diff --git a/music21/stream/base.py b/music21/stream/base.py
index a7f8a090e3..a5089d639b 100644
--- a/music21/stream/base.py
+++ b/music21/stream/base.py
@@ -5512,10 +5512,9 @@ def shiftElements(self, offset, startOffset=None, endOffset=None, classFilterLis
         .storeAtEnd() (such as right barlines) are
         not affected.
 
-        If startOffset is given then all elements before
-        that offset will be shifted.  If endOffset is given
-        then all elements at or after this offset will be
-        shifted
+        If startOffset is given then elements before
+        that offset will not be shifted.  If endOffset is given
+        then all elements at or after this offset will be not be shifted.
 
         >>> a = stream.Stream()
         >>> a.repeatInsert(note.Note('C'), list(range(10)))