diff --git a/runtime/doc/options.txt b/runtime/doc/options.txt
index e6652bb83e..80ac6364cf 100644
--- a/runtime/doc/options.txt
+++ b/runtime/doc/options.txt
@@ -5503,10 +5503,10 @@ A jump table for the options with a short description can be found at |Q_op|.
 						*'shiftwidth'* *'sw'*
 'shiftwidth' 'sw'	number	(default 8)
 			local to buffer
-	Number of spaces to use for each step of (auto)indent.  Used for
-	|'cindent'|, |>>|, |<<|, etc.
-	When zero the 'tabstop' value will be used.  Use the |shiftwidth()|
-	function to get the effective shiftwidth value.
+	Number of columns that make up one level of (auto)indentation.  Used
+	by |'cindent'|, |<<|, |>>|, etc.
+	If set to 0, Vim uses the current 'tabstop' value.  Use |shiftwidth()|
+	to obtain the effective value in scripts.
 
 					*'shortmess'* *'shm'* *E1336*
 'shortmess' 'shm'	string	(default "ltToOCF")
diff --git a/runtime/lua/vim/_meta/options.lua b/runtime/lua/vim/_meta/options.lua
index aa6e7b94de..7c853571dd 100644
--- a/runtime/lua/vim/_meta/options.lua
+++ b/runtime/lua/vim/_meta/options.lua
@@ -5822,10 +5822,10 @@ vim.o.sr = vim.o.shiftround
 vim.go.shiftround = vim.o.shiftround
 vim.go.sr = vim.go.shiftround
 
---- Number of spaces to use for each step of (auto)indent.  Used for
---- `'cindent'`, `>>`, `<<`, etc.
---- When zero the 'tabstop' value will be used.  Use the `shiftwidth()`
---- function to get the effective shiftwidth value.
+--- Number of columns that make up one level of (auto)indentation.  Used
+--- by `'cindent'`, `<<`, `>>`, etc.
+--- If set to 0, Vim uses the current 'tabstop' value.  Use `shiftwidth()`
+--- to obtain the effective value in scripts.
 ---
 --- @type integer
 vim.o.shiftwidth = 8
diff --git a/src/nvim/options.lua b/src/nvim/options.lua
index 549492555a..6ba29361b9 100644
--- a/src/nvim/options.lua
+++ b/src/nvim/options.lua
@@ -7760,10 +7760,10 @@ local options = {
       cb = 'did_set_shiftwidth_tabstop',
       defaults = 8,
       desc = [=[
-        Number of spaces to use for each step of (auto)indent.  Used for
-        |'cindent'|, |>>|, |<<|, etc.
-        When zero the 'tabstop' value will be used.  Use the |shiftwidth()|
-        function to get the effective shiftwidth value.
+        Number of columns that make up one level of (auto)indentation.  Used
+        by |'cindent'|, |<<|, |>>|, etc.
+        If set to 0, Vim uses the current 'tabstop' value.  Use |shiftwidth()|
+        to obtain the effective value in scripts.
       ]=],
       full_name = 'shiftwidth',
       scope = { 'buf' },