diff --git a/doc/pages/commands.asciidoc b/doc/pages/commands.asciidoc
index 6b5a48e57c..e386ed619d 100644
--- a/doc/pages/commands.asciidoc
+++ b/doc/pages/commands.asciidoc
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ Some commands take an exclamation mark (*!*), which can be used to force
 the execution of the command (i.e. to quit a modified buffer, the
 command *q!* has to be used). Aliases are mentioned below each command.
 
+For all commands that accept switches, a parameter beginning with
+a single dash (*-*) will be interpreted as a switch. Any unknown switches
+will cause an error. To force the remaining parameters to not be interpreted as
+switches even if they begin with a dash, you can pass two dashes (*--*) as a parameter.
+
 *doc* <topic>::
     *alias* help +
     display documentation about a topic. The completion list displays the