diff --git a/Doc/library/string.rst b/Doc/library/string.rst
--- a/Doc/library/string.rst
+++ b/Doc/library/string.rst
@@ -281,12 +281,11 @@
 :func:`format` function.  Each formattable type may define how the format
 specification is to be interpreted.
 
-Most built-in types implement the following options for format specifications,
-although some of the formatting options are only supported by the numeric types.
-
-A general convention is that an empty format string (``""``) produces
-the same result as if you had called :func:`str` on the value. A
-non-empty format string typically modifies the result.
+A general convention is that an empty format specification produces the same
+result as if you had called :func:`str` on the value.  A non-empty format
+specification typically modifies the result.  Most built-in types implement
+various options for such modifications, although some are only supported
+by the numeric types.
 
 The general form of a *standard format specifier* is:
 
@@ -387,7 +386,7 @@
    | Type    | Meaning                                                  |
    +=========+==========================================================+
    | ``'s'`` | String format. This is the default type for strings and  |
-   |         | may be omitted.                                          |
+   |         | other non-numbers and may be omitted.                    |
    +---------+----------------------------------------------------------+
    | None    | The same as ``'s'``.                                     |
    +---------+----------------------------------------------------------+