diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e69de29..7cd148a 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+# name_monoid
+
+a player monoid for controlling the player's nametag.
+
+this is an API, no game behavior is changed by installing this w/out installing things that make use of it.
+
+possible uses include listing a player's "clan" next to their name, or showing a timer w/ how long they've been AFK
+over their name.
+
+##### credits
+
+* (c) fluxionary 2022,2023 LGPL
+* credit to insanity54 for better settings descriptions.
diff --git a/monoid.lua b/monoid.lua
index 00dcca7..8fec5c1 100644
--- a/monoid.lua
+++ b/monoid.lua
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-local component_separator = name_monoid.settings.component_separator
+local tag_separator = name_monoid.settings.tag_separator
 local invert_composition = name_monoid.settings.invert_composition
 
 name_monoid.monoid_def = {
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ name_monoid.monoid_def = {
 				for i = 1, #texts do
 					table.insert(parts, texts[i].text)
 					if i < #texts then
-						table.insert(parts, texts[i].text_separator or component_separator)
+						table.insert(parts, texts[i].text_separator or tag_separator)
 					end
 				end
 
diff --git a/settingtypes.txt b/settingtypes.txt
index 88c8210..a0ae4ff 100644
--- a/settingtypes.txt
+++ b/settingtypes.txt
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
-# separator between components
-name_monoid.component_separator (component separator) string
+# tag separator used to separate components in the name tag
+name_monoid.tag_separator (tag separator) string " "
 
-# show the player's name
+# whether to show player names above their head when they join
+# set to true to show names, false to hide names
 name_monoid.show_name (show name) bool true
 
-# invert the order of composition
+# invert composition determines the order of components in the name tag
+# set to true to invert the order, false to keep the order as defined
 name_monoid.invert_composition (invert composition) bool false