diff --git a/doc/delete_atoms.html b/doc/delete_atoms.html
index 018459f08f..c0dc0590d8 100644
--- a/doc/delete_atoms.html
+++ b/doc/delete_atoms.html
@@ -129,9 +129,9 @@ ghost atoms and build a neighbor list.  This means that your system
 must be ready to perform a simulation before using this command (force
 fields setup, atom masses set, etc).  Since a neighbor list is used to
 find overlapping atom pairs, it also means that you must define a
-<A HREF = "pair_style.html">pair style</A> with force cutoffs greater than or equal
-to the desired overlap cutoff between pairs of relevant atom types,
-even though the pair potential will not be evaluated.
+<A HREF = "pair_style.html">pair style</A> with the minimum force cutoff distance
+between any pair of atoms types (plus the <A HREF = "neighbor.html">neighbor</A>
+skin) >= the specified overlap cutoff.
 </P>
 <P>If the <A HREF = "special_bonds.html">special_bonds</A> command is used with a
 setting of 0, then a pair of bonded atoms (1-2, 1-3, or 1-4) will not
diff --git a/doc/delete_atoms.txt b/doc/delete_atoms.txt
index 93ef0a25dc..bf6d1ad2a7 100644
--- a/doc/delete_atoms.txt
+++ b/doc/delete_atoms.txt
@@ -121,9 +121,9 @@ ghost atoms and build a neighbor list.  This means that your system
 must be ready to perform a simulation before using this command (force
 fields setup, atom masses set, etc).  Since a neighbor list is used to
 find overlapping atom pairs, it also means that you must define a
-"pair style"_pair_style.html with force cutoffs greater than or equal
-to the desired overlap cutoff between pairs of relevant atom types,
-even though the pair potential will not be evaluated.
+"pair style"_pair_style.html with the minimum force cutoff distance
+between any pair of atoms types (plus the "neighbor"_neighbor.html
+skin) >= the specified overlap cutoff.
 
 If the "special_bonds"_special_bonds.html command is used with a
 setting of 0, then a pair of bonded atoms (1-2, 1-3, or 1-4) will not