diff --git a/examples/gallery/plot/legend.py b/examples/gallery/plot/legend.py
index b34fdf6677b..0310a7a24ec 100644
--- a/examples/gallery/plot/legend.py
+++ b/examples/gallery/plot/legend.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 The :meth:`pygmt.Figure.legend` method can automatically create a legend for
 symbols plotted using :meth:`pygmt.Figure.plot`. Legend entries are only
-created when the `label` argument is used.
+created when the ``label`` argument is used.
 """
 import pygmt
 
diff --git a/pygmt/base_plotting.py b/pygmt/base_plotting.py
index 811b2aba505..f54cf2e2bd1 100644
--- a/pygmt/base_plotting.py
+++ b/pygmt/base_plotting.py
@@ -626,10 +626,10 @@ def legend(self, spec=None, **kwargs):
         Plot legends on maps.
 
         Makes legends that can be overlaid on maps. Reads specific legend-related
-        information from either a) an input file or b) a list containing a list
-        of figure handles and a list of corresponding labels. Unless otherwise
-        noted, annotations will be made using the primary annotation font and
-        size in effect (i.e., FONT_ANNOT_PRIMARY).
+        information from an input file, or automatically creates legend entries from
+        plotted symbols that have labels. Unless otherwise noted, annotations will be
+        made using the primary annotation font and size in effect
+        (i.e., FONT_ANNOT_PRIMARY).
 
         Full option list at :gmt-docs:`legend.html`