diff --git a/src/rustc/util/ppaux.rs b/src/rustc/util/ppaux.rs
index 98bae1fa6c00..d471abbd4b69 100644
--- a/src/rustc/util/ppaux.rs
+++ b/src/rustc/util/ppaux.rs
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ fn explain_region(cx: ctxt, region: ty::region) -> ~str {
           some(ast_map::node_block(blk)) => {
             fmt!{"the lifetime %s as defined on %s",
                  bound_region_to_str(cx, br),
-                 explain_span(cx, ~"the block", blk.span)}
+                 explain_span(cx, ~"block", blk.span)}
           }
           some(_) | none => {
             // this really should not happen
diff --git a/src/test/compile-fail/borrowck-confuse-region.rs b/src/test/compile-fail/borrowck-confuse-region.rs
index cb78ca00fd2d..5183b4b39e58 100644
--- a/src/test/compile-fail/borrowck-confuse-region.rs
+++ b/src/test/compile-fail/borrowck-confuse-region.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 fn get() -> &int {
     let x = 3;
     return &x;
-    //~^ ERROR illegal borrow: borrowed pointer must be valid for the lifetime & as defined on the the block at 8:17, but the borrowed value is only valid for the block at 8:17
+    //~^ ERROR illegal borrow: borrowed pointer must be valid for the lifetime & as defined on the block at 8:17, but the borrowed value is only valid for the block at 8:17
 }
 
-fn main() {}
\ No newline at end of file
+fn main() {}