diff --git a/lisp/abbrev.el b/lisp/abbrev.el
index 54783db2c3..5b3804a006 100644
--- a/lisp/abbrev.el
+++ b/lisp/abbrev.el
@@ -288,6 +288,10 @@ add-mode-abbrev
 A negative argument means to undefine the specified abbrev.
 Reads the abbreviation in the minibuffer.
 
+`inverse-add-mode-abbrev' performs the opposite task: if the abbrev
+text is already in the buffer, use this command to define an abbrev
+by specifying the expansion in the minibuffer.
+
 Don't use this function in a Lisp program; use `define-abbrev' instead."
   (interactive "p")
   (add-abbrev
@@ -304,6 +308,10 @@ add-global-abbrev
 A negative argument means to undefine the specified abbrev.
 This command uses the minibuffer to read the abbreviation.
 
+`inverse-add-global-abbrev' performs the opposite task: if the abbrev
+text is already in the buffer, use this command to define an abbrev
+by specifying the expansion in the minibuffer.
+
 Don't use this function in a Lisp program; use `define-abbrev' instead."
   (interactive "p")
   (add-abbrev global-abbrev-table "Global" arg))
@@ -330,7 +338,11 @@ inverse-add-mode-abbrev
   "Define last word before point as a mode-specific abbrev.
 With prefix argument N, defines the Nth word before point.
 This command uses the minibuffer to read the expansion.
-Expands the abbreviation after defining it."
+Expands the abbreviation after defining it.
+
+`add-mode-abbrev' performs the opposite task: if the expansion
+is already in the buffer, use this command to define an abbrev
+by specifying the abbrev in the minibuffer."
   (interactive "p")
   (inverse-add-abbrev
    (if only-global-abbrevs
@@ -343,7 +355,11 @@ inverse-add-global-abbrev
   "Define last word before point as a global (mode-independent) abbrev.
 With prefix argument N, defines the Nth word before point.
 This command uses the minibuffer to read the expansion.
-Expands the abbreviation after defining it."
+Expands the abbreviation after defining it.
+
+`add-global-abbrev' performs the opposite task: if the expansion
+is already in the buffer, use this command to define an abbrev
+by specifying the abbrev in the minibuffer."
   (interactive "p")
   (inverse-add-abbrev global-abbrev-table "Global" n))