diff --git a/src/parser/tests/expression.rs b/src/parser/tests/expression.rs
index 3d47aa3f..8451cd25 100644
--- a/src/parser/tests/expression.rs
+++ b/src/parser/tests/expression.rs
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@
 use crate::parser::ast::{BinaryOp, Expr, UnaryOp};
 use crate::parser::expression::parse_expression;
 use crate::test_util::{
-    bit_slice, call, call_expr, closure, field, field_access, lit_bool, lit_num, lit_str,
-    method_call, struct_expr, tuple, tuple_index, var,
+    assert_delimiter_error, assert_parse_error, bit_slice, call, call_expr, closure, field,
+    field_access, lit_bool, lit_num, lit_str, method_call, struct_expr, tuple, tuple_index, var,
 };
 use rstest::rstest;
 
@@ -93,15 +93,15 @@ fn parses_literals(#[case] src: &str, #[case] expected: Expr) {
 }
 
 #[rstest]
-#[case("1 +", 1)]
-#[case("(1 + 2", 1)]
-#[case("1 ? 2", 1)]
-#[case("x :", 1)]
-#[case("x as", 1)]
-#[case("x =", 1)]
-#[case("x ;", 1)]
-#[case("x =>", 1)]
-#[case("", 1)]
+#[case::addition_missing_rhs("1 +", 1)]
+#[case::unclosed_parenthesis("(1 + 2", 1)]
+#[case::unexpected_question_mark("1 ? 2", 1)]
+#[case::trailing_colon("x :", 1)]
+#[case::incomplete_as_cast("x as", 1)]
+#[case::assignment_missing_rhs("x =", 1)]
+#[case::extraneous_semicolon("x ;", 1)]
+#[case::unexpected_fat_arrow("x =>", 1)]
+#[case::empty_input("", 1)]
 #[case::bit_slice_missing_comma("e[1 0]", 1)]
 #[case::bit_slice_missing_rbracket("e[1,0", 1)]
 #[case::bit_slice_missing_lhs("e[,0]", 1)]
@@ -117,3 +117,24 @@ fn reports_errors(#[case] src: &str, #[case] min_errs: usize) {
         Err(errs) => assert!(errs.len() >= min_errs),
     }
 }
+
+#[rstest]
+#[case::trailing_dot("foo.", "expected identifier or tuple index after '.'", 4, 4, false)]
+#[case::bit_slice_missing_comma("e[1]", "expected comma", 3, 4, false)]
+#[case::bit_slice_unclosed("e[1,0", "expected right bracket", 5, 5, true)]
+fn postfix_expression_errors(
+    #[case] src: &str,
+    #[case] msg: &str,
+    #[case] start: usize,
+    #[case] end: usize,
+    #[case] unclosed: bool,
+) {
+    let Err(errors) = parse_expression(src) else {
+        panic!("expected error");
+    };
+    if unclosed {
+        assert_delimiter_error(&errors, msg, start, end);
+    } else {
+        assert_parse_error(&errors, msg, start, end);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/parser/tests/functions.rs b/src/parser/tests/functions.rs
index 9ddd06ac..30c3dad1 100644
--- a/src/parser/tests/functions.rs
+++ b/src/parser/tests/functions.rs
@@ -104,13 +104,13 @@ fn function_unclosed_params() -> &'static str {
 #[rstest]
 fn extern_function_missing_colon_is_error(extern_function_missing_colon: &str) {
     let parsed = crate::parse(extern_function_missing_colon);
-    assert_parse_error(parsed.errors(), "T_LPAREN", 30, 33);
+    assert_parse_error(parsed.errors(), "left paren", 30, 33);
     assert!(parsed.root().functions().is_empty());
 }
 
 #[rstest]
-#[case(function_unterminated_body(), "T_RBRACE", function_unterminated_body().len())]
-#[case(function_unclosed_params(), "T_RPAREN", function_unclosed_params().len())]
+#[case(function_unterminated_body(), "right brace", function_unterminated_body().len())]
+#[case(function_unclosed_params(), "right paren", function_unclosed_params().len())]
 fn function_error_cases(#[case] src: &str, #[case] token: &str, #[case] end: usize) {
     let parsed = crate::parse(src);
     assert_parse_error(parsed.errors(), token, 0, end);
diff --git a/src/parser/tests/imports.rs b/src/parser/tests/imports.rs
index 419b70b8..2fb8280d 100644
--- a/src/parser/tests/imports.rs
+++ b/src/parser/tests/imports.rs
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ fn import_statement_parses(#[case] src: &str, #[case] path: &str, #[case] alias:
 fn import_statement_invalid_missing_path() {
     let src = "import as missing_path";
     let parsed = parse(src);
-    assert_parse_error(parsed.errors(), "T_IDENT", 7, 9);
+    assert_parse_error(parsed.errors(), "identifier", 7, 9);
     let imports = parsed.root().imports();
     assert!(imports.is_empty());
 }
diff --git a/src/parser/tests/indexes.rs b/src/parser/tests/indexes.rs
index 928d3a08..2e962046 100644
--- a/src/parser/tests/indexes.rs
+++ b/src/parser/tests/indexes.rs
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ fn index_missing_on_is_error(index_invalid_missing_on: &str) {
 fn index_unbalanced_parentheses_is_error(index_unbalanced_parentheses: &str) {
     let parsed = crate::parse(index_unbalanced_parentheses);
     let len = index_unbalanced_parentheses.len();
-    assert_delimiter_error(parsed.errors(), "T_RPAREN", 0, len);
+    assert_delimiter_error(parsed.errors(), "right paren", 0, len);
     assert!(parsed.root().indexes().is_empty());
 }
 
diff --git a/src/parser/tests/relations.rs b/src/parser/tests/relations.rs
index 42d89bd9..9955ea9e 100644
--- a/src/parser/tests/relations.rs
+++ b/src/parser/tests/relations.rs
@@ -88,6 +88,6 @@ fn relation_unbalanced_parentheses_is_error(relation_unbalanced_parentheses: &st
     // opening delimiter position. This preserves branch behaviour while still
     // asserting the unclosed ')' is detected.
     let len = relation_unbalanced_parentheses.len();
-    assert_delimiter_error(parsed.errors(), "T_RPAREN", 0, len);
+    assert_delimiter_error(parsed.errors(), "right paren", 0, len);
     assert!(parsed.root().relations().is_empty());
 }
diff --git a/src/test_util.rs b/src/test_util.rs
index 2202446b..e1ebf21c 100644
--- a/src/test_util.rs
+++ b/src/test_util.rs
@@ -33,9 +33,34 @@ pub enum ErrorPattern {
     Custom(String),
 }
 
+/// Replace internal token names with human-readable forms.
+fn normalise_tokens(s: &str) -> String {
+    [
+        ("T_LPAREN", "left paren"),
+        ("T_RPAREN", "right paren"),
+        ("T_LBRACKET", "left bracket"),
+        ("T_RBRACKET", "right bracket"),
+        ("T_LBRACE", "left brace"),
+        ("T_RBRACE", "right brace"),
+        ("T_COMMA", "comma"),
+        ("T_SEMI", "semicolon"),
+        ("T_PIPE", "pipe"),
+        ("T_IDENT", "identifier"),
+        ("T_NUMBER", "number"),
+    ]
+    .into_iter()
+    .fold(s.to_string(), |acc, (raw, human)| acc.replace(raw, human))
+}
+
 impl ErrorPattern {
     fn contains_message(&self, rendered: &str) -> bool {
-        matches!(self, Self::Custom(msg) if rendered.contains(msg))
+        let rendered = normalise_tokens(rendered);
+        match self {
+            Self::Custom(msg) => {
+                let msg = normalise_tokens(msg);
+                rendered.contains(&msg)
+            }
+        }
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/expression_compound.rs b/tests/expression_compound.rs
index af6a64e9..e3cd0ef4 100644
--- a/tests/expression_compound.rs
+++ b/tests/expression_compound.rs
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ fn parses_compound_expressions(#[case] src: &str, #[case] expected: Expr) {
 #[case("Point { x: 1", "expected", 12, 12, true)]
 #[case("(1, 2", "expected", 5, 5, true)]
 #[case("|x|", "invalid expression", 3, 3, false)]
-#[case("|x x", "expected T_PIPE", 3, 4, false)]
+#[case("|x x", "expected pipe", 3, 4, false)]
 #[case("||", "invalid expression", 2, 2, false)]
 fn compound_expression_errors(
     #[case] src: &str,
diff --git a/tests/expression_entry.rs b/tests/expression_entry.rs
index 51641752..a46c2c2d 100644
--- a/tests/expression_entry.rs
+++ b/tests/expression_entry.rs
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ fn parses_binary_precedence_chain() {
 
 #[rstest]
 #[case("", "invalid expression", 0, 0)]
-#[case("1 2", "unexpected token: T_NUMBER", 2, 3)]
+#[case("1 2", "unexpected token: number", 2, 3)]
 fn parse_expression_errors(
     #[case] src: &str,
     #[case] msg: &str,
diff --git a/tests/expression_postfix.rs b/tests/expression_postfix.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9e7c11e5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/expression_postfix.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,43 @@
+//! Integration tests for postfix expressions.
+//!
+//! These tests cover method calls, field accesses, tuple indexing, and bit
+//! slice expressions through the public `parse_expression` API.
+
+use ddlint::parser::ast::Expr;
+use ddlint::parser::expression::parse_expression;
+use ddlint::test_util::{
+    assert_delimiter_error, assert_parse_error, bit_slice, field_access, lit_num, method_call,
+    tuple_index, var,
+};
+use rstest::rstest;
+
+#[rstest]
+#[case::method_call("foo.bar(x)", method_call(var("foo"), "bar", vec![var("x")]))]
+#[case::field_access("foo.bar", field_access(var("foo"), "bar"))]
+#[case::bit_slice("e[1,0]", bit_slice(var("e"), lit_num("1"), lit_num("0")))]
+#[case::tuple_index("t.0", tuple_index(var("t"), "0"))]
+#[case::multi_arg_call("foo.bar(1, 2)", method_call(var("foo"), "bar", vec![lit_num("1"), lit_num("2")]))]
+#[case::chained_postfix("foo.bar().baz[1,0]", bit_slice(field_access(method_call(var("foo"), "bar", vec![]), "baz"), lit_num("1"), lit_num("0")))]
+fn parses_postfix_expressions(#[case] src: &str, #[case] expected: Expr) {
+    let expr = parse_expression(src).unwrap_or_else(|e| panic!("source {src:?} errors: {e:?}"));
+    assert_eq!(expr, expected);
+}
+
+#[rstest]
+#[case::unclosed_call("foo.bar(", "invalid expression", 8, 8, true)]
+fn postfix_expression_errors(
+    #[case] src: &str,
+    #[case] msg: &str,
+    #[case] start: usize,
+    #[case] end: usize,
+    #[case] unclosed: bool,
+) {
+    let Err(errors) = parse_expression(src) else {
+        panic!("expected error");
+    };
+    if unclosed {
+        assert_delimiter_error(&errors, msg, start, end);
+    } else {
+        assert_parse_error(&errors, msg, start, end);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/tests/expression_prefix.rs b/tests/expression_prefix.rs
index b7737c2b..879d4f2e 100644
--- a/tests/expression_prefix.rs
+++ b/tests/expression_prefix.rs
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ fn parses_prefix_forms(#[case] src: &str, #[case] expected: Expr) {
 
 #[rstest]
 #[case("{}", "expected expression", 1, 2, false)]
-#[case("|x x", "expected T_PIPE", 3, 4, false)]
+#[case("|x x", "expected pipe", 3, 4, false)]
 fn prefix_form_errors(
     #[case] src: &str,
     #[case] msg: &str,
diff --git a/tests/expression_var_and_call.rs b/tests/expression_var_and_call.rs
index 1219ab3d..c8794466 100644
--- a/tests/expression_var_and_call.rs
+++ b/tests/expression_var_and_call.rs
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ fn parses_vars_and_calls(#[case] src: &str, #[case] expected: Expr) {
 #[case("foo(", "invalid expression", 4, 4, "unclosed")]
 #[case("foo(]", "unexpected token", 4, 5, "mismatch")]
 #[case("foo(x,)", "unexpected trailing comma in argument list", 6, 7, "other")]
-#[case("foo(1 2)", "expected T_RPAREN", 6, 7, "other")]
+#[case("foo(1 2)", "expected right paren", 6, 7, "other")]
 fn call_parsing_errors(
     #[case] src: &str,
     #[case] msg: &str,
diff --git a/tests/function_errors.rs b/tests/function_errors.rs
index 3f940322..f2d8062a 100644
--- a/tests/function_errors.rs
+++ b/tests/function_errors.rs
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ use ddlint::test_util::assert_delimiter_error;
 use rstest::rstest;
 
 #[rstest]
-#[case("function f(x: int {", "T_RPAREN", 0, 19)]
-#[case("function f[x: int) {}", "T_LPAREN", 10, 11)]
+#[case("function f(x: int {", "right paren", 0, 19)]
+#[case("function f[x: int) {}", "left paren", 10, 11)]
 fn function_parameter_errors(
     #[case] src: &str,
     #[case] msg: &str,