diff --git a/example.py b/example.py
index d2a23720..b3d3a323 100644
--- a/example.py
+++ b/example.py
@@ -41,9 +41,9 @@
 
 print(posthog.feature_enabled("beta-feature", "distinct_id"))
 
-# # Alias a previous distinct id with a new one
+# Add an alias_id to a distinct_id
 
-posthog.alias("distinct_id", "new_distinct_id")
+posthog.alias("distinct_id", "alias_id")
 
 posthog.capture("new_distinct_id", "event2", {"property1": "value", "property2": "value"})
 posthog.capture(
diff --git a/posthog/__init__.py b/posthog/__init__.py
index d7aaa984..574540fc 100644
--- a/posthog/__init__.py
+++ b/posthog/__init__.py
@@ -199,8 +199,8 @@ def group_identify(
 
 
 def alias(
-    previous_id,  # type: str,
-    distinct_id,  # type: str,
+    distinct_id,  # type: str
+    previous_id,  # type: str
     context=None,  # type: Optional[Dict]
     timestamp=None,  # type: Optional[datetime.datetime]
     uuid=None,  # type: Optional[str]
@@ -214,18 +214,25 @@ def alias(
     The same concept applies for when a user logs in.
 
     An `alias` call requires
-    - `previous distinct id` the unique ID of the user before
-    - `distinct id` the current unique id
+    - `distinct id` the current unique id of the user (normally the id in your database)
+    - `alias distinct id` the alias id you want to attach to the user, such as the anonymous session id or another ID like their email
+
 
     For example:
     ```python
-    posthog.alias('anonymous session id', 'distinct id')
+    posthog.alias('distinct id', 'anonymous session id')
+    ```
+
+    or
+
+    ```python
+    posthog.alias('distinct id', 'users-email@posthog.com')
     ```
     """
     _proxy(
         "alias",
-        previous_id=previous_id,
         distinct_id=distinct_id,
+        previous_id=previous_id,
         context=context,
         timestamp=timestamp,
         uuid=uuid,
diff --git a/posthog/client.py b/posthog/client.py
index 2b2e62e0..1308cf15 100644
--- a/posthog/client.py
+++ b/posthog/client.py
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ def group_identify(self, group_type=None, group_key=None, properties=None, conte
 
         return self._enqueue(msg)
 
-    def alias(self, previous_id=None, distinct_id=None, context=None, timestamp=None, uuid=None):
+    def alias(self, distinct_id=None, previous_id=None, context=None, timestamp=None, uuid=None):
         context = context or {}
 
         require("previous_id", previous_id, ID_TYPES)
@@ -249,13 +249,13 @@ def alias(self, previous_id=None, distinct_id=None, context=None, timestamp=None
 
         msg = {
             "properties": {
-                "distinct_id": previous_id,
-                "alias": distinct_id,
+                "distinct_id": distinct_id,
+                "alias": previous_id,
             },
             "timestamp": timestamp,
             "context": context,
             "event": "$create_alias",
-            "distinct_id": previous_id,
+            "distinct_id": distinct_id,
         }
 
         return self._enqueue(msg)
diff --git a/posthog/test/test_client.py b/posthog/test/test_client.py
index 5da7d95e..5b8de77c 100644
--- a/posthog/test/test_client.py
+++ b/posthog/test/test_client.py
@@ -447,3 +447,21 @@ def raise_effect():
         client.feature_flags = [{"key": "example", "is_simple_flag": False}]
 
         self.assertFalse(client.feature_enabled("example", "distinct_id"))
+
+    def test_alias_doesnt_regress_positional_args(self):
+        client = self.client
+        success, msg = client.alias("distinct_id", "alias_id")
+        client.flush()
+        self.assertTrue(success)
+        self.assertFalse(self.failed)
+        self.assertEqual(msg["properties"]["distinct_id"], "distinct_id")
+        self.assertEqual(msg["properties"]["alias"], "alias_id")
+
+    def test_alias_doesnt_regress_named_args(self):
+        client = self.client
+        success, msg = client.alias(distinct_id="distinct_id", previous_id="alias_id")
+        client.flush()
+        self.assertTrue(success)
+        self.assertFalse(self.failed)
+        self.assertEqual(msg["properties"]["distinct_id"], "distinct_id")
+        self.assertEqual(msg["properties"]["alias"], "alias_id")