diff --git a/mne/utils/docs.py b/mne/utils/docs.py
index c1d4fb4595a..ac5ffc0c7fa 100644
--- a/mne/utils/docs.py
+++ b/mne/utils/docs.py
@@ -1861,7 +1861,7 @@ def _reflow_param_docstring(docstring, has_first_line=True, width=75):
         additional argument(s) to your function definition.
 """
 docdict["fun_applyfun"] = applyfun_fun_base.format(
-    " if ``channel_wise=True`` and ``(len(picks), n_times)`` otherwise"
+    " if ``channel_wise=True`` then a 3D array of shape ``(n_epochs, len(picks), n_times)`` is passed, otherwise a 3D array of shape ``(n_epochs, n_channels, n_times)`` is passed"
 )
 docdict["fun_applyfun_evoked"] = applyfun_fun_base.format(
     " because it will apply channel-wise"