diff --git a/doc/common.m4 b/doc/common.m4
index fca82c133..c588ada8b 100644
--- a/doc/common.m4
+++ b/doc/common.m4
@@ -208,15 +208,19 @@ _optionnotes_
 m4_dnl
 m4_dnl A standard description of hledger.
 m4_define({{_hledgerdescription_}}, {{
-hledger is a reliable, cross-platform set of programs for tracking money, time, or any other commodity,
+hledger is a robust, user-friendly, cross-platform set of programs
+for tracking money, time, or any other commodity,
 using double-entry accounting and a simple, editable file format.
-hledger is inspired by and largely compatible with ledger(1). }} )m4_dnl
+hledger is inspired by and largely compatible with ledger(1),
+and largely interconvertible with beancount(1). }} )m4_dnl
 m4_dnl
 m4_dnl A standard description of where hledger reads data from.
-m4_define({{_files_}},
-{{data from one or more files in hledger journal, timeclock, timedot, or CSV format
-specified with `-f`, or `$LEDGER_FILE`,
-or `$HOME/.hledger.journal` (on windows, perhaps `C:/Users/USER/.hledger.journal`).}})m4_dnl
+m4_define({{_inputfiles_}},
+{{data from one or more files in journal, timeclock, timedot, or CSV format.
+The default file is `.hledger.journal` in your home directory;
+this can be overridden with one or more `-f FILE` options,
+or the `LEDGER_FILE` environment variable.}})m4_dnl
+
 m4_dnl
 m4_dnl A standard description of the LEDGER_FILE environment variable.
 m4_define({{_LEDGER_FILE_}}, {{
diff --git a/hledger-ui/hledger-ui.m4.md b/hledger-ui/hledger-ui.m4.md
index dca547fd2..9f1d1dcce 100644
--- a/hledger-ui/hledger-ui.m4.md
+++ b/hledger-ui/hledger-ui.m4.md
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ for viewing accounts and transactions, and some limited data entry capability.
 It is easier than hledger's command-line interface, and
 sometimes quicker and more convenient than the web interface.
 
-Like hledger, it reads _files_
+Like hledger, it reads _inputfiles_
 For more about this see hledger(1), hledger_journal(5) etc.
 
 Unlike hledger, hledger-ui hides all future-dated transactions by default.
@@ -397,7 +397,7 @@ _LEDGER_FILE_
 
 # FILES
 
-Reads _files_
+Reads _inputfiles_
 
 # BUGS
 
diff --git a/hledger-web/hledger-web.m4.md b/hledger-web/hledger-web.m4.md
index e9c6b4723..bc574f454 100644
--- a/hledger-web/hledger-web.m4.md
+++ b/hledger-web/hledger-web.m4.md
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ behind a suitable web proxy.  As a small protection against data loss
 when running an unprotected instance, it writes a numbered backup of
 the main journal file (only) on every edit.
 
-Like hledger, it reads _files_
+Like hledger, it reads _inputfiles_
 For more about this see hledger(1).
 
 hledger-web can be run in three modes:
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ _LEDGER_FILE_
 
 # FILES
 
-Reads _files_
+Reads _inpufiles_
 
 # BUGS
 
diff --git a/hledger/hledger.m4.md b/hledger/hledger.m4.md
index 18c198fbf..155b677ac 100644
--- a/hledger/hledger.m4.md
+++ b/hledger/hledger.m4.md
@@ -54,10 +54,8 @@ can also read some other file formats such as CSV files, translating
 them to journal format. Additionally, hledger lists other hledger-\*
 executables found in the user’s \$PATH and can invoke them as subcommands.
 
-hledger reads _files_
-If using `$LEDGER_FILE`, note this must be a real environment variable,
-not a shell variable.
-You can specify standard input with `-f-`.
+hledger reads _inputfiles_
+hledger CLI can also read from stdin with `-f-`; more on that below.
 
 Transactions are dated movements of money between two (or more) named
 accounts, and are recorded with journal entries like this: