def format(*args, **kwargs):
        if not args:
            raise TypeError("descriptor 'format' of 'Formatter' object "
                            "needs an argument")
        self, *args = args  # allow the "self" keyword be passed
        try:
            format_string, *args = args # allow the "format_string" keyword be passed
        except ValueError:
            if 'format_string' in kwargs:
                format_string = kwargs.pop('format_string')
                import warnings
                warnings.warn("Passing 'format_string' as keyword argument is "
                              "deprecated", DeprecationWarning, stacklevel=2)
            else:
                raise TypeError("format() missing 1 required positional "
                                "argument: 'format_string'") from None
        return self.vformat(format_string, args, kwargs)