diff --git a/pandas/core/frame.py b/pandas/core/frame.py
index 3b0cc5619a1cd..3d3d56c1e0331 100644
--- a/pandas/core/frame.py
+++ b/pandas/core/frame.py
@@ -2559,15 +2559,17 @@ def insert(self, loc, column, value, allow_duplicates=False):
         """
         Insert column into DataFrame at specified location.
 
-        If `allow_duplicates` is False, raises Exception if column
-        is already contained in the DataFrame.
+        Raises a ValueError if `column` is already contained in the DataFrame,
+        unless `allow_duplicates` is set to True.
 
         Parameters
         ----------
         loc : int
-            Must have 0 <= loc <= len(columns)
-        column : object
-        value : scalar, Series, or array-like
+            Insertion index. Must verify 0 <= loc <= len(columns)
+        column : string, number, or hashable object
+            label of the inserted column
+        value : int, Series, or array-like
+        allow_duplicates : bool, optional
         """
         self._ensure_valid_index(value)
         value = self._sanitize_column(column, value, broadcast=False)