diff --git a/src/cut.c b/src/cut.c
index 4e2e8381..7b39777a 100644
--- a/src/cut.c
+++ b/src/cut.c
@@ -24,8 +24,9 @@
 
 #include <string.h>
 
-/* Delete the character under the cursor. */
-void do_deletion(undo_type action)
+/* Delete the character at the current position, and
+ * add or update an undo item for the given action. */
+void expunge(undo_type action)
 {
 	openfile->placewewant = xplustabs();
 
@@ -112,7 +113,8 @@ void do_deletion(undo_type action)
 	set_modified();
 }
 
-/* Delete the character under the cursor. */
+/* Delete the character under the cursor plus any succeeding zero-widths,
+ * or, when the mark is on and --zap is active, delete the marked region. */
 void do_delete(void)
 {
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
@@ -121,17 +123,18 @@ void do_delete(void)
 	else
 #endif
 	{
-		do_deletion(DEL);
+		expunge(DEL);
 #ifdef ENABLE_UTF8
 		while (openfile->current->data[openfile->current_x] != '\0' &&
 				is_zerowidth(openfile->current->data + openfile->current_x))
-			do_deletion(DEL);
+			expunge(DEL);
 #endif
 	}
 }
 
 /* Backspace over one character.  That is, move the cursor left one
- * character, and then delete the character under the cursor. */
+ * character, and then delete the character under the cursor.  Or,
+ * when mark is on and --zap is active, delete the marked region. */
 void do_backspace(void)
 {
 #ifndef NANO_TINY
@@ -141,10 +144,10 @@ void do_backspace(void)
 #endif
 	if (openfile->current_x > 0) {
 		openfile->current_x = step_left(openfile->current->data, openfile->current_x);
-		do_deletion(BACK);
+		expunge(BACK);
 	} else if (openfile->current != openfile->filetop) {
 		do_left();
-		do_deletion(BACK);
+		expunge(BACK);
 	}
 }