diff --git a/doc/src/pair_style.rst b/doc/src/pair_style.rst
index 938c7266f4..f90a718d95 100644
--- a/doc/src/pair_style.rst
+++ b/doc/src/pair_style.rst
@@ -79,13 +79,16 @@ re-specified if necessary.
 If a new pair_style command is specified with the same style, then
 only the global settings in that command are reset.  Any previous
 doc:`pair_coeff <pair_coeff>` and :doc:`pair_modify <pair_modify>`
-command settings are preserved.  This makes it easy, for example, to
-only change the global cutoff if desired.
+command settings are preserved.  The only exception is that if the
+global cutoff in the pair_style command is changed, it will override
+the corresponding cutoff in any of the previous doc:`pair_modify
+<pair_coeff>` commands.
 
-Two exceptions to this are the pair_style *table* and *hybrid*
-commands.  A new pair_style command for these styles will wipe out all
-previously specified pair_coeff or pair_modify values, including for
-the sub-styles of the *hybrid* command.
+Two pair styles which do not follow this rule are the pair_style
+*table* and *hybrid* commands.  A new pair_style command for these
+styles will wipe out all previously specified doc:`pair_coeff
+<pair_coeff>` and :doc:`pair_modify <pair_modify>` settings, including
+for the sub-styles of the *hybrid* command.
 
 ----------