docs: Edit "Basic usage" page

Author: pierwill

doc/src/basics.md

@@ -10,13 +10,12 @@ install --help` for specifics on installing [toolchains].
 ## Keeping Rust up to date
 
 Rust is distributed on three different [release channels]: stable, beta, and
-nightly. `rustup` is configured to use the stable channel by default, which
-represents the latest release of Rust, and is released every six weeks.
+nightly. `rustup` uses the stable channel by default, which
+represents the latest release of Rust. Stable publishes new releases every six weeks.
 
 [release channels]: concepts/channels.md
 
-When a new version of Rust is released, you can type `rustup update` to update
-to it:
+When a new version of Rust is released, simply type `rustup update` to update:
 
 ```console
 $ rustup update
@@ -40,18 +39,17 @@ This is the essence of `rustup`.
 
 ## Keeping rustup up to date
 
-Running `rustup update` also checks for updates to `rustup` and automatically
-installs the latest version. To manually check for updates and install the
-latest version of `rustup` without updating installed toolchains type `rustup
-self update`:
+Running `rustup update` also checks for updates to `rustup` itself and automatically
+installs the latest version. To manually update `rustup` only,
+without updating installed toolchains, type `rustup self update`:
 
 ```console
 $ rustup self update
 info: checking for self-updates
 info: downloading self-updates
 ```
 
-**Note**: `rustup` will automatically update itself at the end of any
-toolchain installation as well.  You can prevent this automatic behaviour by
-passing the `--no-self-update` argument when running `rustup update` or
-`rustup toolchain install`.
+> **Note**: `rustup` will automatically update itself at the end of any toolchain installation as well.
+> You can prevent this automatic behaviour by passing the `--no-self-update` argument
+> when running `rustup update` or `rustup toolchain install`.
+