diff --git a/doc/org-guide.org b/doc/org-guide.org
index d114b063d..150762b13 100644
--- a/doc/org-guide.org
+++ b/doc/org-guide.org
@@ -114,8 +114,8 @@ the entire show and hide functionalities into a single command,
 :END:
 
 Headlines define the structure of an outline tree.  The headlines in
-Org start with one or more stars, on the left margin[fn:1].  For
-example:
+Org start on the left margin[fn:1] with one or more stars followed by
+a space.  For example:
 
 #+begin_example
 ,* Top level headline
diff --git a/doc/org-manual.org b/doc/org-manual.org
index 673bb11c5..96b160175 100644
--- a/doc/org-manual.org
+++ b/doc/org-manual.org
@@ -400,9 +400,9 @@ the entire show and hide functionalities into a single command,
 #+vindex: org-special-ctrl-k
 #+vindex: org-ctrl-k-protect-subtree
 
-Headlines define the structure of an outline tree.  The headlines in
-Org start with one or more stars, on the left margin[fn:3].  For
-example:
+Headlines define the structure of an outline tree.   headlines in
+Org start on the left margin[fn:3] with one or more stars followed by
+a space.  For example:
 
 #+begin_example
 ,* Top level headline