diff --git a/docs/src/manpage.md b/docs/src/manpage.md
index acbf21a25..354307825 100644
--- a/docs/src/manpage.md
+++ b/docs/src/manpage.md
@@ -2502,32 +2502,32 @@ FUNCTIONS FOR FILTER/PUT
        Map example: sort({"c":2,"a":3,"b":1}, func(ak,av,bk,bv) {return bv <=> av}) returns {"a":3,"c":2,"b":1}.
 
    splita
-        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array with type inference.
+        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array with type inference. First argument is string to split; second is the separator to split on.
        Example:
        splita("3,4,5", ",") = [3,4,5]
 
    splitax
-        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array without type inference.
+        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array without type inference. First argument is string to split; second is the separator to split on.
        Example:
        splita("3,4,5", ",") = ["3","4","5"]
 
    splitkv
-        (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map with type inference.
+        (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map with type inference. First argument is string to split; second argument is pair separator; third argument is field separator.
        Example:
        splitkv("a=3,b=4,c=5", "=", ",") = {"a":3,"b":4,"c":5}
 
    splitkvx
-        (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map without type inference (keys and values are strings).
+        (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map without type inference (keys and values are strings). First argument is string to split; second argument is pair separator; third argument is field separator.
        Example:
        splitkvx("a=3,b=4,c=5", "=", ",") = {"a":"3","b":"4","c":"5"}
 
    splitnv
-        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map with type inference.
+        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map with type inference. First argument is string to split; second argument is separator to split on.
        Example:
        splitnv("a,b,c", ",") = {"1":"a","2":"b","3":"c"}
 
    splitnvx
-        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map without type inference (values are strings).
+        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map without type inference (values are strings). First argument is string to split; second argument is separator to split on.
        Example:
        splitnvx("3,4,5", ",") = {"1":"3","2":"4","3":"5"}
 
diff --git a/docs/src/manpage.txt b/docs/src/manpage.txt
index 101bfca26..603bcd290 100644
--- a/docs/src/manpage.txt
+++ b/docs/src/manpage.txt
@@ -2481,32 +2481,32 @@ FUNCTIONS FOR FILTER/PUT
        Map example: sort({"c":2,"a":3,"b":1}, func(ak,av,bk,bv) {return bv <=> av}) returns {"a":3,"c":2,"b":1}.
 
    splita
-        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array with type inference.
+        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array with type inference. First argument is string to split; second is the separator to split on.
        Example:
        splita("3,4,5", ",") = [3,4,5]
 
    splitax
-        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array without type inference.
+        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array without type inference. First argument is string to split; second is the separator to split on.
        Example:
        splita("3,4,5", ",") = ["3","4","5"]
 
    splitkv
-        (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map with type inference.
+        (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map with type inference. First argument is string to split; second argument is pair separator; third argument is field separator.
        Example:
        splitkv("a=3,b=4,c=5", "=", ",") = {"a":3,"b":4,"c":5}
 
    splitkvx
-        (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map without type inference (keys and values are strings).
+        (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map without type inference (keys and values are strings). First argument is string to split; second argument is pair separator; third argument is field separator.
        Example:
        splitkvx("a=3,b=4,c=5", "=", ",") = {"a":"3","b":"4","c":"5"}
 
    splitnv
-        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map with type inference.
+        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map with type inference. First argument is string to split; second argument is separator to split on.
        Example:
        splitnv("a,b,c", ",") = {"1":"a","2":"b","3":"c"}
 
    splitnvx
-        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map without type inference (values are strings).
+        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map without type inference (values are strings). First argument is string to split; second argument is separator to split on.
        Example:
        splitnvx("3,4,5", ",") = {"1":"3","2":"4","3":"5"}
 
diff --git a/docs/src/online-help.md b/docs/src/online-help.md
index 0b6d9a674..bfbecec99 100644
--- a/docs/src/online-help.md
+++ b/docs/src/online-help.md
@@ -242,7 +242,7 @@ append  (class=collections #args=2) Appends second argument to end of first argu
 <b>mlr help function splita</b>
 </pre>
 <pre class="pre-non-highlight-in-pair">
-splita  (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array with type inference.
+splita  (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array with type inference. First argument is string to split; second is the separator to split on.
 Example:
 splita("3,4,5", ",") = [3,4,5]
 </pre>
diff --git a/docs/src/reference-dsl-builtin-functions.md b/docs/src/reference-dsl-builtin-functions.md
index f742523e0..c6038e044 100644
--- a/docs/src/reference-dsl-builtin-functions.md
+++ b/docs/src/reference-dsl-builtin-functions.md
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ joinv({"a":3,"b":4,"c":5}, ",") = "3,4,5"
 
 ### splita
 <pre class="pre-non-highlight-non-pair">
-splita  (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array with type inference.
+splita  (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array with type inference. First argument is string to split; second is the separator to split on.
 Example:
 splita("3,4,5", ",") = [3,4,5]
 </pre>
@@ -543,7 +543,7 @@ splita("3,4,5", ",") = [3,4,5]
 
 ### splitax
 <pre class="pre-non-highlight-non-pair">
-splitax  (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array without type inference.
+splitax  (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array without type inference. First argument is string to split; second is the separator to split on.
 Example:
 splita("3,4,5", ",") = ["3","4","5"]
 </pre>
@@ -551,7 +551,7 @@ splita("3,4,5", ",") = ["3","4","5"]
 
 ### splitkv
 <pre class="pre-non-highlight-non-pair">
-splitkv  (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map with type inference.
+splitkv  (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map with type inference. First argument is string to split; second argument is pair separator; third argument is field separator.
 Example:
 splitkv("a=3,b=4,c=5", "=", ",") = {"a":3,"b":4,"c":5}
 </pre>
@@ -559,7 +559,7 @@ splitkv("a=3,b=4,c=5", "=", ",") = {"a":3,"b":4,"c":5}
 
 ### splitkvx
 <pre class="pre-non-highlight-non-pair">
-splitkvx  (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map without type inference (keys and values are strings).
+splitkvx  (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map without type inference (keys and values are strings). First argument is string to split; second argument is pair separator; third argument is field separator.
 Example:
 splitkvx("a=3,b=4,c=5", "=", ",") = {"a":"3","b":"4","c":"5"}
 </pre>
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ splitkvx("a=3,b=4,c=5", "=", ",") = {"a":"3","b":"4","c":"5"}
 
 ### splitnv
 <pre class="pre-non-highlight-non-pair">
-splitnv  (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map with type inference.
+splitnv  (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map with type inference. First argument is string to split; second argument is separator to split on.
 Example:
 splitnv("a,b,c", ",") = {"1":"a","2":"b","3":"c"}
 </pre>
@@ -575,7 +575,7 @@ splitnv("a,b,c", ",") = {"1":"a","2":"b","3":"c"}
 
 ### splitnvx
 <pre class="pre-non-highlight-non-pair">
-splitnvx  (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map without type inference (values are strings).
+splitnvx  (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map without type inference (values are strings). First argument is string to split; second argument is separator to split on.
 Example:
 splitnvx("3,4,5", ",") = {"1":"3","2":"4","3":"5"}
 </pre>
diff --git a/internal/pkg/dsl/cst/builtin_function_manager.go b/internal/pkg/dsl/cst/builtin_function_manager.go
index 2bf4f087a..33c92303a 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/dsl/cst/builtin_function_manager.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/dsl/cst/builtin_function_manager.go
@@ -1492,7 +1492,8 @@ second is pair-separator string; third is field-separator string. Mnemonic: the
 		{
 			name:  "splita",
 			class: FUNC_CLASS_CONVERSION,
-			help:  `Splits string into array with type inference.`,
+			help: `Splits string into array with type inference. First argument is string to split;
+second is the separator to split on.`,
 			examples: []string{
 				`splita("3,4,5", ",") = [3,4,5]`,
 			},
@@ -1502,7 +1503,8 @@ second is pair-separator string; third is field-separator string. Mnemonic: the
 		{
 			name:  "splitax",
 			class: FUNC_CLASS_CONVERSION,
-			help:  `Splits string into array without type inference.`,
+			help: `Splits string into array without type inference. First argument is string to split;
+second is the separator to split on.`,
 			examples: []string{
 				`splita("3,4,5", ",") = ["3","4","5"]`,
 			},
@@ -1512,7 +1514,8 @@ second is pair-separator string; third is field-separator string. Mnemonic: the
 		{
 			name:  "splitkv",
 			class: FUNC_CLASS_CONVERSION,
-			help:  `Splits string by separators into map with type inference.`,
+			help: `Splits string by separators into map with type inference. First argument is string to split;
+second argument is pair separator; third argument is field separator.`,
 			examples: []string{
 				`splitkv("a=3,b=4,c=5", "=", ",") = {"a":3,"b":4,"c":5}`,
 			},
@@ -1522,7 +1525,9 @@ second is pair-separator string; third is field-separator string. Mnemonic: the
 		{
 			name:  "splitkvx",
 			class: FUNC_CLASS_CONVERSION,
-			help:  `Splits string by separators into map without type inference (keys and values are strings).`,
+			help: `Splits string by separators into map without type inference
+(keys and values are strings). First argument is string to split; second
+argument is pair separator; third argument is field separator.`,
 			examples: []string{
 				`splitkvx("a=3,b=4,c=5", "=", ",") = {"a":"3","b":"4","c":"5"}`,
 			},
@@ -1532,7 +1537,8 @@ second is pair-separator string; third is field-separator string. Mnemonic: the
 		{
 			name:  "splitnv",
 			class: FUNC_CLASS_CONVERSION,
-			help:  `Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map with type inference.`,
+			help: `Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map with type inference. First argument is
+string to split; second argument is separator to split on.`,
 			examples: []string{
 				`splitnv("a,b,c", ",") = {"1":"a","2":"b","3":"c"}`,
 			},
@@ -1542,7 +1548,9 @@ second is pair-separator string; third is field-separator string. Mnemonic: the
 		{
 			name:  "splitnvx",
 			class: FUNC_CLASS_CONVERSION,
-			help:  `Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map without type inference (values are strings).`,
+			help: `Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map without
+type inference (values are strings). First argument is string to split; second
+argument is separator to split on.`,
 			examples: []string{
 				`splitnvx("3,4,5", ",") = {"1":"3","2":"4","3":"5"}`,
 			},
diff --git a/man/manpage.txt b/man/manpage.txt
index 101bfca26..603bcd290 100644
--- a/man/manpage.txt
+++ b/man/manpage.txt
@@ -2481,32 +2481,32 @@ FUNCTIONS FOR FILTER/PUT
        Map example: sort({"c":2,"a":3,"b":1}, func(ak,av,bk,bv) {return bv <=> av}) returns {"a":3,"c":2,"b":1}.
 
    splita
-        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array with type inference.
+        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array with type inference. First argument is string to split; second is the separator to split on.
        Example:
        splita("3,4,5", ",") = [3,4,5]
 
    splitax
-        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array without type inference.
+        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array without type inference. First argument is string to split; second is the separator to split on.
        Example:
        splita("3,4,5", ",") = ["3","4","5"]
 
    splitkv
-        (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map with type inference.
+        (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map with type inference. First argument is string to split; second argument is pair separator; third argument is field separator.
        Example:
        splitkv("a=3,b=4,c=5", "=", ",") = {"a":3,"b":4,"c":5}
 
    splitkvx
-        (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map without type inference (keys and values are strings).
+        (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map without type inference (keys and values are strings). First argument is string to split; second argument is pair separator; third argument is field separator.
        Example:
        splitkvx("a=3,b=4,c=5", "=", ",") = {"a":"3","b":"4","c":"5"}
 
    splitnv
-        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map with type inference.
+        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map with type inference. First argument is string to split; second argument is separator to split on.
        Example:
        splitnv("a,b,c", ",") = {"1":"a","2":"b","3":"c"}
 
    splitnvx
-        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map without type inference (values are strings).
+        (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map without type inference (values are strings). First argument is string to split; second argument is separator to split on.
        Example:
        splitnvx("3,4,5", ",") = {"1":"3","2":"4","3":"5"}
 
diff --git a/man/mlr.1 b/man/mlr.1
index e2a12b478..1dc18c120 100644
--- a/man/mlr.1
+++ b/man/mlr.1
@@ -3828,7 +3828,7 @@ Map example: sort({"c":2,"a":3,"b":1}, func(ak,av,bk,bv) {return bv <=> av}) ret
 .RS 0
 .\}
 .nf
- (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array with type inference.
+ (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array with type inference. First argument is string to split; second is the separator to split on.
 Example:
 splita("3,4,5", ",") = [3,4,5]
 .fi
@@ -3839,7 +3839,7 @@ splita("3,4,5", ",") = [3,4,5]
 .RS 0
 .\}
 .nf
- (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array without type inference.
+ (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string into array without type inference. First argument is string to split; second is the separator to split on.
 Example:
 splita("3,4,5", ",") = ["3","4","5"]
 .fi
@@ -3850,7 +3850,7 @@ splita("3,4,5", ",") = ["3","4","5"]
 .RS 0
 .\}
 .nf
- (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map with type inference.
+ (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map with type inference. First argument is string to split; second argument is pair separator; third argument is field separator.
 Example:
 splitkv("a=3,b=4,c=5", "=", ",") = {"a":3,"b":4,"c":5}
 .fi
@@ -3861,7 +3861,7 @@ splitkv("a=3,b=4,c=5", "=", ",") = {"a":3,"b":4,"c":5}
 .RS 0
 .\}
 .nf
- (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map without type inference (keys and values are strings).
+ (class=conversion #args=3) Splits string by separators into map without type inference (keys and values are strings). First argument is string to split; second argument is pair separator; third argument is field separator.
 Example:
 splitkvx("a=3,b=4,c=5", "=", ",") = {"a":"3","b":"4","c":"5"}
 .fi
@@ -3872,7 +3872,7 @@ splitkvx("a=3,b=4,c=5", "=", ",") = {"a":"3","b":"4","c":"5"}
 .RS 0
 .\}
 .nf
- (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map with type inference.
+ (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map with type inference. First argument is string to split; second argument is separator to split on.
 Example:
 splitnv("a,b,c", ",") = {"1":"a","2":"b","3":"c"}
 .fi
@@ -3883,7 +3883,7 @@ splitnv("a,b,c", ",") = {"1":"a","2":"b","3":"c"}
 .RS 0
 .\}
 .nf
- (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map without type inference (values are strings).
+ (class=conversion #args=2) Splits string by separator into integer-indexed map without type inference (values are strings). First argument is string to split; second argument is separator to split on.
 Example:
 splitnvx("3,4,5", ",") = {"1":"3","2":"4","3":"5"}
 .fi