Correct description of `mode-line-inverse-video'.

2 files changed, 7 insertions, 6 deletions

diff --git a/etc/NEWS b/etc/NEWS
index 2847580ea79..c6cc9999069 100644
--- a/etc/NEWS
+++ b/etc/NEWS
@@ -207,8 +207,9 @@ occupy more space, and thus might cause the first or the last line of
 the window to be partially obscured.)
 
 The variable `mode-line-inverse-video', which was used in older
-versions of emacs to make the mode-line stand out, now defaults to nil,
-and its use is deprecated.
+versions of emacs to make the mode-line stand out, is now deprecated.
+However, setting it to nil will cause the `mode-line' face to be
+ignored, and mode-lines to be drawn using the default text face.
 
 +++
 ** Mouse-sensitive mode line.
diff --git a/man/display.texi b/man/display.texi
index ea55a8c4882..aded56c9ec3 100644
--- a/man/display.texi
+++ b/man/display.texi
@@ -785,10 +785,10 @@ users should skip it.
   The variable @code{mode-line-inverse-video} is an obsolete way of
 controlling whether the mode line is displayed in inverse video; the
 preferred way of doing this is to change the @code{mode-line} face.
-@xref{Mode Line}.  If you specify the foreground color for the
-@code{mode-line} face, and @code{mode-line-inverse-video} is
-non-@code{nil}, then the default background color for that face is the
-usual foreground color.  @xref{Faces}.
+@xref{Mode Line}.  However, if @code{mode-line-inverse-video} has a
+value of @code{nil}, then the @code{mode-line} face will be ignored,
+and mode-lines will be drawn using the default text face.
+@xref{Faces}.
 
 @vindex inverse-video
   If the variable @code{inverse-video} is non-@code{nil}, Emacs attempts