diff --git a/docs/examples/widgets/placeholder.py b/docs/examples/widgets/placeholder.py
index d47cadeca..0c6499842 100644
--- a/docs/examples/widgets/placeholder.py
+++ b/docs/examples/widgets/placeholder.py
@@ -10,24 +10,24 @@ class PlaceholderApp(App):
     def compose(self) -> ComposeResult:
         yield Vertical(
             Container(
-                Placeholder(label="This is a custom label for p1.", id="p1"),
-                Placeholder(label="Placeholder p2 here!", id="p2"),
+                Placeholder("This is a custom label for p1.", id="p1"),
+                Placeholder("Placeholder p2 here!", id="p2"),
                 Placeholder(id="p3"),
                 Placeholder(id="p4"),
                 Placeholder(id="p5"),
                 Placeholder(),
                 Horizontal(
-                    Placeholder("size", id="col1"),
-                    Placeholder("text", id="col2"),
-                    Placeholder("size", id="col3"),
+                    Placeholder(variant="size", id="col1"),
+                    Placeholder(variant="text", id="col2"),
+                    Placeholder(variant="size", id="col3"),
                     id="c1",
                 ),
                 id="bot"
             ),
             Container(
-                Placeholder("text", id="left"),
-                Placeholder("size", id="topright"),
-                Placeholder("text", id="botright"),
+                Placeholder(variant="text", id="left"),
+                Placeholder(variant="size", id="topright"),
+                Placeholder(variant="text", id="botright"),
                 id="top",
             ),
             id="content",
diff --git a/tests/test_placeholder.py b/tests/test_placeholder.py
index 74fe2e40f..6bc7a1e04 100644
--- a/tests/test_placeholder.py
+++ b/tests/test_placeholder.py
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ from textual.widgets._placeholder import InvalidPlaceholderVariant
 
 def test_invalid_placeholder_variant():
     with pytest.raises(InvalidPlaceholderVariant):
-        Placeholder("this is clearly not a valid variant!")
+        Placeholder(variant="this is clearly not a valid variant!")
 
 
 def test_invalid_reactive_variant_change():