diff --git a/src/calibre/manual/template_lang.rst b/src/calibre/manual/template_lang.rst
index 7485effab9..b95775aa99 100644
--- a/src/calibre/manual/template_lang.rst
+++ b/src/calibre/manual/template_lang.rst
@@ -132,18 +132,18 @@ The functions available are:
     * ``subitems(val, start_index, end_index)`` -- This function is used to break apart lists of tag-like hierarchical items such as genres. It interprets the value as a comma-separated list of tag-like items, where each item is a period-separated list. Returns a new list made by first finding all the period-separated tag-like items, then for each such item extracting the start_index`th to the `end_index`th components, then combining the results back together. The first component in a period-separated list has an index of zero. If an index is negative, then it counts from the end of the list. As a special case, an end_index of zero is assumed to be the length of the list. Examples::
 
     Assuming a #genre column containing "A.B.C":    
-        {#genre:subitems(0,1)} returns A
-        {#genre:subitems(0,2)} returns A.B
-        {#genre:subitems(1,0)} returns B.C
+        {#genre:subitems(0,1)} returns "A"
+        {#genre:subitems(0,2)} returns "A.B"
+        {#genre:subitems(1,0)} returns "B.C"
     Assuming a #genre column containing "A.B.C, D.E":
-        {#genre:subitems(0,1)} returns A, D
-        {#genre:subitems(0,2)} returns A.B, D.E
+        {#genre:subitems(0,1)} returns "A, D"
+        {#genre:subitems(0,2)} returns "A.B, D.E"
 
     * ``sublist(val, start_index, end_index, separator)`` -- interpret the value as a list of items separated by `separator`, returning a new list made from the `start_index`th to the `end_index`th item. The first item is number zero. If an index is negative, then it counts from the end of the list. As a special case, an end_index of zero is assumed to be the length of the list. Examples assuming that the tags column (which is comma-separated) contains "A, B ,C"::
     
-        {tags:sublist(0,1,\,)} returns A
-        {tags:sublist(-1,0,\,)} returns C
-        {tags:sublist(0,-1,\,)} returns A, B
+        {tags:sublist(0,1,\,)} returns "A"
+        {tags:sublist(-1,0,\,)} returns "C"
+        {tags:sublist(0,-1,\,)} returns "A, B"
         
     * ``test(text if not empty, text if empty)`` -- return `text if not empty` if the field is not empty, otherwise return `text if empty`.
 
diff --git a/src/calibre/utils/formatter_functions.py b/src/calibre/utils/formatter_functions.py
index e9ff39d3bf..015a639af1 100644
--- a/src/calibre/utils/formatter_functions.py
+++ b/src/calibre/utils/formatter_functions.py
@@ -432,10 +432,11 @@ class BuiltinSublist(BuiltinFormatterFunction):
             'The first item is number zero. If an index is negative, then it '
             'counts from the end of the list. As a special case, an end_index '
             'of zero is assumed to be the length of the list. Examples using '
-            'basic template mode and assuming a #genre value if A.B.C: '
-            '{#genre:sublist(-1,0,.)} returns C<br/>'
-            '{#genre:sublist(0,1,.)} returns A<br/>'
-            '{#genre:sublist(0,-1,.)} returns A.B')
+            'basic template mode and assuming that the tags column (which is '
+            'comma-separated) contains "A, B, C": '
+            '{tags:sublist(0,1,\,)} returns "A". '
+            '{tags:sublist(-1,0,\,)} returns "C". '
+            '{tags:sublist(0,-1,\,)} returns "A, B".')
 
     def evaluate(self, formatter, kwargs, mi, locals, val, start_index, end_index, sep):
         if not val:
@@ -465,10 +466,10 @@ class BuiltinSubitems(BuiltinFormatterFunction):
             'then it counts from the end of the list. As a special case, an '
             'end_index of zero is assumed to be the length of the list. '
             'Example using basic template mode and assuming a #genre value of '
-            '"A.B.C": {#genre:subitems(0,1)} returns A. {#genre:subitems(0,2)} '
-            'returns A.B. {#genre:subitems(1,0)} returns B.C. Assuming a #genre '
-            'value of "A.B.C, D.E.F", {#genre:subitems(0,1)} returns A, D. '
-            '{#genre:subitems(0,2)} returns A.B, D.E')
+            '"A.B.C": {#genre:subitems(0,1)} returns "A". {#genre:subitems(0,2)} '
+            'returns "A.B". {#genre:subitems(1,0)} returns "B.C". Assuming a #genre '
+            'value of "A.B.C, D.E.F", {#genre:subitems(0,1)} returns "A, D". '
+            '{#genre:subitems(0,2)} returns "A.B, D.E"')
 
     def evaluate(self, formatter, kwargs, mi, locals, val, start_index, end_index):
         if not val: