diff --git a/doc/nano.1 b/doc/nano.1
index b52e0f2f..37f3cf81 100644
--- a/doc/nano.1
+++ b/doc/nano.1
@@ -118,7 +118,8 @@ by setting the options \fBtitlecolor\fP, \fBstatuscolor\fP, \fBkeycolor\fP,
 nanorc file.  See \fBnanorc\fR(5).
 .TP
 .BR \-E ", " \-\-tabstospaces
-Convert typed tabs to spaces.
+Convert each typed tab to spaces -- to the number of spaces
+that a tab at that position would take up.
 .TP
 .BR \-F ", " \-\-multibuffer
 Read a file into a new buffer by default.
diff --git a/doc/nano.texi b/doc/nano.texi
index 2d628e3e..2f8bf62c 100644
--- a/doc/nano.texi
+++ b/doc/nano.texi
@@ -195,7 +195,8 @@ nanorc file.  @xref{@code{set functioncolor}} for details.
 
 @item -E
 @itemx --tabstospaces
-Convert typed tabs to spaces.
+Convert each typed tab to spaces --- to the number of spaces
+that a tab at that position would take up.
 
 @item -F
 @itemx --multibuffer
@@ -1095,7 +1096,8 @@ Use a tab size of @var{number} columns.  The value of @var{number} must be
 greater than 0.  The default value is @t{8}.
 
 @item set tabstospaces
-Convert typed tabs to spaces.
+Convert each typed tab to spaces --- to the number of spaces
+that a tab at that position would take up.
 
 @item set titlecolor [bold,][italic,]@var{fgcolor},@var{bgcolor}
 Use this color combination for the title bar.
diff --git a/doc/nanorc.5 b/doc/nanorc.5
index 88e4e611..f802939c 100644
--- a/doc/nanorc.5
+++ b/doc/nanorc.5
@@ -345,7 +345,8 @@ Use a tab size of \fInumber\fR columns.  The value of \fInumber\fP must be
 greater than 0.  The default value is \fB8\fR.
 .TP
 .B set tabstospaces
-Convert typed tabs to spaces.
+Convert each typed tab to spaces -- to the number of spaces
+that a tab at that position would take up.
 .TP
 .B set titlecolor \fR[\fBbold,\fR][\fBitalic,\fR]\fIfgcolor\fB,\fIbgcolor\fR
 Use this color combination for the title bar.
diff --git a/doc/sample.nanorc.in b/doc/sample.nanorc.in
index 9e573dc7..c55e4468 100644
--- a/doc/sample.nanorc.in
+++ b/doc/sample.nanorc.in
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@
 ## Use this tab size instead of the default; it must be greater than 0.
 # set tabsize 8
 
-## Convert typed tabs to spaces.
+## Convert each typed tab to the fitting number of spaces.
 # set tabstospaces
 
 ## Snip whitespace at the end of lines when justifying or hard-wrapping.