diff --git a/doc/src/sgml/ecpg.sgml b/doc/src/sgml/ecpg.sgml
index 17800fc72fa..4ffffe96b37 100644
--- a/doc/src/sgml/ecpg.sgml
+++ b/doc/src/sgml/ecpg.sgml
@@ -7675,9 +7675,9 @@ VAR <replaceable>varname</replaceable> IS <replaceable>ctype</replaceable>
     <title>Description</title>
 
     <para>
-     The <command>VAR</command> command defines a host variable.  It
-     is equivalent to an ordinary C variable definition inside a
-     declare section.
+     The <command>VAR</command> command assigns a new C data type
+     to a host variable.  The host variable must be previously
+     declared in a declare section.
     </para>
    </refsect1>
 
@@ -7709,8 +7709,10 @@ VAR <replaceable>varname</replaceable> IS <replaceable>ctype</replaceable>
     <title>Examples</title>
 
 <programlisting>
-EXEC SQL VAR vc IS VARCHAR[10];
-EXEC SQL VAR boolvar IS bool;
+Exec sql begin declare section;
+short a;
+exec sql end declare section;
+EXEC SQL VAR a IS int;
 </programlisting>
    </refsect1>