diff --git a/tildes/tests/test_markdown_field.py b/tildes/tests/test_markdown_field.py
index 753f84c..16b6c09 100644
--- a/tildes/tests/test_markdown_field.py
+++ b/tildes/tests/test_markdown_field.py
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2018 Tildes contributors <code@tildes.net>
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
 
-from marshmallow import Schema, ValidationError
+from marshmallow import ValidationError
 from pytest import raises
 
+from tildes.schemas.base import BaseTildesSchema
 from tildes.schemas.fields import Markdown
 
 
-class MarkdownFieldTestSchema(Schema):
+class MarkdownFieldTestSchema(BaseTildesSchema):
     """Simple schema class with a standard Markdown field."""
 
     markdown = Markdown()
diff --git a/tildes/tests/test_simplestring_field.py b/tildes/tests/test_simplestring_field.py
index 651392e..0a29fe6 100644
--- a/tildes/tests/test_simplestring_field.py
+++ b/tildes/tests/test_simplestring_field.py
@@ -1,13 +1,14 @@
 # Copyright (c) 2018 Tildes contributors <code@tildes.net>
 # SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
 
-from marshmallow import Schema, ValidationError
+from marshmallow import ValidationError
 from pytest import raises
 
+from tildes.schemas.base import BaseTildesSchema
 from tildes.schemas.fields import SimpleString
 
 
-class SimpleStringTestSchema(Schema):
+class SimpleStringTestSchema(BaseTildesSchema):
     """Simple schema class with a standard SimpleString field."""
 
     subject = SimpleString()
diff --git a/tildes/tildes/resources/group.py b/tildes/tildes/resources/group.py
index e39447b..3177b47 100644
--- a/tildes/tildes/resources/group.py
+++ b/tildes/tildes/resources/group.py
@@ -16,8 +16,7 @@ from tildes.views.decorators import use_kwargs
 
 
 @use_kwargs(
-    GroupSchema(only=("path",)),
-    context=TildesSchemaContext(TildesSchemaContextDict(fix_path_capitalization=True)),
+    GroupSchema(only=("path",), context={"fix_path_capitalization": True}),
     location="matchdict",
 )
 def group_by_path(request: Request, path: str) -> Group:
diff --git a/tildes/tildes/schemas/base.py b/tildes/tildes/schemas/base.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..48c967f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tildes/tildes/schemas/base.py
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+# Copyright (c) 2018 Tildes contributors <code@tildes.net>
+# SPDX-License-Identifier: AGPL-3.0-or-later
+
+"""Base Marshmallow schema."""
+
+
+from typing import Any
+from marshmallow import Schema
+from tildes.schemas.context import TildesSchemaContextDict
+
+
+class BaseTildesSchema(Schema):
+    """Base Marshmallow schema for Tildes schemas.
+
+    Adds common code like the context dict.
+    """
+
+    context: TildesSchemaContextDict
+
+    def __init__(self, context: TildesSchemaContextDict = {}, **kwargs: Any):
+        super().__init__(**kwargs)
+        self.context = context
diff --git a/tildes/tildes/schemas/comment.py b/tildes/tildes/schemas/comment.py
index 307d897..550b506 100644
--- a/tildes/tildes/schemas/comment.py
+++ b/tildes/tildes/schemas/comment.py
@@ -3,13 +3,12 @@
 
 """Validation/dumping schema for comments."""
 
-from marshmallow import Schema
-
 from tildes.enums import CommentLabelOption
+from tildes.schemas.base import BaseTildesSchema
 from tildes.schemas.fields import Enum, ID36, Markdown, SimpleString
 
 
-class CommentSchema(Schema):
+class CommentSchema(BaseTildesSchema):
     """Marshmallow schema for comments."""
 
     comment_id36 = ID36()
@@ -17,7 +16,7 @@ class CommentSchema(Schema):
     parent_comment_id36 = ID36()
 
 
-class CommentLabelSchema(Schema):
+class CommentLabelSchema(BaseTildesSchema):
     """Marshmallow schema for comment labels."""
 
     name = Enum(CommentLabelOption)
diff --git a/tildes/tildes/schemas/group.py b/tildes/tildes/schemas/group.py
index cecfd91..9e36cbf 100644
--- a/tildes/tildes/schemas/group.py
+++ b/tildes/tildes/schemas/group.py
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@ import re
 from typing import Any
 
 import sqlalchemy_utils
-from marshmallow import pre_load, Schema, validates
+from marshmallow import pre_load, validates
 from marshmallow.exceptions import ValidationError
 from marshmallow.fields import DateTime
 from marshmallow.types import UnknownOption
 
+from tildes.schemas.base import BaseTildesSchema
 from tildes.schemas.context import TildesSchemaContext, TildesSchemaContextDict
 from tildes.schemas.fields import Ltree, Markdown, SimpleString
 
@@ -32,7 +33,7 @@ GROUP_PATH_ELEMENT_VALID_REGEX = re.compile(
 SHORT_DESCRIPTION_MAX_LENGTH = 200
 
 
-class GroupSchema(Schema):
+class GroupSchema(BaseTildesSchema):
     """Marshmallow schema for groups."""
 
     path = Ltree(required=True)
@@ -48,7 +49,7 @@ class GroupSchema(Schema):
     ) -> dict:
         """Prepare the path value before it's validated."""
         # pylint: disable=unused-argument
-        if not TildesSchemaContext.get(default=TildesSchemaContextDict()).get(
+        if not TildesSchemaContext.get(default=self.context).get(
             "fix_path_capitalization"
         ):
             return data
diff --git a/tildes/tildes/schemas/group_wiki_page.py b/tildes/tildes/schemas/group_wiki_page.py
index ea4229f..31a849d 100644
--- a/tildes/tildes/schemas/group_wiki_page.py
+++ b/tildes/tildes/schemas/group_wiki_page.py
@@ -3,15 +3,14 @@
 
 """Validation/dumping schema for group wiki pages."""
 
-from marshmallow import Schema
-
+from tildes.schemas.base import BaseTildesSchema
 from tildes.schemas.fields import Markdown, SimpleString
 
 
 PAGE_NAME_MAX_LENGTH = 40
 
 
-class GroupWikiPageSchema(Schema):
+class GroupWikiPageSchema(BaseTildesSchema):
     """Marshmallow schema for group wiki pages."""
 
     page_name = SimpleString(max_length=PAGE_NAME_MAX_LENGTH)
diff --git a/tildes/tildes/schemas/listing.py b/tildes/tildes/schemas/listing.py
index 1c2a8e7..aeb1305 100644
--- a/tildes/tildes/schemas/listing.py
+++ b/tildes/tildes/schemas/listing.py
@@ -5,16 +5,17 @@
 
 from typing import Any
 
-from marshmallow import pre_load, Schema, validates_schema, ValidationError
+from marshmallow import pre_load, validates_schema, ValidationError
 from marshmallow.fields import Boolean, Integer
 from marshmallow.types import UnknownOption
 from marshmallow.validate import Range
 
 from tildes.enums import TopicSortOption
+from tildes.schemas.base import BaseTildesSchema
 from tildes.schemas.fields import Enum, ID36, Ltree, PostType, ShortTimePeriod
 
 
-class PaginatedListingSchema(Schema):
+class PaginatedListingSchema(BaseTildesSchema):
     """Marshmallow schema to validate arguments for a paginated listing page."""
 
     after = ID36(load_default=None)
diff --git a/tildes/tildes/schemas/message.py b/tildes/tildes/schemas/message.py
index 2f16075..c82ccaa 100644
--- a/tildes/tildes/schemas/message.py
+++ b/tildes/tildes/schemas/message.py
@@ -3,16 +3,16 @@
 
 """Validation/dumping schemas for messages."""
 
-from marshmallow import Schema
 from marshmallow.fields import DateTime, String
 
+from tildes.schemas.base import BaseTildesSchema
 from tildes.schemas.fields import ID36, Markdown, SimpleString
 
 
 SUBJECT_MAX_LENGTH = 200
 
 
-class MessageConversationSchema(Schema):
+class MessageConversationSchema(BaseTildesSchema):
     """Marshmallow schema for message conversations."""
 
     conversation_id36 = ID36()
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class MessageConversationSchema(Schema):
     created_time = DateTime(dump_only=True)
 
 
-class MessageReplySchema(Schema):
+class MessageReplySchema(BaseTildesSchema):
     """Marshmallow schema for message replies."""
 
     reply_id36 = ID36()
diff --git a/tildes/tildes/schemas/topic.py b/tildes/tildes/schemas/topic.py
index f133fb7..1cd52ab 100644
--- a/tildes/tildes/schemas/topic.py
+++ b/tildes/tildes/schemas/topic.py
@@ -7,11 +7,12 @@ import re
 from typing import Any
 from urllib.parse import urlparse
 
-from marshmallow import pre_load, Schema, validates, validates_schema, ValidationError
+from marshmallow import pre_load, validates, validates_schema, ValidationError
 from marshmallow.fields import DateTime, List, Nested, String, URL
 from marshmallow.types import UnknownOption
 
 from tildes.lib.url_transform import apply_url_transformations
+from tildes.schemas.base import BaseTildesSchema
 from tildes.schemas.fields import Enum, ID36, Markdown, SimpleString
 from tildes.schemas.group import GroupSchema
 from tildes.schemas.user import UserSchema
@@ -21,7 +22,7 @@ TITLE_MAX_LENGTH = 200
 TAG_SYNONYMS = {"spoiler": ["spoilers"]}
 
 
-class TopicSchema(Schema):
+class TopicSchema(BaseTildesSchema):
     """Marshmallow schema for topics."""
 
     topic_id36 = ID36()
diff --git a/tildes/tildes/schemas/user.py b/tildes/tildes/schemas/user.py
index 31bdc6f..7811afb 100644
--- a/tildes/tildes/schemas/user.py
+++ b/tildes/tildes/schemas/user.py
@@ -6,13 +6,14 @@
 import re
 from typing import Any
 
-from marshmallow import post_dump, pre_load, Schema, validates, validates_schema
+from marshmallow import post_dump, pre_load, validates, validates_schema
 from marshmallow.exceptions import ValidationError
 from marshmallow.fields import DateTime, Email, String
 from marshmallow.types import UnknownOption
 from marshmallow.validate import Length, Regexp
 
 from tildes.lib.password import is_breached_password
+from tildes.schemas.base import BaseTildesSchema
 from tildes.schemas.context import TildesSchemaContext, TildesSchemaContextDict
 from tildes.schemas.fields import Markdown
 
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ EMAIL_ADDRESS_NOTE_MAX_LENGTH = 100
 BIO_MAX_LENGTH = 2000
 
 
-class UserSchema(Schema):
+class UserSchema(BaseTildesSchema):
     """Marshmallow schema for users."""
 
     username = String(
@@ -65,9 +66,7 @@ class UserSchema(Schema):
     def anonymize_username(self, data: dict, many: bool) -> dict:
         """Hide the username if the dumping context specifies to do so."""
         # pylint: disable=unused-argument
-        if not TildesSchemaContext.get(default=TildesSchemaContextDict()).get(
-            "hide_username"
-        ):
+        if not TildesSchemaContext.get(default=self.context).get("hide_username"):
             return data
 
         if "username" not in data:
@@ -106,7 +105,7 @@ class UserSchema(Schema):
         Requires check_breached_passwords be True in the schema's context.
         """
         # pylint: disable=unused-argument
-        if not TildesSchemaContext.get(default=TildesSchemaContextDict()).get(
+        if not TildesSchemaContext.get(default=self.context).get(
             "check_breached_passwords"
         ):
             return
@@ -126,7 +125,7 @@ class UserSchema(Schema):
         Requires username_trim_whitespace be True in the schema's context.
         """
         # pylint: disable=unused-argument
-        if not TildesSchemaContext.get(default=TildesSchemaContextDict()).get(
+        if not TildesSchemaContext.get(default=self.context).get(
             "username_trim_whitespace"
         ):
             return data
diff --git a/tildes/tildes/views/decorators.py b/tildes/tildes/views/decorators.py
index bd4d880..15055ac 100644
--- a/tildes/tildes/views/decorators.py
+++ b/tildes/tildes/views/decorators.py
@@ -19,10 +19,7 @@ from tildes.schemas.context import TildesSchemaContext, TildesSchemaContextDict
 
 
 def use_kwargs(
-    argmap: Schema | dict[str, Field],
-    location: str = "query",
-    context: Context[Any] | None = None,
-    **kwargs: Any
+    argmap: Schema | dict[str, Field], location: str = "query", **kwargs: Any
 ) -> Callable:
     """Wrap the webargs @use_kwargs decorator with preferred default modifications.
 
@@ -34,21 +31,15 @@ def use_kwargs(
     it just ignores them, instead of erroring when there's unexpected data (as there
     almost always is, especially because of Intercooler).
     """
-    if context is None:
-        context = TildesSchemaContext(TildesSchemaContextDict())
+    # convert a dict argmap to a Schema (the same way webargs would on its own)
+    if isinstance(argmap, dict):
+        argmap = Schema.from_dict(argmap)()
 
-    with context:
-        # convert a dict argmap to a Schema (the same way webargs would on its own)
-        if isinstance(argmap, dict):
-            argmap = Schema.from_dict(argmap)()
+    assert isinstance(argmap, Schema)  # tell mypy the type is more restricted now
 
-        assert isinstance(argmap, Schema)  # tell mypy the type is more restricted now
+    argmap.unknown = EXCLUDE
 
-        argmap.unknown = EXCLUDE
-
-        return pyramidparser.use_kwargs(
-            argmap, location=location, unknown=None, **kwargs
-        )
+    return pyramidparser.use_kwargs(argmap, location=location, unknown=None, **kwargs)
 
 
 def ic_view_config(**kwargs: Any) -> Callable:
diff --git a/tildes/tildes/views/login.py b/tildes/tildes/views/login.py
index e7ce532..a926fc5 100644
--- a/tildes/tildes/views/login.py
+++ b/tildes/tildes/views/login.py
@@ -61,8 +61,9 @@ def finish_login(request: Request, user: User, redirect_url: str) -> HTTPFound:
     route_name="login", request_method="POST", permission=NO_PERMISSION_REQUIRED
 )
 @use_kwargs(
-    UserSchema(only=("username", "password")),
-    context=TildesSchemaContext(TildesSchemaContextDict(username_trim_whitespace=True)),
+    UserSchema(
+        only=("username", "password"), context={"username_trim_whitespace": True}
+    ),
     location="form",
 )
 @use_kwargs({"from_url": String(load_default="")}, location="form")
diff --git a/tildes/tildes/views/register.py b/tildes/tildes/views/register.py
index d1d4e3b..4a44d88 100644
--- a/tildes/tildes/views/register.py
+++ b/tildes/tildes/views/register.py
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ from tildes.metrics import incr_counter
 from tildes.models.group import Group, GroupSubscription
 from tildes.models.log import Log
 from tildes.models.user import User, UserInviteCode
-from tildes.schemas.context import TildesSchemaContext, TildesSchemaContextDict
 from tildes.schemas.user import UserSchema
 from tildes.views.decorators import not_logged_in, rate_limit_view, use_kwargs
 
@@ -35,8 +34,9 @@ def get_register(request: Request, code: str) -> dict:
     route_name="register", request_method="POST", permission=NO_PERMISSION_REQUIRED
 )
 @use_kwargs(
-    UserSchema(only=("username", "password")),
-    context=TildesSchemaContext(TildesSchemaContextDict(check_breached_passwords=True)),
+    UserSchema(
+        only=("username", "password"), context={"check_breached_passwords": True}
+    ),
     location="form",
 )
 @use_kwargs(