diff --git a/Lib/distutils/command/check.py b/Lib/distutils/command/check.py
index 04c2f96..7ceabd3 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/command/check.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/command/check.py
@@ -80,8 +80,11 @@
     def check_metadata(self):
         """Ensures that all required elements of meta-data are supplied.
 
-        name, version, URL, (author and author_email) or
-        (maintainer and maintainer_email)).
+        Required fields:
+            name, version, URL
+
+        Recommended fields:
+            (author and author_email) or (maintainer and maintainer_email))
 
         Warns if any are missing.
         """
@@ -97,15 +100,15 @@
         if metadata.author:
             if not metadata.author_email:
                 self.warn("missing meta-data: if 'author' supplied, " +
-                          "'author_email' must be supplied too")
+                          "'author_email' should be supplied too")
         elif metadata.maintainer:
             if not metadata.maintainer_email:
                 self.warn("missing meta-data: if 'maintainer' supplied, " +
-                          "'maintainer_email' must be supplied too")
+                          "'maintainer_email' should be supplied too")
         else:
             self.warn("missing meta-data: either (author and author_email) " +
                       "or (maintainer and maintainer_email) " +
-                      "must be supplied")
+                      "should be supplied")
 
     def check_restructuredtext(self):
         """Checks if the long string fields are reST-compliant."""