diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/warranted.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/warranted.go
index 8f5caff8..9f6f918e 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/warranted.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/warranted.go
@@ -55,10 +55,10 @@ func warrantedAct(asker, ask, caller, state string, w *asks.Warrant) (link.HandA
 	case w.AskDigest == "":
 		return link.HandAct{}, fmt.Errorf("the router's warrant for %s's ask %s names no ask digest", asker, ask)
 	}
-	return link.HandAct{ID: warrantedID(asker, ask), Verb: handActWarrant, Args: []string{fmt.Sprintf("%s acted on %s, chosen on its ask %s", asker, w.Label, ask)},
+	return link.HandAct{ID: warrantedID(asker, ask), Verb: handActWarrant, Args: []string{fmt.Sprintf("the operator chose %s on %s's ask %s", w.Label, asker, ask)},
 		Why: fmt.Sprintf("%s (ask %s of %s)", w.Says(), ask, asker), By: byWords(*w), Cause: conditions.CauseOperatorAnswer,
 		Via: viaWords(*w), Ask: ask, Proofs: w.Proofs, RequestedBy: asker + ", recorded at the word of " + caller,
-		Outcome: "done by " + asker, At: w.At.UTC()}, nil
+		Outcome: "chosen; what " + asker + " did with it is in its own record", At: w.At.UTC()}, nil
 }
 
 // readRouterRecord reads the router's record of one asker's ask: its state and warrant, or "" when there is none.
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/warranted_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/warranted_test.go
index 1b90ec33..b97ea128 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/warranted_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/warranted_test.go
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ func TestAWarrantIsRecordedFromTheRoutersRecordAlone(t *testing.T) {
 		act.By != "the operator, as telegram identity 42" || act.Ask != "instr-1" || !slices.Equal(act.Proofs, []string{"P1"}) ||
 		!strings.Contains(act.Why, "the operator, via telegram (user id verified), chose Approve") ||
 		!strings.Contains(act.RequestedBy, "node-tools.shanks") ||
-		!slices.Equal(act.Args, []string{"claude-code acted on Approve, chosen on its ask instr-1"}) {
+		!slices.Equal(act.Args, []string{"the operator chose Approve on claude-code's ask instr-1"}) {
 		t.Fatalf("recorded as %+v", act)
 	}
 	for name, c := range map[string]struct {