diff --git a/django/contrib/auth/checks.py b/django/contrib/auth/checks.py
index ec55c29665..853a675f88 100644
--- a/django/contrib/auth/checks.py
+++ b/django/contrib/auth/checks.py
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ def check_user_model(**kwargs):
     if not isinstance(cls.REQUIRED_FIELDS, (list, tuple)):
         errors.append(
             checks.Error(
-                'The REQUIRED_FIELDS must be a list or tuple.',
+                "'REQUIRED_FIELDS' must be a list or tuple.",
                 hint=None,
                 obj=cls,
                 id='auth.E001',
@@ -26,9 +26,8 @@ def check_user_model(**kwargs):
     if cls.USERNAME_FIELD in cls.REQUIRED_FIELDS:
         errors.append(
             checks.Error(
-                ('The field named as the USERNAME_FIELD '
-                 'must not be included in REQUIRED_FIELDS '
-                 'on a custom user model.'),
+                ("The field named as the 'USERNAME_FIELD' "
+                 "for a custom user model must not be included in 'REQUIRED_FIELDS'."),
                 hint=None,
                 obj=cls,
                 id='auth.E002',
@@ -41,8 +40,7 @@ def check_user_model(**kwargs):
                 ('django.contrib.auth.backends.ModelBackend',)):
             errors.append(
                 checks.Error(
-                    ('The %s.%s field must be unique because it is '
-                     'pointed to by USERNAME_FIELD.') % (
+                    "'%s.%s' must be unique because it is named as the 'USERNAME_FIELD'." % (
                         cls._meta.object_name, cls.USERNAME_FIELD
                     ),
                     hint=None,
@@ -53,11 +51,10 @@ def check_user_model(**kwargs):
         else:
             errors.append(
                 checks.Warning(
-                    ('The %s.%s field is pointed to by USERNAME_FIELD, '
-                     'but it is not unique.') % (
+                    "'%s.%s' is named as the 'USERNAME_FIELD', but it is not unique." % (
                         cls._meta.object_name, cls.USERNAME_FIELD
                     ),
-                    hint=('Ensure that your authentication backend can handle '
+                    hint=('Ensure that your authentication backend(s) can handle '
                           'non-unique usernames.'),
                     obj=cls,
                     id='auth.W004',
diff --git a/django/contrib/auth/tests/test_management.py b/django/contrib/auth/tests/test_management.py
index 96d9571456..f0dc66baa3 100644
--- a/django/contrib/auth/tests/test_management.py
+++ b/django/contrib/auth/tests/test_management.py
@@ -358,7 +358,7 @@ class CustomUserModelValidationTestCase(TestCase):
         errors = checks.run_checks()
         expected = [
             checks.Error(
-                'The REQUIRED_FIELDS must be a list or tuple.',
+                "'REQUIRED_FIELDS' must be a list or tuple.",
                 hint=None,
                 obj=CustomUserNonListRequiredFields,
                 id='auth.E001',
@@ -375,8 +375,8 @@ class CustomUserModelValidationTestCase(TestCase):
         errors = checks.run_checks()
         expected = [
             checks.Error(
-                ('The field named as the USERNAME_FIELD must not be included '
-                 'in REQUIRED_FIELDS on a custom user model.'),
+                ("The field named as the 'USERNAME_FIELD' for a custom user model "
+                 "must not be included in 'REQUIRED_FIELDS'."),
                 hint=None,
                 obj=CustomUserBadRequiredFields,
                 id='auth.E002',
@@ -393,8 +393,8 @@ class CustomUserModelValidationTestCase(TestCase):
         errors = checks.run_checks()
         expected = [
             checks.Error(
-                ('The CustomUserNonUniqueUsername.username field must be '
-                 'unique because it is pointed to by USERNAME_FIELD.'),
+                ("'CustomUserNonUniqueUsername.username' must be "
+                 "unique because it is named as the 'USERNAME_FIELD'."),
                 hint=None,
                 obj=CustomUserNonUniqueUsername,
                 id='auth.E003',
@@ -416,9 +416,9 @@ class CustomUserModelValidationTestCase(TestCase):
         errors = checks.run_checks()
         expected = [
             checks.Warning(
-                ('The CustomUserNonUniqueUsername.username field is pointed to '
-                 'by USERNAME_FIELD, but it is not unique.'),
-                hint=('Ensure that your authentication backend can handle '
+                ("'CustomUserNonUniqueUsername.username' is named as "
+                 "the 'USERNAME_FIELD', but it is not unique."),
+                hint=('Ensure that your authentication backend(s) can handle '
                       'non-unique usernames.'),
                 obj=CustomUserNonUniqueUsername,
                 id='auth.W004',