diff --git a/activerecord/lib/active_record/relation/query_methods.rb b/activerecord/lib/active_record/relation/query_methods.rb
index b5f202ef6addd..a8ae7208fc9f6 100644
--- a/activerecord/lib/active_record/relation/query_methods.rb
+++ b/activerecord/lib/active_record/relation/query_methods.rb
@@ -75,16 +75,16 @@ def references(*args)
     # array, it actually returns a relation object and can have other query
     # methods appended to it, such as the other methods in ActiveRecord::QueryMethods.
     #
-    # This method will also take multiple parameters:
+    # The argument to the method can also be an array of fields.
     #
-    #   >> Model.select(:field, :other_field, :and_one_more)
+    #   >> Model.select([:field, :other_field, :and_one_more])
     #   => [#<Model field: "value", other_field: "value", and_one_more: "value">]
     #
-    # Any attributes that do not have fields retrieved by a select
-    # will return `nil` when the getter method for that attribute is used:
+    # Accessing attributes of an object that do not have fields retrieved by a select
+    # will throw <tt>ActiveModel::MissingAttributeError</tt>:
     #
     #   >> Model.select(:field).first.other_field
-    #   => nil
+    #   => ActiveModel::MissingAttributeError: missing attribute: other_field
     def select(value = Proc.new)
       if block_given?
         to_a.select {|*block_args| value.call(*block_args) }