Improve error messages in utils

**Description**
Currently validation lacks proper sorting support.

**Proposed solution**
Add configurable sorting with sensible defaults.

**Priority**: Low/Medium

Start by locating the validation utilities referenced by the issue and checking for existing tests around sorting and error messages. Clarify whether the intended change is configurable sorting, improved validation errors, or both; done should include defined defaults and tests covering the resulting behavior.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.