diff --git a/Lib/pydoc.py b/Lib/pydoc.py
--- a/Lib/pydoc.py
+++ b/Lib/pydoc.py
@@ -1847,10 +1847,10 @@
 Python programs and using Python modules.  To quit this help utility and
 return to the interpreter, just type "quit".
 
-To get a list of available modules, keywords, or topics, type "modules",
-"keywords", or "topics".  Each module also comes with a one-line summary
-of what it does; to list the modules whose summaries contain a given word
-such as "spam", type "modules spam".
+To get a list of available modules, keywords, symbols, or topics, type
+"modules", "keywords", "symbols", or "topics".  Each module also comes
+with a one-line summary of what it does; to list the modules whose name
+or summary contain a given string such as "spam", type "modules spam".
 ''' % tuple([sys.version[:3]]*2))
 
     def list(self, items, columns=4, width=80):
@@ -1955,9 +1955,10 @@
     def listmodules(self, key=''):
         if key:
             self.output.write('''
-Here is a list of matching modules.  Enter any module name to get more help.
+Here is a list of modules whose name or summary contains '{}'.
+If there are any, enter a module name to get more help.
 
-''')
+'''.format(key))
             apropos(key)
         else:
             self.output.write('''
@@ -1976,7 +1977,7 @@
             self.list(modules.keys())
             self.output.write('''
 Enter any module name to get more help.  Or, type "modules spam" to search
-for modules whose descriptions contain the word "spam".
+for modules whose name or summary contain the string "spam".
 ''')
 
 help = Helper()