diff --git a/doc/src/atom_style.rst b/doc/src/atom_style.rst
index 60a85e0bcb..f11cdf54b9 100644
--- a/doc/src/atom_style.rst
+++ b/doc/src/atom_style.rst
@@ -283,21 +283,22 @@ Note that there may be additional arguments required along with the
 arguments are described on the :doc:`Howto body <Howto_body>` doc page.
 
 For the *dielectric* style, each particle can be either a physical
-particle (e.g. an ion), or an interface particle representing a boundary
-element between two regions of different dielectric constant. For
-interface particles, in addition to the properties associated with
-atom_style full, each particle also should be assigned a normal unit
-vector (defined by normx, normy, normz), an area (area/patch), the
+particle (e.g. an ion), or an interface particle representing a
+boundary element between two regions of different dielectric
+constant. For interface particles, in addition to the properties
+associated with atom_style full, each particle also should be assigned
+a unit dipole vector (mu) representing the direction of the induced
+dipole moment at each interface particle, an area (area/patch), the
 difference and mean of the dielectric constants of two sides of the
 interface along the direction of the normal vector (ed and em), the
-local dielectric constant at the boundary element (epsilon), and a mean
-local curvature (curv).  Physical particles must be assigned these
-values, as well, but only their local dielectric constants will be used;
-see documentation for associated :doc:`pair styles <pair_dielectric>`
-and :doc:`fixes <fix_polarize>`.  The distinction between the physical
-and interface particles is only meaningful when :doc:`fix polarize
-<fix_polarize>` commands are applied to the interface particles. This
-style is part of the DIELECTRIC package.
+local dielectric constant at the boundary element (epsilon), and a
+mean local curvature (curv).  Physical particles must be assigned
+these values, as well, but only their local dielectric constants will
+be used; see documentation for associated :doc:`pair styles
+<pair_dielectric>` and :doc:`fixes <fix_polarize>`.  The distinction
+between the physical and interface particles is only meaningful when
+:doc:`fix polarize <fix_polarize>` commands are applied to the
+interface particles. This style is part of the DIELECTRIC package.
 
 For the *dipole* style, a point dipole vector mu is defined for each
 point particle.  Note that if you wish the particles to be finite-size
diff --git a/doc/src/read_data.rst b/doc/src/read_data.rst
index 8dce9a5bcd..dd2f42e2a8 100644
--- a/doc/src/read_data.rst
+++ b/doc/src/read_data.rst
@@ -838,7 +838,7 @@ of analysis.
    * - charge
      - atom-ID atom-type q x y z
    * - dielectric
-     - atom-ID atom-type q x y z normx normy normz area ed em epsilon curvature
+     - atom-ID atom-type q x y z mux muy muz area ed em epsilon curvature
    * - dipole
      - atom-ID atom-type q x y z mux muy muz
    * - dpd
@@ -901,8 +901,6 @@ The per-atom values have these meanings and units, listed alphabetically:
 * mass = mass of particle (mass units)
 * molecule-ID = integer ID of molecule the atom belongs to
 * mux,muy,muz = components of dipole moment of atom (dipole units) (see general triclinic note below)
-* normx,normy,normz = components of dielectric dipole moment of atom (dipole
-  units) (see general triclinic note below)
 * q = charge on atom (charge units)
 * rho = density (need units) for SPH particles
 * sp = magnitude of magnetic spin of atom (Bohr magnetons)
@@ -928,17 +926,16 @@ zero.
 
    If the data file defines a general triclinic box, then the
    following per-atom values in the list above are per-atom vectors
-   which imply an orientation: (mux,muy,muz), (normx,normy,normz),
-   (spx,spy,spz).  This means they should be specified consistent with
-   the general triclinic box and its orientation relative to the
-   standard x,y,z coordinate axes.  For example a dipole moment vector
-   which will be in the +x direction once LAMMPS converts from a
-   general to restricted triclinic box, should be specified in the
-   data file in the direction of the **A** edge vector.  Likewise the
-   (x0,y0,z0) per-atom strain-free coordinates should be inside the
-   general triclinic simulation box as explained in the note above.
-   See the :doc:`Howto triclinic <Howto_triclinic>` doc page for more
-   details.
+   which imply an orientation: (mux,muy,muz) and (spx,spy,spz).  This
+   means they should be specified consistent with the general
+   triclinic box and its orientation relative to the standard x,y,z
+   coordinate axes.  For example a dipole moment vector which will be
+   in the +x direction once LAMMPS converts from a general to
+   restricted triclinic box, should be specified in the data file in
+   the direction of the **A** edge vector.  Likewise the (x0,y0,z0)
+   per-atom strain-free coordinates should be inside the general
+   triclinic simulation box as explained in the note above.  See the
+   :doc:`Howto triclinic <Howto_triclinic>` doc page for more details.
 
 The atom-ID is used to identify the atom throughout the simulation and
 in dump files.  Normally, it is a unique value from 1 to Natoms for