diff --git a/cmd/things/add.go b/cmd/things/add.go
index b06637d..8ed389a 100644
--- a/cmd/things/add.go
+++ b/cmd/things/add.go
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ func preAdd(d *Deps, kind string, p addParams, flags TagFlags) error {
 func resolveAddTarget(d *Deps, list, heading string) (db.Target, createdDest) {
 	if list == "" {
 		if heading != "" {
-			fmt.Fprintf(d.errOut(), "warning: --heading %q needs --list or --project; Things will ignore it and put the to-do in the Inbox\n", heading)
+			fmt.Fprintf(d.errOut(), "warning: %s\n", headingNeedsList("--heading", heading, "--list or --project", "put the to-do in the Inbox"))
 		}
 		return db.Target{}, createdDest{checked: true}
 	}
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ func resolveAddTarget(d *Deps, list, heading string) (db.Target, createdDest) {
 		fmt.Fprintf(d.errOut(), "warning: %s\n", noTarget("project or area", list, false, "it will put the to-do in the Inbox"))
 		return target, createdDest{checked: true}
 	case heading != "" && !headingFound:
-		fmt.Fprintf(d.errOut(), "warning: %s\n", noHeading(list, heading, "add the to-do there without a heading"))
+		fmt.Fprintf(d.errOut(), "warning: %s\n", noHeading(listName(list, target), heading, "add the to-do there without a heading"))
 	}
 	noteTarget(d, list, "lists", target)
 	return target, addDest(target)
diff --git a/cmd/things/edit.go b/cmd/things/edit.go
index d6cb31c..396bc3f 100644
--- a/cmd/things/edit.go
+++ b/cmd/things/edit.go
@@ -205,7 +205,7 @@ func (c *EditCmd) checkMove(d *Deps, database *db.DB, task *model.Task) bool {
 		return !inList || task.HeadingUUID != target.Heading
 	case target.UUID != "":
 		if heading != "" {
-			fmt.Fprintf(d.errOut(), "warning: %s\n", noHeading(list, heading, "move the to-do there without a heading"))
+			fmt.Fprintf(d.errOut(), "warning: %s\n", noHeading(listName(list, target), heading, "move the to-do there without a heading"))
 		}
 		return task.HeadingUUID != "" || !inList
 	case c.Heading == nil:
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ func (c *EditCmd) checkMove(d *Deps, database *db.DB, task *model.Task) bool {
 		// The unknown list's warning has said the to-do stays put.
 		return false
 	case task.ProjectUUID == "":
-		fmt.Fprintf(d.errOut(), "warning: --heading %q needs --list: the to-do is not in a project, so Things will leave it where it is\n", heading)
+		fmt.Fprintf(d.errOut(), "warning: %s\n", headingNeedsList("--heading", heading, "--list or --list-id, as the to-do is not in a project", "leave the to-do where it is"))
 		return false
 	}
 	t, f, err := database.AddTarget(task.ProjectUUID, heading)
diff --git a/cmd/things/edit_test.go b/cmd/things/edit_test.go
index ba0c132..0fc1d61 100644
--- a/cmd/things/edit_test.go
+++ b/cmd/things/edit_test.go
@@ -635,17 +635,17 @@ func TestEditWarnsOnUnresolvedMove(t *testing.T) {
 		{"unknownHeadingIDWithList", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--list", "Tools", "--heading-id", "nope"}, `no heading with id "nope"; it will ignore --heading-id`, false},
 		{"unknownHeading", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--list", "Tools", "--heading", "Later"}, `"Tools" has no heading "Later"; Things will move the to-do there without a heading`, false},
 		{"paddedHeading", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--list", "Tools", "--heading", " Setup "}, `"Tools" has no heading " Setup "`, false},
-		{"unknownHeadingInListID", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--list-id", "proj-1", "--heading", "Later"}, `"proj-1" has no heading "Later"`, false},
+		{"unknownHeadingInListID", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--list-id", "proj-1", "--heading", "Later"}, `"Tools" has no heading "Later"`, false},
 		{"knownHeadingInListID", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--list-id", "proj-1", "--heading", "Setup"}, "", false},
-		{"unknownHeadingInListUUID", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--list", "proj-1", "--heading", "Later"}, `"proj-1" has no heading "Later"`, false},
-		{"headingInAreaUUID", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--list", "area-1", "--heading", "Setup"}, `"area-1" has no heading "Setup"`, false},
+		{"unknownHeadingInListUUID", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--list", "proj-1", "--heading", "Later"}, `"Tools" has no heading "Later"`, false},
+		{"headingInAreaUUID", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--list", "area-1", "--heading", "Setup"}, `"Personal" has no heading "Setup"`, false},
 		{"headingOnlyKnown", []string{"edit", "tool-1", "--heading", "SETUP"}, "", false},
 		// Of two headings that differ only in case, Things files the to-do
 		// under the one with the lower uuid, whichever case was sent.
 		{"caseTwinHeading", []string{"edit", "twin-todo", "--heading", "SETUP"}, "", false},
 		{"caseTwinListAndHeading", []string{"edit", "twin-todo", "--list", "Tools", "--heading", "SETUP"}, "", false},
 		{"headingOnlyUnknown", []string{"edit", "tool-1", "--heading", "Later"}, `"Tools" has no heading "Later"; Things will leave the to-do where it is`, true},
-		{"headingOnlyNoProject", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--heading", "Setup"}, `--heading "Setup" needs --list: the to-do is not in a project, so Things will leave it where it is`, true},
+		{"headingOnlyNoProject", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--heading", "Setup"}, `--heading "Setup" needs --list or --list-id, as the to-do is not in a project; Things will ignore it and leave the to-do where it is`, true},
 		{"headingID", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--list", "Tools", "--heading-id", "head-1"}, "", false},
 		// Measured in Things 3: an empty heading alone clears the heading,
 		// and an empty list unfiles the to-do into Anytime. Both are sent
diff --git a/cmd/things/importdest.go b/cmd/things/importdest.go
index d61aa84..fbd253e 100644
--- a/cmd/things/importdest.go
+++ b/cmd/things/importdest.go
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ func (r *destResolver) taskDest(c importCreate) createdDest {
 		return createdDest{checked: true}
 	case list == "":
 		if heading != "" {
-			r.warn(c, "heading %q needs a list; Things will ignore it and put the to-do in the Inbox", heading)
+			r.warn(c, "%s", headingNeedsList("heading", heading, "list or list-id", "put the to-do in the Inbox"))
 		}
 		return createdDest{checked: true}
 	case !byID && to.listInPayload:
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ func (r *destResolver) taskDest(c importCreate) createdDest {
 		// lowest-uuid twin of one the list already has.
 		dest.anyHeading = true
 	case heading != "" && !res.headingFound:
-		r.warn(c, "%s", noHeading(list, heading, "add the to-do there without a heading"))
+		r.warn(c, "%s", noHeading(listName(list, res.target), heading, "add the to-do there without a heading"))
 	}
 	return dest
 }
diff --git a/cmd/things/project.go b/cmd/things/project.go
index ff69dee..5d3cf9b 100644
--- a/cmd/things/project.go
+++ b/cmd/things/project.go
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ func projectArea(d *Deps, area, fallback string) (target db.Target, read bool) {
 	case err != nil:
 		return db.Target{}, false
 	case t.UUID == "":
-		fmt.Fprintf(d.errOut(), "warning: %s\n", noArea(area, false, fallback))
+		fmt.Fprintf(d.errOut(), "warning: %s\n", noTarget("area", area, false, fallback))
 	}
 	return t, true
 }
@@ -147,7 +147,7 @@ func (c *ProjectEditCmd) checkOwn(d *Deps, database *db.DB, task *model.Task) bo
 	return moves
 }
 
-// checkAreaID warns when Things has no area with the uuid --area-id gives,
+// checkAreaID warns when Things finds no area with the uuid --area-id gives,
 // and reports whether the project may move. Checked in Things 3: an unknown
 // area-id leaves the project where it is.
 func (c *ProjectEditCmd) checkAreaID(d *Deps, database *db.DB, task *model.Task) bool {
@@ -166,6 +166,6 @@ func (c *ProjectEditCmd) checkAreaID(d *Deps, database *db.DB, task *model.Task)
 	case t.ByUUID:
 		return true
 	}
-	fmt.Fprintf(d.errOut(), "warning: %s\n", noArea(*c.AreaID, true, "the project will stay where it is"))
+	fmt.Fprintf(d.errOut(), "warning: %s\n", noTarget("area", *c.AreaID, true, "the project will stay where it is"))
 	return false
 }
diff --git a/cmd/things/targetmsg.go b/cmd/things/targetmsg.go
index 5482a21..7300c47 100644
--- a/cmd/things/targetmsg.go
+++ b/cmd/things/targetmsg.go
@@ -1,16 +1,22 @@
 package main
 
-import "fmt"
+import (
+	"fmt"
+
+	"github.com/ryanlewis/things-cli/internal/db"
+)
 
 // The warnings add, edit, project and import give when Things cannot find
 // the list, area or heading an item was sent to. Agents read this wording,
-// so each command builds it here rather than by hand. (The "--heading needs
-// --list" warnings differ per command and stay with add and edit.) Where the
-// rules differ between commands, the caller decides; these only say it.
+// so each command builds it here rather than by hand. Where the rules differ
+// between commands, the caller decides; these only say it.
 
 // noTarget is the warning for ref, sent by uuid when byID and by title
 // otherwise, when Things finds no noun ("project or area", or "area") for
-// it. next says what Things does instead.
+// it. next says what Things does instead. It says "finds no" rather than
+// "has no": the check is of how Things matches the name, and an item can
+// exist that Things will still not match, such as one by its uuid sent as a
+// title.
 func noTarget(noun, ref string, byID bool, next string) string {
 	if byID {
 		return fmt.Sprintf("Things finds no %s with id %q; %s", noun, ref, next)
@@ -18,13 +24,21 @@ func noTarget(noun, ref string, byID bool, next string) string {
 	return fmt.Sprintf("Things finds no %s called %q; %s", noun, ref, next)
 }
 
-// noArea is project's warning for an area Things cannot find, as noTarget.
-// It says "has no area" where import's says "finds no area".
-func noArea(ref string, byID bool, next string) string {
-	if byID {
-		return fmt.Sprintf("Things has no area with id %q; %s", ref, next)
+// headingNeedsList is the warning for a heading sent with no list to file it
+// in. name is the flag or field ("--heading", "heading"), needs what would
+// give it a list, and next what Things does with the to-do instead.
+func headingNeedsList(name, heading, needs, next string) string {
+	return fmt.Sprintf("%s %q needs %s; Things will ignore it and %s", name, heading, needs, next)
+}
+
+// listName is how a warning names the list ref led to: by its title when
+// ref was the list's uuid, since that is the name the user knows it by, and
+// as given otherwise.
+func listName(ref string, t db.Target) string {
+	if t.ByUUID && t.Title != "" {
+		return t.Title
 	}
-	return fmt.Sprintf("Things has no area called %q; %s", ref, next)
+	return ref
 }
 
 // noHeading is the warning for a heading title list does not have. next is
diff --git a/cmd/things/targetmsg_test.go b/cmd/things/targetmsg_test.go
index 82a28c1..be5209d 100644
--- a/cmd/things/targetmsg_test.go
+++ b/cmd/things/targetmsg_test.go
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@ func TestTargetWarningsExact(t *testing.T) {
 			`Things finds no project or area called "Nowhere"; it will put the to-do in the Inbox`},
 		{"addUnknownHeading", []string{"add", "Buy oat milk", "--list", "Tools", "--heading", "Later"},
 			`"Tools" has no heading "Later"; Things will add the to-do there without a heading`},
+		{"addUnknownHeadingInListUUID", []string{"add", "Buy oat milk", "--list", "proj-1", "--heading", "Later"},
+			`"Tools" has no heading "Later"; Things will add the to-do there without a heading`},
 		{"addHeadingWithoutList", []string{"add", "Buy oat milk", "--heading", "Setup"},
 			`--heading "Setup" needs --list or --project; Things will ignore it and put the to-do in the Inbox`},
 		{"editUnknownList", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--list", "Nowhere"},
@@ -34,21 +36,21 @@ func TestTargetWarningsExact(t *testing.T) {
 		{"editUnknownHeading", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--list", "Tools", "--heading", "Later"},
 			`"Tools" has no heading "Later"; Things will move the to-do there without a heading`},
 		{"editUnknownHeadingInListID", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--list-id", "proj-1", "--heading", "Later"},
-			`"proj-1" has no heading "Later"; Things will move the to-do there without a heading`},
+			`"Tools" has no heading "Later"; Things will move the to-do there without a heading`},
 		{"editUnknownOwnHeading", []string{"edit", "tool-1", "--heading", "Later"},
 			`"Tools" has no heading "Later"; Things will leave the to-do where it is`},
 		{"editHeadingNoProject", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--heading", "Setup"},
-			`--heading "Setup" needs --list: the to-do is not in a project, so Things will leave it where it is`},
+			`--heading "Setup" needs --list or --list-id, as the to-do is not in a project; Things will ignore it and leave the to-do where it is`},
 		{"editUnknownHeadingID", []string{"edit", "tool-1", "--heading-id", "nope"},
 			`Things has no heading with id "nope"; the to-do will stay where it is`},
 		{"editUnknownHeadingIDWithList", []string{"edit", "one-1", "--list", "Tools", "--heading-id", "nope"},
 			`Things has no heading with id "nope"; it will ignore --heading-id`},
 		{"projectAddUnknownArea", []string{"project", "add", "Launch", "--area", "Nowhere"},
-			`Things has no area called "Nowhere"; it will create the project with no area`},
+			`Things finds no area called "Nowhere"; it will create the project with no area`},
 		{"projectEditUnknownArea", []string{"project", "edit", "garden-1", "--area", "Nowhere"},
-			`Things has no area called "Nowhere"; the project will stay where it is`},
+			`Things finds no area called "Nowhere"; the project will stay where it is`},
 		{"projectEditUnknownAreaID", []string{"project", "edit", "garden-1", "--area-id", "nope"},
-			`Things has no area with id "nope"; the project will stay where it is`},
+			`Things finds no area with id "nope"; the project will stay where it is`},
 	}
 	for _, tc := range cases {
 		t.Run(tc.name, func(t *testing.T) {
@@ -86,6 +88,8 @@ func TestImportTargetWarningsExact(t *testing.T) {
 	  {"type":"to-do","attributes":{"title":"c","list":"proj-1"}},
 	  {"type":"to-do","attributes":{"title":"d","list":"Tools","heading":"Setup"}},
 	  {"type":"to-do","attributes":{"title":"e","list":"Tools","heading-id":"nope"}},
+	  {"type":"to-do","attributes":{"title":"f","heading":"Setup"}},
+	  {"type":"to-do","attributes":{"title":"g","list-id":"proj-1","heading":"Later"}},
 	  {"type":"project","attributes":{"title":"Shed","area":"Nowhere"}},
 	  {"type":"project","attributes":{"title":"Barn","area-id":"nope"}}
 	]`
@@ -99,8 +103,10 @@ func TestImportTargetWarningsExact(t *testing.T) {
 		`[2]: list "proj-1" is an id, and Things matches list by title only; it will put the to-do in the Inbox (use list-id)`,
 		`[3]: "Tools" has no heading "Setup"; Things will add the to-do there without a heading`,
 		`[4]: Things has no heading with id "nope"; it will ignore heading-id and heading`,
-		`[5]: Things finds no area called "Nowhere"; it will create the project in no area`,
-		`[6]: Things finds no area with id "nope"; it will create the project in no area`,
+		`[5]: heading "Setup" needs list or list-id; Things will ignore it and put the to-do in the Inbox`,
+		`[6]: "Tools" has no heading "Later"; Things will add the to-do there without a heading`,
+		`[7]: Things finds no area called "Nowhere"; it will create the project in no area`,
+		`[8]: Things finds no area with id "nope"; it will create the project in no area`,
 	} {
 		if !strings.Contains(stderr, "warning: "+want+"\n") {
 			t.Errorf("stderr = %q, want the line %q", stderr, "warning: "+want)
diff --git a/docs/content/commands.md b/docs/content/commands.md
index 8df5f0c..212b572 100644
--- a/docs/content/commands.md
+++ b/docs/content/commands.md
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ nothing matches it creates the project with no area. `project add` warns on
 stderr when that will happen, then sends the project anyway:
 
 ```
-warning: Things has no area called "Nowhere"; it will create the project with no area
+warning: Things finds no area called "Nowhere"; it will create the project with no area
 ```
 
 Each line of `--todos`, like each `--checklist` item, may be at most 4000
@@ -649,7 +649,7 @@ warning: Things has no heading with id "abc123"; the to-do will stay where it is
 warning: Things has no heading with id "abc123"; it will ignore --heading-id
 warning: "Tools" has no heading "Later"; Things will move the to-do there without a heading
 warning: "Tools" has no heading "Later"; Things will leave the to-do where it is
-warning: --heading "Later" needs --list: the to-do is not in a project, so Things will leave it where it is
+warning: --heading "Later" needs --list or --list-id, as the to-do is not in a project; Things will ignore it and leave the to-do where it is
 ```
 
 When the move files the to-do somewhere new, `edit` notes the same things
@@ -798,8 +798,8 @@ one Things will use, as `project add` does, unless the project is already
 there. A move to the area the project is already in counts as no change.
 
 ```
-warning: Things has no area called "Nowhere"; the project will stay where it is
-warning: Things has no area with id "abc123"; the project will stay where it is
+warning: Things finds no area called "Nowhere"; the project will stay where it is
+warning: Things finds no area with id "abc123"; the project will stay where it is
 ```
 
 ## Tags must already exist