diff --git a/doc/emacs/display.texi b/doc/emacs/display.texi
index 5778d95b4d4..75ef520d62a 100644
--- a/doc/emacs/display.texi
+++ b/doc/emacs/display.texi
@@ -1335,7 +1335,7 @@ customize the variable @code{whitespace-line-column}.
 Highlight newlines.
 
 @item missing-newline-at-eof
-Highlight the final character in a buffer unless it's a newline
+Highlight the final character if the buffer doesn't end with a newline
 character.
 
 @item empty
diff --git a/etc/NEWS b/etc/NEWS
index 002a078f840..7429d392e47 100644
--- a/etc/NEWS
+++ b/etc/NEWS
@@ -459,10 +459,10 @@ The new default value is 2000000 (2 megabytes).
 ** Whitespace mode
 
 +++
-*** A new style has been added: 'missing-newline-at-eof'
-If present in 'whitespace-style' (and it is now by default), the final
-character in the buffer will be highlighted unless it's a newline
-character.
+*** New style 'missing-newline-at-eof'.
+If present in 'whitespace-style' (as it is by default), the final
+character in the buffer will be highlighted if the buffer doesn't end
+with a newline.
 
 ** Texinfo