diff --git a/declarations/comment.js b/declarations/comment.js
index c6747408e..b1c7744a9 100644
--- a/declarations/comment.js
+++ b/declarations/comment.js
@@ -59,21 +59,7 @@ type CommentContextGitHub = {
   url: string
 };
 
-type CommentTagBase = {
-  title: string
-};
-
-type CommentTag = CommentTagBase & {
-  name?: string,
-  title: string,
-  description?: Object,
-  default?: any,
-  lineNumber?: number,
-  type?: DoctrineType,
-  properties?: Array<CommentTag>
-};
-
-type CommentTagNamed = CommentTag & {
+type CommentTag = {
   name?: string,
   title: string,
   description?: Object,
diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index db6c9b103..653cb43d2 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -28,17 +28,16 @@ var fs = require('fs'),
 
 /**
  * Build a pipeline of comment handlers.
- * @param {...Function|null} args - Pipeline elements. Each is a function that accepts
+ * @param {Array<Function>} fns - Pipeline elements. Each is a function that accepts
  *  a comment and can return a comment or undefined (to drop that comment).
  * @returns {Function} pipeline
  * @private
  */
-function pipeline() {
-  var elements = arguments;
+function pipeline(fns) {
   return comment => {
-    for (var i = 0; comment && i < elements.length; i++) {
-      if (elements[i]) {
-        comment = elements[i](comment);
+    for (var i = 0; comment && i < fns.length; i++) {
+      if (fns[i]) {
+        comment = fns[i](comment);
       }
     }
     return comment;
@@ -95,7 +94,7 @@ function buildInternal(inputsAndConfig) {
 
   var parseFn = config.polyglot ? polyglot : parseJavaScript;
 
-  var buildPipeline = pipeline(
+  var buildPipeline = pipeline([
     inferName,
     inferAccess(config.inferPrivate),
     inferAugments,
@@ -108,7 +107,7 @@ function buildInternal(inputsAndConfig) {
     inferType,
     config.github && github,
     garbageCollect
-  );
+  ]);
 
   let extractedComments = _.flatMap(inputs, function(sourceFile) {
     if (!sourceFile.source) {
@@ -130,7 +129,7 @@ function lintInternal(inputsAndConfig) {
 
   let parseFn = config.polyglot ? polyglot : parseJavaScript;
 
-  let lintPipeline = pipeline(
+  let lintPipeline = pipeline([
     lintComments,
     inferName,
     inferAccess(config.inferPrivate),
@@ -142,7 +141,7 @@ function lintInternal(inputsAndConfig) {
     inferMembership(),
     inferType,
     nest
-  );
+  ]);
 
   let extractedComments = _.flatMap(inputs, sourceFile => {
     if (!sourceFile.source) {
diff --git a/lib/infer/membership.js b/lib/infer/membership.js
index 17cdeb7bf..ecf558374 100644
--- a/lib/infer/membership.js
+++ b/lib/infer/membership.js
@@ -187,7 +187,6 @@ function normalizeMemberof(comment /*: Comment*/) /*: Comment */ {
  * annotations within a file
  *
  * @private
- * @param {Object} comment parsed comment
  * @returns {Object} comment with membership inferred
  */
 module.exports = function() {
diff --git a/lib/infer/params.js b/lib/infer/params.js
index 9a9a2b492..9e48ca64e 100644
--- a/lib/infer/params.js
+++ b/lib/infer/params.js
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ const _ = require('lodash');
 const findTarget = require('./finders').findTarget;
 const flowDoctrine = require('../flow_doctrine');
 const util = require('util');
-const debuglog = util.debuglog('documentation');
 
 /**
  * Infers param tags by reading function parameter names
@@ -45,17 +44,22 @@ function inferParams(comment /*: Comment */) {
 
 function inferAndCombineParams(params, comment) {
   var inferredParams = params.map((param, i) => paramToDoc(param, '', i));
-  var mergedParams = mergeTrees(inferredParams, comment.params);
+  var mergedParamsAndErrors = mergeTrees(inferredParams, comment.params);
 
   // Then merge the trees. This is the hard part.
   return _.assign(comment, {
-    params: mergedParams
+    params: mergedParamsAndErrors.mergedParams,
+    errors: comment.errors.concat(mergedParamsAndErrors.errors)
   });
 }
 
 // Utility methods ============================================================
 //
 const PATH_SPLIT_CAPTURING = /(\[])?(\.)/g;
+const PATH_SPLIT = /(?:\[])?\./g;
+function tagDepth(tag /*: CommentTag */) /*: number */ {
+  return (tag.name || '').split(PATH_SPLIT).length;
+}
 
 /**
  * Index tags by their `name` property into an ES6 map.
@@ -199,7 +203,7 @@ function paramToDoc(
       };
     default:
       // (a)
-      var newParam /*: CommentTagNamed */ = {
+      var newParam /*: CommentTag*/ = {
         title: 'param',
         name: prefix ? prefixedName : param.name,
         lineNumber: param.loc.start.line
@@ -261,25 +265,29 @@ function mergeTrees(inferred, explicit) {
 function mergeTopNodes(inferred, explicit) {
   const mapExplicit = mapTags(explicit);
   const inferredNames = new Set(inferred.map(tag => tag.name));
-  const explicitTagsWithoutInference = explicit.filter(
-    tag => !inferredNames.has(tag.name)
-  );
+  const explicitTagsWithoutInference = explicit.filter(tag => {
+    return tagDepth(tag) === 1 && !inferredNames.has(tag.name);
+  });
 
-  if (explicitTagsWithoutInference.length) {
-    debuglog(
-      `${explicitTagsWithoutInference.length} tags were specified but didn't match ` +
-        `inferred information ${explicitTagsWithoutInference
-          .map(t => t.name)
-          .join(', ')}`
-    );
-  }
+  var errors = explicitTagsWithoutInference.map(tag => {
+    return {
+      message: `An explicit parameter named ${tag.name || ''} was specified but didn't match ` +
+        `inferred information ${Array.from(inferredNames).join(', ')}`,
+      commentLineNumber: tag.lineNumber
+    };
+  });
 
-  return inferred
-    .map(inferredTag => {
-      const explicitTag = mapExplicit.get(inferredTag.name);
-      return explicitTag ? combineTags(inferredTag, explicitTag) : inferredTag;
-    })
-    .concat(explicitTagsWithoutInference);
+  return {
+    errors,
+    mergedParams: inferred
+      .map(inferredTag => {
+        const explicitTag = mapExplicit.get(inferredTag.name);
+        return explicitTag
+          ? combineTags(inferredTag, explicitTag)
+          : inferredTag;
+      })
+      .concat(explicitTagsWithoutInference)
+  };
 }
 
 // This method is used for _non-root_ properties only - we use mergeTopNodes
diff --git a/lib/input/shallow.js b/lib/input/shallow.js
index b459a0e84..ed42fbe30 100644
--- a/lib/input/shallow.js
+++ b/lib/input/shallow.js
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ var smartGlob = require('../smart_glob.js');
  * or without fs access.
  *
  * @param indexes entry points
- * @param options parsing options
+ * @param config parsing options
  * @return promise with parsed files
  */
 module.exports = function(
diff --git a/lib/nest.js b/lib/nest.js
index 5dd91d317..b776e93c7 100644
--- a/lib/nest.js
+++ b/lib/nest.js
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ const PATH_SPLIT = /(?:\[])?\./g;
 
 function removeUnnamedTags(
   tags /*: Array<CommentTag> */
-) /*: Array<CommentTagNamed> */ {
+) /*: Array<CommentTag> */ {
   return tags.filter(tag => typeof tag.name === 'string');
 }
 
@@ -32,9 +32,7 @@ var tagDepth = tag => tag.name.split(PATH_SPLIT).length;
  *            \-> [].baz
  *
  * @private
- * @param {Object} comment a comment with tags
- * @param {string} tagTitle the tag to nest
- * @param {string} target the tag to nest into
+ * @param {Array<CommentTag>} tags a list of tags
  * @returns {Object} nested comment
  */
 var nestTag = (
diff --git a/lib/output/html.js b/lib/output/html.js
index 715200334..f4ca68228 100644
--- a/lib/output/html.js
+++ b/lib/output/html.js
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ var mergeConfig = require('../merge_config');
  * Formats documentation as HTML.
  *
  * @param comments parsed comments
- * @param {Object} args Options that can customize the output
- * @param {string} [args.theme='default_theme'] Name of a module used for an HTML theme.
+ * @param {Object} config Options that can customize the output
+ * @param {string} [config.theme='default_theme'] Name of a module used for an HTML theme.
  * @returns {Promise<Array<Object>>} Promise with results
  * @name formats.html
  * @public
diff --git a/lib/output/util/formatters.js b/lib/output/util/formatters.js
index 861df2114..f371894a1 100644
--- a/lib/output/util/formatters.js
+++ b/lib/output/util/formatters.js
@@ -72,7 +72,6 @@ module.exports = function(getHref /*: Function*/) {
   /**
    * Link text to this page or to a central resource.
    * @param {string} text inner text of the link
-   * @param {string} description link text override
    * @returns {string} potentially linked HTML
    */
   formatters.autolink = function(text /*: string*/) {
diff --git a/lib/parse.js b/lib/parse.js
index 60203fca6..442e7149d 100644
--- a/lib/parse.js
+++ b/lib/parse.js
@@ -600,6 +600,17 @@ function parseJSDoc(
     result.description = parseMarkdown(result.description);
   }
 
+  // Reject parameter tags without a parameter name
+  result.tags.filter(function(tag) {
+    if (tag.title === 'param' && tag.name === undefined) {
+      result.errors.push({
+        message: 'A @param tag without a parameter name was rejected'
+      });
+      return false;
+    }
+    return true;
+  });
+
   result.tags.forEach(function(tag) {
     if (tag.errors) {
       for (var j = 0; j < tag.errors.length; j++) {
diff --git a/lib/parsers/polyglot.js b/lib/parsers/polyglot.js
index dccb9c070..8c55cfde7 100644
--- a/lib/parsers/polyglot.js
+++ b/lib/parsers/polyglot.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ var getComments = require('get-comments'),
  * Documentation stream parser: this receives a module-dep item,
  * reads the file, parses the JavaScript, parses the JSDoc, and
  * emits parsed comments.
- * @param {Object} data a chunk of data provided by module-deps
+ * @param sourceFile a chunk of data provided by module-deps
  * @return {Array<Object>} adds to memo
  */
 function parsePolyglot(sourceFile /*: SourceFile*/) {
diff --git a/test/fixture/lint/lint.input.js b/test/fixture/lint/lint.input.js
index 35b26fe4d..181de48c9 100644
--- a/test/fixture/lint/lint.input.js
+++ b/test/fixture/lint/lint.input.js
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
  * @param {Array<Number>} foo bar
  * @param {Array<Number>} foo bar
  * @param {Array|Number} foo bar
+ * @param {boolean}
  * @returns {object} bad object return type
  * @type {Array<object>} bad object type
  * @memberof notfound
@@ -13,3 +14,8 @@
  * @property {String} bad property
  * @private
  */
+
+/**
+ * @param {number} c explicit but not found
+ */
+function add(a, b) {}
diff --git a/test/fixture/lint/lint.output b/test/fixture/lint/lint.output
index 4725962b4..6bbabba2c 100644
--- a/test/fixture/lint/lint.output
+++ b/test/fixture/lint/lint.output
@@ -1,12 +1,17 @@
-   2:1  warning  type String found, string is standard
+   2:1  warning  An explicit parameter named foo was specified but didn't match inferred information a, b
    3:1  warning  type Number found, number is standard
+   3:1  warning  An explicit parameter named foo was specified but didn't match inferred information a, b
    4:1  warning  type Number found, number is standard
+   4:1  warning  An explicit parameter named foo was specified but didn't match inferred information a, b
    5:1  warning  type Number found, number is standard
-   6:1  warning  type object found, Object is standard
+   5:1  warning  An explicit parameter named foo was specified but didn't match inferred information a, b
+   6:1  warning  An explicit parameter named boolean was specified but didn't match inferred information a, b
    7:1  warning  type object found, Object is standard
-   8:1  warning  @memberof reference to notfound not found
-  11:1  warning  could not determine @name for hierarchy
-  12:1  warning  type String found, string is standard
+   8:1  warning  type object found, Object is standard
+   9:1  warning  @memberof reference to notfound not found
   13:1  warning  type String found, string is standard
+  13:1  warning  An explicit parameter named baz was specified but didn't match inferred information a, b
+  14:1  warning  type String found, string is standard
+  19:1  warning  An explicit parameter named c was specified but didn't match inferred information a, b
 
-⚠ 11 warnings
+⚠ 16 warnings
diff --git a/test/fixture/params.output.json b/test/fixture/params.output.json
index 76bba4dd5..5d298de82 100644
--- a/test/fixture/params.output.json
+++ b/test/fixture/params.output.json
@@ -1212,7 +1212,24 @@
       }
     },
     "augments": [],
-    "errors": [],
+    "errors": [
+      {
+        "message": "An explicit parameter named address was specified but didn't match inferred information ",
+        "commentLineNumber": 5
+      },
+      {
+        "message": "An explicit parameter named groups was specified but didn't match inferred information ",
+        "commentLineNumber": 6
+      },
+      {
+        "message": "An explicit parameter named third was specified but didn't match inferred information ",
+        "commentLineNumber": 7
+      },
+      {
+        "message": "An explicit parameter named foo was specified but didn't match inferred information ",
+        "commentLineNumber": 8
+      }
+    ],
     "examples": [
       {
         "description": "var address = new Address6('2001::/32');"
diff --git a/test/lib/infer/params.js b/test/lib/infer/params.js
index 0a45b4b0d..65edac6bf 100644
--- a/test/lib/infer/params.js
+++ b/test/lib/infer/params.js
@@ -34,17 +34,25 @@ test('mergeTrees', function(t) {
         }
       ]
     ),
-    [
-      {
-        title: 'param',
-        description: 'First arg!',
-        name: 'a',
-        type: {
-          type: 'NameExpression',
-          name: 'string'
+    {
+      errors: [
+        {
+          commentLineNumber: null,
+          message: "An explicit parameter named a was specified but didn't match inferred information "
         }
-      }
-    ]
+      ],
+      mergedParams: [
+        {
+          title: 'param',
+          description: 'First arg!',
+          name: 'a',
+          type: {
+            type: 'NameExpression',
+            name: 'string'
+          }
+        }
+      ]
+    }
   );
 
   t.deepEqual(
@@ -85,29 +93,32 @@ test('mergeTrees', function(t) {
         }
       ]
     ),
-    [
-      {
-        title: 'param',
-        description: 'First arg!',
-        name: 'a',
-        type: {
-          type: 'NameExpression',
-          name: 'object'
-        },
-        properties: [
-          {
-            title: 'param',
-            name: 'a.a',
-            parameterIndex: 0,
-            type: {
-              type: 'NameExpression',
-              name: 'string'
-            },
-            properties: []
-          }
-        ]
-      }
-    ]
+    {
+      errors: [],
+      mergedParams: [
+        {
+          title: 'param',
+          description: 'First arg!',
+          name: 'a',
+          type: {
+            type: 'NameExpression',
+            name: 'object'
+          },
+          properties: [
+            {
+              title: 'param',
+              name: 'a.a',
+              parameterIndex: 0,
+              type: {
+                type: 'NameExpression',
+                name: 'string'
+              },
+              properties: []
+            }
+          ]
+        }
+      ]
+    }
   );
 
   t.end();