diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/column.md b/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/column.md
index d2cef944..c9d9541f 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/column.md
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/column.md
@@ -2,6 +2,8 @@
 
 Returns the column of the matching node. Starts from 1, 0 indicates there was no column data.
 
+Column is the number of characters that precede that node on the line it starts.
+
 ## Returns column of _value_ node
 Given a sample.yml file of:
 ```yaml
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/column.md b/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/column.md
index 6c999746..0e6c4a45 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/column.md
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/doc/operators/headers/column.md
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
 # Column
 
 Returns the column of the matching node. Starts from 1, 0 indicates there was no column data.
+
+Column is the number of characters that precede that node on the line it starts.