diff --git a/reference/intl/messageformatter/create.xml b/reference/intl/messageformatter/create.xml
index 0647069bd1..5afa0aad2b 100755
--- a/reference/intl/messageformatter/create.xml
+++ b/reference/intl/messageformatter/create.xml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
-<!-- $Revision: 1.2 $ -->
+<!-- $Revision: 1.3 $ -->
 <refentry xmlns="http://docbook.org/ns/docbook" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xml:id="messageformatter.create">
  <refnamediv>
   <refname>MessageFormatter::create</refname>
@@ -57,7 +57,11 @@
      <term><parameter>pattern</parameter></term>
      <listitem>
       <para>
-       The pattern string to stick arguments into
+       The pattern string to stick arguments into. 
+       The pattern uses an 'apostrophe-friendly' syntax; it is run through
+       <link
+       xlink:href="&url.icu.autoQuoteApostrophe;">umsg_autoQuoteApostrophe</link> 
+       before being interpreted.
       </para>
      </listitem>
     </varlistentry>
diff --git a/reference/intl/messageformatter/format-message.xml b/reference/intl/messageformatter/format-message.xml
index 8325c03a16..906b11e79a 100755
--- a/reference/intl/messageformatter/format-message.xml
+++ b/reference/intl/messageformatter/format-message.xml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
-<!-- $Revision: 1.2 $ -->
+<!-- $Revision: 1.3 $ -->
 <refentry xmlns="http://docbook.org/ns/docbook" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xml:id="messageformatter.formatmessage">
  <refnamediv>
   <refname>MessageFormatter::formatMessage</refname>
@@ -54,7 +54,11 @@
      <term><parameter>pattern</parameter></term>
      <listitem>
       <para>
-       The pattern <type>string</type> to insert things into
+       The pattern <type>string</type> to insert things into.
+       The pattern uses an 'apostrophe-friendly' syntax; it is run through
+       <link
+       xlink:href="&url.icu.autoQuoteApostrophe;">umsg_autoQuoteApostrophe</link> 
+       before being interpreted.
       </para>
      </listitem>
     </varlistentry>
diff --git a/reference/intl/messageformatter/set-pattern.xml b/reference/intl/messageformatter/set-pattern.xml
index a4da593e99..bacd2b07ae 100644
--- a/reference/intl/messageformatter/set-pattern.xml
+++ b/reference/intl/messageformatter/set-pattern.xml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
-<!-- $Revision: 1.2 $ -->
+<!-- $Revision: 1.3 $ -->
 <refentry xmlns="http://docbook.org/ns/docbook" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" xml:id="messageformatter.setpattern">
  <refnamediv>
   <refname>MessageFormatter::setPattern</refname>
@@ -47,7 +47,11 @@
      <term><parameter>pattern</parameter></term>
      <listitem>
       <para>
-       The pattern <type>string</type> to use in this message formatter
+       The pattern <type>string</type> to use in this message formatter.
+       The pattern uses an 'apostrophe-friendly' syntax; it is run through
+       <link
+       xlink:href="&url.icu.autoQuoteApostrophe;">umsg_autoQuoteApostrophe</link> 
+       before being interpreted.
       </para>
      </listitem>
     </varlistentry>