diff --git a/doc/emacs/programs.texi b/doc/emacs/programs.texi
index 56cc321866d..446f1c864c7 100644
--- a/doc/emacs/programs.texi
+++ b/doc/emacs/programs.texi
@@ -1061,8 +1061,10 @@ nonblank line.
 @vindex show-paren-not-in-comments-or-strings
 If the value of @code{show-paren-not-in-comments-or-strings} is
 @code{all}, delimiters inside comments and strings will not be
-highlighted.  Otherwise if the value is set to @code{on-mismatch}, the
-mismatched delimiters inside comments will not be highlighted.
+highlighted.  Otherwise, if the value is set to @code{on-mismatch}, the
+mismatched delimiters inside comments will not be highlighted.  The
+default is @code{nil}, so delimiters inside comments and strings are
+always highlighted.
 @end itemize
 
 @cindex Electric Pair mode
diff --git a/etc/NEWS b/etc/NEWS
index 1c65e2b1ad3..1f29fe5f0b4 100644
--- a/etc/NEWS
+++ b/etc/NEWS
@@ -483,12 +483,13 @@ setting is an alternative to 'help-at-pt-display-when-idle'.
 Customize this to nil to disable starting new asynchronous native
 compilations while AC power is not connected.
 
-** New user option 'show-paren-not-in-comments-or-strings'
-This option tells show-paren not to highlight the parens that are inside
-a comment or string.  If set to 'all', do not highlight the parens that
-are inside comments or strings.  If set to 'on-mismatch', the parens
-mismatched inside comments will not be highlighted.  If set to nil (the
-default), highlight the parens wherever they are.
+** New user option 'show-paren-not-in-comments-or-strings'.
+If this option is non-nil, it tells 'show-paren-mode' not to highlight
+the parens that are inside comments and strings.  If set to 'all',
+'show-paren-mode' will never highlight parens that are inside comments
+or strings.  If set to 'on-mismatch', mismatched parens inside comments
+and strings will not be highlighted.  If set to nil (the default),
+highlight the parens wherever they are.
 
 
 * Editing Changes in Emacs 31.1
diff --git a/lisp/paren.el b/lisp/paren.el
index 986576a8e1d..5a70e2771b3 100644
--- a/lisp/paren.el
+++ b/lisp/paren.el
@@ -111,16 +111,17 @@ On non-graphical frames, the context is shown in the echo area."
   :version "29.1")
 
 (defcustom show-paren-not-in-comments-or-strings nil
-  "Do not highlight the paren that are inside a comment or string.
-If set to `all', do not highlight the paren that are inside comments
-or strings.
-If set to `on-mismatch', the paren mismatched inside comments will not be
-highlighted.
-If set to nil (by default), highlight the paren wherever it is."
+  "If non-nil, do not highlight the parens inside comments and strings.
+If set to `all', never highlight parens inside comments and strings.
+If set to `on-mismatch', do not highlight mismatched parens inside
+comments and strings.
+If set to nil (the default), always highlight parens wherever they are."
   :type '(choice
-          (const :tag "Never highlight" all)
-          (const :tag "Don't highlight when mismatched" on-mismatch)
-          (const :tag "Always highlight" nil))
+          (const :tag "Never highlight parens in comments and strings" all)
+          (const
+           :tag "Don't highlight mismatched parens in comments and strings"
+           on-mismatch)
+          (const :tag "Always highlight parens" nil))
   :version "31.1")
 
 (defvar show-paren--idle-timer nil)