diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ec06532..13c11f8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 # Marcel
 
-Marcel attempts to choose the most appropriate content type for a given file by looking at the binary data, the filename, and any declared type (perhaps passed as a request header):
-
-It's used like this:
+Marcel attempts to choose the most appropriate content type for a given file by looking at the binary data, the filename, and any declared type (perhaps passed as a request header). This is done via the `Marcel::MimeType.for` method, and is used like this:
 
 ```ruby
 Marcel::MimeType.for Pathname.new("example.gif")
diff --git a/lib/marcel/mime_type.rb b/lib/marcel/mime_type.rb
index 28ccfbc..53562ec 100644
--- a/lib/marcel/mime_type.rb
+++ b/lib/marcel/mime_type.rb
@@ -13,6 +13,21 @@ def extend(type, extensions: [], parents: [], magic: nil)
         Magic.add(type, extensions: extensions, magic: magic, parents: parents, comment: comment)
       end
 
+      # Returns the most appropriate content type for the given file.
+      #
+      # The first argument should be a +Pathname+ or an +IO+. If it is a +Pathname+, the specified
+      # file will be opened first.
+      #
+      # Optional parameters:
+      # * +name+: file name, if known
+      # * +extension+: file extension, if known
+      # * +declared_type+: MIME type, if known
+      #
+      # The most appropriate type is determined by the following:
+      # * type declared by binary magic number data
+      # * type declared by the first of file name, file extension, or declared MIME type
+      #
+      # If no type can be determined, then +application/octet-stream+ is returned.
       def for(pathname_or_io = nil, name: nil, extension: nil, declared_type: nil)
         type_from_data = for_data(pathname_or_io)
         fallback_type = for_declared_type(declared_type) || for_name(name) || for_extension(extension) || BINARY