diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
index d0ff3fec9c4d..6520b1d83ee3 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
@@ -636,9 +636,10 @@ def _draw_text_as_path(self, gc, x, y, s, prop, angle, ismath):
 
     def get_text_width_height_descent(self, s, prop, ismath):
         """
-        Get the width, height, and descent (offset from the bottom
-        to the baseline), in display coords, of the string *s* with
-        `.FontProperties` *prop*.
+        Get the width, height, and descent (offset from the bottom to the baseline), in
+        display coords, of the string *s* with `.FontProperties` *prop*.
+
+        Whitespace at the start and the end of *s* is included in the reported width.
         """
         fontsize = prop.get_size_in_points()