diff --git a/crates/nu-engine/src/documentation.rs b/crates/nu-engine/src/documentation.rs
index 92f2c3b925..ef00d6cf24 100644
--- a/crates/nu-engine/src/documentation.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-engine/src/documentation.rs
@@ -572,7 +572,9 @@ where
                 document_shape(arg)
             );
         }
-        let _ = write!(long_desc, " - {}", flag.desc);
+        if !flag.desc.is_empty() {
+            let _ = write!(long_desc, ": {}", flag.desc);
+        }
         if let Some(value) = &flag.default_value {
             let _ = write!(long_desc, " (default: {})", &value_formatter(value));
         }
diff --git a/tests/repl/test_help.rs b/tests/repl/test_help.rs
index 16d168587a..2fe3b5ecff 100644
--- a/tests/repl/test_help.rs
+++ b/tests/repl/test_help.rs
@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@ use rstest::rstest;
 #[case(": arga help")]
 #[case("argb help")]
 #[case("optional, default: 20")]
-#[case("- f1 switch")]
-#[case("- f2 named no default")]
-#[case("- f3 named default 3")]
+#[case(": f1 switch")]
+#[case(": f2 named no default")]
+#[case(": f3 named default 3")]
 #[case("default: 33")]
-#[case("--help - Display the help message")]
+#[case("--help: Display the help message")]
 fn can_get_help(#[case] exp_result: &str) -> TestResult {
     run_test(
         &format!(