diff --git a/doc/manual.adoc b/doc/manual.adoc
index 96714e2..fc4cec4 100644
--- a/doc/manual.adoc
+++ b/doc/manual.adoc
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ Column directives indicate how many columns to use to display fields.  A column
 directive consists of a record with the values `col` and an integer number of
 columns.
 
-==== Hook Directives (`txn`)
+==== Hook Directives (`txn` and `hook`)
 
 Hook directives indicate a series of hooks to be run on each load or save
 operation.  Several different hooks are available.  The default set of hooks is
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ allows a user to keep a history of the data and to easily back it up to another
 location.
 
 A hook directive consists of a record starting with the value `txn`, and
-followed by a list of hook names.
+followed by a list of hook names.  `hook` may be used as a synonym for `txn`.
 
 === Configuration File
 
diff --git a/lib/newfol/database.py b/lib/newfol/database.py
index c14d1e8..85d6c1a 100644
--- a/lib/newfol/database.py
+++ b/lib/newfol/database.py
@@ -376,7 +376,7 @@ class Schema:
                 except ValueError:
                     raise newfol.exception.SchemaError("has invalid " +
                                                        "number of columns")
-            elif rectype in ['txn', 'transaction']:
+            elif rectype in ['txn', 'transaction', 'hook']:
                 self._txntype = i.fields[1:]
             elif rectype in ['dpy', 'display']:
                 self._layout = list(map(fix_up_layout, i.fields[1:]))