diff --git a/cop.h b/cop.h
index 06560d17e9..dfb4a0045e 100644
--- a/cop.h
+++ b/cop.h
@@ -175,8 +175,8 @@ associated with the key.
 /*
 =for apidoc Amx|SV *|cophh_fetch_pvs|const COPHH *cophh|const char *key|U32 flags
 
-Like L</cophh_fetch_pvn>, but takes a literal string instead of a
-string/length pair, and no precomputed hash.
+Like L</cophh_fetch_pvn>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead
+of a string/length pair, and no precomputed hash.
 
 =cut
 */
@@ -281,8 +281,8 @@ be stored with referential integrity, but will be coerced to strings.
 /*
 =for apidoc Amx|COPHH *|cophh_store_pvs|const COPHH *cophh|const char *key|SV *value|U32 flags
 
-Like L</cophh_store_pvn>, but takes a literal string instead of a
-string/length pair, and no precomputed hash.
+Like L</cophh_store_pvn>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead
+of a string/length pair, and no precomputed hash.
 
 =cut
 */
@@ -338,8 +338,8 @@ hash of the key string, or zero if it has not been precomputed.
 /*
 =for apidoc Amx|COPHH *|cophh_delete_pvs|const COPHH *cophh|const char *key|U32 flags
 
-Like L</cophh_delete_pvn>, but takes a literal string instead of a
-string/length pair, and no precomputed hash.
+Like L</cophh_delete_pvn>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead
+of a string/length pair, and no precomputed hash.
 
 =cut
 */
@@ -478,8 +478,8 @@ associated with the key.
 /*
 =for apidoc Am|SV *|cop_hints_fetch_pvs|const COP *cop|const char *key|U32 flags
 
-Like L</cop_hints_fetch_pvn>, but takes a literal string instead of a
-string/length pair, and no precomputed hash.
+Like L</cop_hints_fetch_pvn>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string
+instead of a string/length pair, and no precomputed hash.
 
 =cut
 */
diff --git a/handy.h b/handy.h
index 9140633d5f..217708052e 100644
--- a/handy.h
+++ b/handy.h
@@ -296,47 +296,49 @@ typedef U64TYPE U64;
 =head1 SV-Body Allocation
 
 =for apidoc Ama|SV*|newSVpvs|const char* s
-Like C<newSVpvn>, but takes a literal C<NUL>-terminated string instead of a
+Like C<newSVpvn>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead of a
 string/length pair.
 
 =for apidoc Ama|SV*|newSVpvs_flags|const char* s|U32 flags
-Like C<newSVpvn_flags>, but takes a literal C<NUL>-terminated string instead of
+Like C<newSVpvn_flags>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead of
 a string/length pair.
 
 =for apidoc Ama|SV*|newSVpvs_share|const char* s
-Like C<newSVpvn_share>, but takes a literal C<NUL>-terminated string instead of
+Like C<newSVpvn_share>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead of
 a string/length pair and omits the hash parameter.
 
 =for apidoc Am|void|sv_catpvs_flags|SV* sv|const char* s|I32 flags
-Like C<sv_catpvn_flags>, but takes a literal C<NUL>-terminated string instead
+Like C<sv_catpvn_flags>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead
 of a string/length pair.
 
 =for apidoc Am|void|sv_catpvs_nomg|SV* sv|const char* s
-Like C<sv_catpvn_nomg>, but takes a literal string instead of a
-string/length pair.
+Like C<sv_catpvn_nomg>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead of
+a string/length pair.
 
 =for apidoc Am|void|sv_catpvs|SV* sv|const char* s
-Like C<sv_catpvn>, but takes a literal string instead of a string/length pair.
+Like C<sv_catpvn>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead of a
+string/length pair.
 
 =for apidoc Am|void|sv_catpvs_mg|SV* sv|const char* s
-Like C<sv_catpvn_mg>, but takes a literal string instead of a
+Like C<sv_catpvn_mg>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead of a
 string/length pair.
 
 =for apidoc Am|void|sv_setpvs|SV* sv|const char* s
-Like C<sv_setpvn>, but takes a literal string instead of a string/length pair.
+Like C<sv_setpvn>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead of a
+string/length pair.
 
 =for apidoc Am|void|sv_setpvs_mg|SV* sv|const char* s
-Like C<sv_setpvn_mg>, but takes a literal string instead of a
+Like C<sv_setpvn_mg>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead of a
 string/length pair.
 
 =for apidoc Am|SV *|sv_setref_pvs|const char* s
-Like C<sv_setref_pvn>, but takes a literal string instead of a
-string/length pair.
+Like C<sv_setref_pvn>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead of
+a string/length pair.
 
 =head1 Memory Management
 
 =for apidoc Ama|char*|savepvs|const char* s
-Like C<savepvn>, but takes a literal C<NUL>-terminated string instead of a
+Like C<savepvn>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead of a
 string/length pair.
 
 =for apidoc Ama|char*|savesharedpvs|const char* s
@@ -346,23 +348,26 @@ which is shared between threads.
 =head1 GV Functions
 
 =for apidoc Am|HV*|gv_stashpvs|const char* name|I32 create
-Like C<gv_stashpvn>, but takes a literal string instead of a string/length pair.
+Like C<gv_stashpvn>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead of a
+string/length pair.
 
 =head1 Hash Manipulation Functions
 
 =for apidoc Am|SV**|hv_fetchs|HV* tb|const char* key|I32 lval
-Like C<hv_fetch>, but takes a literal string instead of a string/length pair.
+Like C<hv_fetch>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead of a
+string/length pair.
 
 =for apidoc Am|SV**|hv_stores|HV* tb|const char* key|NULLOK SV* val
-Like C<hv_store>, but takes a literal string instead of a string/length pair
+Like C<hv_store>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead of a
+string/length pair
 and omits the hash parameter.
 
 =head1 Lexer interface
 
 =for apidoc Amx|void|lex_stuff_pvs|const char *pv|U32 flags
 
-Like L</lex_stuff_pvn>, but takes a literal string instead of a
-string/length pair.
+Like L</lex_stuff_pvn>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string instead of
+a string/length pair.
 
 =cut
 */
diff --git a/hv.h b/hv.h
index c249b8f8e2..e30f262f94 100644
--- a/hv.h
+++ b/hv.h
@@ -543,8 +543,8 @@ struct refcounted_he {
 /*
 =for apidoc m|SV *|refcounted_he_fetch_pvs|const struct refcounted_he *chain|const char *key|U32 flags
 
-Like L</refcounted_he_fetch_pvn>, but takes a literal string instead of
-a string/length pair, and no precomputed hash.
+Like L</refcounted_he_fetch_pvn>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string
+instead of a string/length pair, and no precomputed hash.
 
 =cut
 */
@@ -555,8 +555,8 @@ a string/length pair, and no precomputed hash.
 /*
 =for apidoc m|struct refcounted_he *|refcounted_he_new_pvs|struct refcounted_he *parent|const char *key|SV *value|U32 flags
 
-Like L</refcounted_he_new_pvn>, but takes a literal string instead of
-a string/length pair, and no precomputed hash.
+Like L</refcounted_he_new_pvn>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string
+instead of a string/length pair, and no precomputed hash.
 
 =cut
 */
diff --git a/pad.h b/pad.h
index 941ca10526..7ed10333f2 100644
--- a/pad.h
+++ b/pad.h
@@ -500,8 +500,8 @@ Clone the state variables associated with running and compiling pads.
 /*
 =for apidoc Am|PADOFFSET|pad_add_name_pvs|const char *name|U32 flags|HV *typestash|HV *ourstash
 
-Exactly like L</pad_add_name_pvn>, but takes a literal string instead
-of a string/length pair.
+Exactly like L</pad_add_name_pvn>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string
+instead of a string/length pair.
 
 =cut
 */
@@ -512,8 +512,8 @@ of a string/length pair.
 /*
 =for apidoc Am|PADOFFSET|pad_findmy_pvs|const char *name|U32 flags
 
-Exactly like L</pad_findmy_pvn>, but takes a literal string instead
-of a string/length pair.
+Exactly like L</pad_findmy_pvn>, but takes a C<NUL>-terminated literal string
+instead of a string/length pair.
 
 =cut
 */
diff --git a/scope.h b/scope.h
index a61ae40b50..1de27abdaa 100644
--- a/scope.h
+++ b/scope.h
@@ -183,7 +183,7 @@ given literal string with the new scope.
 =item LEAVE_with_name(name)
 
 Same as C<LEAVE>, but when debugging is enabled it first checks that the
-scope has the given name. Name must be a literal string.
+scope has the given name. C<name> must be a C<NUL>-terminated literal string.
 
 =back