Re: "Cannot" vs "could not"

Bruce Momjian <bruce@momjian.us> writes:
> We use "cannot" and "could not" quite often in source code and error
> messages:

Yup.

> Is there any sense that we should have more consistency in our message
> wording?

There is specific guidance about it in our error message style guide:

https://www.postgresql.org/docs/devel/error-style-guide.html

(see under "Present vs. Past Tense").  I believe we largely conform
to that guideline, though of course exceptions sneak in from time
to time.

            regards, tom lane