diff --git a/language/types/string.xml b/language/types/string.xml
index 2013b079d4c5..56296a24b68b 100644
--- a/language/types/string.xml
+++ b/language/types/string.xml
@@ -216,8 +216,9 @@ echo 'Variables do not $expand $either', PHP_EOL;
    </simpara>
 
    <simpara>
-    The closing identifier may be indented by space or tab, in which case
-    the indentation will be stripped from all lines in the doc string.
+    The closing identifier may be indented with spaces or tabs. Whitespace
+    equal to the closing identifier's indentation is then removed from the
+    beginning of every line in the doc string.
     Prior to PHP 7.3.0, the closing identifier <emphasis>must</emphasis>
     begin in the first column of the line.
    </simpara>
@@ -233,20 +234,20 @@ echo 'Variables do not $expand $either', PHP_EOL;
     <programlisting role="php">
 <![CDATA[
 <?php
-// no indentation
+// closing identifier not indented
 echo <<<END
       a
      b
     c
 \n
 END;
-
-// 4 spaces of indentation
+     
+// closing identifier indented with 3 spaces; 3 spaces stripped from each line
 echo <<<END
       a
      b
     c
-    END;
+   END;
 ]]>
     </programlisting>
     &example.outputs.73;
@@ -256,9 +257,9 @@ echo <<<END
      b
     c
 
-  a
- b
-c
+   a
+  b
+ c
 ]]>
     </screen>
    </example>
@@ -308,23 +309,23 @@ Parse error: Invalid body indentation level (expecting an indentation level of a
 
 // different indentation for body (spaces) and ending marker (tabs)
 {
-	echo <<<END
-	 a
-		END;
+ echo <<<END
+  a
+  END;
 }
 
 // mixing spaces and tabs in body
 {
     echo <<<END
-    	a
+     a
      END;
 }
 
 // mixing spaces and tabs in ending marker
 {
-	echo <<<END
-		  a
-		 END;
+ echo <<<END
+    a
+   END;
 }
 ]]>
     </programlisting>