diff --git a/parsl/providers/provider_base.py b/parsl/providers/provider_base.py
index 0d6e418d8b..897207d68c 100644
--- a/parsl/providers/provider_base.py
+++ b/parsl/providers/provider_base.py
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ class JobStatus(object):
     """Encapsulates a job state together with other details:
 
     Args:
-        state: The machine-reachable state of the job this status refers to
+        state: The machine-readable state of the job this status refers to
         message: Optional human readable message
         exit_code: Optional exit code
         stdout_path: Optional path to a file containing the job's stdout