diff --git a/doc/gpg.texi b/doc/gpg.texi
index bd45b0422..35bb9a810 100644
--- a/doc/gpg.texi
+++ b/doc/gpg.texi
@@ -196,11 +196,13 @@ Make a detached signature.
 @item --encrypt
 @itemx -e
 @opindex encrypt
-Encrypt data. This command may be combined with @option{--sign} (to
-sign and encrypt a message), @option{--symmetric} (to encrypt a
-message that can decrypted using a secret key or a passphrase), or
-@option{--sign} and @option{--symmetric} together (for a signed
-message that can be decrypted using a secret key or a passphrase).
+Encrypt data to one or more public keys. This command may be combined
+with @option{--sign} (to sign and encrypt a message),
+@option{--symmetric} (to encrypt a message that can decrypted using a
+secret key or a passphrase), or @option{--sign} and
+@option{--symmetric} together (for a signed message that can be
+decrypted using a secret key or a passphrase).  @option{--recipient}
+and related options specify which public keys to use for encryption.
 
 @item --symmetric
 @itemx -c