2 files changed, 7 insertions, 2 deletions

diff --git a/etc/NEWS b/etc/NEWS
index c1cc216659e..f47cf071bb5 100644
--- a/etc/NEWS
+++ b/etc/NEWS
@@ -404,7 +404,8 @@ mode they are described in the manual "(emacs) Display".
 ---
 ** New variable 'xref-file-name-display' controls the display of file
 names in xref buffers.
-** New variable `file-size-function' controls how file sizes are displayed
+
+** New variable `file-size-function' controls how file sizes are displayed.
 
 
 * Editing Changes in Emacs 27.1
diff --git a/lisp/progmodes/xref.el b/lisp/progmodes/xref.el
index 8dc4f3c4714..57d803894c8 100644
--- a/lisp/progmodes/xref.el
+++ b/lisp/progmodes/xref.el
@@ -99,7 +99,11 @@ This is typically the filename.")
 ;;;; Commonly needed location classes are defined here:
 
 (defcustom xref-file-name-display 'abs
-  "Style of file name display in *xref* buffers."
+  "Style of file name display in *xref* buffers.
+If the value is the symbol `abs', the default, show the file names
+in their full absolute form.
+If `nondirectory', show only the nondirectory (a.k.a. \"base name\")
+part of the file name."
   :type '(choice (const :tag "absolute file name" abs)
                  (const :tag "nondirectory file name" nondirectory))
   :version "27.1")