diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 62413396..0cdc7a48 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -143,6 +143,8 @@ CVS code -
 	  could break anything using extended regular expressions, and
 	  glibc 2.2.3 is old.  Changes to configure.ac, faq.html,
 	  nano.h, proto.h, and UPGRADE; removal of safe_regexec(). (DLR)
+	- Minor wording fixes to various messages. (Benno Schulenberg,
+	  minor tweaks by DLR)
 - browser.c:
   do_browser()
 	- Reference NANO_GOTODIR_(ALT|F)?KEY instead of
diff --git a/src/files.c b/src/files.c
index 2dfb0218..08da9da6 100644
--- a/src/files.c
+++ b/src/files.c
@@ -2376,7 +2376,7 @@ void load_history(void)
 		rcfile_error(N_("Error reading %s: %s"), nanohist,
 			strerror(errno));
 		fprintf(stderr,
-			_("\nPress Enter to continue starting nano\n"));
+			_("\nPress Enter to continue starting nano.\n"));
 		while (getchar() != '\n')
 		    ;
 	    }
diff --git a/src/global.c b/src/global.c
index c61077e2..e8ae32f4 100644
--- a/src/global.c
+++ b/src/global.c
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ void shortcut_init(bool unjustify)
     const char *nano_back_msg = N_("Move back one character");
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
     const char *nano_nextword_msg = N_("Move forward one word");
-    const char *nano_prevword_msg = N_("Move backward one word");
+    const char *nano_prevword_msg = N_("Move back one word");
 #endif
     const char *nano_prevline_msg = N_("Move to the previous line");
     const char *nano_nextline_msg = N_("Move to the next line");
@@ -408,12 +408,13 @@ void shortcut_init(bool unjustify)
 	N_("Refresh (redraw) the current screen");
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
     const char *nano_case_msg =
-	N_("Make the current search/replace case (in)sensitive");
+	N_("Toggle the case sensitivity of the search");
     const char *nano_reverse_msg =
-	N_("Make the current search/replace go backwards");
+	N_("Reverse the direction of the search");
 #endif
 #ifdef HAVE_REGEX_H
-    const char *nano_regexp_msg = N_("Use regular expressions");
+    const char *nano_regexp_msg =
+	N_("Toggle the use of regular expressions");
 #endif
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
     const char *nano_prev_history_msg =
@@ -425,18 +426,19 @@ void shortcut_init(bool unjustify)
     const char *nano_tofiles_msg = N_("Go to file browser");
 #endif
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
-    const char *nano_dos_msg = N_("Write file out in DOS format");
-    const char *nano_mac_msg = N_("Write file out in Mac format");
+    const char *nano_dos_msg = N_("Toggle the use of DOS format");
+    const char *nano_mac_msg = N_("Toggle the use of Mac format");
 #endif
-    const char *nano_append_msg = N_("Append to the current file");
-    const char *nano_prepend_msg = N_("Prepend to the current file");
+    const char *nano_append_msg = N_("Toggle appending");
+    const char *nano_prepend_msg = N_("Toggle prepending");
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
     const char *nano_backup_msg =
-	N_("Back up original file when saving");
+	N_("Toggle backing up of the original file");
     const char *nano_execute_msg = N_("Execute external command");
 #endif
 #if !defined(NANO_TINY) && defined(ENABLE_MULTIBUFFER)
-    const char *nano_multibuffer_msg = N_("Insert into new buffer");
+    const char *nano_multibuffer_msg =
+	N_("Toggle the use of a new buffer");
 #endif
 #ifndef DISABLE_BROWSER
     const char *nano_exitbrowser_msg = N_("Exit from the file browser");
@@ -1355,7 +1357,7 @@ void toggle_init(void)
     /* If we're using restricted mode, the suspend toggle is disabled.
      * It's useless since suspending is disabled. */
     if (!ISSET(RESTRICTED))
-	toggle_init_one(TOGGLE_SUSPEND_KEY, N_("Suspend"), FALSE,
+	toggle_init_one(TOGGLE_SUSPEND_KEY, N_("Suspension"), FALSE,
 	SUSPEND);
 }
 #endif /* !NANO_TINY */
diff --git a/src/nano.c b/src/nano.c
index 1345b389..630b710a 100644
--- a/src/nano.c
+++ b/src/nano.c
@@ -788,7 +788,7 @@ void usage(void)
     print_opt("-l", "--nofollow",
 	N_("Don't follow symbolic links, overwrite"));
 #ifndef DISABLE_MOUSE
-    print_opt("-m", "--mouse", N_("Enable mouse"));
+    print_opt("-m", "--mouse", N_("Enable the use of the mouse"));
 #endif
 #ifndef DISABLE_OPERATINGDIR
     print_opt(_("-o <dir>"), _("--operatingdir=<dir>"),
@@ -810,8 +810,8 @@ void usage(void)
 #ifndef DISABLE_WRAPPING
     print_opt("-w", "--nowrap", N_("Don't wrap long lines"));
 #endif
-    print_opt("-x", "--nohelp", N_("Don't show help window"));
-    print_opt("-z", "--suspend", N_("Enable suspend"));
+    print_opt("-x", "--nohelp", N_("Don't show the two help lines"));
+    print_opt("-z", "--suspend", N_("Enable suspension"));
 
     /* This is a special case. */
     print_opt("-a, -b, -e,", "", NULL);
@@ -996,7 +996,7 @@ RETSIGTYPE do_suspend(int signal)
     /* Temporarily leave curses mode. */
     endwin();
 
-    printf(_("\n\n\n\n\n\nUse \"fg\" to return to nano\n"));
+    printf(_("\n\n\n\n\n\nUse \"fg\" to return to nano.\n"));
     fflush(stdout);
 
     /* Restore the old terminal settings. */
@@ -1373,10 +1373,10 @@ int do_input(bool *meta_key, bool *func_key, bool *s_or_t, bool
 	    switch (input) {
 		/* Handle the "universal" edit window shortcuts. */
 		case NANO_XON_KEY:
-		    statusbar(_("XON ignored, mumble mumble."));
+		    statusbar(_("XON ignored, mumble mumble"));
 		    break;
 		case NANO_XOFF_KEY:
-		    statusbar(_("XOFF ignored, mumble mumble."));
+		    statusbar(_("XOFF ignored, mumble mumble"));
 		    break;
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
 		case NANO_SUSPEND_KEY:
diff --git a/src/rcfile.c b/src/rcfile.c
index e652002d..1b134e74 100644
--- a/src/rcfile.c
+++ b/src/rcfile.c
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ static colortype *endcolor = NULL;
 #endif
 
 /* We have an error in some part of the rcfile.  Put it on stderr and
- * make the user hit Enter to continue starting up nano. */
+ * make the user hit Enter to continue starting nano. */
 void rcfile_error(const char *msg, ...)
 {
     va_list ap;
@@ -844,7 +844,8 @@ void parse_rcfile(FILE *rcstream
 
     if (errors) {
 	errors = FALSE;
-	fprintf(stderr, _("\nPress Enter to continue starting nano\n"));
+	fprintf(stderr,
+		_("\nPress Enter to continue starting nano.\n"));
 	while (getchar() != '\n')
 	    ;
     }