diff --git a/doc/nano.1 b/doc/nano.1
index 7614a760..68fbedb4 100644
--- a/doc/nano.1
+++ b/doc/nano.1
@@ -199,8 +199,8 @@ characters as part of a word.
 .TP
 .BR "\-X ""\fIcharacters\fB""" ", " "\-\-wordchars=""" \fIcharacters """
 Specify which other characters (besides the normal alphanumeric ones)
-should be considered as part of a word.  This overrides option
-\fB\-W\fR (\fB\-\-wordbounds\fR).
+should be considered as part of a word.  When using this option, you
+probably want to omit \fB\-W\fR (\fB\-\-wordbounds\fR).
 .TP
 .BR \-Y\ \fIname ", " \-\-syntax= \fIname
 Specify the name of the syntax highlighting to use from among the ones
diff --git a/doc/nano.texi b/doc/nano.texi
index 88ddf68d..da5ea737 100644
--- a/doc/nano.texi
+++ b/doc/nano.texi
@@ -292,8 +292,8 @@ characters as parts of words.
 @item -X "@var{characters}"
 @itemx --wordchars="@var{characters}"
 Specify which other characters (besides the normal alphanumeric ones)
-should be considered as parts of words.  This overrides option
-@option{-W} (@option{--wordbounds}).
+should be considered as parts of words.  When using this option, you
+probably want to omit @option{-W} (@option{--wordbounds}).
 
 @item -Y @var{name}
 @itemx --syntax=@var{name}
@@ -979,8 +979,8 @@ characters as part of a word.
 
 @item set wordchars "@var{characters}"
 Specify which other characters (besides the normal alphanumeric ones)
-should be considered as parts of words.  This overrides the option
-@code{wordbounds}.
+should be considered as parts of words.  When using this option, you
+probably want to unset @code{wordbounds}.
 
 @item set zap
 Let an unmodified @key{Backspace} or @key{Delete} erase the marked region
diff --git a/doc/nanorc.5 b/doc/nanorc.5
index ad2604b9..3e0fc380 100644
--- a/doc/nanorc.5
+++ b/doc/nanorc.5
@@ -330,8 +330,8 @@ characters as parts of words.
 .TP
 .BI "set wordchars """ characters """
 Specify which other characters (besides the normal alphanumeric ones)
-should be considered as parts of words.  This overrides the option
-\fBwordbounds\fR.
+should be considered as parts of words.  When using this option, you
+probably want to unset \fBwordbounds\fR.
 .TP
 .B set zap
 Let an unmodified Backspace or Delete erase the marked region