diff --git a/DESCRIPTION b/DESCRIPTION
index fb98d58..ab1cbb9 100644
--- a/DESCRIPTION
+++ b/DESCRIPTION
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@ Suggests:
     dplyr,
     knitr,
     magrittr,
-    outbreaks,
     rmarkdown,
     spelling,
     testthat,
diff --git a/R/datatagr-package.R b/R/datatagr-package.R
index 86aeb9c..2b02ba5 100644
--- a/R/datatagr-package.R
+++ b/R/datatagr-package.R
@@ -43,73 +43,60 @@
 #'
 #' @examples
 #'
-#' if (require(outbreaks)) {
-#'   # using base R style
+#' # using base R style
+#' x <- make_datatagr(cars[1:50, ],
+#'   mph = "speed",
+#'   distance = "dist"
+#' )
+#' x
 #'
-#'   ## dataset we'll create a datatagr from, only using the first 50 entries
-#'   measles_hagelloch_1861[1:50, ]
+#' ## check tagged variables
+#' tags(x)
 #'
-#'   ## create datatagr
-#'   x <- make_datatagr(measles_hagelloch_1861[1:50, ],
-#'     id = "case_ID",
-#'     date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-#'     age = "age",
-#'     gender = "gender"
-#'   )
-#'   x
+#' ## robust renaming
+#' names(x)[1] <- "identifier"
+#' x
 #'
-#'   ## check tagged variables
-#'   tags(x)
+#' ## example of dropping tags by mistake - default: warning
+#' x[, 2]
 #'
-#'   ## robust renaming
-#'   names(x)[1] <- "identifier"
-#'   x
+#' ## to silence warnings when taggs are dropped
+#' lost_tags_action("none")
+#' x[, 2]
 #'
-#'   ## example of dropping tags by mistake - default: warning
-#'   x[, 2:5]
+#' ## to trigger errors when taggs are dropped
+#' # lost_tags_action("error")
+#' # x[, 2:5]
 #'
-#'   ## to silence warnings when taggs are dropped
-#'   lost_tags_action("none")
-#'   x[, 2:5]
+#' ## reset default behaviour
+#' lost_tags_action()
 #'
-#'   ## to trigger errors when taggs are dropped
-#'   # lost_tags_action("error")
-#'   # x[, 2:5]
+#' # using tidyverse style
 #'
-#'   ## reset default behaviour
-#'   lost_tags_action()
+#' ## example of creating a datatagr, adding a new variable, and adding a tag
+#' ## for it
 #'
+#' if (require(dplyr) && require(magrittr)) {
+#'   x <- cars %>%
+#'     tibble() %>%
+#'     make_datatagr(
+#'       mph = "speed",
+#'       distance = "dist"
+#'     ) %>%
+#'     mutate(result = if_else(speed > 50, "fast", "slow")) %>%
+#'     set_tags(ticket = "result")
 #'
-#'   # using tidyverse style
+#'   head(x)
 #'
-#'   ## example of creating a datatagr, adding a new variable, and adding a tag
-#'   ## for it
+#'   ## extract tagged variables
+#'   x %>%
+#'     select(has_tag(c("mph", "distance")))
 #'
-#'   if (require(dplyr) && require(magrittr)) {
-#'     x <- measles_hagelloch_1861 %>%
-#'       tibble() %>%
-#'       make_datatagr(
-#'         id = "case_ID",
-#'         date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-#'         age = "age",
-#'         gender = "gender"
-#'       ) %>%
-#'       mutate(result = if_else(is.na(date_of_death), "survived", "died")) %>%
-#'       set_tags(outcome = "result") %>%
-#'       rename(identifier = case_ID)
+#'   x %>%
+#'     tags()
 #'
-#'     head(x)
-#'
-#'     ## extract tagged variables
-#'     x %>%
-#'       select(has_tag(c("gender", "age")))
-#'
-#'     x %>%
-#'       tags()
-#'
-#'     x %>%
-#'       select(starts_with("date"))
-#'   }
+#'   x %>%
+#'     select(starts_with("dist"))
 #' }
 #'
 #' @keywords internal
diff --git a/R/has_tag.R b/R/has_tag.R
index 84ddac1..6ce2497 100644
--- a/R/has_tag.R
+++ b/R/has_tag.R
@@ -9,21 +9,16 @@
 #' @export
 #'
 #' @examples
-#' if (require(outbreaks) && require(dplyr)) {
-#'   ## dataset we'll create a datatagr from
-#'   measles_hagelloch_1861
-#'
-#'   ## create datatagr
-#'   x <- make_datatagr(measles_hagelloch_1861,
-#'     id = "case_ID",
-#'     date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-#'     age = "age",
-#'     gender = "gender"
-#'   )
-#'   head(x)
+#' ## create datatagr
+#' x <- make_datatagr(cars,
+#'   mph = "speed",
+#'   distance = "dist"
+#' )
+#' head(x)
 #'
+#' if (require(dplyr) && require(magrittr)) {
 #'   x %>%
-#'     select(has_tag(c("id", "age"))) %>%
+#'     select(has_tag(c("mph", "distance"))) %>%
 #'     head()
 #' }
 has_tag <- function(
diff --git a/R/make_datatagr.R b/R/make_datatagr.R
index c8e78c0..6ab8c41 100644
--- a/R/make_datatagr.R
+++ b/R/make_datatagr.R
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@
 #' @examples
 #'
 #' x <- make_datatagr(cars,
-#'   age = "speed",
+#'   mph = "speed",
 #'   distance = "dist"
 #' )
 #'
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@
 #'
 #' ## Tags can also be passed as a list with the splice operator (!!!)
 #' my_tags <- list(
-#'   age = "speed",
+#'   mph = "speed",
 #'   distance = "dist"
 #' )
 #' new_x <- make_datatagr(cars, !!!my_tags)
diff --git a/R/names.R b/R/names.R
index 65aa187..0713977 100644
--- a/R/names.R
+++ b/R/names.R
@@ -12,34 +12,27 @@
 #' @export
 #'
 #' @examples
-#' if (require(outbreaks)) {
-#'   ## dataset to create a datatagr from
-#'   measles_hagelloch_1861
+#' ## create datatagr
+#' x <- make_datatagr(cars,
+#'   mph = "speed",
+#'   distance = "dist"
+#' )
+#' head(x)
 #'
-#'   ## create datatagr
-#'   x <- make_datatagr(measles_hagelloch_1861,
-#'     id = "case_ID",
-#'     date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-#'     age = "age",
-#'     gender = "gender"
-#'   )
-#'   head(x)
+#' ## change names
+#' names(x)[1] <- "speed in miles"
 #'
-#'   ## change names
-#'   names(x)[1] <- "case_label"
+#' ## see results: tags have been updated
+#' head(x)
+#' tags(x)
 #'
-#'   ## see results: tags have been updated
+#' # This also works with using `dplyr::rename()` because it uses names<-()
+#' # under the hood
+#' if (require(dplyr) && require(magrittr)) {
+#'   x <- x %>%
+#'     rename(speed = "speed in miles")
 #'   head(x)
 #'   tags(x)
-#'
-#'   # This also works with using `dplyr::rename()` because it uses names<-()
-#'   # under hood
-#'   if (require(dplyr)) {
-#'     x <- x %>%
-#'       rename(case_id = case_label)
-#'     head(x)
-#'     tags(x)
-#'   }
 #' }
 `names<-.datatagr` <- function(x, value) {
   # Strategy for renaming
diff --git a/R/print.datatagr.R b/R/print.datatagr.R
index d3f3cbe..a85c61a 100644
--- a/R/print.datatagr.R
+++ b/R/print.datatagr.R
@@ -11,32 +11,23 @@
 #' @export
 #'
 #' @examples
-#' if (require(outbreaks)) {
-#'   ## dataset we'll create a datatagr from
-#'   measles_hagelloch_1861
-#'
-#'   ## create datatagr
-#'   x <- make_datatagr(measles_hagelloch_1861,
-#'     id = "case_ID",
-#'     date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-#'     age = "age",
-#'     gender = "gender"
-#'   )
-#'
-#'   ## print object - using only the first few entries
-#'   head(x)
-#'
-#'   # version with a tibble
-#'   if (require(tibble) && require(magrittr)) {
-#'     measles_hagelloch_1861 %>%
-#'       tibble() %>%
-#'       make_datatagr(
-#'         id = "case_ID",
-#'         date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-#'         age = "age",
-#'         gender = "gender"
-#'       )
-#'   }
+#' ## create datatagr
+#' x <- make_datatagr(cars,
+#'   mph = "speed",
+#'   distance = "dist"
+#' )
+#'
+#' ## print object - using only the first few entries
+#' head(x)
+#'
+#' # version with a tibble
+#' if (require(tibble) && require(magrittr)) {
+#'   cars %>%
+#'     tibble() %>%
+#'     make_datatagr(
+#'       mph = "speed",
+#'       distance = "dist"
+#'     )
 #' }
 print.datatagr <- function(x, ...) {
   cat("\n// datatagr object\n")
diff --git a/R/set_tags.R b/R/set_tags.R
index f646891..446bf41 100644
--- a/R/set_tags.R
+++ b/R/set_tags.R
@@ -14,33 +14,22 @@
 #'
 #' @examples
 #'
-#' if (require(outbreaks)) {
-#'   ## create a datatagr
-#'   x <- make_datatagr(measles_hagelloch_1861, date_onset = "date_of_rash")
-#'   tags(x)
-#'
-#'   ## add new tags and fix an existing one
-#'   x <- set_tags(x,
-#'     age = "age",
-#'     gender = "gender",
-#'     date_onset = "date_of_prodrome"
-#'   )
-#'   tags(x)
-#'
-#'   ## add non-default tags using allow_extra
-#'   x <- set_tags(x, severe = "complications", allow_extra = TRUE)
-#'   tags(x)
-#'
-#'   ## remove tags by setting them to NULL
-#'   old_tags <- tags(x)
-#'   x <- set_tags(x, age = NULL, gender = NULL)
-#'   tags(x)
-#'
-#'   ## setting tags providing a list (used to restore old tags here)
-#'   x <- set_tags(x, !!!old_tags)
-#'   tags(x)
-#' }
-#'
+#' ## create a datatagr
+#' x <- make_datatagr(cars, mph = "speed")
+#' tags(x)
+#'
+#' ## add new tags and fix an existing one
+#' x <- set_tags(x, distance = "dist")
+#' tags(x)
+#'
+#' ## remove tags by setting them to NULL
+#' old_tags <- tags(x)
+#' x <- set_tags(x, mph = NULL, distance = NULL)
+#' tags(x)
+#'
+#' ## setting tags providing a list (used to restore old tags here)
+#' x <- set_tags(x, !!!old_tags)
+#' tags(x)
 set_tags <- function(x, ..., tag_defaults = list(), allow_extra = TRUE) {
   # assert inputs
   checkmate::assertClass(x, "datatagr")
diff --git a/R/square_bracket.R b/R/square_bracket.R
index a9ccefb..eaec999 100644
--- a/R/square_bracket.R
+++ b/R/square_bracket.R
@@ -30,18 +30,15 @@
 #' @aliases sub_datatagr
 #'
 #' @examples
-#' if (require(outbreaks) && require(dplyr) && require(magrittr)) {
+#' if (require(dplyr) && require(magrittr)) {
 #'   ## create a datatagr
-#'   x <- measles_hagelloch_1861 %>%
+#'   x <- cars %>%
 #'     make_datatagr(
-#'       id = "case_ID",
-#'       date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-#'       age = "age",
-#'       gender = "gender"
+#'       mph = "speed",
+#'       distance = "dist"
 #'     ) %>%
-#'     mutate(result = if_else(is.na(date_of_death), "survived", "died")) %>%
-#'     set_tags(outcome = "result") %>%
-#'     rename(identifier = case_ID)
+#'     mutate(result = if_else(speed > 50, "fast", "slow")) %>%
+#'     set_tags(ticket = "result")
 #'   x
 #'
 #'   ## dangerous removal of a tagged column setting it to NULL issues a warning
diff --git a/R/tags.R b/R/tags.R
index e954616..5fef713 100644
--- a/R/tags.R
+++ b/R/tags.R
@@ -18,17 +18,14 @@
 #'
 #' @examples
 #'
-#' if (require(outbreaks)) {
-#'   ## make a datatagr
-#'   x <- make_datatagr(measles_hagelloch_1861, date_onset = "date_of_prodrome")
+#' ## make a datatagr
+#' x <- make_datatagr(cars, mph = "speed")
 #'
-#'   ## check non-null tags
-#'   tags(x)
-#'
-#'   ## get a list of all tags, including NULL ones
-#'   tags(x, TRUE)
-#' }
+#' ## check non-null tags
+#' tags(x)
 #'
+#' ## get a list of all tags, including NULL ones
+#' tags(x, TRUE)
 tags <- function(x, show_null = FALSE) {
   checkmate::assertClass(x, "datatagr")
   out <- attr(x, "tags")
diff --git a/R/tags_df.R b/R/tags_df.R
index b4eaf73..662da4f 100644
--- a/R/tags_df.R
+++ b/R/tags_df.R
@@ -12,20 +12,13 @@
 #'
 #' @examples
 #'
-#' if (require(outbreaks) && require(magrittr)) {
-#'   ## create a tibble datatagr
-#'   x <- measles_hagelloch_1861 %>%
-#'     make_datatagr(
-#'       id = "case_ID",
-#'       date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-#'       age = "age",
-#'       gender = "gender"
-#'     )
-#'   x
+#' x <- make_datatagr(cars,
+#'   mph = "speed",
+#'   distance = "dist"
+#' )
 #'
-#'   ## get a data.frame of all tagged variables
-#'   tags_df(x)
-#' }
+#' ## get a data.frame of all tagged variables
+#' tags_df(x)
 tags_df <- function(x) {
   checkmate::assertClass(x, "datatagr")
   tags <- unlist(tags(x))
diff --git a/R/validate_datatagr.R b/R/validate_datatagr.R
index 39a6dcc..c57d128 100644
--- a/R/validate_datatagr.R
+++ b/R/validate_datatagr.R
@@ -31,37 +31,27 @@
 #'
 #' @examples
 #'
-#' if (require(outbreaks) && require(magrittr)) {
+#' if (require(magrittr)) {
 #'   ## create a valid datatagr
-#'   x <- measles_hagelloch_1861 %>%
+#'   x <- cars %>%
 #'     make_datatagr(
-#'       id = "case_ID",
-#'       date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-#'       age = "age",
-#'       gender = "gender"
+#'       mph = "speed",
+#'       distance = "dist"
 #'     )
 #'   x
 #'
 #'   ## validation
 #'   validate_datatagr(x, ref_types = tags_types(
-#'     id = c("integer", "factor"),
-#'     date_onset = "Date",
-#'     age = "numeric",
-#'     gender = c("factor", "character")
+#'     mph = c("numeric", "factor"),
+#'     distance = "numeric"
 #'   ))
 #'
-#'   ## create an invalid datatagr - onset date is a factor
-#'   x <- measles_hagelloch_1861 %>%
-#'     make_datatagr(
-#'       id = "case_ID",
-#'       date_onset = "gender",
-#'       age = "age"
-#'     )
-#'   x
-#'
 #'   ## the below issues an error
 #'   ## note: tryCatch is only used to avoid a genuine error in the example
-#'   tryCatch(validate_datatagr(x), error = paste)
+#'   tryCatch(validate_datatagr(x, ref_types = tags_types(
+#'     mph = c("numeric", "factor"),
+#'     distance = "factor"
+#'   )), error = paste)
 #' }
 validate_datatagr <- function(x,
                               ref_types = tags_types()) {
diff --git a/R/validate_tags.R b/R/validate_tags.R
index 46ad21a..956e751 100644
--- a/R/validate_tags.R
+++ b/R/validate_tags.R
@@ -15,31 +15,24 @@
 #'   the right classes
 #'
 #' @examples
-#' if (require(outbreaks) && require(magrittr)) {
+#' if (require(dplyr) && require(magrittr)) {
 #'   ## create a valid datatagr
-#'   x <- measles_hagelloch_1861 %>%
+#'   x <- cars %>%
 #'     make_datatagr(
-#'       id = "case_ID",
-#'       date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-#'       age = "age",
-#'       gender = "gender"
+#'       mph = "speed",
+#'       distance = "dist"
 #'     )
 #'   x
 #'
-#'   ## validation
+#'   ## the below issues an error as datatagr doesn't know any defaults
+#'   ## note: tryCatch is only used to avoid a genuine error in the example
+#'   tryCatch(validate_datatagr(x), error = paste)
+#'
+#'   ## validation requires you to specify the types directly
 #'   validate_datatagr(x, ref_types = tags_types(
-#'     id = c("integer", "factor"),
-#'     date_onset = "Date",
-#'     age = "numeric",
-#'     gender = c("factor", "character")
+#'     mph = c("integer", "numeric"),
+#'     distance = "numeric"
 #'   ))
-#'
-#'   ## hack to create an invalid tags (missing defaults)
-#'   attr(x, "tags") <- list(id = "case_ID")
-#'
-#'   ## the below issues an error
-#'   ## note: tryCatch is only used to avoid a genuine error in the example
-#'   tryCatch(validate_tags(x), error = paste)
 #' }
 validate_tags <- function(x) {
   checkmate::assert_class(x, "datatagr")
diff --git a/R/validate_types.R b/R/validate_types.R
index 0eca71d..e73f6d7 100644
--- a/R/validate_types.R
+++ b/R/validate_types.R
@@ -18,25 +18,22 @@
 #' * [validate_datatagr()] to combine `validate_tags` and `validate_types`
 #'
 #' @examples
-#' if (require(outbreaks) && require(magrittr)) {
-#'   ## create an invalid datatagr - gender is a numeric
-#'   x <- measles_hagelloch_1861 %>%
-#'     make_datatagr(
-#'       id = "case_ID",
-#'       gender = "infector"
-#'     )
-#'   x
+#' x <- make_datatagr(cars,
+#'   mph = "speed",
+#'   distance = "dist"
+#' )
+#' x
 #'
-#'   ## the below would issue an error
-#'   ## note: tryCatch is only used to avoid a genuine error in the example
-#'   tryCatch(validate_types(x), error = paste)
+#' ## the below would issue an error
+#' ## note: tryCatch is only used to avoid a genuine error in the example
+#' tryCatch(validate_types(x), error = paste)
+#'
+#' ## to allow other types, e.g. gender to be integer, character or factor
+#' validate_types(x, tags_types(mph = "numeric", distance = c(
+#'   "integer",
+#'   "character", "numeric"
+#' )))
 #'
-#'   ## to allow other types, e.g. gender to be integer, character or factor
-#'   validate_types(x, tags_types(id = "integer", gender = c(
-#'     "integer",
-#'     "character", "factor"
-#'   )))
-#' }
 validate_types <- function(x, ref_types = tags_types()) {
   checkmate::assert_class(x, "datatagr")
 
diff --git a/man/datatagr-package.Rd b/man/datatagr-package.Rd
index 49aba4c..7a24797 100644
--- a/man/datatagr-package.Rd
+++ b/man/datatagr-package.Rd
@@ -46,73 +46,60 @@ desired behaviour when tagged variables are lost
 
 \examples{
 
-if (require(outbreaks)) {
-  # using base R style
+# using base R style
+x <- make_datatagr(cars[1:50, ],
+  mph = "speed",
+  distance = "dist"
+)
+x
 
-  ## dataset we'll create a datatagr from, only using the first 50 entries
-  measles_hagelloch_1861[1:50, ]
+## check tagged variables
+tags(x)
 
-  ## create datatagr
-  x <- make_datatagr(measles_hagelloch_1861[1:50, ],
-    id = "case_ID",
-    date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-    age = "age",
-    gender = "gender"
-  )
-  x
+## robust renaming
+names(x)[1] <- "identifier"
+x
 
-  ## check tagged variables
-  tags(x)
+## example of dropping tags by mistake - default: warning
+x[, 2]
 
-  ## robust renaming
-  names(x)[1] <- "identifier"
-  x
+## to silence warnings when taggs are dropped
+lost_tags_action("none")
+x[, 2]
 
-  ## example of dropping tags by mistake - default: warning
-  x[, 2:5]
+## to trigger errors when taggs are dropped
+# lost_tags_action("error")
+# x[, 2:5]
 
-  ## to silence warnings when taggs are dropped
-  lost_tags_action("none")
-  x[, 2:5]
+## reset default behaviour
+lost_tags_action()
 
-  ## to trigger errors when taggs are dropped
-  # lost_tags_action("error")
-  # x[, 2:5]
+# using tidyverse style
 
-  ## reset default behaviour
-  lost_tags_action()
+## example of creating a datatagr, adding a new variable, and adding a tag
+## for it
 
+if (require(dplyr) && require(magrittr)) {
+  x <- cars \%>\%
+    tibble() \%>\%
+    make_datatagr(
+      mph = "speed",
+      distance = "dist"
+    ) \%>\%
+    mutate(result = if_else(speed > 50, "fast", "slow")) \%>\%
+    set_tags(ticket = "result")
 
-  # using tidyverse style
+  head(x)
 
-  ## example of creating a datatagr, adding a new variable, and adding a tag
-  ## for it
+  ## extract tagged variables
+  x \%>\%
+    select(has_tag(c("mph", "distance")))
 
-  if (require(dplyr) && require(magrittr)) {
-    x <- measles_hagelloch_1861 \%>\%
-      tibble() \%>\%
-      make_datatagr(
-        id = "case_ID",
-        date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-        age = "age",
-        gender = "gender"
-      ) \%>\%
-      mutate(result = if_else(is.na(date_of_death), "survived", "died")) \%>\%
-      set_tags(outcome = "result") \%>\%
-      rename(identifier = case_ID)
+  x \%>\%
+    tags()
 
-    head(x)
-
-    ## extract tagged variables
-    x \%>\%
-      select(has_tag(c("gender", "age")))
-
-    x \%>\%
-      tags()
-
-    x \%>\%
-      select(starts_with("date"))
-  }
+  x \%>\%
+    select(starts_with("dist"))
 }
 
 }
diff --git a/man/has_tag.Rd b/man/has_tag.Rd
index f9637b7..ab528ee 100644
--- a/man/has_tag.Rd
+++ b/man/has_tag.Rd
@@ -18,21 +18,16 @@ requested tags
 A selector function to use in \pkg{tidyverse} functions
 }
 \examples{
-if (require(outbreaks) && require(dplyr)) {
-  ## dataset we'll create a datatagr from
-  measles_hagelloch_1861
-
-  ## create datatagr
-  x <- make_datatagr(measles_hagelloch_1861,
-    id = "case_ID",
-    date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-    age = "age",
-    gender = "gender"
-  )
-  head(x)
+## create datatagr
+x <- make_datatagr(cars,
+  mph = "speed",
+  distance = "dist"
+)
+head(x)
 
+if (require(dplyr) && require(magrittr)) {
   x \%>\%
-    select(has_tag(c("id", "age"))) \%>\%
+    select(has_tag(c("mph", "distance"))) \%>\%
     head()
 }
 }
diff --git a/man/make_datatagr.Rd b/man/make_datatagr.Rd
index 5a82bca..fab9dbf 100644
--- a/man/make_datatagr.Rd
+++ b/man/make_datatagr.Rd
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ fields for further data cleaning and analysis.
 \examples{
 
 x <- make_datatagr(cars,
-  age = "speed",
+  mph = "speed",
   distance = "dist"
 )
 
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ tags(x)
 
 ## Tags can also be passed as a list with the splice operator (!!!)
 my_tags <- list(
-  age = "speed",
+  mph = "speed",
   distance = "dist"
 )
 new_x <- make_datatagr(cars, !!!my_tags)
diff --git a/man/names-set-.datatagr.Rd b/man/names-set-.datatagr.Rd
index ec9b985..fd877dc 100644
--- a/man/names-set-.datatagr.Rd
+++ b/man/names-set-.datatagr.Rd
@@ -19,33 +19,26 @@ This function can be used to rename the columns a \code{datatagr}, adjusting tag
 as needed.
 }
 \examples{
-if (require(outbreaks)) {
-  ## dataset to create a datatagr from
-  measles_hagelloch_1861
+## create datatagr
+x <- make_datatagr(cars,
+  mph = "speed",
+  distance = "dist"
+)
+head(x)
 
-  ## create datatagr
-  x <- make_datatagr(measles_hagelloch_1861,
-    id = "case_ID",
-    date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-    age = "age",
-    gender = "gender"
-  )
-  head(x)
+## change names
+names(x)[1] <- "speed in miles"
 
-  ## change names
-  names(x)[1] <- "case_label"
+## see results: tags have been updated
+head(x)
+tags(x)
 
-  ## see results: tags have been updated
+# This also works with using `dplyr::rename()` because it uses names<-()
+# under the hood
+if (require(dplyr) && require(magrittr)) {
+  x <- x \%>\%
+    rename(speed = "speed in miles")
   head(x)
   tags(x)
-
-  # This also works with using `dplyr::rename()` because it uses names<-()
-  # under hood
-  if (require(dplyr)) {
-    x <- x \%>\%
-      rename(case_id = case_label)
-    head(x)
-    tags(x)
-  }
 }
 }
diff --git a/man/print.datatagr.Rd b/man/print.datatagr.Rd
index 74b77b0..a0bb217 100644
--- a/man/print.datatagr.Rd
+++ b/man/print.datatagr.Rd
@@ -18,31 +18,22 @@ Invisibly returns the object.
 This function prints datatagr objects.
 }
 \examples{
-if (require(outbreaks)) {
-  ## dataset we'll create a datatagr from
-  measles_hagelloch_1861
+## create datatagr
+x <- make_datatagr(cars,
+  mph = "speed",
+  distance = "dist"
+)
 
-  ## create datatagr
-  x <- make_datatagr(measles_hagelloch_1861,
-    id = "case_ID",
-    date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-    age = "age",
-    gender = "gender"
-  )
+## print object - using only the first few entries
+head(x)
 
-  ## print object - using only the first few entries
-  head(x)
-
-  # version with a tibble
-  if (require(tibble) && require(magrittr)) {
-    measles_hagelloch_1861 \%>\%
-      tibble() \%>\%
-      make_datatagr(
-        id = "case_ID",
-        date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-        age = "age",
-        gender = "gender"
-      )
-  }
+# version with a tibble
+if (require(tibble) && require(magrittr)) {
+  cars \%>\%
+    tibble() \%>\%
+    make_datatagr(
+      mph = "speed",
+      distance = "dist"
+    )
 }
 }
diff --git a/man/set_tags.Rd b/man/set_tags.Rd
index 535d270..d426462 100644
--- a/man/set_tags.Rd
+++ b/man/set_tags.Rd
@@ -30,33 +30,22 @@ missing, they will be added to the final object.
 }
 \examples{
 
-if (require(outbreaks)) {
-  ## create a datatagr
-  x <- make_datatagr(measles_hagelloch_1861, date_onset = "date_of_rash")
-  tags(x)
-
-  ## add new tags and fix an existing one
-  x <- set_tags(x,
-    age = "age",
-    gender = "gender",
-    date_onset = "date_of_prodrome"
-  )
-  tags(x)
-
-  ## add non-default tags using allow_extra
-  x <- set_tags(x, severe = "complications", allow_extra = TRUE)
-  tags(x)
-
-  ## remove tags by setting them to NULL
-  old_tags <- tags(x)
-  x <- set_tags(x, age = NULL, gender = NULL)
-  tags(x)
-
-  ## setting tags providing a list (used to restore old tags here)
-  x <- set_tags(x, !!!old_tags)
-  tags(x)
-}
-
+## create a datatagr
+x <- make_datatagr(cars, mph = "speed")
+tags(x)
+
+## add new tags and fix an existing one
+x <- set_tags(x, distance = "dist")
+tags(x)
+
+## remove tags by setting them to NULL
+old_tags <- tags(x)
+x <- set_tags(x, mph = NULL, distance = NULL)
+tags(x)
+
+## setting tags providing a list (used to restore old tags here)
+x <- set_tags(x, !!!old_tags)
+tags(x)
 }
 \seealso{
 \code{\link[=make_datatagr]{make_datatagr()}} to create a \code{datatagr} object
diff --git a/man/sub_datatagr.Rd b/man/sub_datatagr.Rd
index 2341065..3858642 100644
--- a/man/sub_datatagr.Rd
+++ b/man/sub_datatagr.Rd
@@ -48,18 +48,15 @@ takes the appropriate action if this is the case (warning, error, or ignore,
 depending on the general option set via \code{\link[=lost_tags_action]{lost_tags_action()}}) .
 }
 \examples{
-if (require(outbreaks) && require(dplyr) && require(magrittr)) {
+if (require(dplyr) && require(magrittr)) {
   ## create a datatagr
-  x <- measles_hagelloch_1861 \%>\%
+  x <- cars \%>\%
     make_datatagr(
-      id = "case_ID",
-      date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-      age = "age",
-      gender = "gender"
+      mph = "speed",
+      distance = "dist"
     ) \%>\%
-    mutate(result = if_else(is.na(date_of_death), "survived", "died")) \%>\%
-    set_tags(outcome = "result") \%>\%
-    rename(identifier = case_ID)
+    mutate(result = if_else(speed > 50, "fast", "slow")) \%>\%
+    set_tags(ticket = "result")
   x
 
   ## dangerous removal of a tagged column setting it to NULL issues a warning
diff --git a/man/tags.Rd b/man/tags.Rd
index 2b46803..e359724 100644
--- a/man/tags.Rd
+++ b/man/tags.Rd
@@ -26,15 +26,12 @@ Tags are stored as the \code{tags} attribute of the object.
 }
 \examples{
 
-if (require(outbreaks)) {
-  ## make a datatagr
-  x <- make_datatagr(measles_hagelloch_1861, date_onset = "date_of_prodrome")
+## make a datatagr
+x <- make_datatagr(cars, mph = "speed")
 
-  ## check non-null tags
-  tags(x)
-
-  ## get a list of all tags, including NULL ones
-  tags(x, TRUE)
-}
+## check non-null tags
+tags(x)
 
+## get a list of all tags, including NULL ones
+tags(x, TRUE)
 }
diff --git a/man/tags_df.Rd b/man/tags_df.Rd
index 24c1410..f9ab6f7 100644
--- a/man/tags_df.Rd
+++ b/man/tags_df.Rd
@@ -19,18 +19,11 @@ This function returns a \code{data.frame} of all the tagged variables stored in
 }
 \examples{
 
-if (require(outbreaks) && require(magrittr)) {
-  ## create a tibble datatagr
-  x <- measles_hagelloch_1861 \%>\%
-    make_datatagr(
-      id = "case_ID",
-      date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-      age = "age",
-      gender = "gender"
-    )
-  x
+x <- make_datatagr(cars,
+  mph = "speed",
+  distance = "dist"
+)
 
-  ## get a data.frame of all tagged variables
-  tags_df(x)
-}
+## get a data.frame of all tagged variables
+tags_df(x)
 }
diff --git a/man/validate_datatagr.Rd b/man/validate_datatagr.Rd
index cd37e78..3ff6f15 100644
--- a/man/validate_datatagr.Rd
+++ b/man/validate_datatagr.Rd
@@ -34,37 +34,27 @@ The following checks are performed:
 }
 \examples{
 
-if (require(outbreaks) && require(magrittr)) {
+if (require(magrittr)) {
   ## create a valid datatagr
-  x <- measles_hagelloch_1861 \%>\%
+  x <- cars \%>\%
     make_datatagr(
-      id = "case_ID",
-      date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-      age = "age",
-      gender = "gender"
+      mph = "speed",
+      distance = "dist"
     )
   x
 
   ## validation
   validate_datatagr(x, ref_types = tags_types(
-    id = c("integer", "factor"),
-    date_onset = "Date",
-    age = "numeric",
-    gender = c("factor", "character")
+    mph = c("numeric", "factor"),
+    distance = "numeric"
   ))
 
-  ## create an invalid datatagr - onset date is a factor
-  x <- measles_hagelloch_1861 \%>\%
-    make_datatagr(
-      id = "case_ID",
-      date_onset = "gender",
-      age = "age"
-    )
-  x
-
   ## the below issues an error
   ## note: tryCatch is only used to avoid a genuine error in the example
-  tryCatch(validate_datatagr(x), error = paste)
+  tryCatch(validate_datatagr(x, ref_types = tags_types(
+    mph = c("numeric", "factor"),
+    distance = "factor"
+  )), error = paste)
 }
 }
 \seealso{
diff --git a/man/validate_tags.Rd b/man/validate_tags.Rd
index a68ba4e..0c737a1 100644
--- a/man/validate_tags.Rd
+++ b/man/validate_tags.Rd
@@ -19,31 +19,24 @@ that all default tags are present iv) tagged variables exist v) that no extra
 tag exists (if \code{allow_extra} is \code{FALSE}).
 }
 \examples{
-if (require(outbreaks) && require(magrittr)) {
+if (require(dplyr) && require(magrittr)) {
   ## create a valid datatagr
-  x <- measles_hagelloch_1861 \%>\%
+  x <- cars \%>\%
     make_datatagr(
-      id = "case_ID",
-      date_onset = "date_of_prodrome",
-      age = "age",
-      gender = "gender"
+      mph = "speed",
+      distance = "dist"
     )
   x
 
-  ## validation
+  ## the below issues an error as datatagr doesn't know any defaults
+  ## note: tryCatch is only used to avoid a genuine error in the example
+  tryCatch(validate_datatagr(x), error = paste)
+
+  ## validation requires you to specify the types directly
   validate_datatagr(x, ref_types = tags_types(
-    id = c("integer", "factor"),
-    date_onset = "Date",
-    age = "numeric",
-    gender = c("factor", "character")
+    mph = c("integer", "numeric"),
+    distance = "numeric"
   ))
-
-  ## hack to create an invalid tags (missing defaults)
-  attr(x, "tags") <- list(id = "case_ID")
-
-  ## the below issues an error
-  ## note: tryCatch is only used to avoid a genuine error in the example
-  tryCatch(validate_tags(x), error = paste)
 }
 }
 \seealso{
diff --git a/man/validate_types.Rd b/man/validate_types.Rd
index 8eed4ae..75679d0 100644
--- a/man/validate_types.Rd
+++ b/man/validate_types.Rd
@@ -20,25 +20,22 @@ This function checks the class of each tagged variable in a \code{datatagr}
 against pre-defined accepted classes in \code{\link[=tags_types]{tags_types()}}.
 }
 \examples{
-if (require(outbreaks) && require(magrittr)) {
-  ## create an invalid datatagr - gender is a numeric
-  x <- measles_hagelloch_1861 \%>\%
-    make_datatagr(
-      id = "case_ID",
-      gender = "infector"
-    )
-  x
+x <- make_datatagr(cars,
+  mph = "speed",
+  distance = "dist"
+)
+x
 
-  ## the below would issue an error
-  ## note: tryCatch is only used to avoid a genuine error in the example
-  tryCatch(validate_types(x), error = paste)
+## the below would issue an error
+## note: tryCatch is only used to avoid a genuine error in the example
+tryCatch(validate_types(x), error = paste)
+
+## to allow other types, e.g. gender to be integer, character or factor
+validate_types(x, tags_types(mph = "numeric", distance = c(
+  "integer",
+  "character", "numeric"
+)))
 
-  ## to allow other types, e.g. gender to be integer, character or factor
-  validate_types(x, tags_types(id = "integer", gender = c(
-    "integer",
-    "character", "factor"
-  )))
-}
 }
 \seealso{
 \itemize{
diff --git a/tests/testthat/_snaps/validate_types.md b/tests/testthat/_snaps/validate_types.md
index 2603f7c..d5932b1 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/_snaps/validate_types.md
+++ b/tests/testthat/_snaps/validate_types.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # validate_types() validates types
 
     Some tags have the wrong class:
-      - age: Must inherit from class 'factor', but has class 'numeric'
-      - gender: Must inherit from class 'character', but has class 'numeric'
+      - mph: Must inherit from class 'factor', but has class 'numeric'
+      - distance: Must inherit from class 'character', but has class 'numeric'
     
 
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-drop_datatagr.R b/tests/testthat/test-drop_datatagr.R
index e7b17d5..a908472 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-drop_datatagr.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-drop_datatagr.R
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 test_that("tests for drop_datatagr", {
-  x <- make_datatagr(cars, age = "speed")
+  x <- make_datatagr(cars, mph = "speed")
   expect_identical(cars, drop_datatagr(x, TRUE))
   y <- drop_datatagr(x, FALSE)
   expect_identical(tags(x, TRUE), attr(y, "tags"))
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-prune_tags.R b/tests/testthat/test-prune_tags.R
index 87c2401..307bdf6 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-prune_tags.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-prune_tags.R
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 test_that("tests for prune_tags", {
-  x <- make_datatagr(cars, age = "speed", date_onset = "dist")
+  x <- make_datatagr(cars, mph = "speed", distance = "dist")
 
   # Check error messages
   msg <- "Must inherit from class 'datatagr', but has class 'data.frame'."
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ test_that("tests for prune_tags", {
   attr(x, "names") <- c("new1", "new2") # hack needed as names<- is now safe
   msg <- paste(
     "The following tags have lost their variable:",
-    " age:speed, date_onset:dist",
+    " mph:speed, distance:dist",
     sep = "\n"
   )
   expect_error(prune_tags(x), msg, class = "datatagr_error")
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-restore_tags.R b/tests/testthat/test-restore_tags.R
index 0f1ecc0..3341f3b 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-restore_tags.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-restore_tags.R
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 test_that("tests for restore_tags", {
   # These are now order dependent for the tests
-  x <- make_datatagr(cars, date_onset = "dist", age = "speed")
+  x <- make_datatagr(cars, distance = "dist", mph = "speed")
   y <- drop_datatagr(x)
   z <- y
   names(z) <- c("titi", "toto")
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ test_that("tests for restore_tags", {
   # Check error messages
   msg <- paste(
     "The following tags have lost their variable:",
-    " date_onset:dist, age:speed",
+    " distance:dist, mph:speed",
     sep = "\n"
   )
   expect_error(restore_tags(z, tags(x), "error"), msg)
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-tags.R b/tests/testthat/test-tags.R
index fce24ed..212911b 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-tags.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-tags.R
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 test_that("tests for tags", {
   # Check error messages
-  x <- make_datatagr(cars, age = "speed")
+  x <- make_datatagr(cars, mph = "speed")
 
   # Check functionality
-  expect_identical(tags(x), list(age = "speed"))
+  expect_identical(tags(x), list(mph = "speed"))
   expect_identical(tags(x, TRUE), attr(x, "tags"))
   expect_identical(tags(make_datatagr(cars), TRUE), list())
 })
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-tags_df.R b/tests/testthat/test-tags_df.R
index 9a437f0..afefdfc 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-tags_df.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-tags_df.R
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 test_that("tests for tags_df", {
   # These are now order dependent for the tests
-  x <- make_datatagr(cars, date_reporting = "dist", age = "speed")
+  x <- make_datatagr(cars, distance = "dist", mph = "speed")
   y <- cars[c("dist", "speed")]
-  names(y) <- c("date_reporting", "age")
+  names(y) <- c("distance", "mph")
 
   # errors
   msg <- "Must inherit from class 'datatagr', but has class 'data.frame'."
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-validate_types.R b/tests/testthat/test-validate_types.R
index 4d5626b..87c3701 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-validate_types.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-validate_types.R
@@ -7,33 +7,33 @@ test_that("tests for validate_types() basic input checking", {
 
 test_that("validate_types() validates types", {
   # Successful validations
-  x <- make_datatagr(cars, age = "speed")
+  x <- make_datatagr(cars, mph = "speed")
   expect_silent(
     expect_identical(
       x,
-      validate_types(x, ref_types = tags_types(age = "numeric"))
+      validate_types(x, ref_types = tags_types(mph = "numeric"))
     )
   )
 
   # Failed validations
-  x <- make_datatagr(cars, age = "speed")
+  x <- make_datatagr(cars, mph = "speed")
   expect_error(
-    validate_types(x, ref_types = tags_types(age = "factor")),
-    "age: Must inherit from class 'factor', but has class 'numeric'"
+    validate_types(x, ref_types = tags_types(mph = "factor")),
+    "mph: Must inherit from class 'factor', but has class 'numeric'"
   )
 
-  x <- make_datatagr(cars, age = "speed", gender = "dist")
+  x <- make_datatagr(cars, mph = "speed", distance = "dist")
   expect_snapshot_error(
-    validate_types(x, ref_types = tags_types(age = "factor", gender = "character"))
+    validate_types(x, ref_types = tags_types(mph = "factor", distance = "character"))
   )
 })
 
 test_that("missing ref_type in validate_types()", {
   # Single missing
-  x <- make_datatagr(cars, age = "speed", d = "dist", allow_extra = TRUE)
+  x <- make_datatagr(cars, mph = "speed", d = "dist", allow_extra = TRUE)
   expect_error(
     validate_types(x),
-    "Allowed types for tag `age`, `d` are not documented in `ref_types`."
+    "Allowed types for tag `mph`, `d` are not documented in `ref_types`."
   )
 
   # Two missing