diff --git a/guardrails/guard.py b/guardrails/guard.py
index 21b82721c..70e3a9d61 100644
--- a/guardrails/guard.py
+++ b/guardrails/guard.py
@@ -1013,6 +1013,21 @@ def use(
             validator: The validator to use. Either the class or an instance.
             on: The part of the LLM request to validate. Defaults to "output".
         """
+        # check if args has any validators hiding in it
+        # throw error to user so they can update
+        if args:
+            for arg in args:
+                if (
+                    isinstance(arg, type)
+                    and issubclass(arg, Validator)
+                    or isinstance(arg, Validator)
+                ):
+                    raise ValueError(
+                        "Validator is an argument besides the first."
+                        "Please pass it as the first or use the 'use_many' method for"
+                        " multiple validators."
+                    )
+
         hydrated_validator = get_validator(validator, *args, **kwargs)
         self.__add_validator(hydrated_validator, on=on)
         self._save()
diff --git a/tests/integration_tests/test_validator_base.py b/tests/integration_tests/test_validator_base.py
index 5240e8a20..3a8f5bda5 100644
--- a/tests/integration_tests/test_validator_base.py
+++ b/tests/integration_tests/test_validator_base.py
@@ -37,6 +37,12 @@ def test_default_noop():
     assert not res.validation_passed
 
 
+def test_multiple_validators():
+    # throws value error for multiple validators
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        Guard().use(FailureValidator, FailureValidator)
+
+
 def test_filter():
     guard = Guard().use(FailureValidator, on_fail="filter")
     res = guard.parse("hi")