diff --git a/wres-config/src/wres/config/yaml/DeclarationValidator.java b/wres-config/src/wres/config/yaml/DeclarationValidator.java
index faf2f60a7..11d8852e4 100644
--- a/wres-config/src/wres/config/yaml/DeclarationValidator.java
+++ b/wres-config/src/wres/config/yaml/DeclarationValidator.java
@@ -4028,7 +4028,7 @@ private static List<EvaluationStatusEvent> evaluationTimeScaleIsValid( TimeScale
                                                                  + "datasets all contain instantaneous values, this "
                                                                  + "declaration is redundant and should be removed. "
                                                                  + "Otherwise, the declaration is invalid because "
-                                                                 + "the smallest possible time scale is "
+                                                                 + "the smallest possible 'time_scale' is "
                                                                  + "instantaneous and downscaling is not supported." )
                                                .build();
                 events.add( event );