diff --git a/gtk/gtkcellview.c b/gtk/gtkcellview.c
index cc2daf6107..d6a87af0e5 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkcellview.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkcellview.c
@@ -233,6 +233,9 @@ gtk_cell_view_class_init (GtkCellViewClass *klass)
    *
    * The #GtkCellArea rendering cells
    *
+   * If no area is specified when creating the cell view with gtk_cell_view_new_with_context() 
+   * a horizontally oriented #GtkCellAreaBox will be used.
+   *
    * since 3.0
    */
    g_object_class_install_property (gobject_class,
diff --git a/gtk/gtkcombobox.c b/gtk/gtkcombobox.c
index 0727a36ab7..8625ef85c3 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkcombobox.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkcombobox.c
@@ -933,6 +933,9 @@ gtk_combo_box_class_init (GtkComboBoxClass *klass)
     *
     * The #GtkCellArea used to layout cell renderers for this combo box.
     *
+    * If no area is specified when creating the combo box with gtk_combo_box_new_with_area() 
+    * a horizontally oriented #GtkCellAreaBox will be used.
+    *
     * Since: 3.0
     */
    g_object_class_install_property (object_class,
diff --git a/gtk/gtkentrycompletion.c b/gtk/gtkentrycompletion.c
index b770fa973c..41f707f432 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkentrycompletion.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkentrycompletion.c
@@ -437,6 +437,9 @@ gtk_entry_completion_class_init (GtkEntryCompletionClass *klass)
    *
    * The #GtkCellArea used to layout cell renderers in the treeview column.
    *
+   * If no area is specified when creating the entry completion with gtk_entry_completion_new_with_area() 
+   * a horizontally oriented #GtkCellAreaBox will be used.
+   *
    * Since: 3.0
    */
   g_object_class_install_property (object_class,
diff --git a/gtk/gtkiconview.c b/gtk/gtkiconview.c
index 44d0ed5761..e7e7e50a85 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkiconview.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkiconview.c
@@ -759,6 +759,9 @@ gtk_icon_view_class_init (GtkIconViewClass *klass)
    *
    * The #GtkCellArea used to layout cell renderers for this view.
    *
+   * If no area is specified when creating the icon view with gtk_icon_view_new_with_area() 
+   * a #GtkCellAreaBox will be used.
+   *
    * Since: 3.0
    */
   g_object_class_install_property (gobject_class,
diff --git a/gtk/gtktreeviewcolumn.c b/gtk/gtktreeviewcolumn.c
index fbfda1d173..892db02945 100644
--- a/gtk/gtktreeviewcolumn.c
+++ b/gtk/gtktreeviewcolumn.c
@@ -404,6 +404,9 @@ gtk_tree_view_column_class_init (GtkTreeViewColumnClass *class)
    *
    * The #GtkCellArea used to layout cell renderers for this column.
    *
+   * If no area is specified when creating the tree view column with gtk_tree_view_column_new_with_area() 
+   * a horizontally oriented #GtkCellAreaBox will be used.
+   *
    * Since: 3.0
    */
   g_object_class_install_property (object_class,