diff --git a/templates/zerver/help/change-the-stream-description.md b/templates/zerver/help/change-the-stream-description.md
index 55ebf248de..2483f6be7e 100644
--- a/templates/zerver/help/change-the-stream-description.md
+++ b/templates/zerver/help/change-the-stream-description.md
@@ -1,5 +1,13 @@
 # Change the stream description
 
+Streams descriptions are displayed when viewing the stream in the
+apps, and can be used to explain the purpose of a stream and link to
+usage guidelines, resources, or related streams.
+
+Stream descriptions support Zulip's standard [Markdown
+formatting][markdown-formatting], with the exception that image
+previews are disabled.
+
 {!admin-only.md!}
 
 {start_tabs}
@@ -14,3 +22,5 @@
 1. Click the **checkmark** to save.
 
 {end_tabs}
+
+[markdown-formatting]: /help/format-your-message-using-markdown