diff --git a/src/doc/style-guide/src/expressions.md b/src/doc/style-guide/src/expressions.md
index 45583108095c3..143161da6cf9c 100644
--- a/src/doc/style-guide/src/expressions.md
+++ b/src/doc/style-guide/src/expressions.md
@@ -753,9 +753,9 @@ not put the `if` clause on a newline. E.g.,
     }
 ```
 
-If every clause in a pattern is *small*, but does not fit on one line, then the
-pattern may be formatted across multiple lines with as many clauses per line as
-possible. Again break before a `|`:
+If every clause in a pattern is *small*, but the whole pattern does not fit on
+one line, then the pattern may be formatted across multiple lines with as many
+clauses per line as possible. Again break before a `|`:
 
 ```rust
     foo | bar | baz
@@ -764,17 +764,18 @@ possible. Again break before a `|`:
     }
 ```
 
-We define a pattern clause to be *small* if it matches the following grammar:
+We define a pattern clause to be *small* if it fits on a single line and
+matches "small" in the following grammar:
 
 ```
-[small, ntp]:
-    - single token
-    - `&[single-line, ntp]`
+small:
+    - small_no_tuple
+    - unary tuple constructor: `(` small_no_tuple `,` `)`
+    - `&` small
 
-[small]:
-    - `[small, ntp]`
-    - unary tuple constructor `([small, ntp])`
-    - `&[small]`
+small_no_tuple:
+    - single token
+    - `&` small_no_tuple
 ```
 
 E.g., `&&Some(foo)` matches, `Foo(4, Bar)` does not.