diff --git a/compiler/typecheck/common.jou b/compiler/typecheck/common.jou
index 2cda6377..da990019 100644
--- a/compiler/typecheck/common.jou
+++ b/compiler/typecheck/common.jou
@@ -224,23 +224,3 @@ def type_from_ast(ft: FileTypes*, asttype: AstType*) -> Type*:
         return tmp->array_type(len)
 
     assert False
-
-
-def short_type_description(t: Type*) -> byte*:
-    if t->kind == TypeKind::OpaqueClass or t->kind == TypeKind::Class:
-        return "a class"
-    if t->kind == TypeKind::Enum:
-        return "an enum"
-    if t->kind == TypeKind::VoidPointer or t->kind == TypeKind::Pointer:
-        return "a pointer type"
-    if (
-        t->kind == TypeKind::SignedInteger
-        or t->kind == TypeKind::UnsignedInteger
-        or t->kind == TypeKind::FloatingPoint
-    ):
-        return "a number type"
-    if t->kind == TypeKind::Array:
-        return "an array type"
-    if t->kind == TypeKind::Bool:
-        return "the built-in bool type"
-    assert False
diff --git a/compiler/typecheck/step1_create_types.jou b/compiler/typecheck/step1_create_types.jou
index 0c8e4795..ce22950d 100644
--- a/compiler/typecheck/step1_create_types.jou
+++ b/compiler/typecheck/step1_create_types.jou
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ def typecheck_step1_create_types(ft: FileTypes*, ast: AstFile*) -> ExportSymbol*
         existing = ft->find_type(name)
         if existing != NULL:
             msg: byte[500]
-            snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "%s named '%s' already exists", short_type_description(existing), name)
+            snprintf(msg, sizeof(msg), "%s named '%s' already exists", existing->short_description(), name)
             fail(stmt->location, msg)
 
         ft->types = realloc(ft->types, sizeof(ft->types[0]) * (ft->ntypes + 1))
diff --git a/compiler/typecheck/step3_function_and_method_bodies.jou b/compiler/typecheck/step3_function_and_method_bodies.jou
index ca13b064..f1dc4d03 100644
--- a/compiler/typecheck/step3_function_and_method_bodies.jou
+++ b/compiler/typecheck/step3_function_and_method_bodies.jou
@@ -572,7 +572,7 @@ def typecheck_function_or_method_call(ft: FileTypes*, call: AstCall*, self_type:
             snprintf(
                 msg, sizeof(msg),
                 "type %s does not have any methods because it is %s, not a class",
-                self_type->name, short_type_description(self_type))
+                self_type->name, self_type->short_description())
 
         fail(location, msg)
 
@@ -658,7 +658,7 @@ def typecheck_instantiation(ft: FileTypes*, inst: AstInstantiation*, location: L
         snprintf(
             msg, sizeof(msg),
             "the %s{...} syntax is only for classes, but %s is %s",
-            t->name, t->name, short_type_description(t))
+            t->name, t->name, t->short_description())
         fail(location, msg)
 
     specified_fields: ClassField** = malloc(sizeof(specified_fields[0]) * inst->nfields)
@@ -789,7 +789,7 @@ def typecheck_expression(ft: FileTypes*, expr: AstExpression*) -> ExpressionType
                 msg, sizeof(msg),
                 "the '::' syntax is only for enums, but %s is %s",
                 expr->enum_member.enum_name,
-                short_type_description(result),
+                result->short_description(),
             )
             fail(expr->location, msg)
         if not enum_member_exists(result, expr->enum_member.member_name):
diff --git a/compiler/types.jou b/compiler/types.jou
index 4c942b07..bbeb70f1 100644
--- a/compiler/types.jou
+++ b/compiler/types.jou
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ enum TypeKind:
     VoidPointer
     Array
     Class
-    OpaqueClass  # class with unknown members. TODO when used?
+    OpaqueClass  # class with unknown members, used temporarily during compiling
     Enum
 
 class Type:
@@ -88,6 +88,25 @@ class Type:
         info->arrays[info->narrays++] = arr
         return &arr->type
 
+    def short_description(self) -> byte*:
+        if self->kind == TypeKind::OpaqueClass or self->kind == TypeKind::Class:
+            return "a class"
+        if self->kind == TypeKind::Enum:
+            return "an enum"
+        if self->kind == TypeKind::VoidPointer or self->kind == TypeKind::Pointer:
+            return "a pointer type"
+        if (
+            self->kind == TypeKind::SignedInteger
+            or self->kind == TypeKind::UnsignedInteger
+            or self->kind == TypeKind::FloatingPoint
+        ):
+            return "a number type"
+        if self->kind == TypeKind::Array:
+            return "an array type"
+        if self->kind == TypeKind::Bool:
+            return "the built-in bool type"
+        assert False
+
     def find_method(self, name: byte*) -> Signature*:
         if self->kind != TypeKind::Class:
             return NULL