diff --git a/docs/pregate.md b/docs/pregate.md
index 60c4bda42..5f6155bb2 100644
--- a/docs/pregate.md
+++ b/docs/pregate.md
@@ -677,7 +677,12 @@ gstack-issue-links [--base <ref>] [--issue <n>]... [--ci-run <id>]... [--superse
 Reads `origin/<base>..HEAD`. `Fixes #N` only on explicit closure intent: a
 `Fixes`/`Closes`/`Resolves #N` trailer line or `--issue N`. A bare mention
 (a subject's `(#N)` included), a partial fix, a deferred ask and every
-cross-repo `owner/repo#N` are `Refs`. Same-repo references are printed as
+cross-repo `owner/repo#N` are `Refs`. A parenthesised named reference,
+`(name #N, #M)`, `(name PR #N)` or `(name issue #N)`, where the name is one
+token that is not a closure, reference, filler or version word, is a
+cross-repo `Refs name#N`, never a same-repo Refs line or a promotion
+candidate; `(see #12)`, `(closing #12)` and `(#301)` stay bare refs.
+Same-repo references are printed as
 promotion candidates (`reference #N ← <commit line> (promote: fix #N)` on
 stderr, `candidates` in `--json`): the owner's `fix #N` reply reruns with
 `--issue N`; an unattended run keeps them `Refs` and lists them in the
diff --git a/docs/releases.md b/docs/releases.md
index 7a5f9c9e1..bc8693c6d 100644
--- a/docs/releases.md
+++ b/docs/releases.md
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ is exercised against real check runs before it merges.
 
 | Line | Meaning |
 |---|---|
-| `CANDIDATE: <sha> (<date>)` | the commit that will be (or was) released |
+| `CANDIDATE: <sha> (<date>) gated by main-backstop|train <nonce>` | the commit that will be (or was) released, and which evidence gated it (`[hotfix: --ref]` before `gated by` on a `--ref` cut) |
 | `NOTHING_NEW: origin/main <sha> is already released as v<X>` | nothing merged since the last release; exit 0 |
 | `NO_GREEN_COMMIT: ...` with `SKIPPED:` lines | nothing in the window passed the gate; exit 1 (a dry run exits 0: the skips are its answer) |
 | `REFUSED: non-fast-forward: ...` | the candidate is behind stable; stable only moves forward |