DOCS-911 make explain output less terse

source/reference/explain.txt

@@ -129,7 +129,8 @@ Core Explain Output
 
 .. data:: cursor
 
-   Specifies the type of cursor used in the query operation:
+   :data:`cursor` is a string value that returns the type of cursor
+   used in the query operation:
 
    - ``BasicCursor`` indicates use of full collection scan.
 
@@ -142,53 +143,56 @@ Core Explain Output
 
 .. data:: isMultiKey
 
-   A boolean, that specifies if the index used in this query is a
-   :ref:`multikey index <index-type-multikey>` on a field that holds
-   an array.
+   :data:`isMultiKey` is a boolean value that returns ``true`` if the
+   index used in this query is a :ref:`multikey index
+   <index-type-multikey>` on a field that holds an array.
 
 .. data:: n
 
-   Specifies the number of documents that match the query selection
-   criteria.
+   :data:`n` is a number value that returns the number of documents
+   that match the query selection criteria.
 
 .. data:: nscannedObjects
 
-   Specifies the total number of documents scanned during the query.
-   The :data:`nscannedObjects` may be lower than :data:`nscanned`, such
-   as if the index is a covered index.
+   :data:`nscannedObjects` is a number value that returns the total
+   number of documents scanned during the query. The
+   :data:`nscannedObjects` may be lower than :data:`nscanned`, such as
+   if the index is a covered index.
 
 .. data:: nscanned
 
-   Specifies the total number of documents or index entries scanned
-   during the database operation. You want :data:`n` and
-   :data:`nscanned` to be close in value as possible. The
-   :data:`nscanned` value may be higher than the
+   :data:`nscanned` is a number value that returns the total number of
+   documents or index entries scanned during the database operation.
+   You want :data:`n` and :data:`nscanned` to be close in value as
+   possible. The :data:`nscanned` value may be higher than the
    :data:`nscannedObjects` value, such as if the index is a covered
    index.
 
 .. data:: nscannedObjectsAllPlans
 
    .. versionadded:: 2.2
 
-   Specifies the total number of documents scanned for all query plans
-   during the database operation.
+   :data:`nscannedObjectsAllPlans` is a number value that returns the
+   total number of documents scanned for all query plans during the
+   database operation.
 
 .. data:: nscannedAllPlans
 
    .. versionadded:: 2.2
 
-   Specifies the total number of documents or index entries scanned for
-   all query plans during the database operation.
+   :data:`nscannedAllPlans` is a number value that returns the total
+   number of documents or index entries scanned for all query plans
+   during the database operation.
 
 .. data:: scanAndOrder
 
    .. versionadded:: 2.2
 
    :data:`scanAndOrder` is a boolean value that returns ``true`` when
-   the query cannot use the index for returning sorted results.
+   the query **cannot** use the index for returning sorted results.
 
-   When ``false`` MongoDB must sort documents retrieving the documents
-   using either an index cursor or by cursor that scans the entire
+   When ``true``, MongoDB must sort the documents after it retrieves
+   them from either an index cursor or a cursor that scans the entire
    collection.
 
 .. data:: indexOnly
@@ -200,24 +204,25 @@ Core Explain Output
 
 .. data:: nYields
 
-   Specifies the number of times this query yielded the read lock to
-   allow waiting writes execute.
+   :data:`nYields` is a number value that returns the number of times
+   this query yielded the read lock to allow waiting writes execute.
 
 .. data:: nChunkSkips
 
-   Specifies the number of documents skipped because of active chunk
-   migrations in a sharded system. Typically this will be zero. A
-   number greater than zero is ok, but indicates a little bit of
-   inefficiency.
+   :data:`nChunkSkips` is a number value that returns the number of
+   documents skipped because of active chunk migrations in a sharded
+   system. Typically this will be zero. A number greater than zero is
+   ok, but indicates a little bit of inefficiency.
 
 .. data:: millis
 
-   Specifies the number of milliseconds to complete the query.
+   :data:`millis` is a number value that returns the time in
+   milliseconds to complete the query.
 
 .. data:: indexBounds
 
-   Specifies the lower and upper index key bounds. This field
-   resembles one of the following:
+   :data:`indexBounds` is a document that contains the lower and upper
+   index key bounds. This field resembles one of the following:
 
    .. code-block:: javascript
 
@@ -234,24 +239,25 @@ Core Explain Output
 
 .. data:: allPlans
 
-   Specifies the list of plans the query optimizer runs in order to
-   select the index for the query. Displays only when the ``<verbose>``
-   parameter to :method:`explain() <cursor.explain()>` is
-   ``true`` or ``1``.
+   :data:`allPlans` is an array value that returns the list of plans
+   the query optimizer runs in order to select the index for the query.
+   Displays only when the ``<verbose>`` parameter to :method:`explain()
+   <cursor.explain()>` is ``true`` or ``1``.
 
 .. data:: oldPlan
 
    .. versionadded:: 2.2
 
-   Specifies the previous plan selected by the query optimizer for the
-   query. Displays only when the ``<verbose>`` parameter to
-   :method:`explain() <cursor.explain()>` is ``true`` or ``1``.
+   :data:`oldPlan` is a document value that returns the previous plan
+   selected by the query optimizer for the query. Displays only when
+   the ``<verbose>`` parameter to :method:`explain()
+   <cursor.explain()>` is ``true`` or ``1``.
 
 .. data:: server
 
    .. versionadded:: 2.2
 
-   Specifies the MongoDB server.
+   :data:`server` is a string value that returns the MongoDB server.
 
 .. _explain-output-field-or-clauses:
 
@@ -260,10 +266,10 @@ Core Explain Output
 
 .. data:: clauses
 
-   Contains the :ref:`explain-output-fields-core` information for each
-   clause of the :operator:`$or` expression. :data:`classes` is only
-   included when the clauses in the :operator:`$or` expression use
-   indexes.
+   :data:`clauses` is an array value that returns the
+   :ref:`explain-output-fields-core` information for each clause of the
+   :operator:`$or` expression. :data:`classes` is only included when
+   the clauses in the :operator:`$or` expression use indexes.
 
 .. _explain-output-fields-sharded-collection:
 
@@ -272,31 +278,35 @@ Sharded Collections Output
 
 .. data:: clusteredType
 
-   Describes the access pattern for shards. The value is:
+   :data:`clusteredType` is a string value that returns the access
+   pattern for shards. The value is:
 
    - ``ParallelSort``, if the :program:`mongos` queries shards in parallel.
 
    - ``SerialServer``, if the :program:`mongos` queries shards sequentially.
 
 .. data:: shards
 
-   Specifies the shards accessed during the query and individual
-   :ref:`explain-output-fields-core` for each shard.
+   :data:`shards` is a document value that contains the shards accessed
+   during the query and individual :ref:`explain-output-fields-core`
+   for each shard.
 
 .. data:: millisShardTotal
 
-   Specifies the total time in milliseconds for the query to run on the
-   shards.
+   :data:`millisShardTotal` is a number value that returns the total
+   time in milliseconds for the query to run on the shards.
 
 .. data:: millisShardAvg
 
-   Specifies the average time in millisecond for the query to run on
-   each shard.
+   :data:`millisShardAvt` is a number value that returns the average
+   time in millisecond for the query to run on each shard.
 
 .. data:: numQueries
 
-   Specifies the total number of queries executed.
+   :data:`numQueries` is a number value that returns the total number
+   of queries executed.
 
 .. data:: numShards
 
-   Specifies the total number of shards queried.
+   :data:`numShards` is a number value that returns the total number of
+   shards queried.

source/reference/method/cursor.explain.txt

@@ -79,10 +79,10 @@ cursor.explain()
 
       - :operator:`$explain`
 
-      - :wiki:`Optimization` wiki page for information regarding
-        optimization strategies.
+      - :doc:`/applications/optimization` page for information
+        regarding optimization strategies.
 
-      - :wiki:`Database Profiler` wiki page for information regarding
-        optimization strategies.
+      - :doc:`/tutorial/manage-the-database-profiler` tutorial for
+        information regarding the database profile.
 
       - :doc:`Current Operation Reporting </reference/current-op>`

source/reference/operator/explain.txt

@@ -73,10 +73,10 @@ $explain
 
       - :method:`cursor.explain()`
 
-      - :wiki:`Optimization` wiki page for information regarding
-        optimization strategies.
+      - :doc:`/applications/optimization` page for information
+        regarding optimization strategies.
 
-      - :wiki:`Database Profiler` wiki page for information regarding
-        optimization strategies.
+      - :doc:`/tutorial/manage-the-database-profiler` tutorial for
+        information regarding the database profile.
 
       - :doc:`Current Operation Reporting </reference/current-op>`