diff --git a/framework/doc/content/source/userobjects/CoupledVarThresholdElementSubdomainModifier.md b/framework/doc/content/source/userobjects/CoupledVarThresholdElementSubdomainModifier.md
index 2b451b39d24f..55916868ddf2 100644
--- a/framework/doc/content/source/userobjects/CoupledVarThresholdElementSubdomainModifier.md
+++ b/framework/doc/content/source/userobjects/CoupledVarThresholdElementSubdomainModifier.md
@@ -6,8 +6,6 @@
 
 The `CoupledVarThresholdElementSubdomainModifier` can model
 
-lol
-
 - Element death (with applications in ablation, fracture, etc.);
 - Element activation (with applications in additive manufacturing, sintering, solidification, etc.);
 - Moving interface (with applications in metal oxidation, phase transformation, melt pool, etc.).
diff --git a/framework/src/userobjects/ElementSubdomainModifierBase.C b/framework/src/userobjects/ElementSubdomainModifierBase.C
index ee32e6574c36..72d91c690b0f 100644
--- a/framework/src/userobjects/ElementSubdomainModifierBase.C
+++ b/framework/src/userobjects/ElementSubdomainModifierBase.C
@@ -49,19 +49,14 @@ ElementSubdomainModifierBase::validParams()
   params.addParam<std::vector<SubdomainName>>(
       "active_subdomains",
       {},
-      "The variables specified by the parameter 'initialize_variables' are initialized to their "
-      "initial conditions when elements are moved from 'inactive' subdomains to 'active' "
-      "subdomains, or from an 'active' subdomain to a different 'active' subdomain. The 'active' "
-      "subdomains are usually where the simulation is performed, i.e. the PDE's computational "
-      "domain. If this parameter is left empty, then the entire mesh is treated as the active "
-      "subdomain.");
+      "The subdomains in which to initialize variables. These usually correspond to the 'active' "
+      "subdomains where the simulation is performed, i.e. the PDE's computational domain. If this "
+      "parameter is left empty, then the entire mesh is the 'active_subdomain'.");
   params.addParam<bool>(
       "amorphous_activation",
       false,
-      "If set to false (default), only elements moving from inactive subdomains to active "
-      "subdomains are considered as 'activated'. When set to true, elements moving from an active "
-      "subdomain to another are _also_ considered to be 'activated'.");
-
+      "If set to false (default), only elements which change from subdomains not listed in active_subdomains to ones that are listed, are initialized. When set to true, this will also "
+      "include elements that are initially in the 'active_subdomains'");
   return params;
 }
 
diff --git a/test/tests/userobjects/element_subdomain_modifier/tests b/test/tests/userobjects/element_subdomain_modifier/tests
index 1ddc7a9b28e9..b385e76dbca2 100644
--- a/test/tests/userobjects/element_subdomain_modifier/tests
+++ b/test/tests/userobjects/element_subdomain_modifier/tests
@@ -4,6 +4,13 @@
   [group]
     requirement = 'The framework shall include the ability to change element subdomain during simulation'
     
+    [reversible]
+      type = 'Exodiff'
+      input = 'reversible.i'
+      exodiff = 'reversible_out.e reversible_out.e-s002 reversible_out.e-s003 reversible_out.e-s004'
+      detail = 'reversibly, '
+    []
+
     [irreversible]
       type = 'Exodiff'
       input = 'irreversible.i'
@@ -11,13 +18,6 @@
       detail = 'irreversibly, '
     []
 
-    [reversible]
-      type = 'Exodiff'
-      input = 'reversible.i'
-      exodiff = 'reversible_out.e reversible_out.e-s002 reversible_out.e-s003 reversible_out.e-s004'
-      detail = 'reversibly, '
-    []
-    
     [moving_boundary]
       type = 'Exodiff'
       input = 'moving_boundary.i'