diff --git a/man2/getsockopt.2 b/man2/getsockopt.2
index 9dc097f1e..54b5e130a 100644
--- a/man2/getsockopt.2
+++ b/man2/getsockopt.2
@@ -57,17 +57,15 @@ getsockopt, setsockopt \- get and set options on sockets
 .BR getsockopt ()
 and
 .BR setsockopt ()
-manipulate the
-.I options
-associated with a socket.
+manipulate options for the socket referred to by the file descriptor
+.IR sockfd .
 Options may exist at multiple
 protocol levels; they are always present at the uppermost
-.B socket
-level.
+socket level.
 
-When manipulating socket options the level at which the
+When manipulating socket options, the level at which the
 option resides and the name of the option must be specified.
-To manipulate options at the socket level,
+To manipulate options at the sockets API level,
 .I level
 is specified as
 .BR SOL_SOCKET .