diff --git a/e2e/USER_STORIES.md b/e2e/USER_STORIES.md
index 887faddb..57b7d8ff 100644
--- a/e2e/USER_STORIES.md
+++ b/e2e/USER_STORIES.md
@@ -623,13 +623,13 @@ care about, so that a stranger cannot bury them.
 
 Acceptance:
 
-- The chat list has a Conversations tab and a Requests tab, each carrying its own count.
+- The chat list has a Conversations tab and a Requests tab, each with its own count.
 - Someone I follow opens under Conversations and someone I share nothing with opens under Requests.
   A member of a space I belong to, a sender enough of my follows follow, and a message carrying
   enough proof of work each count as a connection too.
-- Choosing Requests shows the held conversation, which reads and opens like any other.
-- A chat I have written in is mine whatever I know about the other person, so answering a request
-  moves it to Conversations.
+- Choosing Requests shows the chat held there, and it reads and opens like any other.
+- A chat I have written in appears under Conversations whatever I know about the other person,
+  so answering a request moves it there.
 
 ## Articles & threads
 
diff --git a/e2e/specs/dms.spec.ts b/e2e/specs/dms.spec.ts
index 0eae02c2..1bce434c 100644
--- a/e2e/specs/dms.spec.ts
+++ b/e2e/specs/dms.spec.ts
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ const seedPerson = (space: SeededSpace, user: TestUser, name: string, ...rooms:
 
 const chatFilter = (page: Page) => page.locator(".secondary-nav input[type='text']")
 
-// The chat list renders twice, once per breakpoint, so a tab is named inside the sidebar.
+// The chat list renders twice, once per breakpoint, so this scopes the tab to the sidebar.
 const chatTab = (page: Page, name: string) =>
   page.locator(".secondary-nav").getByRole("button", {name})
 
diff --git a/src/routes/settings/privacy/+page.svelte b/src/routes/settings/privacy/+page.svelte
index 2d883b59..f5c6070e 100644
--- a/src/routes/settings/privacy/+page.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/settings/privacy/+page.svelte
@@ -148,8 +148,8 @@
         Message Requests
       </strong>
       <p class="text-sm opacity-50">
-        Messages from people you have no connection to wait in the Requests tab of your chat list.
-        These two thresholds are the other ways in.
+        Messages from people you have no connection to appear in the Requests tab of your chat list.
+        A sender who meets either threshold below reaches your conversations instead.
       </p>
       <Field>
         {#snippet label()}
@@ -170,8 +170,8 @@
         {#snippet info()}
           <p>
             A sender who spends this much proof of work reaches your conversations whether or not
-            you know them. Each step up doubles what it costs them, and {PLATFORM_NAME} spends 16 bits
-            on every message you send.
+            you know them. Each step up doubles the work they have to do, and {PLATFORM_NAME} spends 16
+            bits on every message you send.
           </p>
         {/snippet}
       </Field>
@@ -192,10 +192,7 @@
             bind:value={$settings.min_dm_wot} />
         {/snippet}
         {#snippet info()}
-          <p>
-            How many of the people you follow have to follow a sender for you to count as knowing
-            them.
-          </p>
+          <p>A sender counts as known when this many of the people you follow also follow them.</p>
         {/snippet}
       </Field>
     </Card>