diff --git a/Doc/library/os.rst b/Doc/library/os.rst
index 1cb450b..6136e41 100644
--- a/Doc/library/os.rst
+++ b/Doc/library/os.rst
@@ -681,10 +681,11 @@
       :func:`fdopen`, or :data:`sys.stdout` or :data:`sys.stderr`, use its :meth:`write`
       method.
 
-The following data items are available for use in constructing the *flags*
-parameter to the :func:`open` function.  Some items will not be available on all
-platforms.  For descriptions of their availability and use, consult
-:manpage:`open(2)`.
+The following constants are options for the *flags* parameter to the
+:func:`open` function.  They can be combined using the bitwise OR operator
+``|``.  Some of them are not available on all platforms.  For descriptions of
+their availability and use, consult the :manpage:`open(2)` manual page or the
+respective documentation for your operating system.
 
 
 .. data:: O_RDONLY
@@ -695,8 +696,7 @@
           O_EXCL
           O_TRUNC
 
-   Options for the *flag* argument to the :func:`open` function. These can be
-   combined using the bitwise OR operator ``|``. Availability: Unix, Windows.
+   These constants are available on Unix and Windows.
 
 
 .. data:: O_DSYNC
@@ -708,8 +708,7 @@
           O_SHLOCK
           O_EXLOCK
 
-   More options for the *flag* argument to the :func:`open` function. Availability:
-   Unix.
+   These constants are only available on Unix.
 
 
 .. data:: O_BINARY
@@ -720,8 +719,7 @@
           O_SEQUENTIAL
           O_TEXT
 
-   Options for the *flag* argument to the :func:`open` function. These can be
-   combined using the bitwise OR operator ``|``. Availability: Windows.
+   These constants are only available on Windows.
 
 
 .. data:: O_ASYNC
@@ -730,8 +728,8 @@
           O_NOFOLLOW
           O_NOATIME
 
-   Options for the *flag* argument to the :func:`open` function. These are
-   GNU extensions and not present if they are not defined by the C library.
+   These constants are GNU extensions and not present if they are not defined by
+   the C library.
 
 
 .. data:: SEEK_SET