diff --git a/lib/rubygems/commands/specification_command.rb b/lib/rubygems/commands/specification_command.rb
index ec81917d2a88ff..15e543f1a612a8 100644
--- a/lib/rubygems/commands/specification_command.rb
+++ b/lib/rubygems/commands/specification_command.rb
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ def initialize
 
   def arguments # :nodoc:
     <<-ARGS
-GEMFILE       name of gem to show the gemspec for
+GEM_OR_FILE   gem name or a .gem file to show the gemspec for
 FIELD         name of gemspec field to show
     ARGS
   end
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ def description # :nodoc:
   end
 
   def usage # :nodoc:
-    "#{program_name} [GEMFILE] [FIELD]"
+    "#{program_name} [GEM_OR_FILE] [FIELD]"
   end
 
   def execute
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ def execute
 
     unless gem
       raise Gem::CommandLineError,
-            "Please specify a gem name or file on the command line"
+            "Please specify a gem name or a .gem file on the command line"
     end
 
     case v = options[:version]