diff --git a/emacs/notmuch-address.el b/emacs/notmuch-address.el
index 561cc140..2c51e89b 100644
--- a/emacs/notmuch-address.el
+++ b/emacs/notmuch-address.el
@@ -36,9 +36,9 @@
 This variable is set by calling `notmuch-address-harvest'.")
 
 (defvar notmuch-address-full-harvest-finished nil
-  "t indicates that full completion address harvesting has been finished.
-Use notmuch-address--harvest-ready to access as that will load a
-saved hash if necessary (and available).")
+  "Whether full completion address harvesting has finished.
+Use `notmuch-address--harvest-ready' to access as that will load
+a saved hash if necessary (and available).")
 
 (defun notmuch-address--harvest-ready ()
   "Return t if there is a full address hash available.
diff --git a/emacs/notmuch-crypto.el b/emacs/notmuch-crypto.el
index 4fab215a..9e6f3a9d 100644
--- a/emacs/notmuch-crypto.el
+++ b/emacs/notmuch-crypto.el
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 (declare-function notmuch-show-get-message-id "notmuch-show" (&optional bare))
 
 (defcustom notmuch-crypto-process-mime t
-  "Should cryptographic MIME parts be processed?
+  "Whether to process cryptographic MIME parts.
 
 If this variable is non-nil signatures in multipart/signed
 messages will be verified and multipart/encrypted parts will be
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ mode."
   :group 'notmuch-crypto)
 
 (defcustom notmuch-crypto-get-keys-asynchronously t
-  "Retrieve gpg keys asynchronously."
+  "Whether to retrieve openpgp keys asynchronously."
   :type 'boolean
   :group 'notmuch-crypto)
 
diff --git a/emacs/notmuch-mua.el b/emacs/notmuch-mua.el
index 05763928..29a2538b 100644
--- a/emacs/notmuch-mua.el
+++ b/emacs/notmuch-mua.el
@@ -82,10 +82,11 @@ If this is `nil' then no `User-Agent:' will be generated."
   :group 'notmuch)
 
 (defcustom notmuch-mua-cite-function 'message-cite-original
-  "*Function for citing an original message.
+  "Function for citing an original message.
+
 Predefined functions include `message-cite-original' and
-`message-cite-original-without-signature'.
-Note that these functions use `mail-citation-hook' if that is non-nil."
+`message-cite-original-without-signature'.  Note that these
+functions use `mail-citation-hook' if that is non-nil."
   :type '(radio (function-item message-cite-original)
 		(function-item message-cite-original-without-signature)
 		(function-item sc-cite-original)