diff --git a/tornado/template.py b/tornado/template.py
index 1433dfae6a..adad05d554 100644
--- a/tornado/template.py
+++ b/tornado/template.py
@@ -98,8 +98,8 @@ def add(x, y):
 To comment out a section so that it is omitted from the output, surround it
 with ``{# ... #}``.
 
-These tags may be escaped as ``{{!``, ``{%!``, and ``{#!``
-if you need to include a literal ``{{``, ``{%``, or ``{#`` in the output.
+To include a literal ``{{``, ``{%``, or ``{#`` in the output, escape them as
+``{{!``, ``{%!``, and ``{#!``, respectively.
 
 
 ``{% apply *function* %}...{% end %}``