diff --git a/man/groupadd.8.xml b/man/groupadd.8.xml
index f838c91e..56803b3c 100644
--- a/man/groupadd.8.xml
+++ b/man/groupadd.8.xml
@@ -334,13 +334,13 @@
 	<varlistentry>
 	  <term><replaceable>4</replaceable></term>
 	  <listitem>
-	    <para>GID not unique (when <option>-o</option> not used)</para>
+	    <para>GID is already used (when called without <option>-o</option>)</para>
 	  </listitem>
 	</varlistentry>
 	<varlistentry>
 	  <term><replaceable>9</replaceable></term>
 	  <listitem>
-	    <para>group name not unique</para>
+	    <para>group name is already used</para>
 	  </listitem>
 	</varlistentry>
 	<varlistentry>
diff --git a/man/groupmod.8.xml b/man/groupmod.8.xml
index 79233273..10062b08 100644
--- a/man/groupmod.8.xml
+++ b/man/groupmod.8.xml
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@
 	<varlistentry>
 	  <term><replaceable>4</replaceable></term>
 	  <listitem>
-	    <para>E_GID_IN_USE: specified group doesn't exist</para>
+	    <para>E_GID_IN_USE: group id already in use</para>
 	  </listitem>
 	</varlistentry>
 	<varlistentry>