diff --git a/collects/lang/private/beginner-funs.rkt b/collects/lang/private/beginner-funs.rkt
index c18297f06e..1d310044c5 100644
--- a/collects/lang/private/beginner-funs.rkt
+++ b/collects/lang/private/beginner-funs.rkt
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
                    [_else
                     (raise-syntax-error
                      #f
-                     "expected a function call but there is no open parenthesis before this function"
+                     "expected a function call, but there is no open parenthesis before this function"
                      stx)]))
                #'orig-name))]))]))