diff --git a/src/zarr/api/synchronous.py b/src/zarr/api/synchronous.py
index 50a1c0fa20..db113f76d0 100644
--- a/src/zarr/api/synchronous.py
+++ b/src/zarr/api/synchronous.py
@@ -783,13 +783,12 @@ def create_array(
         The name of the array within the store. If ``name`` is ``None``, the array will be located
         at the root of the store.
     shape : ChunkCoords, optional
-        Shape of the array. Can be ``None`` if ``data`` is provided.
+        Shape of the array. Must be ``None`` if ``data`` is provided.
     dtype : ZDTypeLike, optional
-        Data type of the array. Can be ``None`` if ``data`` is provided.
+        Data type of the array. Must be ``None`` if ``data`` is provided.
     data : np.ndarray, optional
         Array-like data to use for initializing the array. If this parameter is provided, the
-        ``shape`` and ``dtype`` parameters must be identical to ``data.shape`` and ``data.dtype``,
-        or ``None``.
+        ``shape`` and ``dtype`` parameters must be ``None``.
     chunks : ChunkCoords, optional
         Chunk shape of the array.
         If not specified, default are guessed based on the shape and dtype.
diff --git a/src/zarr/core/group.py b/src/zarr/core/group.py
index 4bdc7b549f..9ef8481b9a 100644
--- a/src/zarr/core/group.py
+++ b/src/zarr/core/group.py
@@ -2476,12 +2476,11 @@ def create_array(
             The name of the array relative to the group. If ``path`` is ``None``, the array will be located
             at the root of the store.
         shape : ChunkCoords, optional
-            Shape of the array. Can be ``None`` if ``data`` is provided.
+            Shape of the array. Must be ``None`` if ``data`` is provided.
         dtype : npt.DTypeLike | None
-            Data type of the array. Can be ``None`` if ``data`` is provided.
+            Data type of the array. Must be ``None`` if ``data`` is provided.
         data : Array-like data to use for initializing the array. If this parameter is provided, the
-            ``shape`` and ``dtype`` parameters must be identical to ``data.shape`` and ``data.dtype``,
-            or ``None``.
+            ``shape`` and ``dtype`` parameters must be ``None``.
         chunks : ChunkCoords, optional
             Chunk shape of the array.
             If not specified, default are guessed based on the shape and dtype.