diff --git a/data/event-schemas/schema/m.reaction.yaml b/data/event-schemas/schema/m.reaction.yaml
index 4d8ce43b..6d369c5f 100644
--- a/data/event-schemas/schema/m.reaction.yaml
+++ b/data/event-schemas/schema/m.reaction.yaml
@@ -30,8 +30,10 @@ properties:
           key:
             type: string
             description: |-
-              An emoji representing the reaction being made. Should include the
-              unicode emoji presentation selector (`\uFE0F`) for codepoints
-              which allow it (see the [emoji variation sequences
+              The reaction being made, usually an emoji.
+
+              If this is an emoji, it should include the unicode emoji
+              presentation selector (`\uFE0F`) for codepoints which allow it
+              (see the [emoji variation sequences
               list](https://www.unicode.org/Public/UCD/latest/ucd/emoji/emoji-variation-sequences.txt)).
             example: "👍"