diff --git a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/math/exception/MathUserException.java b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/math/exception/MathUserException.java
index 4566d515e..f60293c4c 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/math/exception/MathUserException.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/apache/commons/math/exception/MathUserException.java
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ package org.apache.commons.math.exception;
 import java.util.Locale;
 
 import org.apache.commons.math.exception.util.ArgUtils;
-import org.apache.commons.math.exception.util.MessageFactory;
 import org.apache.commons.math.exception.util.Localizable;
 import org.apache.commons.math.exception.util.LocalizedFormats;
+import org.apache.commons.math.exception.util.MessageFactory;
 
 /**
  * This class is intended as a sort of communication channel between
@@ -36,40 +36,84 @@ public class MathUserException extends RuntimeException {
     /** Serializable version Id. */
     private static final long serialVersionUID = -6024911025449780478L;
     /**
-     * Pattern used to build the message (problem description).
+     * Pattern used to build the specific part of the message (problem description).
      */
-    private final Localizable pattern;
+    private final Localizable specific;
+    /**
+     * Pattern used to build the general part of the message (problem description).
+     */
+    private final Localizable general;
     /**
      * Arguments used to build the message.
      */
     private final Object[] arguments;
 
     /**
-     * Default constructor.
+     * Build an exception with a default message.
      */
     public MathUserException() {
-        this(null);
+        this((Throwable) null);
     }
 
     /**
-     * @param cause Cause of the error.
-     * @param args Arguments.
+     * Build an exception with a default message.
+     * @param cause Cause of the error (may be null).
      */
-    public MathUserException(Throwable cause,
-                             Object ... args) {
-        this(null, cause, args);
+    public MathUserException(final Throwable cause) {
+        this(cause, LocalizedFormats.USER_EXCEPTION);
     }
 
     /**
-     * @param pattern Message pattern explaining the cause of the error.
-     * @param cause Cause of the error.
-     * @param args Arguments.
+     * Build an exception with a localizable message.
+     * @param pattern Format specifier.
+     * @param arguments Format arguments.
      */
-    public MathUserException(Localizable pattern,
-                             Throwable cause,
-                             Object ... args) {
-        this.pattern  = pattern;
-        arguments = ArgUtils.flatten(args);
+    public MathUserException(final Localizable pattern, final Object ... arguments) {
+        this((Throwable) null, pattern, arguments);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Build an exception with a localizable message.
+     * @param cause Cause of the error (may be null).
+     * @param pattern Format specifier.
+     * @param arguments Format arguments.
+     */
+    public MathUserException(final Throwable cause,
+                             final Localizable pattern, final Object ... arguments) {
+        this(cause, (Localizable) null, pattern, arguments);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Builds an exception from two patterns (specific and general) and
+     * an argument list.
+     *
+     * @param specific Format specifier for the specific part (may be null).
+     * @param general Format specifier for the general part (may be null).
+     * @param arguments Format arguments. They will be substituted in
+     * <em>both</em> the {@code general} and {@code specific} format specifiers.
+     */
+    public MathUserException(final Localizable specific, final Localizable general,
+                             final Object ... arguments) {
+        this((Throwable) null, specific, general, arguments);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Builds an exception from two patterns (specific and general) and
+     * an argument list.
+     *
+     * @param cause Cause of the error (may be null).
+     * @param specific Format specifier for the specific part (may be null).
+     * @param general Format specifier for the general part (may be null).
+     * @param arguments Format arguments. They will be substituted in
+     * <em>both</em> the {@code general} and {@code specific} format specifiers.
+     */
+    public MathUserException(final Throwable cause,
+                             final Localizable specific, final Localizable general,
+                             final Object ... arguments) {
+        super(cause);
+        this.specific  = specific;
+        this.general   = general;
+        this.arguments = ArgUtils.flatten(arguments);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -79,10 +123,7 @@ public class MathUserException extends RuntimeException {
      * @return the localized message.
      */
     public String getMessage(final Locale locale) {
-        return MessageFactory.buildMessage(locale,
-                                           pattern,
-                                           LocalizedFormats.USER_EXCEPTION,
-                                           arguments);
+        return MessageFactory.buildMessage(locale, specific, general, arguments);
     }
 
    /** {@inheritDoc} */