diff --git a/django/db/models/base.py b/django/db/models/base.py
index 3573838b99..fe8e7d3b0a 100644
--- a/django/db/models/base.py
+++ b/django/db/models/base.py
@@ -1443,7 +1443,8 @@ class Model(metaclass=ModelBase):
         if sum(1 for f in cls._meta.local_fields if f.primary_key) > 1:
             errors.append(
                 checks.Error(
-                    "Model can not contain more than one 'primary_key' field.",
+                    "The model cannot have more than one field with "
+                    "'primary_key=True'.",
                     obj=cls,
                     id='models.E026',
                 )
diff --git a/docs/ref/checks.txt b/docs/ref/checks.txt
index 9690b5a99b..a85c6b4e6e 100644
--- a/docs/ref/checks.txt
+++ b/docs/ref/checks.txt
@@ -295,7 +295,8 @@ Models
   as it collides with the query lookup syntax.
 * **models.E025**: The property ``<property name>`` clashes with a related
   field accessor.
-* **models.E026**: Model can not contain more than one ``primary_key`` field.
+* **models.E026**: The model cannot have more than one field with
+  ``primary_key=True``.
 
 Security
 --------
diff --git a/tests/invalid_models_tests/test_models.py b/tests/invalid_models_tests/test_models.py
index 2066d4ebae..19ec21c9ae 100644
--- a/tests/invalid_models_tests/test_models.py
+++ b/tests/invalid_models_tests/test_models.py
@@ -724,7 +724,7 @@ class OtherModelTests(SimpleTestCase):
 
         self.assertEqual(Model.check(), [
             Error(
-                "Model can not contain more than one 'primary_key' field.",
+                "The model cannot have more than one field with 'primary_key=True'.",
                 obj=Model,
                 id='models.E026',
             )