diff --git a/src/main/java/htsjdk/samtools/SAMRecord.java b/src/main/java/htsjdk/samtools/SAMRecord.java
index 13ec3860a..9f03b2312 100644
--- a/src/main/java/htsjdk/samtools/SAMRecord.java
+++ b/src/main/java/htsjdk/samtools/SAMRecord.java
@@ -572,14 +572,16 @@ protected static String resolveNameFromIndex(final int referenceIndex, final SAM
     }
 
     /**
-     * @return 1-based inclusive leftmost position of the clipped sequence, or 0 if there is no position.
+     * @return 1-based inclusive leftmost position of the sequence remaining after clipping, or 0 
+     * if there is no position, e.g. for unmapped read.
      */
     public int getAlignmentStart() {
         return mAlignmentStart;
     }
 
     /**
-     * @param value 1-based inclusive leftmost position of the clipped sequence, or 0 if there is no position.
+     * @param value 1-based inclusive leftmost position of the sequence remaining after clipping or 0 
+     * if there is no position, e.g. for unmapped read.
      */
     public void setAlignmentStart(final int value) {
         mAlignmentStart = value;
@@ -590,7 +592,8 @@ public void setAlignmentStart(final int value) {
     }
 
     /**
-     * @return 1-based inclusive rightmost position of the clipped sequence, or 0 read if unmapped.
+     * @return 1-based inclusive rightmost position of the sequence remaining after clipping or 0 
+     * if there is no position, e.g. for unmapped read.
      */
     public int getAlignmentEnd() {
         if (getReadUnmappedFlag()) {