diff --git a/parsers/src/util/macro_tests.rs b/parsers/src/util/macro_tests.rs
index e82323a0b026a57f5aa4ac557079399d16e2dd14..d113e656b725a3d789ce74aa8ad9f042c74a7e84 100644
--- a/parsers/src/util/macro_tests.rs
+++ b/parsers/src/util/macro_tests.rs
@@ -19,28 +19,28 @@ mod helpers {
     // this is to ensure that the macros do not have hidden dependencies on
     // any specific names being imported.
     use minidom::Element;
-    use xso::{error::FromElementError, transform, try_from_element, AsXml, FromXml};
+    use xso::{error::Error, transform, AsXml, FromXml};
 
     pub(super) fn roundtrip_full<T: AsXml + FromXml + PartialEq + core::fmt::Debug + Clone>(
         s: &str,
     ) {
         let initial: Element = s.parse().unwrap();
-        let structural: T = match try_from_element(initial.clone()) {
+        let structural: T = match transform(&initial) {
             Ok(v) => v,
             Err(e) => panic!("failed to parse from {:?}: {}", s, e),
         };
         let recovered = transform(&structural).expect("roundtrip did not produce an element");
         assert_eq!(initial, recovered);
-        let structural2: T = match try_from_element(recovered) {
+        let structural2: T = match transform(&recovered) {
             Ok(v) => v,
             Err(e) => panic!("failed to parse from serialisation of {:?}: {}", s, e),
         };
         assert_eq!(structural, structural2);
     }
 
-    pub(super) fn parse_str<T: FromXml>(s: &str) -> Result<T, FromElementError> {
+    pub(super) fn parse_str<T: FromXml>(s: &str) -> Result<T, Error> {
         let initial: Element = s.parse().unwrap();
-        try_from_element(initial)
+        transform(&initial)
     }
 }
 
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ fn empty_name_mismatch() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<Empty>("<bar xmlns='urn:example:ns1'/>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Mismatch(..)) => (),
+        Err(xso::error::Error::TypeMismatch) => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ fn empty_namespace_mismatch() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<Empty>("<foo xmlns='urn:example:ns2'/>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Mismatch(..)) => (),
+        Err(xso::error::Error::TypeMismatch) => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ fn empty_unexpected_attribute() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<Empty>("<foo xmlns='urn:example:ns1' fnord='bar'/>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(xso::error::Error::Other(e))) => {
+        Err(xso::error::Error::Other(e)) => {
             assert_eq!(e, "Unknown attribute in Empty element.");
         }
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ fn empty_unexpected_child() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<Empty>("<foo xmlns='urn:example:ns1'><coucou/></foo>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(xso::error::Error::Other(e))) => {
+        Err(xso::error::Error::Other(e)) => {
             assert_eq!(e, "Unknown child in Empty element.");
         }
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ fn empty_qname_check_has_precedence_over_attr_check() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<Empty>("<bar xmlns='urn:example:ns1' fnord='bar'/>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Mismatch(..)) => (),
+        Err(xso::error::Error::TypeMismatch) => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ fn required_attribute_missing() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<RequiredAttribute>("<attr xmlns='urn:example:ns1'/>") {
-        Err(::xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(::xso::error::Error::Other(e)))
+        Err(::xso::error::Error::Other(e))
             if e.contains("Required attribute field") && e.contains("missing") =>
         {
             ()
@@ -531,11 +531,7 @@ fn fails_text_without_text_consumer_positive() {
     };
     match parse_str::<FailsTextWithoutTextConsumer>("<elem xmlns='urn:example:ns1'>  quak  </elem>")
     {
-        Err(::xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(::xso::error::Error::Other(e)))
-            if e.contains("Unexpected text") =>
-        {
-            ()
-        }
+        Err(::xso::error::Error::Other(e)) if e.contains("Unexpected text") => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -605,7 +601,7 @@ fn parent_negative_duplicate_child() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<Parent>("<parent xmlns='urn:example:ns1'><attr foo='hello world!'/><attr foo='hello world!'/></parent>") {
-        Err(::xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(::xso::error::Error::Other(e))) if e.contains("must not have more than one") => (),
+        Err(::xso::error::Error::Other(e)) if e.contains("must not have more than one") => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -759,7 +755,7 @@ fn name_switched_enum_negative_name_mismatch() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<NameSwitchedEnum>("<x xmlns='urn:example:ns1'>hello</x>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Mismatch { .. }) => (),
+        Err(xso::error::Error::TypeMismatch) => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -772,7 +768,7 @@ fn name_switched_enum_negative_namespace_mismatch() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<NameSwitchedEnum>("<b xmlns='urn:example:ns2'>hello</b>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Mismatch { .. }) => (),
+        Err(xso::error::Error::TypeMismatch) => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -846,7 +842,10 @@ fn exhaustive_name_switched_enum_negative_name_mismatch() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<ExhaustiveNameSwitchedEnum>("<x xmlns='urn:example:ns1'>hello</x>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid { .. }) => (),
+        Err(xso::error::Error::TypeMismatch) => {
+            panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", xso::error::Error::TypeMismatch)
+        }
+        Err(_) => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -859,7 +858,7 @@ fn exhaustive_name_switched_enum_negative_namespace_mismatch() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<ExhaustiveNameSwitchedEnum>("<b xmlns='urn:example:ns2'>hello</b>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Mismatch { .. }) => (),
+        Err(xso::error::Error::TypeMismatch) => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -935,11 +934,7 @@ fn text_extract_negative_absent_child() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<TextExtract>("<parent xmlns='urn:example:ns1'/>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(xso::error::Error::Other(e)))
-            if e.contains("Missing child field") =>
-        {
-            ()
-        }
+        Err(xso::error::Error::Other(e)) if e.contains("Missing child field") => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -956,11 +951,7 @@ fn text_extract_negative_unexpected_attribute_in_child() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<TextExtract>("<parent xmlns='urn:example:ns1'><child foo='bar'/></parent>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(xso::error::Error::Other(e)))
-            if e.contains("Unknown attribute") =>
-        {
-            ()
-        }
+        Err(xso::error::Error::Other(e)) if e.contains("Unknown attribute") => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -979,11 +970,7 @@ fn text_extract_negative_unexpected_child_in_child() {
     match parse_str::<TextExtract>(
         "<parent xmlns='urn:example:ns1'><child><quak/></child></parent>",
     ) {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(xso::error::Error::Other(e)))
-            if e.contains("Unknown child in extraction") =>
-        {
-            ()
-        }
+        Err(xso::error::Error::Other(e)) if e.contains("Unknown child in extraction") => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -998,11 +985,7 @@ fn text_extract_negative_duplicate_child() {
     match parse_str::<TextExtract>(
         "<parent xmlns='urn:example:ns1'><child>hello world</child><child>more</child></parent>",
     ) {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(xso::error::Error::Other(e)))
-            if e.contains("must not have more than one") =>
-        {
-            ()
-        }
+        Err(xso::error::Error::Other(e)) if e.contains("must not have more than one") => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -1051,11 +1034,7 @@ fn attribute_extract_negative_absent_attribute() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<AttributeExtract>("<parent xmlns='urn:example:ns1'><child/></parent>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(xso::error::Error::Other(e)))
-            if e.contains("Required attribute") =>
-        {
-            ()
-        }
+        Err(xso::error::Error::Other(e)) if e.contains("Required attribute") => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -1070,11 +1049,7 @@ fn attribute_extract_negative_unexpected_text_in_child() {
     match parse_str::<AttributeExtract>(
         "<parent xmlns='urn:example:ns1'><child foo='hello world'>fnord</child></parent>",
     ) {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(xso::error::Error::Other(e)))
-            if e.contains("Unexpected text") =>
-        {
-            ()
-        }
+        Err(xso::error::Error::Other(e)) if e.contains("Unexpected text") => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -1662,11 +1637,7 @@ fn element_catch_one_negative_none() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<ElementCatchOne>("<parent xmlns='urn:example:ns1'/>") {
-        Err(::xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(::xso::error::Error::Other(e)))
-            if e.contains("Missing child field") =>
-        {
-            ()
-        }
+        Err(::xso::error::Error::Other(e)) if e.contains("Missing child field") => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -1679,7 +1650,7 @@ fn element_catch_one_negative_more_than_one_child() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<ElementCatchOne>("<parent xmlns='urn:example:ns1'><child><deeper/></child><child xmlns='urn:example:ns2'/></parent>") {
-        Err(::xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(::xso::error::Error::Other(e))) if e == "Unknown child in ElementCatchOne element." => (),
+        Err(::xso::error::Error::Other(e)) if e == "Unknown child in ElementCatchOne element." => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -1721,7 +1692,7 @@ fn element_catch_maybe_one_negative_more_than_one_child() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<ElementCatchMaybeOne>("<parent xmlns='urn:example:ns1'><child><deeper/></child><child xmlns='urn:example:ns2'/></parent>") {
-        Err(::xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(::xso::error::Error::Other(e))) if e == "Unknown child in ElementCatchMaybeOne element." => (),
+        Err(::xso::error::Error::Other(e)) if e == "Unknown child in ElementCatchMaybeOne element." => (),
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
     }
 }
@@ -2078,7 +2049,7 @@ fn ignore_unknown_attributes_negative_unexpected_child() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<IgnoreUnknownAttributes>("<foo xmlns='urn:example:ns1'><coucou/></foo>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(xso::error::Error::Other(e))) => {
+        Err(xso::error::Error::Other(e)) => {
             assert_eq!(e, "Unknown child in IgnoreUnknownAttributes element.");
         }
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
@@ -2124,7 +2095,7 @@ fn ignore_unknown_children_negative_unexpected_attribute() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<IgnoreUnknownChildren>("<foo xmlns='urn:example:ns1' fnord='bar'/>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(xso::error::Error::Other(e))) => {
+        Err(xso::error::Error::Other(e)) => {
             assert_eq!(e, "Unknown attribute in IgnoreUnknownChildren element.");
         }
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
@@ -2270,7 +2241,7 @@ fn discard_attribute_fails_on_other_unexpected_attributes() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<DiscardAttribute>("<foo xmlns='urn:example:ns1' fnord='bar'/>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(xso::error::Error::Other(e))) => {
+        Err(xso::error::Error::Other(e)) => {
             assert_eq!(e, "Unknown attribute in DiscardAttribute element.");
         }
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
@@ -2375,7 +2346,7 @@ fn deserialize_callback_can_fail() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<DeserializeCallback>("<foo xmlns='urn:example:ns1' outcome='0'/>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(xso::error::Error::Other(e))) => {
+        Err(xso::error::Error::Other(e)) => {
             assert_eq!(e, "saw outcome == 0");
         }
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
@@ -2447,7 +2418,7 @@ fn enum_deserialize_callback_can_fail() {
         result::Result::{Err, Ok},
     };
     match parse_str::<DeserializeCallbackEnum>("<foo xmlns='urn:example:ns1' outcome='0'/>") {
-        Err(xso::error::FromElementError::Invalid(xso::error::Error::Other(e))) => {
+        Err(xso::error::Error::Other(e)) => {
             assert_eq!(e, "saw outcome == 0");
         }
         other => panic!("unexpected result: {:?}", other),
diff --git a/xso/ChangeLog b/xso/ChangeLog
index cb55b56de663c0096fdae61321ab4a13659b71fa..e945e952a1d45744434460c274de6f8af19ae216 100644
--- a/xso/ChangeLog
+++ b/xso/ChangeLog
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ Version NEXT:
       - Update rxml dependency to 0.13.
       - xso now rejects conflicting `#[xml(attribute)]` (and `#[xml(lang)]`)
         specifications at compile time.
+      - Deprecate `try_from_element` in favour of `transform`.
 
 Version 0.1.2:
 2024-07-26 Jonas Schäfer <jonas@zombofant.net>
diff --git a/xso/src/error.rs b/xso/src/error.rs
index de70b42cc4d652ea145450834f790adba42a26cb..96904b551ac9361a6b5a524a969bc89eff49d6d3 100644
--- a/xso/src/error.rs
+++ b/xso/src/error.rs
@@ -52,9 +52,9 @@ pub enum Error {
 
     /// An element header did not match an expected element.
     ///
-    /// This is only rarely generated: most of the time, a mismatch of element
-    /// types is reported as either an unexpected or a missing child element,
-    /// errors which are generally more specific.
+    /// This error condition is only generated when the top-level element
+    /// passed to [`transform`][`crate::transform`] or similar does not match
+    /// the type.
     TypeMismatch,
 }
 
diff --git a/xso/src/lib.rs b/xso/src/lib.rs
index 50396f103aa03efd189b0b77d96e49dad32732a8..dc314884f2f90a04c3928ecbf0898782914fcd5b 100644
--- a/xso/src/lib.rs
+++ b/xso/src/lib.rs
@@ -510,10 +510,15 @@ pub fn transform<T: FromXml, F: AsXml>(from: &F) -> Result<T, self::error::Error
 /// function will return the element unharmed if its element header does not
 /// match the expectations of `T`.
 #[cfg(feature = "minidom")]
+#[deprecated(
+    since = "0.1.3",
+    note = "obsolete since the transition to AsXml, which works by reference; use xso::transform instead."
+)]
 pub fn try_from_element<T: FromXml>(
     from: minidom::Element,
 ) -> Result<T, self::error::FromElementError> {
     let mut languages = rxml::xml_lang::XmlLangStack::new();
+    #[allow(deprecated)]
     let (qname, attrs) = minidom_compat::make_start_ev_parts(&from)?;
 
     languages.push_from_attrs(&attrs);
diff --git a/xso/src/minidom_compat.rs b/xso/src/minidom_compat.rs
index 79c5f44df85ab1666da590dc2fb2f6dbb26baa06..70428ce96dbb60fc4b92f0a25a1afb94372ed1b0 100644
--- a/xso/src/minidom_compat.rs
+++ b/xso/src/minidom_compat.rs
@@ -61,6 +61,12 @@ enum IntoEventsInner {
 // NOTE to developers: The limitations are not fully trivial to overcome:
 // the attributes use a BTreeMap internally, which does not offer a `drain`
 // iterator.
+#[deprecated(
+    since = "0.1.3",
+    note = "obsolete since the transition to AsXml. no replacement."
+)]
+// NOTE: instead of deleting this, make it non-pub to be able to continue to
+// use it in IntoEventsInner.
 pub fn make_start_ev_parts(el: &Element) -> Result<(rxml::QName, AttrMap), Error> {
     let name = NcName::try_from(el.name())?;
     let namespace = Namespace::from(el.ns());
@@ -95,6 +101,7 @@ impl IntoEventsInner {
     fn next(&mut self) -> Result<Option<Event>, Error> {
         match self {
             IntoEventsInner::Header(ref mut el) => {
+                #[allow(deprecated)]
                 let (qname, attrs) = make_start_ev_parts(el)?;
                 let event = Event::StartElement(EventMetrics::zero(), qname, attrs);