diff --git a/doc/groff.texi b/doc/groff.texi
index f338ec8c..6291ceb9 100644
--- a/doc/groff.texi
+++ b/doc/groff.texi
@@ -11537,8 +11537,8 @@ a line is adjusted.
 @endDefesc
 
 @Defesc {\\|, , , }
-A 1/address@hidden em space.  Ignored for TTY output devices (rounded to
-zero).
+A 1/address@hidden em unbreakable space.  Ignored for TTY output devices
+(rounded to zero).
 
 However, if there is a glyph defined in the current font file with name
 @code{\|} (note the leading backslash), the width of this glyph is used
@@ -11546,8 +11546,8 @@ instead (even for TTYs).
 @endDefesc
 
 @Defesc {\\^, , , }
-A 1/address@hidden em space.  Ignored for TTY output devices (rounded to
-zero).
+A 1/address@hidden em unbreakable space.  Ignored for TTY output devices
+(rounded to zero).
 
 However, if there is a glyph defined in the current font file with name
 @code{\^} (note the leading backslash), the width of this glyph is used
@@ -11557,7 +11557,7 @@ instead (even for TTYs).
 @Defesc {\\0, , , }
 @cindex space, width of a digit (@code{\0})
 @cindex digit width space (@code{\0})
-A space the size of a digit.
+An unbreakable space the size of a digit.
 @endDefesc
 
 The following string sets the @TeX{} logo:
diff --git a/man/groff.7.man b/man/groff.7.man
index 24f093fe..7cc9ae8e 100644
--- a/man/groff.7.man
+++ b/man/groff.7.man
@@ -2896,15 +2896,15 @@ Unpaddable space size space glyph (no line break).
 .
 .TP
 .ESC 0
-Digit-width space.
+Digit-width unbreakable space.
 .
 .TP
 .ESC |
-1/6\ em narrow space glyph; zero width in nroff.
+1/6\ em narrow unbreakable space glyph; zero width in nroff.
 .
 .TP
 .ESC ^
-1/12\ em half-narrow space glyph; zero width in nroff.
+1/12\ em half-narrow unbreakable space glyph; zero width in nroff.
 .
 .TP
 .ESC &