diff --git a/rc/base/screen.kak b/rc/base/screen.kak
index f474fb8f..f28a2116 100644
--- a/rc/base/screen.kak
+++ b/rc/base/screen.kak
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ hook -group GNUscreen global KakBegin .* %{
 }
 
 
-define-command screen-new-vertical -params .. -command-completion -docstring "Create a new vertical region" %{
+define-command screen-new-vertical -params .. -command-completion -docstring "Split the current pane into two, left and right" %{
      %sh{
         tty="$(ps -o tty ${kak_client_pid} | tail -n 1)"
         screen -X eval \
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ define-command screen-new-vertical -params .. -command-completion -docstring "Cr
     }
 }
 
-define-command screen-new-horizontal -params .. -command-completion -docstring "Create a new horizontal region" %{
+define-command screen-new-horizontal -params .. -command-completion -docstring "Split the current pane into two, top and bottom" %{
      %sh{
         tty="$(ps -o tty ${kak_client_pid} | tail -n 1)"
         screen -X eval \
diff --git a/rc/base/tmux.kak b/rc/base/tmux.kak
index 068492b4..c688617f 100644
--- a/rc/base/tmux.kak
+++ b/rc/base/tmux.kak
@@ -28,11 +28,11 @@ define-command -hidden -params 1.. tmux-new-impl %{
     }
 }
 
-define-command tmux-new-vertical -params .. -command-completion -docstring "Create a new vertical pane" %{
+define-command tmux-new-vertical -params .. -command-completion -docstring "Split the current pane into two, top and bottom" %{
     tmux-new-impl 'split-window -v' %arg{@}
 }
 
-define-command tmux-new-horizontal -params .. -command-completion -docstring "Create a new horizontal pane" %{
+define-command tmux-new-horizontal -params .. -command-completion -docstring "Split the current pane into two, left and right" %{
     tmux-new-impl 'split-window -h' %arg{@}
 }
 
diff --git a/rc/extra/iterm.kak b/rc/extra/iterm.kak
index 107dcf95..90252c05 100644
--- a/rc/extra/iterm.kak
+++ b/rc/extra/iterm.kak
@@ -29,11 +29,11 @@ define-command -hidden -params 1.. iterm-new-split-impl %{
     }
 }
 
-define-command iterm-new-vertical -params .. -command-completion -docstring "Create a new vertical pane" %{
+define-command iterm-new-vertical -params .. -command-completion -docstring "Split the current pane into two, top and bottom" %{
     iterm-new-split-impl 'vertically' %arg{@}
 }
 
-define-command iterm-new-horizontal -params .. -command-completion -docstring "Create a new horizontal pane" %{
+define-command iterm-new-horizontal -params .. -command-completion -docstring "Split the current pane into two, left and right" %{
     iterm-new-split-impl 'horizontally' %arg{@}
 }