diff --git a/man/systemd.xml b/man/systemd.xml
index 30ae385029..9020579d73 100644
--- a/man/systemd.xml
+++ b/man/systemd.xml
@@ -996,10 +996,10 @@
         <term><varname>rd.emergency</varname></term>
         <term><varname>-b</varname></term>
 
-        <listitem><para>Boot into emergency mode. This is equivalent
-        to <varname>systemd.unit=emergency.target</varname> or
-        <varname>rd.systemd.unit=emergency.target</varname>, respectively, and
-        provided for compatibility reasons and to be easier to type.</para>
+        <listitem><para>Boot into emergency mode. Those options are equivalent to
+        <varname>systemd.unit=emergency.target</varname> or
+        <varname>rd.systemd.unit=emergency.target</varname>, respectively. They were initially
+        provided for compatibility with SysV, but are retained as convenient shortcuts.</para>
 
         <xi:include href="version-info.xml" xpointer="v186"/></listitem>
       </varlistentry>
@@ -1012,10 +1012,10 @@
         <term><varname>S</varname></term>
         <term><varname>1</varname></term>
 
-        <listitem><para>Boot into rescue mode. This is equivalent to
-        <varname>systemd.unit=rescue.target</varname> or
-        <varname>rd.systemd.unit=rescue.target</varname>, respectively, and
-        provided for compatibility reasons and to be easier to type.</para>
+        <listitem><para>Boot into rescue mode. Those options are equivalent to either
+        <varname>systemd.unit=rescue.target</varname> or <varname>rd.systemd.unit=rescue.target</varname>.
+        They were initially provided for compatibility with SysV, but are retained as convenient
+        shortcuts.</para>
 
         <xi:include href="version-info.xml" xpointer="v186"/></listitem>
       </varlistentry>
@@ -1026,11 +1026,11 @@
         <term><varname>4</varname></term>
         <term><varname>5</varname></term>
 
-        <listitem><para>Boot into the specified legacy SysV runlevel.
+        <listitem><para>Shortcuts to boot into specific targets:
         <varname>2</varname>, <varname>3</varname>, and <varname>4</varname> are equivalent to
         <varname>systemd.unit=multi-user.target</varname>; and <varname>5</varname> is equivalent to
-        <varname>systemd.unit=graphical.target</varname>, and provided for compatibility reasons and to be
-        easier to type.</para>
+        <varname>systemd.unit=graphical.target</varname>. Those options were initially provided
+        for compatibility with SysV, but are retained as convenient shortcuts.</para>
 
         <xi:include href="version-info.xml" xpointer="v186"/></listitem>
       </varlistentry>