diff --git a/doc/pair_table.html b/doc/pair_table.html
index 21d9fc9d1f..1919b40002 100644
--- a/doc/pair_table.html
+++ b/doc/pair_table.html
@@ -119,8 +119,8 @@ to very steep parts of the potential.
 </UL>
 <HR>
 
-<P>The format of a tabulated file is as follows (without the
-parenthesized comments):
+<P>The format of a tabulated file is a series of one or more sections,
+defined as follows (without the parenthesized comments):
 </P>
 <PRE># Morse potential for Fe   (one or more comment or blank lines) 
 </PRE>
diff --git a/doc/pair_table.txt b/doc/pair_table.txt
index 4b83d2a8f5..8938de20b7 100644
--- a/doc/pair_table.txt
+++ b/doc/pair_table.txt
@@ -113,8 +113,8 @@ to very steep parts of the potential. :l,ule
 
 :line
 
-The format of a tabulated file is as follows (without the
-parenthesized comments):
+The format of a tabulated file is a series of one or more sections,
+defined as follows (without the parenthesized comments):
 
 # Morse potential for Fe   (one or more comment or blank lines) :pre