diff --git a/doc/src/bond_special.rst b/doc/src/bond_special.rst
index 1b9409be3d..5c560d7986 100644
--- a/doc/src/bond_special.rst
+++ b/doc/src/bond_special.rst
@@ -26,22 +26,36 @@ Description
 The *special* bond style can be used to impose weighted Lennard Jones and/or
 Coloumbic interactions on any two particles in the system. It can be used for
 cases that cannot be handled in :doc:`special_bonds <special_bonds>`, such as
-1-5 interactions or hyrbrid simulations that require the use of different
-weighting factors for different molecules.
+1-5 interactions or complex systems that require the use of different
+weighting factors for different molecules. It is a potential of the form:
+
+.. math::
+
+   E =  w_{LJ} E_{LJ} + w_{Coul}E_{Coul}
 
 The following coefficients must be defined for each bond type via the
 :doc:`bond_coeff <bond_coeff>` command as in the example above, or in
 the data file or restart files read by the :doc:`read_data <read_data>`
 or :doc:`read_restart <read_restart>` commands:
 
-* `w_lj` weight (0.0 to 1.0) on pairwise Lennard-Jones interactions
+* :math:`w_{LJ}` weight (0.0 to 1.0) on pairwise Lennard-Jones interactions
 
-* `w_coul` weight (0.0 to 1.0) on pairwise Coulombic interactions
-
-This command will typically be used in conjunction with 
+* :math:`w_{Coul}` weight (0.0 to 1.0) on pairwise Coulombic interactions
 
 ----------
 
+This style has strict requirements on the :doc:`special_bonds <special_bonds>`
+setting. 1-2 interactions must have weights of zero. 1-3 interactions must
+either have weights of zero or the *angle* setting must be turned on. 1-4
+interactions must have weights of zero or the *dihedral* setting must be turned
+on. These requirements ensure that the new bonds created by this style do not
+create spurious 1-2, 1-3 or 1-4 interactions.
+
+This style should be used in conjunction with a regular bond style via
+:doc:`bond_style hybrid <bond_hybrid>`. Since it can be used to create
+bonded interactions between particles that are further away than usual
+(e.g. 1-5 or 1-6 interactions), this style may require an increase in the
+communication cutoff via the :doc:`neigh_modify <neigh_modify>` command.
 
 
 Restrictions
@@ -54,6 +68,6 @@ page for more info.
 Related commands
 """"""""""""""""
 
-:doc:`bond_coeff <bond_coeff>`, :doc:`special_bonds <special_bonds>`,
+:doc:`bond_coeff <bond_coeff>`, :doc:`special_bonds <special_bonds>`
 
 **Default:** none