diff --git a/src/doc.c b/src/doc.c
index 63e0cbbb432..6be023bb934 100644
--- a/src/doc.c
+++ b/src/doc.c
@@ -720,18 +720,18 @@ syms_of_doc (void)
   DEFVAR_LISP ("text-quoting-style", Vtext_quoting_style,
                doc: /* Style to use for single quotes in help and messages.
 
-This works by substituting certain single quotes for grave accent and
-apostrophe.  This is done in help output (but not for display of Info
-manuals) and in functions like `message' and `format-message'.  It is
-not done in `format'.
+The value of this variable determines substitution of grave accents
+and apostrophes in help output (but not for display of Info
+manuals) and in functions like `message' and `format-message', but not
+in `format'.
 
-Its value should be one of these symbols:
+The value should be one of these symbols:
   `curve':    quote with curved single quotes ‘like this’.
   `straight': quote with straight apostrophes \\='like this\\='.
   `grave':    quote with grave accent and apostrophe \\=`like this\\=';
-	      i.e., do not alter quote marks.
+	      i.e., do not alter the original quote marks.
   nil:        like `curve' if curved single quotes are displayable,
-	      and like `grave' otherwise.  */);
+	      and like `grave' otherwise.  This is the default.  */);
   Vtext_quoting_style = Qnil;
 
   DEFVAR_BOOL ("internal--text-quoting-flag", text_quoting_flag,