diff --git a/bin/cp/cp.1 b/bin/cp/cp.1
--- a/bin/cp/cp.1
+++ b/bin/cp/cp.1
@@ -89,8 +89,10 @@
 .Fl R
 option is specified, all symbolic links are followed.
 .It Fl P , Fl -no-dereference
-No symbolic links are followed.
-This is the default if the
+When
+.Ar source_file
+is a symbolic link, do not follow it.
+This is the default when the
 .Fl R
 option is specified.
 .It Fl R , Fl -recursive