diff --git a/src/cmd/go/alldocs.go b/src/cmd/go/alldocs.go
index e40d981bd4..d7dab82e19 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/alldocs.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/alldocs.go
@@ -1071,8 +1071,8 @@
 //
 // The -retracted flag causes list to report information about retracted
 // module versions. When -retracted is used with -f or -json, the Retracted
-// field will be set to a string explaining why the version was retracted.
-// The string is taken from comments on the retract directive in the
+// field explains why the version was retracted.
+// The strings are taken from comments on the retract directive in the
 // module's go.mod file. When -retracted is used with -versions, retracted
 // versions are listed together with unretracted versions. The -retracted
 // flag may be used with or without -m.
diff --git a/src/cmd/go/internal/list/list.go b/src/cmd/go/internal/list/list.go
index d6cba5a4e0..d7a201a9b7 100644
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/list/list.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/list/list.go
@@ -300,8 +300,8 @@ space-separated version list.
 
 The -retracted flag causes list to report information about retracted
 module versions. When -retracted is used with -f or -json, the Retracted
-field will be set to a string explaining why the version was retracted.
-The string is taken from comments on the retract directive in the
+field explains why the version was retracted.
+The strings are taken from comments on the retract directive in the
 module's go.mod file. When -retracted is used with -versions, retracted
 versions are listed together with unretracted versions. The -retracted
 flag may be used with or without -m.