diff --git a/language/functions.xml b/language/functions.xml
index 4c7d948135..930348bd01 100644
--- a/language/functions.xml
+++ b/language/functions.xml
@@ -255,6 +255,20 @@ list ($zero, $one, $two) = small_numbers();
      </programlisting>
     </informalexample>
    </para>
+   <para>
+    To return a reference from a function, you have to use
+    the reference operator &amp; in both the function declaration and
+    when asigning the return value to a variable:
+    <informalexample>
+     <programlisting role="php">
+function &amp;returns_reference() {
+    return &amp;$someref;
+}
+
+$newref = &amp;returns_reference();
+     </programlisting>
+    </informalexample>
+   </para>
 
   </sect1>