diff --git a/hadoop-hdfs-project/hadoop-hdfs/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hdfs/tools/DebugAdmin.java b/hadoop-hdfs-project/hadoop-hdfs/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hdfs/tools/DebugAdmin.java
index d179a5cf831..a2b91abcc0a 100644
--- a/hadoop-hdfs-project/hadoop-hdfs/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hdfs/tools/DebugAdmin.java
+++ b/hadoop-hdfs-project/hadoop-hdfs/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hdfs/tools/DebugAdmin.java
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ public class DebugAdmin extends Configured implements Tool {
   private class VerifyBlockChecksumCommand extends DebugCommand {
     VerifyBlockChecksumCommand() {
       super("verify",
-"verify [-meta <metadata-file>] [-block <block-file>]",
+"verify -meta <metadata-file> [-block <block-file>]",
 "  Verify HDFS metadata and block files.  If a block file is specified, we\n" +
 "  will verify that the checksums in the metadata file match the block\n" +
 "  file.");
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ public class DebugAdmin extends Configured implements Tool {
   private class RecoverLeaseCommand extends DebugCommand {
     RecoverLeaseCommand() {
       super("recoverLease",
-"recoverLease [-path <path>] [-retries <num-retries>]",
+"recoverLease -path <path> [-retries <num-retries>]",
 "  Recover the lease on the specified path.  The path must reside on an\n" +
 "  HDFS filesystem.  The default number of retries is 1.");
     }
diff --git a/hadoop-hdfs-project/hadoop-hdfs/src/site/markdown/HDFSCommands.md b/hadoop-hdfs-project/hadoop-hdfs/src/site/markdown/HDFSCommands.md
index c224ba110ac..e54c1130f6b 100644
--- a/hadoop-hdfs-project/hadoop-hdfs/src/site/markdown/HDFSCommands.md
+++ b/hadoop-hdfs-project/hadoop-hdfs/src/site/markdown/HDFSCommands.md
@@ -556,7 +556,7 @@ Useful commands to help administrators debug HDFS issues, like validating block
 
 ### `verify`
 
-Usage: `hdfs debug verify [-meta <metadata-file>] [-block <block-file>]`
+Usage: `hdfs debug verify -meta <metadata-file> [-block <block-file>]`
 
 | COMMAND\_OPTION | Description |
 |:---- |:---- |
@@ -567,7 +567,7 @@ Verify HDFS metadata and block files. If a block file is specified, we will veri
 
 ### `recoverLease`
 
-Usage: `hdfs debug recoverLease [-path <path>] [-retries <num-retries>]`
+Usage: `hdfs debug recoverLease -path <path> [-retries <num-retries>]`
 
 | COMMAND\_OPTION | Description |
 |:---- |:---- |