diff --git a/python/bertini/operators.py b/python/bertini/operators.py
index bbdb5e646..444f6e1f5 100644
--- a/python/bertini/operators.py
+++ b/python/bertini/operators.py
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ def f(x, *args, **kwargs):
 round   = _numeric_only('round',   _nh.round,   "Round to N DECIMAL digits, staying mp-native.") # noqa: A001
 sum     = _numeric_only('sum',     _nh.sum,     "Sum of a collection, staying mp-native.")       # noqa: A001
 norm    = _numeric_only('norm',    _nh.norm,    "Euclidean (2-)norm, as real_mp.")
-is_real = _numeric_only('is_real', _nh.is_real, "Is every coordinate real (|imag| < tol)?")
+is_real = _numeric_only('is_real', _nh.is_real, "Is every coordinate real (abs(imag) < tol)?")
 
 
 __all__ = [
diff --git a/python_bindings/src/mpfr_export.cpp b/python_bindings/src/mpfr_export.cpp
index aeb567adc..a7fea0f68 100644
--- a/python_bindings/src/mpfr_export.cpp
+++ b/python_bindings/src/mpfr_export.cpp
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ namespace bertini{
 				+[](Vec<complex_mp> const& p, Vec<complex_mp> const& q, double tol) -> bool {
 					return bertini::IsDistinct(p, q, tol); },
 				(arg("p"), arg("q"), arg("tol")),
-				"True if points p and q differ by more than tol in the infinity norm (max_i |p_i - q_i|); "
+				"True if points p and q differ by more than tol in the infinity norm (max_i abs(p_i - q_i)); "
 				"False if they are the same to within tol.  The tolerance-based point-equality test "
 				"(issue #304).  Accepts complex_mp or real_mp vectors; different-length points are distinct.");
 			def("is_distinct_up_to",