diff --git a/docs/language/operators/debug.md b/docs/language/operators/debug.md
index 037e23f240..2e1a7b3d91 100644
--- a/docs/language/operators/debug.md
+++ b/docs/language/operators/debug.md
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ complex Zed query.
 
 ### Examples
 
-The following query:
+The following query uses expressions containing [f-strings](../expressions.md#formatted-string-literals)
+to display `"debug: foo"` on stderr whereas `"foo_bar"` will display
+on stdout.
 ```
 echo '"foo"' | zq -z 'debug f"debug: {this}" | yield f"{this}_bar"' -
 ```
-will display `"debug: foo"` on stderr whereas `"foo_bar"` will display
-on stdout.