diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Ior.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Ior.scala
index 8b79aa013a..d62a7e51b6 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Ior.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Ior.scala
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 package cats
 package data
 
+import cats.data.Validated.{Invalid, Valid}
 import cats.functor.Bifunctor
+
 import scala.annotation.tailrec
 
 /** Represents a right-biased disjunction that is either an `A`, or a `B`, or both an `A` and a `B`.
@@ -47,6 +49,7 @@ sealed abstract class Ior[+A, +B] extends Product with Serializable {
   final def unwrap: Either[Either[A, B], (A, B)] = fold(a => Left(Left(a)), b => Left(Right(b)), (a, b) => Right((a, b)))
 
   final def toEither: Either[A, B] = fold(Left(_), Right(_), (_, b) => Right(b))
+  final def toValidated: Validated[A, B] = fold(Invalid(_), Valid(_), (_, b) => Valid(b))
   final def toOption: Option[B] = right
   final def toList: List[B] = right.toList
 
@@ -102,7 +105,7 @@ sealed abstract class Ior[+A, +B] extends Product with Serializable {
     fold(identity, ev, (_, b) => ev(b))
 
   // scalastyle:off cyclomatic.complexity
-  final def append[AA >: A, BB >: B](that: AA Ior BB)(implicit AA: Semigroup[AA], BB: Semigroup[BB]): AA Ior BB = this match {
+  final def combine[AA >: A, BB >: B](that: AA Ior BB)(implicit AA: Semigroup[AA], BB: Semigroup[BB]): AA Ior BB = this match {
     case Ior.Left(a1) => that match {
       case Ior.Left(a2) => Ior.Left(AA.combine(a1, a2))
       case Ior.Right(b2) => Ior.Both(a1, b2)
@@ -150,7 +153,7 @@ private[data] sealed abstract class IorInstances extends IorInstances0 {
   }
 
   implicit def catsDataSemigroupForIor[A: Semigroup, B: Semigroup]: Semigroup[Ior[A, B]] = new Semigroup[Ior[A, B]] {
-    def combine(x: Ior[A, B], y: Ior[A, B]) = x.append(y)
+    def combine(x: Ior[A, B], y: Ior[A, B]) = x.combine(y)
   }
 
   implicit def catsDataMonadForIor[A: Semigroup]: Monad[A Ior ?] = new Monad[A Ior ?] {
@@ -198,6 +201,8 @@ private[data] sealed trait IorFunctions {
   def left[A, B](a: A): A Ior B = Ior.Left(a)
   def right[A, B](b: B): A Ior B = Ior.Right(b)
   def both[A, B](a: A, b: B): A Ior B = Ior.Both(a, b)
+  def leftNel[A, B](a: A): IorNel[A, B] = left(NonEmptyList.of(a))
+  def bothNel[A, B](a: A, b: B): IorNel[A, B] = both(NonEmptyList.of(a), b)
 
   /**
    * Create an `Ior` from two Options if at least one of them is defined.
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Validated.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Validated.scala
index 7d65e570ec..f8a4a97bcb 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Validated.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/Validated.scala
@@ -75,6 +75,11 @@ sealed abstract class Validated[+E, +A] extends Product with Serializable {
    */
   def toOption: Option[A] = fold(_ => None, Some.apply)
 
+  /**
+    * Returns Valid values wrapped in Ior.Right, and None for Ior.Left values
+    */
+  def toIor: Ior[E, A] = fold(Ior.left, Ior.right)
+
   /**
    * Convert this value to a single element List if it is Valid,
    * otherwise return an empty List
@@ -430,13 +435,18 @@ private[data] trait ValidatedFunctions {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Converts an `Either[A, B]` to an `Validated[A, B]`.
+   * Converts an `Either[A, B]` to a `Validated[A, B]`.
    */
   def fromEither[A, B](e: Either[A, B]): Validated[A, B] = e.fold(invalid, valid)
 
   /**
-   * Converts an `Option[B]` to an `Validated[A, B]`, where the provided `ifNone` values is returned on
+   * Converts an `Option[B]` to a `Validated[A, B]`, where the provided `ifNone` values is returned on
    * the invalid of the `Validated` when the specified `Option` is `None`.
    */
   def fromOption[A, B](o: Option[B], ifNone: => A): Validated[A, B] = o.fold(invalid[A, B](ifNone))(valid)
+
+  /**
+    * Converts an `Ior[A, B]` to a `Validated[A, B]`.
+    */
+  def fromIor[A, B](ior: Ior[A, B]): Validated[A, B] = ior.fold(invalid, valid, (_, b) => valid(b))
 }
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/package.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/package.scala
index 396f22908d..e81751b06c 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/package.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/data/package.scala
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package cats
 package object data {
   type NonEmptyStream[A] = OneAnd[Stream, A]
   type ValidatedNel[+E, +A] = Validated[NonEmptyList[E], A]
+  type IorNel[+B, +A] = Ior[NonEmptyList[B], A]
 
   def NonEmptyStream[A](head: A, tail: Stream[A] = Stream.empty): NonEmptyStream[A] =
     OneAnd(head, tail)
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/all.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/all.scala
index 2377a19497..ec98e2a6e3 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/all.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/all.scala
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ trait AllSyntax
     with FunctorFilterSyntax
     with GroupSyntax
     with InvariantSyntax
+    with IorSyntax
     with ListSyntax
     with MonadSyntax
     with MonadCombineSyntax
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/ior.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/ior.scala
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..bc8bdfacba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/ior.scala
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+package cats.syntax
+
+import cats.data.Ior
+
+trait IorSyntax {
+  implicit def catsSyntaxIorId[A](a: A): IorIdOps[A] = new IorIdOps(a)
+}
+
+final class IorIdOps[A](val a: A) extends AnyVal {
+  /**
+    * Wrap a value in `Ior.Right`.
+    *
+    * Example:
+    * {{{
+    * scala> import cats.data.Ior
+    * scala> import cats.implicits._
+    *
+    * scala> "hello".rightIor[String]
+    * res0: Ior[String, String] = Right(hello)
+    * }}}
+    */
+  def rightIor[B]: Ior[B, A] = Ior.right(a)
+
+  /**
+    * Wrap a value in `Ior.Left`.
+    *
+    * Example:
+    * {{{
+    * scala> import cats.data.Ior
+    * scala> import cats.implicits._
+    *
+    * scala> "error".leftIor[String]
+    * res0: Ior[String, String] = Left(error)
+    * }}}
+    */
+  def leftIor[B]: Ior[A, B] = Ior.left(a)
+}
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/list.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/list.scala
index 7c2a2c0aca..7079dbfad4 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/list.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/list.scala
@@ -8,6 +8,24 @@ trait ListSyntax {
 }
 
 final class ListOps[A](val la: List[A]) extends AnyVal {
+
+  /**
+    * Returns an Option of NonEmptyList from a List
+    *
+    * Example:
+    * {{{
+    * scala> import cats.data.NonEmptyList
+    * scala> import cats.implicits._
+    *
+    * scala> val result1: List[Int] = List(1, 2)
+    * scala> result1.toNel
+    * res0: Option[NonEmptyList[Int]] = Some(NonEmptyList(1, 2))
+    *
+    * scala> val result2: List[Int] = List.empty[Int]
+    * scala> result2.toNel
+    * res1: Option[NonEmptyList[Int]] = None
+    * }}}
+    */
   def toNel: Option[NonEmptyList[A]] = NonEmptyList.fromList(la)
   def groupByNel[B](f: A => B): Map[B, NonEmptyList[A]] =
     toNel.fold(Map.empty[B, NonEmptyList[A]])(_.groupBy(f))
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/option.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/option.scala
index a824768611..25dbbffb07 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/option.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/option.scala
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 package cats
 package syntax
 
-import cats.data.{Validated, ValidatedNel}
+import cats.data.{Ior, Validated, ValidatedNel}
 
 trait OptionSyntax {
   final def none[A]: Option[A] = Option.empty[A]
@@ -112,6 +112,46 @@ final class OptionOps[A](val oa: Option[A]) extends AnyVal {
    */
   def toValidNel[B](b: => B): ValidatedNel[B, A] = oa.fold[ValidatedNel[B, A]](Validated.invalidNel(b))(Validated.Valid(_))
 
+  /**
+    * If the `Option` is a `Some`, return its value in a [[cats.data.Ior.Right]].
+    * If the `Option` is `None`, wrap the provided `B` value in a [[cats.data.Ior.Left]]
+    *
+    * Example:
+    * {{{
+    * scala> import cats.data.Ior
+    * scala> import cats.implicits._
+    *
+    * scala> val result1: Option[Int] = Some(3)
+    * scala> result1.toRightIor("error!")
+    * res0: Ior[String, Int] = Right(3)
+    *
+    * scala> val result2: Option[Int] = None
+    * scala> result2.toRightIor("error!")
+    * res1: Ior[String, Int] = Left(error!)
+    * }}}
+    */
+  def toRightIor[B](b: => B): Ior[B, A] = oa.fold[Ior[B, A]](Ior.Left(b))(Ior.Right(_))
+
+  /**
+    * If the `Option` is a `Some`, return its value in a [[cats.data.Ior.Left]].
+    * If the `Option` is `None`, wrap the provided `B` value in a [[cats.data.Ior.Right]]
+    *
+    * Example:
+    * {{{
+    * scala> import cats.data.Ior
+    * scala> import cats.implicits._
+    *
+    * scala> val result1: Option[String] = Some("error!")
+    * scala> result1.toLeftIor(3)
+    * res0: Ior[String, Int] = Left(error!)
+    *
+    * scala> val result2: Option[String] = None
+    * scala> result2.toLeftIor(3)
+    * res1: Ior[String, Int] = Right(3)
+    * }}}
+    */
+  def toLeftIor[B](b: => B): Ior[A, B] = oa.fold[Ior[A, B]](Ior.Right(b))(Ior.Left(_))
+
   /**
    * If the `Option` is a `Some`, return its value. If the `Option` is `None`,
    * return the `empty` value for `Monoid[A]`.
diff --git a/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/package.scala b/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/package.scala
index ce28a9c2a4..725c8d7bbd 100644
--- a/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/package.scala
+++ b/core/src/main/scala/cats/syntax/package.scala
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ package object syntax {
   object functorFilter extends FunctorFilterSyntax
   object group extends GroupSyntax
   object invariant extends InvariantSyntax
+  object ior extends IorSyntax
   object list extends ListSyntax
   object monad extends MonadSyntax
   object monadCombine extends MonadCombineSyntax
diff --git a/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/IorTests.scala b/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/IorTests.scala
index ae8e4946af..0c85652904 100644
--- a/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/IorTests.scala
+++ b/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/IorTests.scala
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 package cats
 package tests
 
-import cats.data.Ior
+import cats.data.{Ior, NonEmptyList}
 import cats.kernel.laws.GroupLaws
-import cats.laws.discipline.{BifunctorTests, CartesianTests, MonadTests, SerializableTests, TraverseTests}
 import cats.laws.discipline.arbitrary._
+import cats.laws.discipline.{BifunctorTests, CartesianTests, MonadTests, SerializableTests, TraverseTests}
 import org.scalacheck.Arbitrary._
 
 class IorTests extends CatsSuite {
@@ -153,15 +153,15 @@ class IorTests extends CatsSuite {
     }
   }
 
-  test("append left") {
+  test("combine left") {
     forAll { (i: Int Ior String, j: Int Ior String) =>
-      i.append(j).left should === (i.left.map(_ + j.left.getOrElse(0)).orElse(j.left))
+      i.combine(j).left should === (i.left.map(_ + j.left.getOrElse(0)).orElse(j.left))
     }
   }
 
-  test("append right") {
+  test("combine right") {
     forAll { (i: Int Ior String, j: Int Ior String) =>
-      i.append(j).right should === (i.right.map(_ + j.right.getOrElse("")).orElse(j.right))
+      i.combine(j).right should === (i.right.map(_ + j.right.getOrElse("")).orElse(j.right))
     }
   }
 
@@ -198,6 +198,24 @@ class IorTests extends CatsSuite {
     }
   }
 
+  test("toValidated consistent with right") {
+    forAll { (x: Int Ior String) =>
+      x.toValidated.toOption should === (x.right)
+    }
+  }
+
+  test("leftNel") {
+    forAll { (x: String) =>
+      Ior.leftNel(x).left should === (Some(NonEmptyList.of(x)))
+    }
+  }
+
+  test("bothNel") {
+    forAll { (x: Int, y: String) =>
+      Ior.bothNel(y, x).onlyBoth should === (Some((NonEmptyList.of(y), x)))
+    }
+  }
+
   test("getOrElse consistent with Option getOrElse") {
     forAll { (x: Int Ior String, default: String) =>
       x.getOrElse(default) should === (x.toOption.getOrElse(default))
diff --git a/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/ValidatedTests.scala b/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/ValidatedTests.scala
index 7904f7a860..ed248ec9fa 100644
--- a/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/ValidatedTests.scala
+++ b/tests/src/test/scala/cats/tests/ValidatedTests.scala
@@ -1,13 +1,13 @@
 package cats
 package tests
 
-import cats.data.{EitherT, NonEmptyList, Validated, ValidatedNel}
-import cats.data.Validated.{Valid, Invalid}
-import cats.laws.discipline.{BitraverseTests, TraverseTests, ApplicativeErrorTests, SerializableTests, CartesianTests}
+import cats.data._
+import cats.data.Validated.{Invalid, Valid}
+import cats.laws.discipline.{ApplicativeErrorTests, BitraverseTests, CartesianTests, SerializableTests, TraverseTests}
 import org.scalacheck.Arbitrary._
-import cats.laws.discipline.{SemigroupKTests}
+import cats.laws.discipline.SemigroupKTests
 import cats.laws.discipline.arbitrary._
-import cats.kernel.laws.{OrderLaws, GroupLaws}
+import cats.kernel.laws.{GroupLaws, OrderLaws}
 
 import scala.util.Try
 
@@ -187,6 +187,18 @@ class ValidatedTests extends CatsSuite {
     }
   }
 
+  test("fromIor consistent with Ior.toValidated"){
+    forAll { (i: Ior[String, Int]) =>
+      Validated.fromIor(i) should === (i.toValidated)
+    }
+  }
+
+  test("toIor then fromEither is identity") {
+    forAll { (v: Validated[String, Int]) =>
+      Validated.fromIor(v.toIor) should === (v)
+    }
+  }
+
   test("isValid after combine, iff both are valid") {
     forAll { (lhs: Validated[Int, String], rhs: Validated[Int, String]) =>
       lhs.combine(rhs).isValid should === (lhs.isValid && rhs.isValid)