diff --git a/language/references.xml b/language/references.xml
index e613c5a329..bd82761cd9 100644
--- a/language/references.xml
+++ b/language/references.xml
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 <?xml version="1.0" encoding="iso-8859-1"?>
-<!-- $Revision: 1.37 $ -->
+<!-- $Revision: 1.38 $ -->
  <chapter id="language.references">
   <title>References Explained</title>
 
@@ -350,6 +350,8 @@ $foo->x = 2;
      return by-reference, not a copy as usual, and to indicate that
      reference binding, rather than usual assignment, should be done
      for <varname>$foo</varname>.
+     <literal>&amp;</literal> by function definition is optional in
+     <link linkend="keyword.class">class</link> methods.
     </simpara>
    </note>
   </sect1>