diff --git a/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/String.java b/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/String.java
index 968e96241b8..5de256966c1 100644
--- a/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/String.java
+++ b/src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/String.java
@@ -2180,14 +2180,23 @@ public final class String
      *
      * <p> The {@code limit} parameter controls the number of times the
      * pattern is applied and therefore affects the length of the resulting
-     * array.  If the limit <i>n</i> is greater than zero then the pattern
-     * will be applied at most <i>n</i>&nbsp;-&nbsp;1 times, the array's
-     * length will be no greater than <i>n</i>, and the array's last entry
-     * will contain all input beyond the last matched delimiter.  If <i>n</i>
-     * is non-positive then the pattern will be applied as many times as
-     * possible and the array can have any length.  If <i>n</i> is zero then
-     * the pattern will be applied as many times as possible, the array can
-     * have any length, and trailing empty strings will be discarded.
+     * array.
+     * <ul>
+     *    <li><p>
+     *    If the <i>limit</i> is positive then the pattern will be applied
+     *    at most <i>limit</i>&nbsp;-&nbsp;1 times, the array's length will be
+     *    no greater than <i>limit</i>, and the array's last entry will contain
+     *    all input beyond the last matched delimiter.</p></li>
+     *
+     *    <li><p>
+     *    If the <i>limit</i> is zero then the pattern will be applied as
+     *    many times as possible, the array can have any length, and trailing
+     *    empty strings will be discarded.</p></li>
+     *
+     *    <li><p>
+     *    If the <i>limit</i> is negative then the pattern will be applied
+     *    as many times as possible and the array can have any length.</p></li>
+     * </ul>
      *
      * <p> The string {@code "boo:and:foo"}, for example, yields the
      * following results with these parameters:
diff --git a/src/java.base/share/classes/java/util/regex/Pattern.java b/src/java.base/share/classes/java/util/regex/Pattern.java
index dc74eb669ba..cd7cd39f55d 100644
--- a/src/java.base/share/classes/java/util/regex/Pattern.java
+++ b/src/java.base/share/classes/java/util/regex/Pattern.java
@@ -1193,14 +1193,23 @@ public final class Pattern
      *
      * <p> The {@code limit} parameter controls the number of times the
      * pattern is applied and therefore affects the length of the resulting
-     * array.  If the limit <i>n</i> is greater than zero then the pattern
-     * will be applied at most <i>n</i>&nbsp;-&nbsp;1 times, the array's
-     * length will be no greater than <i>n</i>, and the array's last entry
-     * will contain all input beyond the last matched delimiter.  If <i>n</i>
-     * is non-positive then the pattern will be applied as many times as
-     * possible and the array can have any length.  If <i>n</i> is zero then
-     * the pattern will be applied as many times as possible, the array can
-     * have any length, and trailing empty strings will be discarded.
+     * array.
+     * <ul>
+     *    <li><p>
+     *    If the <i>limit</i> is positive then the pattern will be applied
+     *    at most <i>limit</i>&nbsp;-&nbsp;1 times, the array's length will be
+     *    no greater than <i>limit</i>, and the array's last entry will contain
+     *    all input beyond the last matched delimiter.</p></li>
+     *
+     *    <li><p>
+     *    If the <i>limit</i> is zero then the pattern will be applied as
+     *    many times as possible, the array can have any length, and trailing
+     *    empty strings will be discarded.</p></li>
+     *
+     *    <li><p>
+     *    If the <i>limit</i> is negative then the pattern will be applied
+     *    as many times as possible and the array can have any length.</p></li>
+     * </ul>
      *
      * <p> The input {@code "boo:and:foo"}, for example, yields the following
      * results with these parameters: