diff --git a/readsurvey.go b/readsurvey.go
index 11ae00f..c819800 100644
--- a/readsurvey.go
+++ b/readsurvey.go
@@ -356,9 +356,13 @@ func alternatives(a, b surveyAt) bool {
 }
 
 func overlapError(route surveyRoute, ref string, into pathRead) error {
-	apart := fmt.Sprintf("move {%s} into a field with a drawGroup", into.a.spelling)
-	if into.a.spelling != into.at.route.label {
-		apart = fmt.Sprintf("give %s a drawGroup", into.at.route.spelling)
+	apart := ""
+	switch {
+	case route.spelling == into.at.route.spelling:
+	case isRef(into.at.route.label):
+		apart = fmt.Sprintf(", or move {%s} into a field with a drawGroup", into.at.route.label)
+	default:
+		apart = fmt.Sprintf(", or give %s a drawGroup", into.at.route.spelling)
 	}
-	return fmt.Errorf("%s renders its own draw of what %s reads a path through; name the fields you want instead, or %s", route.spelled(ref), into.at.route.spelled(into.a.spelling), apart)
+	return fmt.Errorf("%s renders its own draw of what %s reads a path through; name the fields you want instead%s", route.spelled(ref), into.at.route.spelled(into.a.spelling), apart)
 }