diff --git a/doc/git-annex-copy.mdwn b/doc/git-annex-copy.mdwn
index 350175a5f6..494cda3d26 100644
--- a/doc/git-annex-copy.mdwn
+++ b/doc/git-annex-copy.mdwn
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ Paths of files or directories to operate on can be specified.
 
 * `--auto`
 
-  Rather than copying all specified files, only copy files that don't yet have
+  Rather than copying all specified files, only copy those that don't yet have
   the desired number of copies, or that are preferred content of the
   destination repository. See [[git-annex-preferred-content]](1)
 
diff --git a/doc/git-annex-drop.mdwn b/doc/git-annex-drop.mdwn
index bd272a948d..6b8415bf71 100644
--- a/doc/git-annex-drop.mdwn
+++ b/doc/git-annex-drop.mdwn
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ Paths of files or directories to drop can be specified.
 
 * `--auto`
 
-  Rather than trying to drop all specified files, drop only files that
+  Rather than trying to drop all specified files, drop only those that
   are not preferred content of the repository.
   See [[git-annex-preferred-content]](1)
 
diff --git a/doc/git-annex-get.mdwn b/doc/git-annex-get.mdwn
index 3a2700e8a8..abe5757816 100644
--- a/doc/git-annex-get.mdwn
+++ b/doc/git-annex-get.mdwn
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ be specified.
 
 * `--auto`
 
-  Rather than getting all specified files, get only files that don't yet
+  Rather than getting all the specified files, get only those that don't yet
   have the desired number of copies, or that are preferred content of the
   repository. See [[git-annex-preferred-content]](1)