diff --git a/admin/tool/policy/lang/en/tool_policy.php b/admin/tool/policy/lang/en/tool_policy.php
index 07d81a79c82f0..001758fd947ca 100644
--- a/admin/tool/policy/lang/en/tool_policy.php
+++ b/admin/tool/policy/lang/en/tool_policy.php
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
 $string['nopermissiontoagreedocs_desc'] = 'Sorry, you do not have the required permissions to agree to the policies.<br />You will not be able to use this site until the following policies are agreed:';
 $string['nopermissiontoagreedocsbehalf'] = 'No permission to agree to the policies on behalf of this user';
 $string['nopermissiontoagreedocsbehalf_desc'] = 'Sorry, you do not have the required permission to agree to the following policies on behalf of {$a}:';
-$string['nopermissiontoagreedocscontact'] = 'For further assistance:';
+$string['nopermissiontoagreedocscontact'] = 'For more help:';
 $string['nopermissiontoviewpolicyversion'] = 'You do not have permissions to view this policy version.';
 $string['nopolicies'] = 'There are no policies for registered users with an active version.';
 $string['selectpolicyandversion'] = 'Use the filter above to select policy and/or version';
diff --git a/admin/tool/task/lang/en/tool_task.php b/admin/tool/task/lang/en/tool_task.php
index 7089284373a35..c7f6c04a65314 100644
--- a/admin/tool/task/lang/en/tool_task.php
+++ b/admin/tool/task/lang/en/tool_task.php
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@
 $string['asap'] = 'ASAP';
 $string['adhocempty'] = 'Ad hoc task queue is empty';
 $string['adhocqueuesize'] = 'Ad hoc task queue has {$a} tasks';
-$string['adhocqueueold'] = 'Oldest unprocessed task is {$a->age} which is more than {$a->max}';
+$string['adhocqueueold'] = 'Oldest unprocessed task is {$a->age}, which is more than {$a->max}';
 $string['backtoscheduledtasks'] = 'Back to scheduled tasks';
 $string['blocking'] = 'Blocking';
 $string['cannotfindthepathtothecli'] = 'Cannot find the path to the PHP CLI executable so task execution aborted. Set the \'Path to PHP CLI\' setting in Site administration / Server / System paths.';
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
 $string['checkmaxfaildelay'] = 'Tasks max fail delay';
 $string['classname'] = 'Class name';
 $string['checklongrunningtasks'] = 'Long running tasks';
-$string['checklongrunningtaskcount'] = 'There are {$a} long running tasks';
+$string['checklongrunningtaskcount'] = 'Long running tasks: {$a}';
 $string['clearfaildelay_confirm'] = 'Are you sure you want to clear the fail delay for task \'{$a}\'? After clearing the delay, the task will run according to its normal schedule.';
 $string['component'] = 'Component';
 $string['corecomponent'] = 'Core';
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@
 $string['slowtask'] = 'Task has run for longer than {$a}';
 $string['started'] = 'Started';
 $string['taskage'] = 'Run time';
-$string['taskdetails'] = 'There is {$a->count} task(s) running for more than {$a->time} (max {$a->maxtime})';
+$string['taskdetails'] = 'Tasks running for more than {$a->time} (max {$a->maxtime}): {$a->count}';
 $string['taskdisabled'] = 'Task disabled';
 $string['taskfailures'] = '{$a} task(s) failing';
 $string['tasklogs'] = 'Task logs';
diff --git a/auth/mnet/lang/en/auth_mnet.php b/auth/mnet/lang/en/auth_mnet.php
index 6658c7945795b..75306144a3747 100644
--- a/auth/mnet/lang/en/auth_mnet.php
+++ b/auth/mnet/lang/en/auth_mnet.php
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@
 $string['privacy:metadata:mnet_external:lang'] = 'A user preference for the language shown.';
 $string['privacy:metadata:mnet_external:lastaccess'] = 'The time that the user last accessed the site.';
 $string['privacy:metadata:mnet_external:lastlogin'] = 'The last login of this user.';
-$string['privacy:metadata:mnet_external:lastname'] = 'The surname of the user.';
-$string['privacy:metadata:mnet_external:lastnamephonetic'] = 'The phonetic details about the user\'s surname.';
+$string['privacy:metadata:mnet_external:lastname'] = 'The last name of the user.';
+$string['privacy:metadata:mnet_external:lastnamephonetic'] = 'The phonetic details of the user\'s last name.';
 $string['privacy:metadata:mnet_external:maildigest'] = 'A setting for the mail digest for this user.';
 $string['privacy:metadata:mnet_external:maildisplay'] = 'A preference for the user about displaying their email address to other users.';
 $string['privacy:metadata:mnet_external:middlename'] = 'The middle name of the user';
diff --git a/lang/en/admin.php b/lang/en/admin.php
index 1871b913c6dec..70e2ad27ba4b5 100644
--- a/lang/en/admin.php
+++ b/lang/en/admin.php
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
 $string['adminseesownevents'] = 'Administrators are just like other users';
 $string['advancedfeatures'] = 'Advanced features';
 $string['agedigitalconsentverification'] = 'Digital age of consent verification';
-$string['agedigitalconsentverification_desc'] = 'Enables verification of the digital age of consent before displaying the sign-up page for self-registration users. This protects your site from minors signing up without parental/guardian consent. <a target="_blank" href="{$a}">Support contact</a> details are provided to minors for further assistance.';
+$string['agedigitalconsentverification_desc'] = 'Enables verification of the digital age of consent before displaying the sign-up page for self-registration users. This protects your site from minors signing up without parental/guardian consent. <a target="_blank" href="{$a}">Support contact</a> details are provided for more help.';
 $string['ageofdigitalconsentmap'] = 'Digital age of consent';
 $string['ageofdigitalconsentmap_desc'] = 'The default digital age of consent, and the age in any country where it differs from the default, may be specified here. Enter each age on a new line with format: country code, age (separated by a comma). The default age is indicated by * in place of the country code. Country codes are as specified in ISO 3166-2.';
 $string['allcountrycodes'] = 'All country codes';
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@
 $string['configfrontpageloggedin'] = 'The items selected above will be displayed on the site home when a user is logged in.';
 $string['configfullnamedisplay'] = 'This defines how names are shown when they are displayed in full. The default value, "language", leaves it to the string "fullnamedisplay" in the current language pack to decide. Some languages have different name display conventions.
 
-For most mono-lingual sites the most efficient setting is "firstname lastname", but you may choose to hide surnames altogether. Placeholders that can be used are: firstname, lastname, firstnamephonetic, lastnamephonetic, middlename, and alternatename.';
+For most mono-lingual sites the most efficient setting is "firstname lastname", but you may choose to hide last names altogether. Placeholders that can be used are: firstname, lastname, firstnamephonetic, lastnamephonetic, middlename, and alternatename.';
 $string['configgeoipfile'] = 'Location of GeoLite2 City binary data file. This file is not part of Moodle distribution and must be obtained separately from <a href="https://www.maxmind.com/">MaxMind</a>. You can either buy a commercial version or use the free version. You\'ll need to register to download the City database file, which you can do at <a href="https://dev.maxmind.com/geoip/geoip2/geolite2/" >https://dev.maxmind.com/geoip/geoip2/geolite2/</a>. Once you\'ve registered and downloaded the file, extract it into "{$a}" directory on your server.';
 $string['configgetremoteaddrconf'] = 'If your server is behind a reverse proxy, you can use this setting to specify which HTTP headers can be trusted to contain the remote IP address. The headers are read in order, using the first one that is available.';
 $string['configgradebookroles'] = 'This setting allows you to control who appears on the gradebook.  Users need to have at least one of these roles in a course to be shown in the gradebook for that course.';
diff --git a/lang/en/backup.php b/lang/en/backup.php
index 40a7e45271aa6..395ca8353bc8a 100644
--- a/lang/en/backup.php
+++ b/lang/en/backup.php
@@ -310,7 +310,7 @@
 $string['restorecourse'] = 'Restore course';
 $string['restorecoursesettings'] = 'Course settings';
 $string['restoredcourseid'] = 'Restored course ID: {$a}';
-$string['restoreexecutionsuccess'] = 'The course was restored successfully, clicking the continue button below will take you to view the course you restored.';
+$string['restoreexecutionsuccess'] = 'The course was successfully restored.';
 $string['restorefileweremissing'] = 'Some files could not be restored because they were missing in the backup.';
 $string['restorenewcoursefullname'] = 'New course name';
 $string['restorenewcourseshortname'] = 'New course short name';
diff --git a/lang/en/grades.php b/lang/en/grades.php
index 2b8fba1ccda67..ee361be230300 100644
--- a/lang/en/grades.php
+++ b/lang/en/grades.php
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@
 $string['encoding_help'] = 'Select the character encoding used for the data. (The standard encoding is UTF-8.) If the wrong encoding is selected by mistake, it will be noticeable when previewing the data for import.';
 $string['errorcalculationnoequal'] = 'Formula must start with equal sign (=1+2)';
 $string['errorcalculationunknown'] = 'Invalid formula';
-$string['errorcalculationbroken'] = 'Probably circular reference or broken calculation formula (Item name: {$a})';
+$string['errorcalculationbroken'] = 'Error in the calculation of grade item {$a}.';
 $string['errorgradevaluenonnumeric'] = 'Received non-numeric for low or high grade for';
 $string['errornocalculationallowed'] = 'Calculations are not allowed for this item';
 $string['errornocategorisedid'] = 'Could not get an uncategorised id!';
diff --git a/lang/en/mnet.php b/lang/en/mnet.php
index ec6791942f1a3..60bed1768854b 100644
--- a/lang/en/mnet.php
+++ b/lang/en/mnet.php
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@
 $string['ispublished'] = '{$a} has enabled this service for you.';
 $string['issubscribed'] = '{$a} is subscribing to this service on your host.';
 $string['keydeleted'] = 'Your key has been successfully deleted and replaced.';
-$string['keydeletedcancelled'] = 'The key deletion process has been cancelled.';
+$string['keydeletedcancelled'] = 'No changes made to key.';
 $string['keymismatch'] = 'The public key you are holding for this host is different from the public key it is currently publishing. The currently published key is:';
 $string['last_connect_time'] = 'Last connect time';
 $string['last_connect_time_help'] = 'The time that you last connected to this host.';
diff --git a/lang/en/moodle.php b/lang/en/moodle.php
index ea77b5bc0fee5..d764cadd162af 100644
--- a/lang/en/moodle.php
+++ b/lang/en/moodle.php
@@ -1153,7 +1153,7 @@
 $string['indicator:userforumstracking_help'] = 'This indicator represents whether or not the student has tracking turned on in the forums.';
 $string['info'] = 'Information';
 $string['inprogress'] = 'In progress';
-$string['insertresourceoractivitybefore'] = 'Insert an activity or resource before \'{$a->activityname}\'';
+$string['insertresourceoractivitybefore'] = 'Add an activity or resource before \'{$a->activityname}\'';
 $string['institution'] = 'Institution';
 $string['instudentview'] = 'in student view';
 $string['interests'] = 'Interests';
@@ -1180,8 +1180,8 @@
 $string['lastip'] = 'Last IP address';
 $string['lastlogin'] = 'Last login';
 $string['lastmodified'] = 'Last modified';
-$string['lastname'] = 'Surname';
-$string['lastnamephonetic'] = 'Surname - phonetic';
+$string['lastname'] = 'Last name';
+$string['lastnamephonetic'] = 'Last name - phonetic';
 $string['lastpage'] = 'Last page';
 $string['lastsiteaccess'] = 'Last access to site';
 $string['lastyear'] = 'Last year';
@@ -1319,7 +1319,7 @@
 $string['missingfirstname'] = 'Missing given name';
 $string['missingfromdisk'] = 'Missing from disk';
 $string['missingfullname'] = 'Missing full name';
-$string['missinglastname'] = 'Missing surname';
+$string['missinglastname'] = 'Missing last name';
 $string['missingname'] = 'Missing name';
 $string['missingnewpassword'] = 'Missing new password';
 $string['missingpassword'] = 'Missing password';
diff --git a/lang/en/reportbuilder.php b/lang/en/reportbuilder.php
index 4a9ac42d13002..6736edd2e7417 100644
--- a/lang/en/reportbuilder.php
+++ b/lang/en/reportbuilder.php
@@ -65,8 +65,8 @@
 $string['columnmoved'] = 'Moved column \'{$a}\'';
 $string['columnsortdirectionasc'] = 'Sort column \'{$a}\' ascending';
 $string['columnsortdirectiondesc'] = 'Sort column \'{$a}\' descending';
-$string['columnsortdisable'] = 'Disable sorting for column \'{$a}\'';
-$string['columnsortenable'] = 'Enable sorting for column \'{$a}\'';
+$string['columnsortdisable'] = 'Disable initial sorting for column {$a}';
+$string['columnsortenable'] = 'Enable initial sorting for column {$a}';
 $string['columnsortupdated'] = 'Updated sorting for column \'{$a}\'';
 $string['conditionadded'] = 'Added condition \'{$a}\'';
 $string['conditiondeleted'] = 'Deleted condition \'{$a}\'';
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@
 $string['showhide'] = 'Show/hide \'{$a}\'';
 $string['showhidecard'] = 'Show/hide card';
 $string['sorting'] = 'Sorting';
-$string['sorting_help'] = 'Sorting defines the initial sort order of columns in the report. The order can be reversed by toggling the Up/down icon. Users can then define their own sort order by clicking on a column name.';
+$string['sorting_help'] = 'You can set the initial sort order of columns in the report, which can then be changed by users by clicking on column names.';
 $string['switchedit'] = 'Switch to edit mode';
 $string['switchpreview'] = 'Switch to preview mode';
 $string['tasksendschedule'] = 'Send report schedule';
diff --git a/lang/en/user.php b/lang/en/user.php
index 1513e95485b35..0ea92252237b8 100644
--- a/lang/en/user.php
+++ b/lang/en/user.php
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@
 $string['privacy:metadata:lastaccesstablesummary'] = 'Information about the last time a user accessed a course.';
 $string['privacy:metadata:lastip'] = 'The last IP address for the user.';
 $string['privacy:metadata:lastlogin'] = 'The last login of this user.';
-$string['privacy:metadata:lastname'] = 'The surname of the user.';
-$string['privacy:metadata:lastnamephonetic'] = 'The phonetic details about the user\'s surname.';
+$string['privacy:metadata:lastname'] = 'The last name of the user.';
+$string['privacy:metadata:lastnamephonetic'] = 'The phonetic details of the user\'s last name.';
 $string['privacy:metadata:maildigest'] = 'A setting for the mail digest for this user.';
 $string['privacy:metadata:maildisplay'] = 'A preference for the user about displaying their email address to other users.';
 $string['privacy:metadata:middlename'] = 'The middle name of the user';
diff --git a/mod/bigbluebuttonbn/lang/en/bigbluebuttonbn.php b/mod/bigbluebuttonbn/lang/en/bigbluebuttonbn.php
index 42d602c689898..3ec2201f92130 100644
--- a/mod/bigbluebuttonbn/lang/en/bigbluebuttonbn.php
+++ b/mod/bigbluebuttonbn/lang/en/bigbluebuttonbn.php
@@ -181,8 +181,8 @@
 $string['config_recordings_preview_default_description'] = 'If enabled the table includes a preview of the presentation.';
 $string['config_recordings_preview_editable'] = 'Preview feature can be edited';
 $string['config_recordings_preview_editable_description'] = 'Preview feature can be edited when the instance is added or updated.';
-$string['config_recordings_asc_sort'] = 'Order the recordings in ascending order.';
-$string['config_recordings_asc_sort_description'] = 'By default recordings are displayed in descending order. When checked they will be sorted in ascending order.';
+$string['config_recordings_asc_sort'] = 'List recordings in chronological order';
+$string['config_recordings_asc_sort_description'] = 'Recordings are ordered by date, either chronological or reverse chronological order.';
 
 $string['config_importrecordings'] = 'Import recordings';
 $string['config_importrecordings_description'] = 'These settings are feature specific.';
@@ -325,14 +325,14 @@
 $string['guest_invitation_subject'] = 'Invitation: {$a->name} session in {$a->course_fullname}';
 $string['guest_invitation_small_message'] = 'Hi,
 
-You are invited to a BigBlueButton session {$a->name} in the course  {$a->course_fullname}.
+You are invited to a BigBlueButton session {$a->name} in the course {$a->course_fullname}.
 
 Link: {$a->guestjoinurl}
 Password: {$a->guestpassword}
 
 If you need help, please contact {$a->sender}.';
 $string['guest_invitation_full_message'] = 'Hi,
-<p>You are invited to a BigBlueButton session <strong>{$a->name}</strong> in the course  {$a->course_fullname}.</p>
+<p>You are invited to a BigBlueButton session <strong>{$a->name}</strong> in the course {$a->course_fullname}.</p>
 <p>Link: {$a->guestjoinurl}<br/>
 <p>Password: {$a->guestpassword}</p>
 <p>If you need help, please contact {$a->sender}.</p>';
diff --git a/mod/forum/lang/en/forum.php b/mod/forum/lang/en/forum.php
index b16aebc9d6d6b..248d30907085c 100644
--- a/mod/forum/lang/en/forum.php
+++ b/mod/forum/lang/en/forum.php
@@ -190,7 +190,7 @@
 $string['discussionmovedpost'] = 'This discussion has been moved to <a href="{$a->discusshref}">here</a> in the forum <a href="{$a->forumhref}">{$a->forumname}</a>';
 $string['discussionname'] = 'Discussion name';
 $string['discussionnownotsubscribed'] = '{$a->name} will NOT be notified of new posts in \'{$a->discussion}\' of \'{$a->forum}\'';
-$string['discussionnowsubscribed'] = '{$a->name} will be notified of new posts in \'{$a->discussion}\' of \'{$a->forum}\'';
+$string['discussionnowsubscribed'] = 'You will be notified of new posts in \'{$a->discussion}\' in the forum \'{$a->forum}\'.';
 $string['discussionpin'] = 'Pin';
 $string['discussionpinned'] = 'Pinned';
 $string['discussionpinned_help'] = 'Pinned discussions will appear at the top of a forum.';
@@ -491,7 +491,7 @@
 $string['nowallunsubscribed'] = 'You are now unsubscribed from all forums in {$a}.';
 $string['nownotsubscribed'] = '{$a->name} will NOT be notified of new posts in \'{$a->forum}\'';
 $string['nownottracking'] = '{$a->name} is no longer tracking \'{$a->forum}\'.';
-$string['nowsubscribed'] = '{$a->name} will be notified of new posts in \'{$a->forum}\'';
+$string['nowsubscribed'] = 'You will be notified of new posts in the forum \'{$a->forum}\'.';
 $string['nowtracking'] = '{$a->name} is now tracking \'{$a->forum}\'.';
 $string['numposts'] = '{$a} posts';
 $string['numberofreplies'] = 'Number of replies: {$a}';
diff --git a/mod/glossary/lang/en/glossary.php b/mod/glossary/lang/en/glossary.php
index 21765a3f94d9f..00fd02f5d2e49 100644
--- a/mod/glossary/lang/en/glossary.php
+++ b/mod/glossary/lang/en/glossary.php
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@
 $string['errdeltimeexpired'] = 'You can\'t delete this. Time expired!';
 $string['erredittimeexpired'] = 'The editing time for this entry has expired.';
 $string['errorparsingxml'] = 'Errors occurred while parsing the file. Make sure it is valid XML syntax.';
-$string['errreservedkeywords'] = 'Some/All of the entered keywords cannot be used as they are reserved.';
+$string['errreservedkeywords'] = 'One or more keywords contain a special character which cannot be used.';
 $string['eventcategorycreated'] = 'Category has been created';
 $string['eventcategorydeleted'] = 'Category has been deleted';
 $string['eventcategoryupdated'] = 'Category has been updated';
diff --git a/mod/lesson/lang/en/lesson.php b/mod/lesson/lang/en/lesson.php
index 4f65378103206..9835843fe03a9 100644
--- a/mod/lesson/lang/en/lesson.php
+++ b/mod/lesson/lang/en/lesson.php
@@ -196,9 +196,9 @@
 $string['editshortanswer'] = 'Editing a Short answer question page';
 $string['edittruefalse'] = 'Editing a True/false question page';
 $string['email'] = 'Email';
-$string['emailallgradedessays'] = 'Email ALL graded essays';
-$string['emailgradedessays'] = 'Email graded essays';
-$string['emailsuccess'] = 'Emails sent successfully';
+$string['emailallgradedessays'] = 'Send essay graded notifications';
+$string['emailgradedessays'] = 'Send essay graded notifications';
+$string['emailsuccess'] = 'Notifications sent successfully';
 $string['enabled'] = 'Enabled';
 $string['endofbranch'] = 'End of branch';
 $string['endofcluster'] = 'End of cluster';
diff --git a/mod/quiz/accessrule/seb/lang/en/quizaccess_seb.php b/mod/quiz/accessrule/seb/lang/en/quizaccess_seb.php
index 1a8f5beb66838..c2b478343a7b2 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/accessrule/seb/lang/en/quizaccess_seb.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/accessrule/seb/lang/en/quizaccess_seb.php
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
 $string['duplicatetemplate'] = 'A template with the same name already exists.';
 $string['edittemplate'] = 'Edit template';
 $string['enabled'] = 'Enabled';
-$string['error:ws:nokeyprovided'] = 'At least one SEB key must be provided.';
+$string['error:ws:nokeyprovided'] = 'At least one Safe Exam Browser key must be provided.';
 $string['error:ws:quiznotexists'] = 'Quiz not found matching course module ID: {$a}';
 $string['event:accessprevented'] = "Quiz access was prevented";
 $string['event:templatecreated'] = 'SEB template was created';
diff --git a/mod/quiz/lang/en/quiz.php b/mod/quiz/lang/en/quiz.php
index c2757f32e9b4c..17ff0bdf333fb 100644
--- a/mod/quiz/lang/en/quiz.php
+++ b/mod/quiz/lang/en/quiz.php
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@
 $string['duplicateresponse'] = 'This submission has been ignored because you gave an equivalent answer earlier.';
 $string['eachattemptbuildsonthelast'] = 'Each attempt builds on the last';
 $string['eachattemptbuildsonthelast_help'] = 'If multiple attempts are allowed and this setting is enabled, each new quiz attempt will contain the results of the previous attempt. This allows a quiz to be completed over several attempts.';
-$string['edit_slotdisplaynumber_hint'] = 'Edit question number (max 16 characters), long strings are truncated.';
+$string['edit_slotdisplaynumber_hint'] = 'Edit question number (maximum 16 characters)';
 $string['edit_slotdisplaynumber_label'] = 'New value for {$a}';
 $string['editcategories'] = 'Edit categories';
 $string['editcategory'] = 'Edit category';
diff --git a/report/configlog/lang/en/report_configlog.php b/report/configlog/lang/en/report_configlog.php
index 4c0b94add4668..923ecf61b909b 100644
--- a/report/configlog/lang/en/report_configlog.php
+++ b/report/configlog/lang/en/report_configlog.php
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 $string['timemodified'] = 'Date';
 $string['user'] = 'User';
 $string['usernone'] = 'CLI or install';
-$string['user_help'] = 'Search by user first name or surname';
+$string['user_help'] = 'Search by user first name or last name';
 $string['value'] = 'Value';
 $string['value_help'] = 'Search by new or original value of the configuration';
 $string['valuenew'] = 'New value';
diff --git a/report/progress/lang/en/report_progress.php b/report/progress/lang/en/report_progress.php
index 69bf60dc8b0a0..a9028edde6e6f 100644
--- a/report/progress/lang/en/report_progress.php
+++ b/report/progress/lang/en/report_progress.php
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
 
 $string['pluginname'] = 'Activity completion';
 $string['activityorder'] = 'Activity order';
-$string['activitysection'] = 'Activity section';
+$string['activitysection'] = 'Section';
 $string['allactivitiesandresources'] = 'All activities and resources';
 $string['alphabetical'] = 'Alphabetical ';
 $string['include'] = 'Include';