diff --git a/doc/common.m4 b/doc/common.m4
index 01cb2e920..830d62c5f 100644
--- a/doc/common.m4
+++ b/doc/common.m4
@@ -230,11 +230,16 @@ and largely interconvertible with beancount(1). }} )m4_dnl
 m4_dnl
 m4_dnl A standard description of where hledger reads data from.
 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
+{{reads from (and appends to) a journal file specified by the `LEDGER_FILE` environment variable
+(defaulting to `$HOME/.hledger.journal`); or you can specify files with `-f` options.
+It can also read timeclock files, timedot files, or any CSV/SSV/TSV file with a date field.}} )m4_dnl
 m4_dnl
+m4_dnl Like the above, with an added pointer to the hledger manual.
+m4_define({{_inputfileswithptr_}},
+{{_inputfiles_
+(See hledger(1) -> Input for details.)}} )m4_dnl
+m4_dnl
+
 m4_dnl A standard description of the LEDGER_FILE environment variable.
 m4_define({{_LEDGER_FILE_}}, {{
 **LEDGER_FILE**
diff --git a/hledger-ui/hledger-ui.m4.md b/hledger-ui/hledger-ui.m4.md
index cf5c65675..78b808c64 100644
--- a/hledger-ui/hledger-ui.m4.md
+++ b/hledger-ui/hledger-ui.m4.md
@@ -42,8 +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 _inputfiles_
-For more about this see hledger(1), hledger_journal(5) etc.
+Like hledger, it _inputfileswithptr_
 
 Unlike hledger, hledger-ui hides all future-dated transactions by default.
 They can be revealed, along with any rule-generated periodic transactions,
@@ -376,7 +375,7 @@ _LEDGER_FILE_
 
 # FILES
 
-Reads _inputfiles_
+It _inputfileswithptr_
 
 # BUGS
 
diff --git a/hledger-web/hledger-web.m4.md b/hledger-web/hledger-web.m4.md
index 5eed2114d..58c639115 100644
--- a/hledger-web/hledger-web.m4.md
+++ b/hledger-web/hledger-web.m4.md
@@ -47,8 +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 _inputfiles_
-For more about this see hledger(1).
+Like hledger, it _inputfileswithptr_
 
 hledger-web can be run in three modes:
 
@@ -422,7 +421,7 @@ _LEDGER_FILE_
 
 # FILES
 
-Reads _inputfiles_
+It _inputfileswithptr_
 
 # BUGS
 
diff --git a/hledger/hledger.m4.md b/hledger/hledger.m4.md
index 8be33d87b..bfb04d152 100644
--- a/hledger/hledger.m4.md
+++ b/hledger/hledger.m4.md
@@ -56,10 +56,9 @@ and print a useful report on the terminal (or save it as HTML, CSV, JSON or SQL)
 Many reports are available, as subcommands.
 hledger will also detect other `hledger-*` executables as extra subcommands.
 
-hledger reads _inputfiles_
-hledger CLI can also read from stdin with `-f-`; more on that below.
+hledger usually _inputfiles_
 
-Here is a small but valid hledger journal file describing one transaction:
+Here is a small journal file describing one transaction:
 
 _journal_({{
 2015-10-16 bought food