diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 28c3460..2016c96 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@ set(META_APP_URL "https://github.com/${META_APP_AUTHOR}/${META_PROJECT_NAME}")
 set(META_APP_DESCRIPTION "Useful C++ classes and routines such as argument parser, IO and conversion utilities")
 set(META_FEATURES_FOR_COMPILER_DETECTION_HEADER cxx_thread_local)
 set(META_VERSION_MAJOR 5)
-set(META_VERSION_MINOR 1)
-set(META_VERSION_PATCH 1)
+set(META_VERSION_MINOR 2)
+set(META_VERSION_PATCH 0)
 
 # find required 3rd party libraries
 include(3rdParty)
diff --git a/io/ansiescapecodes.cpp b/io/ansiescapecodes.cpp
index c64e9c0..22dd1b2 100644
--- a/io/ansiescapecodes.cpp
+++ b/io/ansiescapecodes.cpp
@@ -114,6 +114,37 @@ std::ostream &operator<<(std::ostream &stream, Phrases phrase)
     return stream;
 }
 
+std::string_view phraseString(Phrases phrase)
+{
+    using namespace std::string_view_literals;
+    switch (phrase) {
+    case Phrases::Error:
+        return "Error: "sv;
+    case Phrases::Warning:
+        return "Warning: "sv;
+    case Phrases::PlainMessage:
+        return "    "sv;
+    case Phrases::SuccessMessage:
+        return "==> "sv;
+    case Phrases::SubMessage:
+        return "  -> "sv;
+    case Phrases::ErrorMessage:
+        return "==> ERROR: "sv;
+    case Phrases::WarningMessage:
+        return "==> WARNING: ";
+    case Phrases::Info:
+        return "Info: "sv;
+    case Phrases::SubError:
+        return "  -> ERROR: "sv;
+    case Phrases::SubWarning:
+        return "  -> WARNING: "sv;
+    case Phrases::InfoMessage:
+        return "==> "sv;
+    default:
+        return std::string_view{};
+    }
+}
+
 } // namespace EscapeCodes
 
 } // namespace CppUtilities
diff --git a/io/ansiescapecodes.h b/io/ansiescapecodes.h
index b40ebbb..f6dd74f 100644
--- a/io/ansiescapecodes.h
+++ b/io/ansiescapecodes.h
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include "../misc/traits.h"
 
 #include <ostream>
+#include <string_view>
 #include <tuple>
 
 namespace CppUtilities {
@@ -150,6 +151,7 @@ enum class Phrases {
     InfoMessage, /**< bold, white "==> " */
 };
 CPP_UTILITIES_EXPORT std::ostream &operator<<(std::ostream &stream, Phrases phrase);
+CPP_UTILITIES_EXPORT std::string_view phraseString(Phrases phrase);
 
 } // namespace EscapeCodes
 } // namespace CppUtilities