diff --git a/reference/bc/functions/bcscale.xml b/reference/bc/functions/bcscale.xml
index 0c8ec527c5..e705837888 100644
--- a/reference/bc/functions/bcscale.xml
+++ b/reference/bc/functions/bcscale.xml
@@ -3,20 +3,25 @@
 <refentry xml:id="function.bcscale" xmlns="http://docbook.org/ns/docbook">
  <refnamediv>
   <refname>bcscale</refname>
-  <refpurpose>Set default scale parameter for all bc math functions</refpurpose>
+  <refpurpose>Set or get default scale parameter for all bc math functions</refpurpose>
  </refnamediv>
  
  <refsect1 role="description">
   &reftitle.description;
   <methodsynopsis>
    <type>int</type><methodname>bcscale</methodname>
-   <methodparam choice="opt"><type>int</type><parameter>scale</parameter></methodparam>
+   <methodparam><type>int</type><parameter>scale</parameter></methodparam>
   </methodsynopsis>
   <para>
    Sets the default scale parameter for all subsequent calls to bc math functions that
    do not explicitly specify a scale parameter.
-   If <parameter>scale</parameter> is omitted, the function gets the current
-   scale factor.
+  </para>
+  <methodsynopsis>
+   <type>int</type><methodname>bcscale</methodname>
+   <void/>
+  </methodsynopsis>
+  <para>
+   Gets the current scale factor.
   </para>
  </refsect1>
 
@@ -39,7 +44,7 @@
  <refsect1 role="returnvalues">
   &reftitle.returnvalues;
   <para>
-   Returns the old scale.
+   Returns the old scale when used as setter. Otherwise the current scale is returned.
   </para>
  </refsect1>