diff --git a/docs/submittingpatches.html b/docs/submittingpatches.html
index 9113e417009..7378dda6b83 100644
--- a/docs/submittingpatches.html
+++ b/docs/submittingpatches.html
@@ -386,7 +386,8 @@ yourself warned.
 <p>
 By default merge conflicts are resolved by the stable-release manager. The
 release maintainer should resolve trivial conflicts, but for complex conflicts
-should ask the original author to provide a backport of de-nominate.
+they should ask the original author to provide a backport or de-nominate the
+patch.
 </p>
 
 <p>