diff --git a/.changes/next-release/documentation-25cc6401a5c0dd1c0973d796b257ac34f47f6f25.json b/.changes/next-release/documentation-25cc6401a5c0dd1c0973d796b257ac34f47f6f25.json
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ce27a89fe2c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changes/next-release/documentation-25cc6401a5c0dd1c0973d796b257ac34f47f6f25.json
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "type": "documentation",
+  "description": "Tweak wording of integers with ranges message",
+  "pull_requests": [
+    "[#2971](https://github.com/smithy-lang/smithy/pull/2971)"
+  ]
+}
diff --git a/docs/source-2.0/guides/model-validation-examples.rst b/docs/source-2.0/guides/model-validation-examples.rst
index 8e1f2c55341..d9ba6f9bd2e 100644
--- a/docs/source-2.0/guides/model-validation-examples.rst
+++ b/docs/source-2.0/guides/model-validation-examples.rst
@@ -219,9 +219,9 @@ to have clear, actionable error messages.
         id: "RawIntegerWithoutRange",
         configuration: {
             messageTemplate: """
-            This number shape in member `@{id}` of the operation input `@{var|structure}` \
+            This number shape targeted by the member `@{id}` of the operation input `@{var|structure}` \
             does not have a range constraint on both its minimum or maximum value. \
-            Add the `@@range` trait to this integer shape and provide both minimum and maximum values. \
+            Add the `@@range` trait to the targeted integer shape and provide both minimum and maximum values. \
             For example, `@@range(min: 1, max: 500)`.
             """,
             selector: """
@@ -235,9 +235,9 @@ to have clear, actionable error messages.
         id: "RawIntegerWithoutRangeMin",
         configuration: {
             messageTemplate: """
-            This number shape in member `@{id}` of the operation input `@{var|structure}` \
+            This number shape targeted by the member `@{id}` of the operation input `@{var|structure}` \
             does not have a maximum range constraint. \
-            Add a minimum value to the `@@range` trait on this shape. \
+            Add a minimum value to the `@@range` trait on this shape's target. \
             For example, `@@range(>>> min: 1 <<<, max: 500)`.
             """,
             selector: """
@@ -251,9 +251,9 @@ to have clear, actionable error messages.
         id: "RawIntegerWithoutRangeMax",
         configuration: {
             messageTemplate: """
-            This number shape in member `@{id}` of the operation input `@{var|structure}` \
+            This number shape targeted by the member `@{id}` of the operation input `@{var|structure}` \
             does not have a maximum range constraint. \
-            Add a maximum value to the `@@range` trait on this shape. \
+            Add a maximum value to the `@@range` trait on this shape's target. \
             For example, `@@range(min: 1, >>> max: 500 <<<)`.
             """,
             selector: """