diff --git a/cli/src/commands/next.rs b/cli/src/commands/next.rs
index 976e919f9..19ad069ca 100644
--- a/cli/src/commands/next.rs
+++ b/cli/src/commands/next.rs
@@ -25,31 +25,34 @@ use crate::ui::Ui;
 
 /// Move the working-copy commit to the child revision
 ///
-/// The command moves you to the next child in a linear fashion.
+/// The command creates a new empty working copy revision that is the child of a
+/// descendant `offset` revisions ahead of the parent of the current working
+/// copy.
+///
+/// For example, when the offset is 1:
 ///
 /// ```text
-/// D      D @
-/// |      |/
-/// C @ => C
-/// |/     |
-/// B      B
+/// D        D @
+/// |        |/
+/// C @  =>  C
+/// |/       |
+/// B        B
 /// ```
 ///
-/// If `--edit` is passed, it will move you directly to the child
-/// revision.
+/// If `--edit` is passed, the working copy revision is changed to the child of
+/// the current working copy revision.
 ///
 /// ```text
-/// D    D
-/// |    |
-/// C    C
-/// |    |
-/// B => @
-/// |    |
-/// @    A
-///
+/// D        D
+/// |        |
+/// C        C
+/// |        |
+/// B   =>   @
+/// |        |
+/// @        A
+/// ```
 /// If your working-copy commit already has visible children, then `--edit` is
 /// implied.
-/// ```
 #[derive(clap::Args, Clone, Debug)]
 #[command(verbatim_doc_comment)]
 pub(crate) struct NextArgs {
diff --git a/cli/tests/cli-reference@.md.snap b/cli/tests/cli-reference@.md.snap
index 27b03d61d..65b1da040 100644
--- a/cli/tests/cli-reference@.md.snap
+++ b/cli/tests/cli-reference@.md.snap
@@ -1148,31 +1148,34 @@ For more information, see https://github.com/martinvonz/jj/blob/main/docs/workin
 
 Move the working-copy commit to the child revision
 
-The command moves you to the next child in a linear fashion.
+The command creates a new empty working copy revision that is the child of a
+descendant `offset` revisions ahead of the parent of the current working
+copy.
+
+For example, when the offset is 1:
 
 ```text
-D      D @
-|      |/
-C @ => C
-|/     |
-B      B
+D        D @
+|        |/
+C @  =>  C
+|/       |
+B        B
 ```
 
-If `--edit` is passed, it will move you directly to the child
-revision.
+If `--edit` is passed, the working copy revision is changed to the child of
+the current working copy revision.
 
 ```text
-D    D
-|    |
-C    C
-|    |
-B => @
-|    |
-@    A
-
+D        D
+|        |
+C        C
+|        |
+B   =>   @
+|        |
+@        A
+```
 If your working-copy commit already has visible children, then `--edit` is
 implied.
-```
 
 **Usage:** `jj next [OPTIONS] [OFFSET]`