diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/notation.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/notation.sgml
index bd1e8f629a..c3798d5f1b 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/notation.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/notation.sgml
@@ -6,12 +6,12 @@
  <para>
   The following conventions are used in the synopsis of a command:
   brackets (<literal>[</literal> and <literal>]</literal>) indicate
-  optional parts.  (In the synopsis of a Tcl command, question marks
-  (<literal>?</literal>) are used instead, as is usual in Tcl.)  Braces
+  optional parts.  Braces
   (<literal>{</literal> and <literal>}</literal>) and vertical lines
   (<literal>|</literal>) indicate that you must choose one
   alternative.  Dots (<literal>...</literal>) mean that the preceding element
-  can be repeated.
+  can be repeated.  All other symbols, including parentheses, should be
+  taken literally.
  </para>
 
  <para>
diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/pltcl.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/pltcl.sgml
index 1759fc4498..6ef968e078 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/pltcl.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/pltcl.sgml
@@ -321,7 +321,8 @@ $$ LANGUAGE pltcl;
 
     <para>
      The following commands are available to access the database from
-     the body of a PL/Tcl function:
+     the body of a PL/Tcl function (brackets (<literal>[</literal> and
+     <literal>]</literal>) are represented here as question marks):
 
     <variablelist>