diff --git a/pkgs/db-pkgs/db-lib/db/private/mysql/connection.rkt b/pkgs/db-pkgs/db-lib/db/private/mysql/connection.rkt
index 0f392489ef..78f15589bf 100644
--- a/pkgs/db-pkgs/db-lib/db/private/mysql/connection.rkt
+++ b/pkgs/db-pkgs/db-lib/db/private/mysql/connection.rkt
@@ -185,8 +185,8 @@
           [(struct handshake-packet (pver sver tid scramble capabilities charset status auth))
            (check-required-flags capabilities)
            (unless (member auth '("mysql_native_password" #f))
-             (raise-misc-error 'mysql-connect "back end requested unsupported authentication plugin"
-                               '("plugin" value) auth))
+             (error* 'mysql-connect "back end requested unsupported authentication plugin"
+                     '("plugin" value) auth))
            (define do-ssl?
              (and (case ssl ((yes optional) #t) ((no) #f))
                   (memq 'ssl capabilities)))
@@ -217,8 +217,8 @@
               [(equal? auth-plugin "mysql_old_password")
                (send-message (auth (bytes-append (old-scramble-password scramble password)
                                                  (bytes 0))))]
-              [else (raise-misc-error 'mysql-connect "back end does not support authentication plugin"
-                                      '("plugin" value) auth-plugin)])
+              [else (error* 'mysql-connect "back end does not support authentication plugin"
+                            '("plugin" value) auth-plugin)])
         (match (recv 'mysql-connect 'auth)
           [(struct ok-packet (_ _ status warnings message))
            (after-connect)]
@@ -229,8 +229,8 @@
     (define/private (check-required-flags capabilities)
       (for-each (lambda (rf)
                   (unless (memq rf capabilities)
-                    (raise-misc-error 'mysql-connect "server does not support required capability"
-                                      "capability" rf)))
+                    (error* 'mysql-connect "server does not support required capability"
+                            "capability" rf)))
                 REQUIRED-CAPABILITIES))
 
     (define/private (desired-capabilities capabilities ssl? dbname)
diff --git a/pkgs/db-pkgs/db-lib/db/private/odbc/connection.rkt b/pkgs/db-pkgs/db-lib/db/private/odbc/connection.rkt
index 2aeffd50f1..8a57ca9936 100644
--- a/pkgs/db-pkgs/db-lib/db/private/odbc/connection.rkt
+++ b/pkgs/db-pkgs/db-lib/db/private/odbc/connection.rkt
@@ -519,8 +519,8 @@
 
     (define/override (start-transaction* fsym isolation option)
       (when (eq? isolation 'nested)
-        (raise-misc-error fsym "already in transaction"
-                          #:continued "nested transactions not supported for ODBC connections"))
+        (error* fsym "already in transaction"
+                #:continued "nested transactions not supported for ODBC connections"))
       (when option
         ;; No options supported
         (raise-argument-error fsym "#f" option))
@@ -544,8 +544,8 @@
                  ;; So if 0, use serializable.
                  (if (zero? default-level) SQL_TXN_SERIALIZABLE default-level)))])
         (when (zero? (bitwise-and requested-level ok-levels))
-          (raise-misc-error fsym "requested isolation level is not available"
-                            '("isolation level" value) isolation))
+          (error* fsym "requested isolation level is not available"
+                  '("isolation level" value) isolation))
         (let ([status (SQLSetConnectAttr db SQL_ATTR_TXN_ISOLATION requested-level)])
           (handle-status fsym status db)))
       (let ([status (SQLSetConnectAttr db SQL_ATTR_AUTOCOMMIT SQL_AUTOCOMMIT_OFF)])
diff --git a/pkgs/db-pkgs/db-lib/db/private/postgresql/connection.rkt b/pkgs/db-pkgs/db-lib/db/private/postgresql/connection.rkt
index fd15851c9b..c6b3f0d330 100644
--- a/pkgs/db-pkgs/db-lib/db/private/postgresql/connection.rkt
+++ b/pkgs/db-pkgs/db-lib/db/private/postgresql/connection.rkt
@@ -146,8 +146,8 @@
          (cond [(equal? name "client_encoding")
                 (unless (equal? value "UTF8")
                   (disconnect* #f)
-                  (raise-misc-error fsym "client character encoding changed, disconnecting"
-                                    '("new encoding" value) value))]
+                  (error* fsym "client character encoding changed, disconnecting"
+                          '("new encoding" value) value))]
                [(equal? name "integer_datetimes")
                 (set! integer-datetimes? (equal? value "on"))]
                [else (void)])]))
diff --git a/pkgs/db-pkgs/db-lib/db/util/postgresql.rkt b/pkgs/db-pkgs/db-lib/db/util/postgresql.rkt
index dcd19b80c2..9eabda3957 100644
--- a/pkgs/db-pkgs/db-lib/db/util/postgresql.rkt
+++ b/pkgs/db-pkgs/db-lib/db/util/postgresql.rkt
@@ -43,13 +43,13 @@ polygon = #points:int4 (x y : float8)*
         #:transparent
         #:guard (lambda (ndim counts lbounds vals _n)
                   (unless (= (length counts) ndim)
-                    (raise-misc-error 'pg-array "list for dimension lengths has wrong length"
-                                      "expected length" ndim
-                                      '("got" value) counts))
+                    (error* 'pg-array "list for dimension lengths has wrong length"
+                            "expected length" ndim
+                            '("got" value) counts))
                   (unless (= (length lbounds) ndim)
-                    (raise-misc-error 'pg-array "list for dimension lower bounds has wrong length"
-                                      "expected length" ndim
-                                      '("got" value) lbounds))
+                    (error* 'pg-array "list for dimension lower bounds has wrong length"
+                            "expected length" ndim
+                            '("got" value) lbounds))
                   (let loop ([counts* counts] [vals* vals])
                     (when (pair? counts*)
                       (unless (and (vector? vals*)
@@ -61,19 +61,19 @@ polygon = #points:int4 (x y : float8)*
 
 (define (pg-array-ref arr . indexes)
   (unless (= (pg-array-dimensions arr) (length indexes))
-    (raise-misc-error 'pg-array-ref "wrong number of indexes"
-                      "expected number" (pg-array-dimensions arr)
-                      '("got" value) indexes))
+    (error* 'pg-array-ref "wrong number of indexes"
+            "expected number" (pg-array-dimensions arr)
+            '("got" value) indexes))
   (let* ([counts (pg-array-dimension-lengths arr)]
          [lbounds (pg-array-dimension-lower-bounds arr)]
          [ubounds (map (lambda (c lb) (+ c lb -1)) counts lbounds)])
     (unless (for/and ([index indexes] [lbound lbounds] [ubound ubounds])
               (<= lbound index ubound))
-      (raise-misc-error 'pg-array-ref "index out of range"
-                        '("index" value) indexes
-                        "valid range" (string-join (for/list ([lbound lbounds] [ubound ubounds])
-                                                     (format "[~a,~a]" lbound ubound))
-                                                   ", ")))
+      (error* 'pg-array-ref "index out of range"
+              '("index" value) indexes
+              "valid range" (string-join (for/list ([lbound lbounds] [ubound ubounds])
+                                           (format "[~a,~a]" lbound ubound))
+                                         ", ")))
     (let loop ([indexes (map - indexes lbounds)]
                [vals (pg-array-contents arr)])
       (cond [(pair? indexes)
diff --git a/pkgs/unstable-pkgs/unstable-doc/scribblings/error.scrbl b/pkgs/unstable-pkgs/unstable-doc/scribblings/error.scrbl
index 06e24c0e19..a737e08e1e 100644
--- a/pkgs/unstable-pkgs/unstable-doc/scribblings/error.scrbl
+++ b/pkgs/unstable-pkgs/unstable-doc/scribblings/error.scrbl
@@ -10,21 +10,18 @@
 
 @defmodule[unstable/error]
 
-@defproc[(raise-misc-error [name symbol?]
-                           [message string?]
-                           [field (let ([option/c (or/c 'value 'multi 'maybe)])
-                                    (or/c string? (cons/c string? (listof option/c))))]
-                           [value any/c] ... ...
-                           [#:continued continued-message (or/c string? (listof string?)) null]
-                           [#:constructor constructor
-                                          (-> string? continuation-mark-set? exn?) 
-                                          exn:fail])
+@defproc[(error* [name symbol?]
+                 [message string?]
+                 [field (let ([option/c (or/c 'value 'multi 'maybe)])
+                          (or/c string? (cons/c string? (listof option/c))))]
+                 [value any/c] ... ...
+                 [#:continued continued-message (or/c string? (listof string?)) null])
          any]{
 
 Raises an exception with a message composed according to the Racket
 @tech[#:doc '(lib "scribblings/reference/reference.scrbl")]{error
-message convention}. The exception is created with
-@racket[constructor], which is @racket[exn:fail] by default. 
+message convention}. The raised exception is an instance of
+@racket[exn:fail].
 
 The composed error message includes details consisting of the
 alternating @racket[field] and @racket[value] arguments. By default,
@@ -36,7 +33,7 @@ options affect the formatting of the detail line:
 
 @item{@racket['multi] formats each element in the corresponding @racket[value],
 which must be a list, as a separate line; if @racket['maybe] is also provided,
-then the detail line is omittable if the list is empty}
+then the detail line is omitted if the list is empty}
 
 @item{@racket['value] formats the value using
 @racket[error-value->string-handler]; the detail line is not omittable
@@ -46,22 +43,21 @@ unless @racket['maybe] or @racket['multi] is also provided}
 
 @examples[#:eval the-eval
 
-(raise-misc-error 'mcbean "too many stars upon thars"
-                  '("given" value) 'star-bellied-sneetch
-                  '("stars" value) 3)
+(error* 'mcbean "too many stars upon thars"
+        '("given" value) 'star-bellied-sneetch
+        '("stars" value) 3)
 
-(raise-misc-error 'hal "unable to open pod bay doors"
-                  #:continued
-                  "this mission is too important to let you jeopardize it"
-                  "threat" "David Bowman"
-                  "detection" "lip reading")
+(error* 'hal "unable to open pod bay doors"
+        #:continued "this mission is too important to let you jeopardize it"
+        "threat" "David Bowman"
+        "detection" "lip reading")
 
-(raise-misc-error 'car "missing car keys"
-                  '("searched" multi)
-                  (list "dresser" "desk" "kitchen table" "under sofa"
-                        "behind microwave" "in washing machine")
-                  "last seen"
-                  #f)
+(error* 'car "missing car keys"
+        '("searched" multi)
+        (list "dresser" "desk" "kitchen table" "under sofa"
+              "behind microwave" "in washing machine")
+        "last seen"
+        #f)
 ]
 }
 
@@ -95,7 +91,7 @@ and @racket[sub-expr] are mandatory arguments.
                          [#:continued continued-message (or/c string? (listof string?)) null])
          string?]{
 
-Like @racket[raise-misc-error], but produces a string conforming to
+Like @racket[error*], but produces a string conforming to
 the Racket @tech[#:doc '(lib
 "scribblings/reference/reference.scrbl")]{error message convention}.
 }
diff --git a/racket/collects/db/private/generic/functions.rkt b/racket/collects/db/private/generic/functions.rkt
index 7e9df49cb2..db98a17f0e 100644
--- a/racket/collects/db/private/generic/functions.rkt
+++ b/racket/collects/db/private/generic/functions.rkt
@@ -526,9 +526,9 @@
                     (eq? (hash-ref table key not-given) not-given)
                     ;; FIXME: okay to coalesce values if equal?
                     (equal? value old-value))
-          (raise-misc-error who "duplicate value for key"
-                            '("key" value) key
-                            '("values" multi value) (list old-value value)))
+          (error* who "duplicate value for key"
+                  '("key" value) key
+                  '("values" multi value) (list old-value value)))
         (if value-list?
             (hash-set table key
                       (if (ok-value? value)
diff --git a/racket/collects/db/private/generic/interfaces.rkt b/racket/collects/db/private/generic/interfaces.rkt
index 38f715087b..2ee369a439 100644
--- a/racket/collects/db/private/generic/interfaces.rkt
+++ b/racket/collects/db/private/generic/interfaces.rkt
@@ -202,20 +202,20 @@ For SQLite, use symbol instead of SQLSTATE string.
          error/statement-binding-args)
 
 (define (error/internal fsym fmt . args)
-  (raise-misc-error fsym "internal error"
-                    #:continued (apply format fmt args)))
+  (error* fsym "internal error"
+          #:continued (apply format fmt args)))
 
 (define (error/internal* fsym msg . args)
-  (apply raise-misc-error fsym "internal error" #:continued msg args))
+  (apply error* fsym "internal error" #:continued msg args))
 
 ;; FIXME; clean up
 (define (error/comm fsym [when-occurred #f])
-  (raise-misc-error fsym "communication failure"
-                    "when" when-occurred))
+  (error* fsym "communication failure"
+          "when" when-occurred))
 
 (define (error/no-support fsym feature)
-  (raise-misc-error fsym "feature not supported"
-                    "feature" feature))
+  (error* fsym "feature not supported"
+          "feature" feature))
 
 (define (error/hopeless fsym)
   (error fsym "connection is permanently locked due to a terminated thread"))
@@ -226,8 +226,8 @@ For SQLite, use symbol instead of SQLSTATE string.
 ;; ----
 
 (define (error/invalid-nested-isolation fsym isolation)
-  (raise-misc-error fsym "invalid isolation level for nested transaction"
-                    '("isolation level" value) isolation))
+  (error* fsym "invalid isolation level for nested transaction"
+          '("isolation level" value) isolation))
 
 (define (error/unbalanced-tx fsym mode saved-cwt?)
   (error fsym "~a-transaction without matching start-transaction~a"
@@ -238,24 +238,24 @@ For SQLite, use symbol instead of SQLSTATE string.
          (if saved-cwt? " (within extent of call-with-transaction)" "")))
 
 (define (error/tx-bad-stmt fsym stmt-type-string tx-state)
-  (raise-misc-error fsym "statement not allowed in current transaction state"
-                    "statement type" stmt-type-string
-                    "transaction state" tx-state))
+  (error* fsym "statement not allowed in current transaction state"
+          "statement type" stmt-type-string
+          "transaction state" tx-state))
 
 (define (error/nested-tx-option fsym option)
-  (raise-misc-error fsym "option not allowed for nested transaction"
-                    '("option" value) option))
+  (error* fsym "option not allowed for nested transaction"
+          '("option" value) option))
 
 (define (error/exn-in-rollback fsym e1 e2)
-  (raise-misc-error fsym "error during rollback"
-    #:continued "secondary error occurred during rollback triggered by primary error"
-    '("primary" value) (exn-message e1)
-    '("secondary" value) (exn-message e2)))
+  (error* fsym "error during rollback"
+          #:continued "secondary error occurred during rollback triggered by primary error"
+          '("primary" value) (exn-message e1)
+          '("secondary" value) (exn-message e2)))
 
 ;; ----
 
 (define (error/stmt-arity fsym expected given)
-  (raise-misc-error fsym "wrong number of parameters for query"
+  (error* fsym "wrong number of parameters for query"
                     ;; FIXME: add stmt, use error/stmt
                     "expected" expected
                     "given" given))
@@ -268,22 +268,22 @@ For SQLite, use symbol instead of SQLSTATE string.
 ;; ----
 
 (define (error/unsupported-type fsym typeid [type #f])
-  (raise-misc-error fsym "unsupported type"
-                    "type" type
-                    "typeid" typeid))
+  (error* fsym "unsupported type"
+          "type" type
+          "typeid" typeid))
 
 (define (error/no-convert fsym sys type param [note #f] #:contract [ctc #f])
-  (raise-misc-error fsym "cannot convert given value to SQL type"
-                    '("given" value) param
-                    "type" type
-                    "expected" (and ctc (format "~.s" ctc))
-                    "dialect" sys
-                    "note" note))
+  (error* fsym "cannot convert given value to SQL type"
+          '("given" value) param
+          "type" type
+          "expected" (and ctc (format "~.s" ctc))
+          "dialect" sys
+          "note" note))
 
 ;; ----
 
 (define (error/stmt fsym stmt message . args)
-  (apply raise-misc-error fsym message
+  (apply error* fsym message
          '("statement" value) (or (let loop ([stmt stmt])
                                     (cond [(string? stmt) stmt]
                                           [(statement-binding? stmt) (loop (statement-binding-pst stmt))]
@@ -317,7 +317,7 @@ For SQLite, use symbol instead of SQLSTATE string.
               "got" got-rows))
 
 (define (error/statement-binding-args fsym stmt args)
-  (raise-misc-error fsym
-                    "cannot execute statement-binding with additional inline arguments"
-                    '("statement" value) stmt
-                    '("arguments" value) args))
+  (error* fsym
+          "cannot execute statement-binding with additional inline arguments"
+          '("statement" value) stmt
+          '("arguments" value) args))
diff --git a/racket/collects/db/private/sqlite3/connection.rkt b/racket/collects/db/private/sqlite3/connection.rkt
index 69face42e9..2baf4a78a6 100644
--- a/racket/collects/db/private/sqlite3/connection.rkt
+++ b/racket/collects/db/private/sqlite3/connection.rkt
@@ -194,12 +194,12 @@
                                     (sqlite3_prepare_v2 db sql)])
                         (when tail?
                           (when stmt (sqlite3_finalize stmt))
-                          (raise-misc-error fsym "multiple statements given"
-                                            '("given" value) sql))
+                          (error* fsym "multiple statements given"
+                                  '("given" value) sql))
                         (values prep-status stmt)))])
         (when DEBUG?
           (dprintf "  << prepared statement #x~x\n" (cast stmt _pointer _uintptr)))
-        (unless stmt (raise-misc-error fsym "SQL syntax error" '("given" value) sql))
+        (unless stmt (error* fsym "SQL syntax error" '("given" value) sql))
         (let* ([param-typeids
                 (for/list ([i (in-range (sqlite3_bind_parameter_count stmt))])
                   'any)]
diff --git a/racket/collects/unstable/error.rkt b/racket/collects/unstable/error.rkt
index 159e258135..5e703fcad1 100644
--- a/racket/collects/unstable/error.rkt
+++ b/racket/collects/unstable/error.rkt
@@ -28,10 +28,9 @@ TODO
    (or/c '() (cons/c field/c (cons/c any/c details-list/c)))))
 
 (provide/contract
- [raise-misc-error
-  (->* (symbol? string?)
-       (#:continued (or/c string? (listof string))
-        #:constructor (-> string? continuation-mark-set? exn?))
+ [error*
+  (->* [symbol? string?]
+       [#:continued (or/c string? (listof string))]
        #:rest details-list/c
        any)]
  [raise-syntax-error*
@@ -40,23 +39,21 @@ TODO
        #:rest details-list/c
        any)]
  [compose-error-message
-  (->* ((or/c symbol? #f) string?)
-       (#:continued (or/c string? (listof string)))
+  (->* [(or/c symbol? #f) string?]
+       [#:continued (or/c string? (listof string))]
        #:rest details-list/c
        string?)])
 
 ;; ----
 
-(define (raise-misc-error who message
-                          #:details [detail-table null]
-                          #:continued [continued-message null]
-                          #:constructor [constructor exn:fail]
-                          . field+detail-list)
+(define (error* who message
+                #:continued [continued-message null]
+                . field+detail-list)
   (raise
-   (constructor
+   (exn:fail
     (compose* who message
               continued-message
-              (field+detail-list->table 'raise-misc-error field+detail-list detail-table))
+              (field+detail-list->table 'error* field+detail-list null))
     (current-continuation-marks))))
 
 (define (raise-syntax-error* message0 stx sub-stx
@@ -88,48 +85,20 @@ TODO
 ;; ----
 
 (define (compose-error-message who message
-                               #:details [detail-table null]
                                #:continued [continued-message null]
                                . field+detail-list)
-  (let ([details
-         (field+detail-list->table 'compose-error-message field+detail-list detail-table)])
-    (compose* who message continued-message details)))
+  (define details
+    (field+detail-list->table 'compose-error-message field+detail-list null))
+  (compose* who message continued-message details))
 
 (define (compose* who message continued-message details)
-  (let* ([parts (let loop ([details details])
-                  (cond [(null? details) null]
-                        [else
-                         (let* ([field+opts (car (car details))]
-                                [options (if (pair? field+opts) (cdr field+opts) '())]
-                                [value? (memq 'value options)]
-                                [multi? (memq 'multi options)]
-                                [maybe? (memq 'maybe options)]
-                                [convert-value
-                                 (cond [value?
-                                        (lambda (v) ((error-value->string-handler) v (error-print-width)))]
-                                       [else
-                                        (lambda (v) (format "~a" v))])]
+  (let* ([parts (apply append
+                       (for/list ([detail (in-list details)])
+                         (let* ([field+opts (car detail)]
                                 [field (if (pair? field+opts) (car field+opts) field+opts)]
-                                [value (cdr (car details))])
-                           (cond [(and (or maybe? multi? (not value?))
-                                       (not value))
-                                  (loop (cdr details))]
-                                 [(and maybe? multi?
-                                       (null? value))
-                                  (loop (cdr details))]
-                                 [multi?
-                                  (list* "\n  " field ": "
-                                         (let value-loop ([value value])
-                                           (cond [(pair? value)
-                                                  (list* "\n   "
-                                                         (convert-value (car value))
-                                                         (value-loop (cdr value)))]
-                                                 [(null? value)
-                                                  (loop (cdr details))])))]
-                                 [else
-                                  (list* "\n  " field ": "
-                                         (convert-value value)
-                                         (loop (cdr details)))]))]))]
+                                [options (if (pair? field+opts) (cdr field+opts) '())]
+                                [value (cdr detail)])
+                           (compose-error-detail field options value))))]
          [parts (let loop ([continued continued-message])
                   (cond [(pair? continued) (list* "\n " (car continued) (loop (cdr continued)))]
                         [(string? continued) (loop (list continued))]
@@ -140,6 +109,36 @@ TODO
                     parts)])
     (apply string-append parts)))
 
+;; compose-error-detail : string (listof option) any -> (listof string)
+;; Note: includes a leading newline (unless detail omitted).
+(define (compose-error-detail field options value)
+  (let* ([value? (memq 'value options)]
+         [multi? (memq 'multi options)]
+         [maybe? (memq 'maybe options)]
+         [convert-value
+          (cond [value?
+                 (lambda (v) ((error-value->string-handler) v (error-print-width)))]
+                [else
+                 (lambda (v) (format "~a" v))])])
+    (cond [(and (or maybe? multi? (not value?))
+                (not value))
+           null]
+          [(and maybe? multi?
+                (null? value))
+           null]
+          [multi?
+           (list* "\n  " field ": "
+                  (let value-loop ([value value])
+                    (cond [(pair? value)
+                           (list* "\n   "
+                                  (convert-value (car value))
+                                  (value-loop (cdr value)))]
+                          [(null? value)
+                           null])))]
+          [else
+           (list "\n  " field ": "
+                 (convert-value value))])))
+
 ;; ----
 
 (define (field+detail-list->table who lst onto)
diff --git a/racket/collects/unstable/socket.rkt b/racket/collects/unstable/socket.rkt
index 7ab87098e6..e28e18dc66 100644
--- a/racket/collects/unstable/socket.rkt
+++ b/racket/collects/unstable/socket.rkt
@@ -100,28 +100,28 @@ macosx (64):
   (define clean-path (cleanse-path (path->complete-path path0)))
   (define path-b (path->bytes clean-path))
   (unless (< (bytes-length path-b) 100)
-    (raise-misc-error 'unix-socket-connect
-                      "complete path must be less than 100 bytes"
-                      '("path" value) path0
-                      '("complete path" value) clean-path))
+    (error* 'unix-socket-connect
+            "complete path must be less than 100 bytes"
+            '("path" value) path0
+            '("complete path" value) clean-path))
   (define s (socket AF_UNIX SOCK_STREAM 0))
   (unless (positive? s)
     (let ([errno (saved-errno)])
-      (raise-misc-error 'unix-socket-connect
-                        "failed to create socket"
-                        "errno" errno
-                        '("error" maybe) (strerror_r errno))))
+      (error* 'unix-socket-connect
+              "failed to create socket"
+              "errno" errno
+              '("error" maybe) (strerror_r errno))))
   (define addr (make-sockaddr path-b))
   (define addrlen (+ (ctype-sizeof _ushort) (bytes-length path-b)))
   (define ce (connect s addr addrlen))
   (unless (zero? ce)
     (close s)
     (let ([errno (saved-errno)])
-      (raise-misc-error 'unix-socket-connect
-                        "failed to connect socket"
-                        '("path" value) path0
-                        "errno" errno
-                        '("error" maybe) (strerror_r errno))))
+      (error* 'unix-socket-connect
+              "failed to connect socket"
+              '("path" value) path0
+              "errno" errno
+              '("error" maybe) (strerror_r errno))))
   (with-handlers ([(lambda (e) #t)
                    (lambda (e)
                      (close s)