diff --git a/common/base.yaml b/common/base.yaml
index 477335c..620ef07 100644
--- a/common/base.yaml
+++ b/common/base.yaml
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 datasets:
 - data_type_def: Data
   doc: An abstract data type for a dataset.
-  shape: Any
 
 groups:
 - data_type_def: Container
diff --git a/hdmf.schema.json b/hdmf.schema.json
index b9b9719..0f9b85c 100644
--- a/hdmf.schema.json
+++ b/hdmf.schema.json
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@
           "items": {"$ref": "#/definitions/shape_spec"}
         },
         {
-          "const": "Any"
+          "const": "scalar"
         }
       ]
     },