diff --git a/doc/nano.texi b/doc/nano.texi
index 88e5e086..d367bc49 100644
--- a/doc/nano.texi
+++ b/doc/nano.texi
@@ -1184,13 +1184,13 @@ Throws away the current line (or the marked region).
 (This function is bound by default to <Meta+Delete>.)
 
 @item cutwordleft
-Cuts from the cursor position to the beginning of the preceding word.
+Deletes from the cursor position to the beginning of the preceding word.
 (This function is not bound by default.  If your terminal produces
 @code{^H} for <Ctrl+Backspace>, you can make <Ctrl+Backspace> delete
 the word to the left of the cursor by rebinding ^H to this function.)
 
 @item cutwordright
-Cuts from the cursor position to the beginning of the next word.
+Deletes from the cursor position to the beginning of the next word.
 (This function is bound by default to <Ctrl+Delete>.)
 
 @item cutrestoffile
diff --git a/doc/nanorc.5 b/doc/nanorc.5
index 2abee644..809b8b66 100644
--- a/doc/nanorc.5
+++ b/doc/nanorc.5
@@ -525,13 +525,13 @@ Throws away the current line (or the marked region).
 (This function is bound by default to <Meta+Delete>.)
 .TP
 .B cutwordleft
-Cuts from the cursor position to the beginning of the preceding word.
+Deletes from the cursor position to the beginning of the preceding word.
 (This function is not bound by default.  If your terminal produces
 \fB^H\fR for <Ctrl+Backspace>, you can make <Ctrl+Backspace> delete
 the word to the left of the cursor by rebinding ^H to this function.)
 .TP
 .B cutwordright
-Cuts from the cursor position to the beginning of the next word.
+Deletes from the cursor position to the beginning of the next word.
 (This function is bound by default to <Ctrl+Delete>.)
 .TP
 .B cutrestoffile
diff --git a/src/global.c b/src/global.c
index 8f99d9f6..164d9f24 100644
--- a/src/global.c
+++ b/src/global.c
@@ -612,9 +612,9 @@ void shortcut_init(void)
 		N_("Delete the character to the left of the cursor");
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
 	const char *cutwordleft_gist =
-		N_("Cut backward from cursor to word start");
+		N_("Delete backward from cursor to word start");
 	const char *cutwordright_gist =
-		N_("Cut forward from cursor to next word start");
+		N_("Delete forward from cursor to next word start");
 	const char *cuttilleof_gist =
 		N_("Cut from the cursor position to the end of the file");
 #endif