Improve error messages in utils

**Problem**
When working with types, the error messages could be more descriptive.

**Suggestion**
Improve error handling and add detailed error messages.

**Context**
This would help with debugging and maintenance.

Start by locating the utils code responsible for type-related error handling; the issue does not name a file or test. Reproduce representative type errors, then define and verify clearer messages that provide useful debugging context without changing the underlying behavior.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.