diff --git a/openmc/lattice.py b/openmc/lattice.py
index 663d051e3c..4776222da2 100644
--- a/openmc/lattice.py
+++ b/openmc/lattice.py
@@ -1085,7 +1085,7 @@ class HexLattice(Lattice):
                 # Check the center ring.
                 if len(axial_slice[-1]) != 1:
                     msg = 'HexLattice ID={0:d} has the wrong number of ' \
-                          'elements in the innermost ring.Only 1 element is ' \
+                          'elements in the innermost ring. Only 1 element is ' \
                           'allowed in the innermost ring.'.format(self._id)
                     raise ValueError(msg)
 
@@ -1093,7 +1093,7 @@ class HexLattice(Lattice):
                 for r in range(self._num_rings-1):
                     if len(axial_slice[r]) != 6*(self._num_rings - 1 - r):
                         msg = 'HexLattice ID={0:d} has the wrong number of ' \
-                              'elements in ring number{1:d}(counting from the '\
+                              'elements in ring number {1:d} (counting from the '\
                               'outermost ring). This ring should have {2:d} ' \
                               'elements.'.format(self._id, r,
                                                  6*(self._num_rings - 1 - r))
@@ -1788,15 +1788,15 @@ class HexLattice(Lattice):
         setting the :attr:`HexLattice.universes` property. For example,running
         this method with num_rings=3 will return the similar diagram::
 
-                      (0, 4)      (0, 3)      (0, 2)
-
-                (0, 5)      (1, 2)      (1, 1)      (0, 1)
-
-          (0, 6)      (1, 3)      (2, 0)      (1, 0)      (0, 0)
+                      (0, 8)      (0, 9)      (0,10)
 
                 (0, 7)      (1, 4)      (1, 5)      (0,11)
 
-                      (0, 8)      (0, 9)      (0,10)
+          (0, 6)      (1, 3)      (2, 0)      (1, 0)      (0, 0)
+
+                (0, 5)      (1, 2)      (1, 1)      (0, 1)
+
+                      (0, 4)      (0, 3)      (0, 2)
 
         Parameters
         ----------
diff --git a/src/relaxng/geometry.rnc b/src/relaxng/geometry.rnc
index c349340717..e3c88c445c 100644
--- a/src/relaxng/geometry.rnc
+++ b/src/relaxng/geometry.rnc
@@ -36,7 +36,6 @@ element geometry {
       attribute dimension { list { xsd:positiveInteger+ } }) &
     (element lower_left { list { xsd:double+ } } | attribute lower_left { list { xsd:double+ } }) &
     (element pitch { list { xsd:double+ } } | attribute pitch { list { xsd:double+ } }) &
-    (element orientation { ( "x" | "y" ) } | attribute orientation { ( "x" | "y" ) })? &
     (element universes { list { xsd:int+ } } | attribute universes { list { xsd:int+ } }) &
     (element outer { xsd:int } | attribute outer { xsd:int })?
   }*
@@ -49,6 +48,7 @@ element geometry {
     (element n_axial { xsd:int } | attribute n_axial { xsd:int })? &
     (element center { list { xsd:double+ } } | attribute center { list { xsd:double+ } }) &
     (element pitch { list { xsd:double+ } } | attribute pitch { list { xsd:double+ } }) &
+    (element orientation { ( "x" | "y" ) } | attribute orientation { ( "x" | "y" ) })? &
     (element universes { list { xsd:int+ } } | attribute universes { list { xsd:int+ } }) &
     (element outer { xsd:int } | attribute outer { xsd:int })?
   }*
diff --git a/src/relaxng/geometry.rng b/src/relaxng/geometry.rng
index 52b9825be8..56bf385807 100644
--- a/src/relaxng/geometry.rng
+++ b/src/relaxng/geometry.rng
@@ -294,22 +294,6 @@
               </list>
             </attribute>
           </choice>
-          <optional>
-            <choice>
-              <element name="orientation">
-                <choice>
-                  <value>x</value>
-                  <value>y</value>
-                </choice>
-              </element>
-              <attribute name="orientation">
-                <choice>
-                  <value>x</value>
-                  <value>y</value>
-                </choice>
-              </attribute>
-            </choice>
-          </optional>
           <choice>
             <element name="universes">
               <list>
@@ -414,6 +398,22 @@
               </list>
             </attribute>
           </choice>
+          <optional>
+            <choice>
+              <element name="orientation">
+                <choice>
+                  <value>x</value>
+                  <value>y</value>
+                </choice>
+              </element>
+              <attribute name="orientation">
+                <choice>
+                  <value>x</value>
+                  <value>y</value>
+                </choice>
+              </attribute>
+            </choice>
+          </optional>
           <choice>
             <element name="universes">
               <list>