diff --git a/dirname.1 b/dirname.1
index d750a33..6871f03 100644
--- a/dirname.1
+++ b/dirname.1
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@
 dirname \- strip final path component
 .SH SYNOPSIS
 .B dirname
-.I string
+.I pathname
 .SH DESCRIPTION
 .B dirname
 prints the
-.I string
+.I pathname
 with its final path component removed.
 .SH SEE ALSO
 .IR basename (1),
diff --git a/dirname.c b/dirname.c
index b9c266d..c202f39 100644
--- a/dirname.c
+++ b/dirname.c
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@
 static void
 usage(void)
 {
-	eprintf("usage: %s string\n", argv0);
+	eprintf("usage: %s pathname\n", argv0);
 }
 
 int