diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.hs
index e5223b37b..b41b53ea7 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.hs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {-|
 
-The @descriptions@ command lists allpayees seen in transactions.
+The @descriptions@ command lists all unique descriptions seen in transactions, sorted alphabetically.
 
 -}
 
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.md b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.md
index 93a3aa7e8..885b1b11c 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.md
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.md
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
-descriptions
-Show descriptions.
+descriptions\
+List the unique descriptions that appear in transactions.
 
 _FLAGS
 
-This command lists all descriptions that appear in transactions.
-
-Examples:
+This command lists the unique descriptions that appear in transactions,
+in alphabetic order.
+You can add a query to select a subset of transactions.
 
+Example:
 ```shell
 $ hledger descriptions
 Store Name
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.txt b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.txt
index 3f379372f..7b3e7cde0 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.txt
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Descriptions.txt
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
-descriptions Show descriptions.
+descriptions
+List the unique descriptions that appear in transactions.
 
 _FLAGS
 
-This command lists all descriptions that appear in transactions.
+This command lists the unique descriptions that appear in transactions,
+in alphabetic order. You can add a query to select a subset of
+transactions.
 
-Examples:
+Example:
 
 $ hledger descriptions
 Store Name
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.hs
index dffb7f4fa..eaba24c5b 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.hs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {-|
 
-The @notes@ command lists allpayees seen in transactions.
+The @notes@ command lists all unique notes (description part after a |) seen in transactions, sorted alphabetically.
 
 -}
 
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.md b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.md
index 11155c0a4..c79c3273b 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.md
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.md
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
-notes
-Show notes.
+notes\
+List the unique notes that appear in transactions.
 
 _FLAGS
 
-This command lists all notes that appear in transactions.
-
-Examples:
+This command lists the unique notes that appear in transactions,
+in alphabetic order.
+You can add a query to select a subset of transactions.
+The note is the part of the transaction description after a | character
+(or if there is no |, the whole description).
 
+Example:
 ```shell
 $ hledger notes
 Petrol
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.txt b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.txt
index b34c52303..483c6acad 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.txt
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Notes.txt
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
-notes Show notes.
+notes
+List the unique notes that appear in transactions.
 
 _FLAGS
 
-This command lists all notes that appear in transactions.
+This command lists the unique notes that appear in transactions, in
+alphabetic order. You can add a query to select a subset of
+transactions. The note is the part of the transaction description after
+a | character (or if there is no |, the whole description).
 
-Examples:
+Example:
 
 $ hledger notes
 Petrol
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.hs b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.hs
index 3e9ec650a..ca6a080f6 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.hs
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.hs
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {-|
 
-The @payees@ command lists allpayees seen in transactions.
+The @payees@ command lists all unique payees (description part before a |) seen in transactions, sorted alphabetically.
 
 -}
 
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.md b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.md
index db88557c8..a6031658f 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.md
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.md
@@ -1,12 +1,15 @@
-payees
-Show payee names.
+payees\
+List the unique payee/payer names that appear in transactions.
 
 _FLAGS
 
-This command lists all payee names that appear in transactions.
-
-Examples:
+This command lists the unique payee/payer names that appear in transactions,
+in alphabetic order. 
+You can add a query to select a subset of transactions.
+The payee/payer is the part of the transaction description before a | character
+(or if there is no |, the whole description).
 
+Example:
 ```shell
 $ hledger payees
 Store Name
diff --git a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.txt b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.txt
index 7fea382d2..e0a2f2df9 100644
--- a/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.txt
+++ b/hledger/Hledger/Cli/Commands/Payees.txt
@@ -1,10 +1,15 @@
-payees Show payee names.
+payees
+List the unique payee/payer names that appear in transactions.
 
 _FLAGS
 
-This command lists all payee names that appear in transactions.
+This command lists the unique payee/payer names that appear in
+transactions, in alphabetic order. You can add a query to select a
+subset of transactions. The payee/payer is the part of the transaction
+description before a | character (or if there is no |, the whole
+description).
 
-Examples:
+Example:
 
 $ hledger payees
 Store Name