diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9be5bc611..86bc58724 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ USAGE:
     BASIC COMMANDS
     
         init          Initialize ipfs local configuration
-        add <path>    Add an object to ipfs
+        add <path>    Add a file to ipfs
         cat <ref>     Show ipfs object data
         get <ref>     Download ipfs objects
         ls <ref>      List links from an object
diff --git a/core/commands/add.go b/core/commands/add.go
index 3690138e8..e05a871d7 100644
--- a/core/commands/add.go
+++ b/core/commands/add.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ const (
 
 var AddCmd = &cmds.Command{
 	Helptext: cmds.HelpText{
-		Tagline: "Add an object to ipfs.",
+		Tagline: "Add a file to ipfs.",
 		ShortDescription: `
 Adds contents of <path> to ipfs. Use -r to add directories.
 Note that directories are added recursively, to form the ipfs
diff --git a/core/commands/root.go b/core/commands/root.go
index f0fb2eee1..a0d4c6e64 100644
--- a/core/commands/root.go
+++ b/core/commands/root.go
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ ipfs [<flags>] <command> [<arg>] ...
 BASIC COMMANDS
 
     init          Initialize ipfs local configuration
-    add <path>    Add an object to ipfs
+    add <path>    Add a file to ipfs
     cat <ref>     Show ipfs object data
     get <ref>     Download ipfs objects
     ls <ref>      List links from an object