diff --git a/docs/model-api.txt b/docs/model-api.txt
index fa6d8f10e6..3522585e7a 100644
--- a/docs/model-api.txt
+++ b/docs/model-api.txt
@@ -750,11 +750,12 @@ Here's a list of all possible ``META`` options. No options are required. Adding
 ``permissions``
     Extra permissions to enter into the permissions table when creating this
     object. Add, delete and change permissions are automatically created for
-    each object. This option specifies extra permissions::
+    each object that has ``admin`` set. This example specifies an extra
+    permission, ``can_deliver_pizzas``::
 
         permissions = (("can_deliver_pizzas", "Can deliver pizzas"),)
 
-    This is a list of 2-tuples of
+    This is a list or tuple of 2-tuples in the format
     ``(permission_code, human_readable_permission_name)``.
 
 ``unique_together``