try to improve the language
diff --git a/docs/x509/reference.rst b/docs/x509/reference.rst
index 12fee80..529578b 100644
--- a/docs/x509/reference.rst
+++ b/docs/x509/reference.rst
@@ -1864,10 +1864,8 @@
.. versionadded:: 1.3
- The policy constraints extension can be used in certificates issued
- to CAs. The policy constraints extension constrains path validation
- in two ways. It can be used to prohibit policy mapping or require
- that each certificate in a path contain an acceptable policy
+ The policy constraints extension is used to inhibit policy mapping or
+ require that each certificate in a chain contain an acceptable policy
identifier. For more information about the use of this extension see
:rfc:`5280`.
@@ -1881,10 +1879,10 @@
:type: int or None
- If this field is present, the value indicates the number of additional
- certificates that may appear in the path before an explicit policy is
+ If this field is not None, the value indicates the number of additional
+ certificates that may appear in the chain before an explicit policy is
required for the entire path. When an explicit policy is required, it
- is necessary for all certificates in the path to contain an acceptable
+ is necessary for all certificates in the chain to contain an acceptable
policy identifier in the certificate policies extension. An
acceptable policy identifier is the identifier of a policy required
by the user of the certification path or the identifier of a policy
@@ -1894,11 +1892,11 @@
:type: int or None
- If this field is present, the value indicates the number of additional
- certificates that may appear in the path before policy mapping is no
+ If this field is not None, the value indicates the number of additional
+ certificates that may appear in the chain before policy mapping is no
longer permitted. For example, a value of one indicates that policy
mapping may be processed in certificates issued by the subject of this
- certificate, but not in additional certificates in the path.
+ certificate, but not in additional certificates in the chain.
.. class:: CRLNumber(crl_number)