diff --git a/Documentation/git-branch.txt b/Documentation/git-branch.txt
index 81bd0a7b77..d0b3358771 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-branch.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-branch.txt
@@ -267,8 +267,8 @@ start-point is either a local or remote-tracking branch.
 	Only list branches of the given object.
 
 --format <format>::
-	A string that interpolates `%(fieldname)` from the object
-	pointed at by a ref being shown.  The format is the same as
+	A string that interpolates `%(fieldname)` from a branch ref being shown
+	and the object it points at.  The format is the same as
 	that of linkgit:git-for-each-ref[1].
 
 Examples
diff --git a/Documentation/git-for-each-ref.txt b/Documentation/git-for-each-ref.txt
index cc42c12832..bb370c9c7b 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-for-each-ref.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-for-each-ref.txt
@@ -38,11 +38,12 @@ OPTIONS
 	key.
 
 <format>::
-	A string that interpolates `%(fieldname)` from the
-	object pointed at by a ref being shown.  If `fieldname`
+	A string that interpolates `%(fieldname)` from a ref being shown
+	and the object it points at.  If `fieldname`
 	is prefixed with an asterisk (`*`) and the ref points
-	at a tag object, the value for the field in the object
-	tag refers is used.  When unspecified, defaults to
+	at a tag object, use the value for the field in the object
+	which the tag object refers to (instead of the field in the tag object).
+	When unspecified, `<format>` defaults to
 	`%(objectname) SPC %(objecttype) TAB %(refname)`.
 	It also interpolates `%%` to `%`, and `%xx` where `xx`
 	are hex digits interpolates to character with hex code
diff --git a/Documentation/git-tag.txt b/Documentation/git-tag.txt
index d97aad3439..543fb425ee 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-tag.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-tag.txt
@@ -188,8 +188,8 @@ This option is only applicable when listing tags without annotation lines.
 	Defaults to HEAD.
 
 <format>::
-	A string that interpolates `%(fieldname)` from the object
-	pointed at by a ref being shown.  The format is the same as
+	A string that interpolates `%(fieldname)` from a tag ref being shown
+	and the object it points at.  The format is the same as
 	that of linkgit:git-for-each-ref[1].  When unspecified,
 	defaults to `%(refname:strip=2)`.