages: [
             {
               type: 'info',
-              message:
-                'We could not find a user with the username "' + username + '"'
+              message: 'flash.msg-31',
+              variables: { username: username }
             }
           ]
         });
@@ -439,10 +430,7 @@ function createShowCert(app) {
           messages: [
             {
               type: 'info',
-              message: dedent`
-              This user needs to add their name to their account
-              in order for others to be able to view their certification.
-            `
+              message: 'flash.msg-32'
             }
           ]
         });
@@ -453,9 +441,7 @@ function createShowCert(app) {
           messages: [
             {
               type: 'info',
-              message:
-                'This user is not eligible for freeCodeCamp.org ' +
-                'certifications at this time'
+              message: 'flash.msg-33'
             }
           ]
         });
@@ -466,11 +452,8 @@ function createShowCert(app) {
           messages: [
             {
               type: 'info',
-              message: dedent`
-              ${username} has chosen to make their portfolio
-                private. They will need to make their portfolio public
-                in order for others to be able to view their certification.
-            `
+              message: 'flash.msg-34',
+              variables: { username: username }
             }
           ]
         });
@@ -481,11 +464,8 @@ function createShowCert(app) {
           messages: [
             {
               type: 'info',
-              message: dedent`
-              ${username} has chosen to make their certifications
-                private. They will need to make their certifications public
-                in order for others to be able to view them.
-            `
+              message: 'flash.msg-35',
+              variables: { username: username }
             }
           ]
         });
@@ -496,9 +476,8 @@ function createShowCert(app) {
           messages: [
             {
               type: 'info',
-              message: dedent`
-              ${username} has not yet agreed to our Academic Honesty Pledge.
-            `
+              message: 'flash.msg-36',
+              variables: { username: username }
             }
           ]
         });
@@ -545,9 +524,8 @@ function createShowCert(app) {
         messages: [
           {
             type: 'info',
-            message: `
-It looks like user ${username} is not ${certText[certType]} certified
-          `
+            message: 'flash.msg-37',
+            variables: { username: username, cert: certText[certType] }
           }
         ]
       });
diff --git a/api-server/server/boot/settings.js b/api-server/server/boot/settings.js
index be81789602..cbb5868b5e 100644
--- a/api-server/server/boot/settings.js
+++ b/api-server/server/boot/settings.js
@@ -53,13 +53,12 @@ export default function settingsController(app) {
 
 const standardErrorMessage = {
   type: 'danger',
-  message:
-    'Something went wrong updating your account. Please check and try again'
+  message: 'flash.msg-9'
 };
 
 const standardSuccessMessage = {
   type: 'success',
-  message: 'We have updated your preferences'
+  message: 'flash.msg-10'
 };
 
 const createStandardHandler = (req, res, next) => err => {
@@ -196,7 +195,7 @@ function createUpdateMyUsername(app) {
     if (username === user.username) {
       return res.json({
         type: 'info',
-        message: 'Username is already associated with this account'
+        message: 'flash.msg-16'
       });
     }
     const validation = isValidUsername(username);
@@ -213,7 +212,7 @@ function createUpdateMyUsername(app) {
     if (exists) {
       return res.json({
         type: 'info',
-        message: 'Username is already associated with a different account'
+        message: 'flash.msg-17'
       });
     }
 
@@ -222,9 +221,11 @@ function createUpdateMyUsername(app) {
         res.status(500).json(standardErrorMessage);
         return next(err);
       }
+
       return res.status(200).json({
         type: 'success',
-        message: `We have updated your username to ${username}`
+        message: `flash.msg-18`,
+        variables: { username: username }
       });
     });
   };
@@ -244,10 +245,7 @@ const updatePrivacyTerms = (req, res, next) => {
       res.status(500).json(standardErrorMessage);
       return next(err);
     }
-    return res.status(200).json({
-      type: 'success',
-      message: `We have updated your preferences.`
-    });
+    return res.status(200).json(standardSuccessMessage);
   });
 };
 
diff --git a/api-server/server/boot/user.js b/api-server/server/boot/user.js
index 5921cfce38..1a102b83d9 100644
--- a/api-server/server/boot/user.js
+++ b/api-server/server/boot/user.js
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ function createPostReportUserProfile(app) {
     if (!username || !report || report === '') {
       return res.json({
         type: 'danger',
-        message: 'Check if you have provided a username and a report'
+        message: 'flash.msg-44'
       });
     }
     return Email.send$(
@@ -246,8 +246,9 @@ function createPostReportUserProfile(app) {
         }
 
         return res.json({
-          typer: 'info',
-          message: `A report was sent to the team with ${user.email} in copy.`
+          type: 'info',
+          message: 'flash.msg-45',
+          variables: { email: user.email }
         });
       }
     );
diff --git a/client/i18n/locales/english/translations.json b/client/i18n/locales/english/translations.json
index 7c58c1d390..248a782d22 100644
--- a/client/i18n/locales/english/translations.json
+++ b/client/i18n/locales/english/translations.json
@@ -451,7 +451,7 @@
     "msg-33": "This user is not eligible for freeCodeCamp.org certifications at this time.",
     "msg-34": "{{username}} has chosen to make their portfolio private. They will need to make their portfolio public in order for others to be able to view their certification.",
     "msg-35": "{{username}} has chosen to make their certifications private. They will need to make their certifications public in order for others to be able to view them.",
-    "msg-36": "{{username}} has not yet agrees to our Academic Honesty Pledge.",
+    "msg-36": "{{username}} has not yet agreed to our Academic Honesty Pledge.",
     "msg-37": "It looks like user {{username}} is not {{cert}} certified",
     "msg-38": "That does not appear to be a valid challenge submission",
     "msg-39": "You have not provided the valid links for us to inspect your work.",
diff --git a/client/src/components/Flash/index.js b/client/src/components/Flash/index.js
index b141a48641..1336214704 100644
--- a/client/src/components/Flash/index.js
+++ b/client/src/components/Flash/index.js
@@ -7,10 +7,7 @@ import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import './flash.css';
 
 function Flash({ flashMessage, onClose }) {
-  // flash messages coming from the server are already translated
-  // messages on the client get translated here and need a
-  // needsTranslating variable set to true with the object
-  const { type, message, id, needsTranslating = false } = flashMessage;
+  const { type, message, id, variables = {} } = flashMessage;
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const [flashMessageHeight, setFlashMessageHeight] = useState(null);
 
@@ -38,7 +35,7 @@ function Flash({ flashMessage, onClose }) {
             className='flash-message'
             onDismiss={handleClose}
           >
-            {needsTranslating ? t(`${message}`) : message}
+            {t(message, variables)}
           </Alert>
         </CSSTransition>
       </TransitionGroup>
@@ -59,7 +56,7 @@ Flash.propTypes = {
     id: PropTypes.string,
     type: PropTypes.string,
     message: PropTypes.string,
-    needsTranslating: PropTypes.bool
+    variables: PropTypes.object
   }),
   onClose: PropTypes.func.isRequired
 };
diff --git a/client/src/components/settings/Certification.js b/client/src/components/settings/Certification.js
index 775f907799..330dd08d06 100644
--- a/client/src/components/settings/Certification.js
+++ b/client/src/components/settings/Certification.js
@@ -140,8 +140,7 @@ const isCertMapSelector = createSelector(
 
 const honestyInfoMessage = {
   type: 'info',
-  message: 'flash.msg-1',
-  needsTranslating: true
+  message: 'flash.msg-1'
 };
 
 const initialState = {
diff --git a/client/src/redux/settings/danger-zone-saga.js b/client/src/redux/settings/danger-zone-saga.js
index 52838dc4a1..b09bc8dd8b 100644
--- a/client/src/redux/settings/danger-zone-saga.js
+++ b/client/src/redux/settings/danger-zone-saga.js
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@ function* deleteAccountSaga() {
     yield put(
       createFlashMessage({
         type: 'info',
-        message: 'flash.msg-5',
-        needsTranslating: true
+        message: 'flash.msg-5'
       })
     );
     // remove current user information from application state
@@ -30,8 +29,7 @@ function* resetProgressSaga() {
     yield put(
       createFlashMessage({
         type: 'info',
-        message: 'flash.msg-6',
-        needsTranslating: true
+        message: 'flash.msg-6'
       })
     );
     // refresh current user data in application state
diff --git a/client/src/utils/handled-error.js b/client/src/utils/handled-error.js
index 1163565e17..da3eaf34f2 100644
--- a/client/src/utils/handled-error.js
+++ b/client/src/utils/handled-error.js
@@ -33,16 +33,14 @@ export function handle400Error(e, options = { redirectTo: '/' }) {
       return {
         ...flash,
         type: 'warn',
-        message: 'flash.msg-7',
-        needsTranslating: true
+        message: 'flash.msg-7'
       };
     }
     case 404: {
       return {
         ...flash,
         type: 'info',
-        message: 'flash.msg-8',
-        needsTranslating: true
+        message: 'flash.msg-8'
       };
     }
     default: {
diff --git a/client/src/utils/reallyWeirdErrorMessage.js b/client/src/utils/reallyWeirdErrorMessage.js
index f548463662..e40e1ac173 100644
--- a/client/src/utils/reallyWeirdErrorMessage.js
+++ b/client/src/utils/reallyWeirdErrorMessage.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 export default {
   type: 'danger',
-  message: 'flash.msg-2',
-  needsTranslating: true
+  message: 'flash.msg-2'
 };
diff --git a/client/src/utils/reportedErrorMessage.js b/client/src/utils/reportedErrorMessage.js
index 61cd0ba50c..0a34f4dd60 100644
--- a/client/src/utils/reportedErrorMessage.js
+++ b/client/src/utils/reportedErrorMessage.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 export default {
   type: 'danger',
-  message: 'flash.msg-3',
-  needsTranslating: true
+  message: 'flash.msg-3'
 };
diff --git a/client/src/utils/standardErrorMessage.js b/client/src/utils/standardErrorMessage.js
index 3b3b31c07e..2f6d158ba8 100644
--- a/client/src/utils/standardErrorMessage.js
+++ b/client/src/utils/standardErrorMessage.js
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 export default {
   type: 'danger',
-  message: 'flash.msg-4',
-  needsTranslating: true
+  message: 'flash.msg-4'
 };