@ManyToMany(fetch = FetchType.LAZY, cascade = CascadeType.ALL)
@JoinTable(name = "words_table", catalog = "anotherscheme", .....
if (StringUtils.isEmpty(username)) {
model.addObject("error", "Empty username");
}
<c:if test="${not empty error}">
<div class="error">${error}</div>
</c:if>