diff --git a/language/types.xml b/language/types.xml
index 424846d9b6..fadfb8756d 100644
--- a/language/types.xml
+++ b/language/types.xml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <?xml encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
-<!-- $Revision: 1.54 $ -->
+<!-- $Revision: 1.55 $ -->
  <chapter id="language.types">
   <title>Types</title>
 
@@ -104,6 +104,20 @@
    rather, it is decided at runtime by PHP depending on the context in
    which that variable is used.
   </simpara>
+  <tip>
+   <simpara>
+    If you want to check out the type and value of a certain <link
+     linkend="language.expressions">expression</link>, use
+    <function>var_dump</function>.
+   </simpara>
+   <simpara>
+    If you simply want a human-readable representation of the type for
+    debugging, use <function>gettype</function>. To check for a certain type,
+    do <emphasis>not</emphasis> use <function>gettype</function>, but use the
+    <literal>is_<replaceable>type</replaceable></literal> functions.
+   </simpara>
+   <!-- TODO: example(s) would be great -->
+  </tip>
   <simpara>
    If you would like to force a variable to be converted to a certain
    type, you may either <link