diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/list.rb b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/list.rb
index c67ed6e223121e430a7e990f5600d9af2689e3be..556f60bc35ae115135a5f82769af1a4a54f9d9fd 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/cmd/list.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/cmd/list.rb
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ module Homebrew
         If <formula> is provided, summarise the paths within its current keg.
       EOS
       switch "--formula", "--formulae",
-             description: "List only formulae. This is the default when output is not to a terminal."
+             description: "List only formulae."
       switch "--cask", "--casks",
              description: "List only casks, or <cask> if provided."
       switch "--unbrewed",
diff --git a/docs/Manpage.md b/docs/Manpage.md
index 8c2c809f51e57e7296f81816847a262766a03800..3d833eabed8c085940b9b81c37c6e6224cfee429 100644
--- a/docs/Manpage.md
+++ b/docs/Manpage.md
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ List all installed formulae and casks.
 If *`formula`* is provided, summarise the paths within its current keg.
 
 * `--formula`:
-  List only formulae. This is the default when output is not to a terminal.
+  List only formulae.
 * `--cask`:
   List only casks, or *`cask`* if provided.
 * `--unbrewed`:
diff --git a/manpages/brew.1 b/manpages/brew.1
index 0d2eeaf63b9a46d5fca2db669ae1d596b32cbd73..d9777aad0da42aa9d4787492008ac695360f9cff 100644
--- a/manpages/brew.1
+++ b/manpages/brew.1
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ If \fIformula\fR is provided, summarise the paths within its current keg\.
 .
 .TP
 \fB\-\-formula\fR
-List only formulae\. This is the default when output is not to a terminal\.
+List only formulae\.
 .
 .TP
 \fB\-\-cask\fR