diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
index 8e4f1793bb..a0f53713b0 100644
--- a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
+++ b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
@@ -5132,10 +5132,9 @@ recipes-graphics/xorg-font/font-alias_1.0.3.bb:PR = "${INC_PR}.3"
                     command during the <filename>do_compile</filename> task
                     in order to specify parallel compilation on the local
                     build host.
-                    This variable is usually in the form
-                    <filename>-j 4</filename>, where the number
-                    represents the maximum number of parallel threads make can
-                    run.
+                    This variable is usually in the form "-j &lt;x&gt;",
+                    where x represents the maximum number of parallel threads
+                    <filename>make</filename> can run.
                 </para>
 
                 <para>
diff --git a/documentation/yocto-project-qs/yocto-project-qs.xml b/documentation/yocto-project-qs/yocto-project-qs.xml
index 96e207349d..2419fcf570 100644
--- a/documentation/yocto-project-qs/yocto-project-qs.xml
+++ b/documentation/yocto-project-qs/yocto-project-qs.xml
@@ -502,11 +502,12 @@
              Another couple of variables of interest are the
              <ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_REF_URL;#var-BB_NUMBER_THREADS'><filename>BB_NUMBER_THREADS</filename></ulink> and the
              <ulink url='&YOCTO_DOCS_REF_URL;#var-PARALLEL_MAKE'><filename>PARALLEL_MAKE</filename></ulink> variables.
-             By default, these variables are commented out.
-             However, if you have a multi-core CPU you might want to uncomment
-             the lines and set both variables equal to twice the number of your
-             host's processor cores.
-             Setting these variables can significantly shorten your build time.
+             By default, these variables are set to how ever many processor
+             cores your build host uses.
+             However, if your build host uses multiple processor cores,
+             you should increase these settings to twice the number of
+             cores used.
+             Doing so can significantly shorten your build time.
          </para>
 
         <para>