diff --git a/server/boot/authentication.js b/server/boot/authentication.js
index ded7047e18..37bfbd3d6e 100644
--- a/server/boot/authentication.js
+++ b/server/boot/authentication.js
@@ -171,9 +171,10 @@ module.exports = function enableAuthentication(app) {
           redirectTo = req.session.returnTo;
         }
 
-        req.flash('success', { msg:
+        req.flash(
+          'success',
           'Success! You have signed in to your account. Happy Coding!'
-        });
+        );
 
         return res.redirect(redirectTo);
       })
diff --git a/server/boot/challenge.js b/server/boot/challenge.js
index eeeb2a8fbc..57ec2410fa 100644
--- a/server/boot/challenge.js
+++ b/server/boot/challenge.js
@@ -261,10 +261,10 @@ export default function(app) {
         !completedChallenge.githubLink
       )
     ) {
-      req.flash('danger', {
-        msg: 'You haven\'t supplied the necessary URLs for us to inspect ' +
-          'your work.'
-      });
+      req.flash(
+        'danger',
+        'You haven\'t supplied the necessary URLs for us to inspect your work.'
+      );
       return res.sendStatus(403);
     }
 
diff --git a/server/boot/commit.js b/server/boot/commit.js
index e4990ed50c..734a5b9019 100644
--- a/server/boot/commit.js
+++ b/server/boot/commit.js
@@ -103,14 +103,15 @@ export default function commit(app) {
         pledge => {
           if (pledge) {
             debug('found previous pledge');
-            req.flash('info', {
-              msg: dedent`
+            req.flash(
+              'info',
+              dedent`
                 Looks like you already have a pledge to ${pledge.displayName}.
                 Clicking "Commit" here will replace your old commitment. If you
                 do change your commitment, please remember to cancel your
                 previous recurring donation directly with ${pledge.displayName}.
               `
-            });
+            );
           }
           res.render(
             'commit/',
@@ -165,14 +166,15 @@ export default function commit(app) {
       })
       .subscribe(
         ({ displayName, goal, amount }) => {
-          req.flash('success', {
-            msg: dedent`
+          req.flash(
+            'success',
+            dedent`
               Congratulations, you have committed to giving
               ${displayName} $${amount} each month until you have completed
               your ${goal}. Please remember to cancel your pledge directly
               with ${displayName} once you finish.
             `
-          });
+          );
           res.redirect('/' + user.username);
         },
         next
@@ -229,7 +231,7 @@ export default function commit(app) {
               there's no pledge to stop.
             `;
           }
-          req.flash('info', { msg });
+          req.flash('info', msg);
           return res.redirect(`/${user.username}`);
         },
         next
diff --git a/server/boot/randomAPIs.js b/server/boot/randomAPIs.js
index d81ee72e19..4763dc74b2 100644
--- a/server/boot/randomAPIs.js
+++ b/server/boot/randomAPIs.js
@@ -134,15 +134,17 @@ module.exports = function(app) {
     return User.updateAll(query, params, function(err, info) {
       if (err) { return next(err); }
       if (info.count === 0) {
-        req.flash('info', {
-          msg: 'Email address not found. ' +
-          'Please update your Email preferences from your profile.'
-        });
+        req.flash(
+          'info',
+          'Email address not found. ' +
+            'Please update your Email preferences from your profile.'
+        );
         return res.redirect('/map');
       } else {
-        req.flash('info', {
-          msg: 'We\'ve successfully updated your Email preferences.'
-        });
+        req.flash(
+          'info',
+          'We\'ve successfully updated your Email preferences.'
+        );
         return res.redirect('/unsubscribed');
       }
     });
diff --git a/server/boot/user.js b/server/boot/user.js
index 5e735f796b..5df361b91c 100644
--- a/server/boot/user.js
+++ b/server/boot/user.js
@@ -266,25 +266,19 @@ module.exports = function(app) {
 
     let social = req.params.social;
     if (!social) {
-      req.flash('danger', {
-        msg: 'No social account found'
-      });
+      req.flash('danger', 'No social account found');
       return res.redirect('/' + username);
     }
 
     social = social.toLowerCase();
     const validSocialAccounts = ['twitter', 'linkedin'];
     if (validSocialAccounts.indexOf(social) === -1) {
-      req.flash('danger', {
-        msg: 'Invalid social account'
-      });
+      req.flash('danger', 'Invalid social account');
       return res.redirect('/' + username);
     }
 
     if (!user[social]) {
-      req.flash('danger', {
-        msg: `No ${social} account associated`
-      });
+      req.flash('danger', `No ${social} account associated`);
       return res.redirect('/' + username);
     }
 
@@ -300,9 +294,7 @@ module.exports = function(app) {
       // assumed user identity is unique by provider
       let identity = identities.shift();
       if (!identity) {
-        req.flash('danger', {
-          msg: 'No social account found'
-        });
+        req.flash('danger', 'No social account found');
         return res.redirect('/' + username);
       }
 
@@ -315,9 +307,7 @@ module.exports = function(app) {
           .subscribe(() => {
             debug(`${social} has been unlinked successfully`);
 
-            req.flash('info', {
-              msg: `You\'ve successfully unlinked your ${social}.`
-            });
+            req.flash('info', `You've successfully unlinked your ${social}.`);
             return res.redirect('/' + username);
           }, next);
       });
@@ -380,13 +370,14 @@ module.exports = function(app) {
           }, {});
 
         if (userPortfolio.isCheater && !user) {
-          req.flash('danger', {
-            msg: dedent`
+          req.flash(
+            'danger',
+            dedent`
               Upon review, this account has been flagged for academic
               dishonesty. If you’re the owner of this account contact
               team@freecodecamp.org for details.
             `
-          });
+          );
         }
 
         if (userPortfolio.bio) {
@@ -444,18 +435,20 @@ module.exports = function(app) {
       .subscribe(
         user => {
           if (!user) {
-            req.flash('danger', {
-              msg: `We couldn't find a user with the username ${username}`
-            });
+            req.flash(
+              'danger',
+              `We couldn't find a user with the username ${username}`
+            );
             return res.redirect('/');
           }
           if (!user.isGithubCool) {
-            req.flash('danger', {
-              msg: dedent`
+            req.flash(
+              'danger',
+              dedent`
                 This user needs to link GitHub with their account
                 in order for others to be able to view their certificate.
               `
-            });
+            );
             return res.redirect('back');
           }
 
@@ -464,21 +457,23 @@ module.exports = function(app) {
           }
 
           if (user.isLocked) {
-            req.flash('danger', {
-              msg: dedent`
+            req.flash(
+              'danger',
+              dedent`
                 ${username} has chosen to make their profile
                   private. They will need to make their profile public
                   in order for others to be able to view their certificate.
               `
-            });
+            );
             return res.redirect('back');
           }
           if (!user.isHonest) {
-            req.flash('danger', {
-              msg: dedent`
+            req.flash(
+              'danger',
+               dedent`
                 ${username} has not yet agreed to our Academic Honesty Pledge.
               `
-            });
+            );
             return res.redirect('back');
           }
 
@@ -496,9 +491,10 @@ module.exports = function(app) {
               }
             );
           }
-          req.flash('danger', {
-            msg: `Looks like user ${username} is not ${certText[certType]}`
-          });
+          req.flash(
+            'danger',
+            `Looks like user ${username} is not ${certText[certType]}`
+          );
           return res.redirect('back');
         },
         next
@@ -513,7 +509,7 @@ module.exports = function(app) {
     User.destroyById(req.user.id, function(err) {
       if (err) { return next(err); }
       req.logout();
-      req.flash('info', { msg: 'You\'ve successfully deleted your account.' });
+      req.flash('info', 'You\'ve successfully deleted your account.');
       return res.redirect('/');
     });
   }
@@ -541,7 +537,7 @@ module.exports = function(app) {
         challegesCompleted: []
       }, function(err) {
         if (err) { return next(err); }
-        req.flash('info', { msg: 'You\'ve successfully reset your progress.' });
+        req.flash('info', 'You\'ve successfully reset your progress.');
         return res.redirect('/');
       });
     });
@@ -561,9 +557,10 @@ module.exports = function(app) {
     const report = req.sanitize('reportDescription').trimTags();
 
     if (!username || !report || report === '') {
-      req.flash('danger', {
-        msg: 'Oops, something is not right please re-check your submission.'
-      });
+      req.flash(
+        'danger',
+        'Oops, something is not right please re-check your submission.'
+      );
       return next();
     }
 
@@ -591,9 +588,10 @@ module.exports = function(app) {
         return next(err);
       }
 
-      req.flash('info', {
-        msg: 'A report was sent to the team with ' + user.email + ' in copy.'
-      });
+      req.flash(
+        'info',
+        `A report was sent to the team with ${user.email} in copy.`
+      );
       return res.redirect('/');
     });
   }
diff --git a/server/boot/z-lang-redirect.js b/server/boot/z-lang-redirect.js
index 5c3006cf55..64be437951 100644
--- a/server/boot/z-lang-redirect.js
+++ b/server/boot/z-lang-redirect.js
@@ -23,9 +23,7 @@ export default function redirectLang(app) {
     }
 
     if (type === 'html') {
-      req.flash('danger', {
-        msg: `We couldn't find path ${ path }`
-      });
+      req.flash('danger', `We couldn't find path ${ path }`);
       return res.render('404', { title: '404'});
     }
 
diff --git a/server/middlewares/error-handlers.js b/server/middlewares/error-handlers.js
index 45cecbb090..59519db5b8 100644
--- a/server/middlewares/error-handlers.js
+++ b/server/middlewares/error-handlers.js
@@ -79,10 +79,7 @@ export default function prodErrorHandler() {
         );
       }
       if (typeof req.flash === 'function') {
-        req.flash(
-          handled.type || 'danger',
-          { msg: message }
-        );
+        req.flash(handled.type || 'danger', message);
       }
       return res.redirect(redirectTo);
       // json
diff --git a/server/middlewares/flash-cheaters.js b/server/middlewares/flash-cheaters.js
index 9c38d70b89..cb76259c95 100644
--- a/server/middlewares/flash-cheaters.js
+++ b/server/middlewares/flash-cheaters.js
@@ -16,13 +16,14 @@ export default function flashCheaters() {
       EXCLUDED_PATHS.indexOf(req.path) === -1 &&
       req.user && req.url !== '/' && req.user.isCheater
     ) {
-      req.flash('danger', {
-        msg: dedent`
+      req.flash(
+        'danger',
+        dedent`
           Upon review, this account has been flagged for academic
           dishonesty. If you’re the owner of this account contact
           team@freecodecamp.org for details.
         `
-      });
+      );
     }
     return next();
   };
diff --git a/server/utils/middleware.js b/server/utils/middleware.js
index 3df00254c8..1aa455a0fb 100644
--- a/server/utils/middleware.js
+++ b/server/utils/middleware.js
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
-export function ifNoUserRedirectTo(url, message, type = 'danger') {
+import dedent from 'dedent';
+
+export function ifNoUserRedirectTo(url, message, type = 'errors') {
   return function(req, res, next) {
     const { path } = req;
     if (req.user) {
       return next();
     }
 
-    req.flash(type, {
-      msg: message || `You must be signed in to access ${path}`
-    });
+    req.flash(type, message || `You must be signed in to access ${path}`);
 
     return res.redirect(url);
   };
@@ -35,10 +35,13 @@ export function ifNotVerifiedRedirectToSettings(req, res, next) {
     return next();
   }
   if (!user.emailVerified) {
-    req.flash('danger', {
-      msg: 'We do not have your verified email address on record, '
-      + 'please add it in the settings to continue with your request.'
-    });
+    req.flash(
+      'danger',
+      dedent`
+        We do not have your verified email address on record,
+        please add it in the settings to continue with your request.
+      `
+    );
     return res.redirect('/settings');
   }
   return next();
diff --git a/server/views/partials/flash.jade b/server/views/partials/flash.jade
index 07bef1667f..1f83d79c07 100644
--- a/server/views/partials/flash.jade
+++ b/server/views/partials/flash.jade
@@ -1,21 +1,21 @@
 .container
     .row.flashMessage
         .col-xs-12.col-sm-8.col-sm-offset-2.col-md-6.col-md-offset-3
-            if (messages.danger)
+            if messages.danger
               .alert.alert-danger.fade.in
                 button.close(type='button', data-dismiss='alert')
                   span.ion-close-circled
-                for danger in (messages.danger)
-                  div!= danger.msg || danger
+                for msg in messages.danger
+                  div!= msg
             if messages.info
               .alert.alert-info.fade.in
                 button.close(type='button', data-dismiss='alert')
                   span.ion-close-circled
-                for info in messages.info
-                  div!= info.msg
+                for msg in messages.info
+                  div!= msg
             if messages.success
               .alert.alert-success.fade.in
                 button.close(type='button', data-dismiss='alert')
                   span.ion-close-circled
-                for success in messages.success
-                  div!= success.msg
+                for msg in messages.success
+                  div!= msg