diff --git a/api-ref/source/v3/messages.inc b/api-ref/source/v3/messages.inc
index 8fdea164acf..bbc42d71f37 100644
--- a/api-ref/source/v3/messages.inc
+++ b/api-ref/source/v3/messages.inc
@@ -3,7 +3,9 @@
 Messages
 ========
 
-Lists all, shows, and deletes messages.
+Lists all, shows, and deletes messages. These are error messages generated by
+failed operations as a way to find out what happened when an asynchronous
+operation failed.
 
 
 Delete message