diff --git a/pygmt/clib/session.py b/pygmt/clib/session.py
index 7a8981fc920..2af356f2e7b 100644
--- a/pygmt/clib/session.py
+++ b/pygmt/clib/session.py
@@ -1592,9 +1592,7 @@ def virtualfile_in(  # noqa: PLR0912
         ...             print(fout.read().strip())
         <vector memory>: N = 3 <7/9> <4/6> <1/3>
         """
-        kind = data_kind(
-            data, x, y, z, required_z=required_z, required_data=required_data
-        )
+        kind = data_kind(data, required_data=required_data)
         validate_data_input(
             data=data,
             x=x,
diff --git a/pygmt/helpers/utils.py b/pygmt/helpers/utils.py
index 3648d56857c..99cbfab1731 100644
--- a/pygmt/helpers/utils.py
+++ b/pygmt/helpers/utils.py
@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ def validate_data_input(
                 raise GMTInvalidInput("data must provide x, y, and z columns.")
 
 
-def data_kind(data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, required_z=False, required_data=True):
+def data_kind(data=None, required_data=True):
     """
     Check what kind of data is provided to a module.
 
@@ -137,12 +137,6 @@ def data_kind(data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, required_z=False, required_data
         Pass in either a file name or :class:`pathlib.Path` to an ASCII data
         table, an :class:`xarray.DataArray`, a 1-D/2-D
         {table-classes} or an option argument.
-    x/y : 1-D arrays or None
-        x and y columns as numpy arrays.
-    z : 1-D array or None
-        z column as numpy array. To be used optionally when x and y are given.
-    required_z : bool
-        State whether the 'z' column is required.
     required_data : bool
         Set to True when 'data' is required, or False when dealing with
         optional virtual files. [Default is True].
@@ -159,19 +153,19 @@ def data_kind(data=None, x=None, y=None, z=None, required_z=False, required_data
     >>> import numpy as np
     >>> import xarray as xr
     >>> import pathlib
-    >>> data_kind(data=None, x=np.array([1, 2, 3]), y=np.array([4, 5, 6]))
+    >>> data_kind(data=None)
     'vectors'
-    >>> data_kind(data=np.arange(10).reshape((5, 2)), x=None, y=None)
+    >>> data_kind(data=np.arange(10).reshape((5, 2)))
     'matrix'
-    >>> data_kind(data="my-data-file.txt", x=None, y=None)
+    >>> data_kind(data="my-data-file.txt")
     'file'
-    >>> data_kind(data=pathlib.Path("my-data-file.txt"), x=None, y=None)
+    >>> data_kind(data=pathlib.Path("my-data-file.txt"))
     'file'
-    >>> data_kind(data=None, x=None, y=None, required_data=False)
+    >>> data_kind(data=None, required_data=False)
     'arg'
-    >>> data_kind(data=2.0, x=None, y=None, required_data=False)
+    >>> data_kind(data=2.0, required_data=False)
     'arg'
-    >>> data_kind(data=True, x=None, y=None, required_data=False)
+    >>> data_kind(data=True, required_data=False)
     'arg'
     >>> data_kind(data=xr.DataArray(np.random.rand(4, 3)))
     'grid'
diff --git a/pygmt/src/plot.py b/pygmt/src/plot.py
index 43b26232871..e66f08438e5 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/plot.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/plot.py
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ def plot(  # noqa: PLR0912
     """
     kwargs = self._preprocess(**kwargs)
 
-    kind = data_kind(data, x, y)
+    kind = data_kind(data)
     extra_arrays = []
     if kind == "vectors":  # Add more columns for vectors input
         # Parameters for vector styles
diff --git a/pygmt/src/plot3d.py b/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
index 65d87761d5c..c86e5e259f1 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/plot3d.py
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ def plot3d(  # noqa: PLR0912
     """
     kwargs = self._preprocess(**kwargs)
 
-    kind = data_kind(data, x, y, z)
+    kind = data_kind(data)
     extra_arrays = []
 
     if kind == "vectors":  # Add more columns for vectors input
diff --git a/pygmt/src/text.py b/pygmt/src/text.py
index 04abf12ea3b..ff256578ad3 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/text.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/text.py
@@ -180,11 +180,13 @@ def text_(  # noqa: PLR0912
 
     # Ensure inputs are either textfiles, x/y/text, or position/text
     if position is None:
-        if (x is not None or y is not None) and textfiles is not None:
+        if any(v is not None for v in (x, y, text)) and textfiles is not None:
             raise GMTInvalidInput(
                 "Provide either position only, or x/y pairs, or textfiles."
             )
-        kind = data_kind(textfiles, x, y, text)
+        kind = data_kind(textfiles)
+        if kind == "textfiles" and text is not None:
+            raise GMTInvalidInput("Must prodi")
         if kind == "vectors" and text is None:
             raise GMTInvalidInput("Must provide text with x/y pairs")
     else: