diff --git a/R/as_curve_params.R b/R/as_curve_params.R
index 3dd8f478..869a7370 100644
--- a/R/as_curve_params.R
+++ b/R/as_curve_params.R
@@ -13,6 +13,20 @@
 #'
 #' print(curve_data)
 as_curve_params <- function(data, antigen_isos = NULL) {
+
+  if(!is.data.frame(data))
+  {
+    cli::cli_abort(
+      class = "not data.frame",
+      message = c(
+        "Can't convert {.arg data} to {.cls curve_params}.",
+        "x" = "{.arg data} must be a {.cls data.frame}
+        (or a subclass of {.cls data.frame}).",
+        "i" = "You have supplied a {.cls {class(data)}}."
+      )
+    )
+  }
+
   curve_data <-
     data %>%
     tibble::as_tibble()
@@ -22,9 +36,18 @@ as_curve_params <- function(data, antigen_isos = NULL) {
 
   # check if object is curve (with columns)
   if (!all(is.element(curve_cols, curve_data %>% names()))) {
+    # get columns from provided data
+    data_cols <- data %>% names()
+
+    # get any missing column(s)
+    missing_cols <- setdiff(x = curve_cols, y = data_cols)
+
     cli::cli_abort(
       class = "not curve_params",
-      message = c("Please provide curve data.") # TO DO: 'or check variable names' (message)
+      message = c(
+        "Can't convert {.arg data} to {.cls curve_params}.",
+        "x" = "The column{?s}: {.strong {.var {missing_cols}}} are missing."
+      )
     )
   }
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-as_curve_params.R b/tests/testthat/test-as_curve_params.R
index bf095ef9..c89f457d 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-as_curve_params.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-as_curve_params.R
@@ -9,6 +9,14 @@ test_that("`as_curve_params()` produces an error when non-curve data is provided
   )
 })
 
+test_that("`as_curve_params()` produces an error when `data` is not a data.frame",
+          {
+            library(magrittr)
+            expect_error(object =
+                           "https://osf.io/download//n6cp3/" %>% # pop data
+                           as_curve_params(), class = "not data.frame")
+          })
+
 test_that("`as_curve_params()` produces expected results", {
   library(dplyr)
   test_data <- "https://osf.io/download/rtw5k/" %>% # curve data
@@ -18,10 +26,7 @@ test_that("`as_curve_params()` produces expected results", {
 
   expect_snapshot(test_data)
 
-  expect_snapshot_value(
-    x = test_data,
-    style = "serialize"
-  )
+  expect_snapshot_value(x = test_data, style = "serialize")
 
 
 })
diff --git a/vignettes/articles/enteric_fever_example.Rmd b/vignettes/articles/enteric_fever_example.Rmd
index 7959271d..58c4d637 100644
--- a/vignettes/articles/enteric_fever_example.Rmd
+++ b/vignettes/articles/enteric_fever_example.Rmd
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ curves <-
 We can graph the decay curves with an `autoplot()` method:
 
 ```{r}
-curves %>% filter(antigen_iso == "HlyE_IgA"| antigen_iso == "HlyE_IgG") %>%autoplot()
+curves %>% filter(antigen_iso == "HlyE_IgA"| antigen_iso == "HlyE_IgG") %>% autoplot()
 ```
 
 
@@ -190,16 +190,18 @@ In this plot, a steeper slope indicates a higher incidence. We can see that the
 Next, we must set conditions based on some assumptions about the data and errors that may need to be accounted for. This will differ based on background knowledge of the data. 
 
 
-The biological noise, $\nu$ ("nu"), represents error from cross-reactivity to other antibodies. Measurement noise, $\varepsilon$ ("epsilon"), represents error from the laboratory testing process. 
+The biological noise, $\nu$ ("nu"), represents error from cross-reactivity to other antibodies. It is defined as the 95th percentile of the distribution of antibody responses to the antigen-isotype in a populaiton with no exposure. 
+
+Measurement noise, $\varepsilon$ ("epsilon"), represents measurement error from the laboratory testing process. It is defined by a CV (coeficient of variation) as the ratio of the standard deviation to the mean for replicates. Note that the CV should ideally me measured accross plates rather than within the same plate. 
 
 *Formatting Specifications*: Noise parameter data should be a dataframe with one row for each antigen isotype and columns for each noise parameter below.
 
 
 Column Name | Description
 ----------- | -----------
-    y.low   | Lower limit of detection of the antibody assay
+    y.low   | Lower limit of detection of the assay
     nu      | Biologic noise
-    y.high  | Upper limit of detection of the antibody assay
+    y.high  | Upper limit of detection of the assay
     eps     | Measurement noise
 *Note that variable names are case-sensitive.*