diff --git a/docs/configuration.md b/docs/configuration.md
index 567aba07f0e914820435c3da99183630dbdac6e6..09342fedfc1a0224c80ec95fc18dd67d9e2a8c6a 100644
--- a/docs/configuration.md
+++ b/docs/configuration.md
@@ -81,7 +81,8 @@ there are at least five properties that you will commonly want to control:
   <td>
     When running on a <a href="spark-standalone.html">standalone deploy cluster</a> or a
     <a href="running-on-mesos.html#mesos-run-modes">Mesos cluster in "coarse-grained"
-    sharing mode</a>, how many CPU cores to request at most. The default will use all available cores
+    sharing mode</a>, the maximum amount of CPU cores to request for the application from
+    across the cluster (not from each machine). The default will use all available cores
     offered by the cluster manager.
   </td>
 </tr>