diff --git a/symposion/proposals/models.py b/symposion/proposals/models.py
index c71b025a..7194977b 100644
--- a/symposion/proposals/models.py
+++ b/symposion/proposals/models.py
@@ -85,15 +85,15 @@ class ProposalBase(models.Model):
     description = models.TextField(
         _("Brief Outline"),
         max_length=400,  # @@@ need to enforce 400 in UI
-        help_text="If your talk is accepted this will be made public and printed in the program. Should be one paragraph, maximum 400 characters."
+        help_text="If your proposal is accepted this will be made public and printed in the program. Should be one paragraph, maximum 400 characters."
     )
     abstract = MarkupField(
         _("Detailed Abstract"),
-        help_text=_("Detailed description and outline. Will be made public if your talk is accepted. Edit using <a href='http://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown/basics' target='_blank'>Markdown</a>.")
+        help_text=_("Detailed description and outline. Will be made public if your proposal is accepted. Edit using <a href='http://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown/basics' target='_blank'>Markdown</a>.")
     )
     additional_notes = MarkupField(
         blank=True,
-        help_text=_("Anything else you'd like the program committee to know when making their selection: your past speaking experience, open source community experience, etc. Edit using <a href='http://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown/basics' target='_blank'>Markdown</a>.")
+        help_text=_("Anything else you'd like the program committee to know when making their selection: your past experience, etc. This is not made public. Edit using <a href='http://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown/basics' target='_blank'>Markdown</a>.")
     )
     submitted = models.DateTimeField(
         default=datetime.datetime.now,