diff --git a/R/validation-rules.R b/R/validation-rules.R
index 022f224..be95891 100644
--- a/R/validation-rules.R
+++ b/R/validation-rules.R
@@ -42,9 +42,11 @@ check_classification_order <- function(x, call) {
   # does probability steps come after steps that change the hard classes?
   if (length(prob_ind) > 0) {
     if (any(class_ind < prob_ind)) {
-      cli_abort("adjustments that change the hard class predictions \\
-                     must come after adjustments that update the class \\
-                     probability estimates.", call = call)
+      cli_abort(
+        "Adjustments that change the hard class predictions must come after
+         adjustments that update the class probability estimates.",
+        call = call
+      )
     }
   }
 
@@ -53,9 +55,11 @@ check_classification_order <- function(x, call) {
   # do any steps come before Eq zones
   if (length(eq_ind) > 0) {
     if (any(eq_ind < class_ind) | any(eq_ind < prob_ind)) {
-      cli_abort("Equivocal zone addition should come after adjustments \\
-                     that update the class probability estimates or hard \\
-                     class predictions.", call = call)
+      cli_abort(
+        "Equivocal zone addition should come after adjustments that update the
+         class probability estimates or hard class predictions.",
+        call = call
+      )
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/validation-rules.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/validation-rules.md
index f104b4a..0dfe1c4 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/validation-rules.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/validation-rules.md
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
         adjust_probability_calibration()
     Condition
       Error in `adjust_probability_calibration()`:
-      ! adjustments that change the hard class predictions must come after adjustments that update the class probability estimates.
+      ! Adjustments that change the hard class predictions must come after adjustments that update the class probability estimates.
 
 ---
 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
         adjust_probability_calibration()
     Condition
       Error in `adjust_probability_calibration()`:
-      ! adjustments that change the hard class predictions must come after adjustments that update the class probability estimates.
+      ! Adjustments that change the hard class predictions must come after adjustments that update the class probability estimates.
 
 ---