diff --git a/torchgeo/datasets/agb_live_woody_density.py b/torchgeo/datasets/agb_live_woody_density.py
index e572de967b2..9f59b0011d3 100644
--- a/torchgeo/datasets/agb_live_woody_density.py
+++ b/torchgeo/datasets/agb_live_woody_density.py
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ def _verify(self) -> None:
         if not self.download:
             raise RuntimeError(
                 f"Dataset not found in `paths={self.paths!r}` and `download=False`, "
-                "either specify a different `root` directory or use `download=True` "
+                "either specify a different `paths` or use `download=True` "
                 "to automatically download the dataset."
             )
 
diff --git a/torchgeo/datasets/astergdem.py b/torchgeo/datasets/astergdem.py
index b09b5c32b2b..16e360830e0 100644
--- a/torchgeo/datasets/astergdem.py
+++ b/torchgeo/datasets/astergdem.py
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ def _verify(self) -> None:
 
         raise RuntimeError(
             f"Dataset not found in `paths={self.paths!r}` "
-            "either specify a different `root` directory or make sure you "
+            "either specify a different `paths` or make sure you "
             "have manually downloaded dataset tiles as suggested in the documentation."
         )
 
diff --git a/torchgeo/datasets/cdl.py b/torchgeo/datasets/cdl.py
index b20006656ab..8b8553881d2 100644
--- a/torchgeo/datasets/cdl.py
+++ b/torchgeo/datasets/cdl.py
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ def _verify(self) -> None:
         if not self.download:
             raise RuntimeError(
                 f"Dataset not found in `paths={self.paths!r}` and `download=False`, "
-                "either specify a different `root` directory or use `download=True` "
+                "either specify a different `paths` or use `download=True` "
                 "to automatically download the dataset."
             )
 
diff --git a/torchgeo/datasets/chesapeake.py b/torchgeo/datasets/chesapeake.py
index ca3feec3414..c479fa69256 100644
--- a/torchgeo/datasets/chesapeake.py
+++ b/torchgeo/datasets/chesapeake.py
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ def _verify(self) -> None:
         if not self.download:
             raise RuntimeError(
                 f"Dataset not found in `paths={self.paths!r}` and `download=False`, "
-                "either specify a different `root` directory or use `download=True` "
+                "either specify a different `paths` or use `download=True` "
                 "to automatically download the dataset."
             )
 
diff --git a/torchgeo/datasets/cms_mangrove_canopy.py b/torchgeo/datasets/cms_mangrove_canopy.py
index 85c7f11c7b3..a520bca28d4 100644
--- a/torchgeo/datasets/cms_mangrove_canopy.py
+++ b/torchgeo/datasets/cms_mangrove_canopy.py
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ def _verify(self) -> None:
 
         raise RuntimeError(
             f"Dataset not found in `paths={self.paths!r}` "
-            "either specify a different `root` directory or make sure you "
+            "either specify a different `paths` or make sure you "
             "have manually downloaded the dataset as instructed in the documentation."
         )
 
diff --git a/torchgeo/datasets/esri2020.py b/torchgeo/datasets/esri2020.py
index 71cacc31d3b..ca71261230f 100644
--- a/torchgeo/datasets/esri2020.py
+++ b/torchgeo/datasets/esri2020.py
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ def _verify(self) -> None:
         if not self.download:
             raise RuntimeError(
                 f"Dataset not found in `paths={self.paths!r}` and `download=False`, "
-                "either specify a different `root` directory or use `download=True` "
+                "either specify a different `paths` or use `download=True` "
                 "to automatically download the dataset."
             )
 
diff --git a/torchgeo/datasets/eudem.py b/torchgeo/datasets/eudem.py
index 3b17e56b7b8..bbdce0fbee7 100644
--- a/torchgeo/datasets/eudem.py
+++ b/torchgeo/datasets/eudem.py
@@ -140,7 +140,7 @@ def _verify(self) -> None:
 
         raise RuntimeError(
             f"Dataset not found in `paths={self.paths!r}` "
-            "either specify a different `root` directory or make sure you "
+            "either specify a different `paths` or make sure you "
             "have manually downloaded the dataset as suggested in the documentation."
         )
 
diff --git a/torchgeo/datasets/globbiomass.py b/torchgeo/datasets/globbiomass.py
index 7b8acf95656..8b30afb8218 100644
--- a/torchgeo/datasets/globbiomass.py
+++ b/torchgeo/datasets/globbiomass.py
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ def _verify(self) -> None:
 
         raise RuntimeError(
             f"Dataset not found in `paths={self.paths!r}` "
-            "either specify a different `root` directory or make sure you "
+            "either specify a different `paths` or make sure you "
             "have manually downloaded the dataset as suggested in the documentation."
         )
 
diff --git a/torchgeo/datasets/l7irish.py b/torchgeo/datasets/l7irish.py
index 2f37d64c251..f8f158b8535 100644
--- a/torchgeo/datasets/l7irish.py
+++ b/torchgeo/datasets/l7irish.py
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ def _verify(self) -> None:
         if not self.download:
             raise RuntimeError(
                 f"Dataset not found in `paths={self.paths!r}` and `download=False`, "
-                "either specify a different `root` directory or use `download=True` "
+                "either specify a different `paths` or use `download=True` "
                 "to automatically download the dataset."
             )
 
diff --git a/torchgeo/datasets/l8biome.py b/torchgeo/datasets/l8biome.py
index 575ade01b96..a16446ca563 100644
--- a/torchgeo/datasets/l8biome.py
+++ b/torchgeo/datasets/l8biome.py
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ def _verify(self) -> None:
         if not self.download:
             raise RuntimeError(
                 f"Dataset not found in `paths={self.paths!r}` and `download=False`, "
-                "either specify a different `root` directory or use `download=True` "
+                "either specify a different `paths` or use `download=True` "
                 "to automatically download the dataset."
             )
 
diff --git a/torchgeo/datasets/nlcd.py b/torchgeo/datasets/nlcd.py
index 2f254506de1..9af9c393d2c 100644
--- a/torchgeo/datasets/nlcd.py
+++ b/torchgeo/datasets/nlcd.py
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ def _verify(self) -> None:
         if not self.download:
             raise RuntimeError(
                 f"Dataset not found in `paths={self.paths!r}` and `download=False`, "
-                "either specify a different `root` directory or use `download=True` "
+                "either specify a different `paths` or use `download=True` "
                 "to automatically download the dataset."
             )
 
diff --git a/torchgeo/datasets/openbuildings.py b/torchgeo/datasets/openbuildings.py
index 22ba2c0f560..ad2b55c0b4e 100644
--- a/torchgeo/datasets/openbuildings.py
+++ b/torchgeo/datasets/openbuildings.py
@@ -423,7 +423,7 @@ def _verify(self) -> None:
 
         raise RuntimeError(
             f"Dataset not found in `paths={self.paths!r}` "
-            "either specify a different `root` directory or make sure you "
+            "either specify a different `paths` or make sure you "
             "have manually downloaded the dataset as suggested in the documentation."
         )