diff --git a/tools/run-mypy b/tools/run-mypy
index 3056519790..7a306e6d3c 100755
--- a/tools/run-mypy
+++ b/tools/run-mypy
@@ -25,31 +25,29 @@ zproject/test_settings.py
 
 parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description="Run mypy on files tracked by git.")
 parser.add_argument('targets', nargs='*',
-                    help="""files and directories to include in the result.
-                    If this is not specified, the current directory is used""")
+                    help="files and directories to check (default: .)")
 parser.add_argument('-m', '--modified', action='store_true',
-                    help='list only modified files')
+                    help="check only modified files")
 parser.add_argument('-a', '--all', action='store_true',
-                    help="""run mypy on all python files, ignoring the exclude list.
-                    This is useful if you have to find out which files fail mypy check.""")
+                    help="check all files, bypassing the default exclude list")
 parser.add_argument('--linecoverage-report', action='store_true',
-                    help="""run the linecoverage report to see annotation coverage""")
+                    help="emit a coverage report under var/")
 parser.add_argument('--no-disallow-untyped-defs',
                     dest='disallow_untyped_defs', action='store_false',
-                    help="""Don't throw errors when functions are not annotated""")
+                    help="don't pass --disallow-untyped-defs to mypy")
 parser.add_argument('--scripts-only', action='store_true',
-                    help="""Only type check extensionless python scripts""")
+                    help="only check extensionless python scripts")
 parser.add_argument('--strict-optional', action='store_true',
-                    help="""Use the --strict-optional flag with mypy""")
+                    help="pass --strict-optional to mypy")
 parser.add_argument('--warn-unused-ignores', action='store_true',
-                    help="""Use the --warn-unused-ignores flag with mypy""")
+                    help="pass --warn-unused-ignores to mypy")
 parser.add_argument('--no-ignore-missing-imports',
                     dest='ignore_missing_imports', action='store_false',
-                    help="""Don't use the --ignore-missing-imports flag with mypy""")
+                    help="don't pass --ignore-missing-imports to mypy")
 parser.add_argument('--quick', action='store_true',
-                    help="""Use the --quick flag with mypy""")
+                    help="pass --quick to mypy")
 parser.add_argument('--force', action="store_true",
-                    help='Run tests despite possible provisioning problems.')
+                    help="run tests despite possible provisioning problems")
 args = parser.parse_args()
 
 if not args.force: