diff --git a/src/iuse.cpp b/src/iuse.cpp
index 4c29b83d8e89a..d9bfb3f1e4a54 100644
--- a/src/iuse.cpp
+++ b/src/iuse.cpp
@@ -5507,7 +5507,11 @@ int iuse::artifact( player *p, item *it, bool, const tripoint & )
 
 int iuse::spray_can( player *p, item *it, bool, const tripoint & )
 {
-    return handle_ground_graffiti( *p, it, _( "Spray what?" ), p->pos() );
+    const cata::optional<tripoint> dest_ = choose_adjacent( _( "Spray where?" ) );
+    if( !dest_ ) {
+        return 0;
+    }
+    return handle_ground_graffiti( *p, it, _( "Spray what?" ), dest_.value() );
 }
 
 int iuse::handle_ground_graffiti( player &p, item *it, const std::string &prefix,
@@ -5532,7 +5536,7 @@ int iuse::handle_ground_graffiti( player &p, item *it, const std::string &prefix
             if( grave ) {
                 p.add_msg_if_player( m_info, _( "You blur the inscription on the grave." ) );
             } else {
-                p.add_msg_if_player( m_info, _( "You manage to get rid of the message on the ground." ) );
+                p.add_msg_if_player( m_info, _( "You manage to get rid of the message on the surface." ) );
             }
         } else {
             return 0;
@@ -5542,7 +5546,7 @@ int iuse::handle_ground_graffiti( player &p, item *it, const std::string &prefix
         if( grave ) {
             p.add_msg_if_player( m_info, _( "You carve an inscription on the grave." ) );
         } else {
-            p.add_msg_if_player( m_info, _( "You write a message on the ground." ) );
+            p.add_msg_if_player( m_info, _( "You write a message on the surface." ) );
         }
         move_cost = 2 * message.length();
     }
diff --git a/src/iuse_actor.cpp b/src/iuse_actor.cpp
index 4953878b494dd..ae096b6dbfc02 100644
--- a/src/iuse_actor.cpp
+++ b/src/iuse_actor.cpp
@@ -1678,7 +1678,7 @@ int inscribe_actor::use( player &p, item &it, bool t, const tripoint & ) const
     if( on_terrain && on_items ) {
         uilist imenu;
         imenu.text = string_format( _( "%s on what?" ), verb );
-        imenu.addentry( 0, true, MENU_AUTOASSIGN, _( "The ground" ) );
+        imenu.addentry( 0, true, MENU_AUTOASSIGN, _( "The terrain" ) );
         imenu.addentry( 1, true, MENU_AUTOASSIGN, _( "An item" ) );
         imenu.query();
         choice = imenu.ret;
@@ -1693,7 +1693,12 @@ int inscribe_actor::use( player &p, item &it, bool t, const tripoint & ) const
     }
 
     if( choice == 0 ) {
-        return iuse::handle_ground_graffiti( p, &it, string_format( _( "%s what?" ), verb ), p.pos() );
+        const cata::optional<tripoint> dest_ = choose_adjacent( _( "Write where?" ) );
+        if( !dest_ ) {
+            return 0;
+        }
+        return iuse::handle_ground_graffiti( p, &it, string_format( _( "%s what?" ), verb ),
+                                             dest_.value() );
     }
 
     item_location loc = game_menus::inv::titled_menu( g->u, _( "Inscribe which item?" ) );