diff --git a/docs/csharp/language-reference/keywords/protected.md b/docs/csharp/language-reference/keywords/protected.md
index 5d03de0f8df41..b81bbf41809d1 100644
--- a/docs/csharp/language-reference/keywords/protected.md
+++ b/docs/csharp/language-reference/keywords/protected.md
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ A protected member of a base class is accessible in a derived class only if the
 
 [!code-csharp[csrefKeywordsModifiers#11](~/samples/snippets/csharp/VS_Snippets_VBCSharp/csrefKeywordsModifiers/CS/csrefKeywordsModifiers.cs#11)]
 
-The statement `a.x = 10` generates an error because it is made within the static method Main, and not an instance of class B.
+The statement `a.x = 10` generates an error because it accesses the protected member through a base class reference (`a` is of type `A`). Protected members can only be accessed through the derived class type or types derived from it.
 
 Struct members cannot be protected because the struct cannot be inherited.
 
diff --git a/samples/snippets/csharp/VS_Snippets_VBCSharp/csrefKeywordsModifiers/CS/csrefKeywordsModifiers.cs b/samples/snippets/csharp/VS_Snippets_VBCSharp/csrefKeywordsModifiers/CS/csrefKeywordsModifiers.cs
index 73ac9eac4848d..7c058a3e6ab73 100644
--- a/samples/snippets/csharp/VS_Snippets_VBCSharp/csrefKeywordsModifiers/CS/csrefKeywordsModifiers.cs
+++ b/samples/snippets/csharp/VS_Snippets_VBCSharp/csrefKeywordsModifiers/CS/csrefKeywordsModifiers.cs
@@ -345,8 +345,8 @@ static void Main()
             var a = new A();
             var b = new B();
 
-            // Error CS1540, because x can only be accessed by
-            // classes derived from A.
+            // Error CS1540, because x can only be accessed through
+            // the derived class type, not through the base class type.
             // a.x = 10;
 
             // OK, because this class derives from A.