diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/Struct.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/Struct.qll
index ae464c22772..688b9fc6d99 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/Struct.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/Struct.qll
@@ -2,7 +2,18 @@ import semmle.code.cpp.Type
 import semmle.code.cpp.Class
 
 /**
- * A C/C++ structure or union.
+ * A C/C++ structure or union. For example, the types `MyStruct` and `MyUnion`
+ * in:
+ * ``` 
+ * struct MyStruct {
+ *   int x, y, z;
+ * };
+ *
+ * union MyUnion {
+ *   int i;
+ *   float f;
+ * };
+ * ```
  */
 class Struct extends Class {
 
@@ -16,7 +27,16 @@ class Struct extends Class {
 }
 
 /**
- * A C++ struct that is directly enclosed by a function.
+ * A C++ struct that is directly enclosed by a function. For example, the type
+ * `MyLocalStruct` in:
+ * ```
+ * void myFunction()
+ * { 
+ *   struct MyLocalStruct {
+ *     int x, y, z;
+ *   };
+ * }
+ * ```
  */
 class LocalStruct extends Struct {
   LocalStruct() {
@@ -28,7 +48,16 @@ class LocalStruct extends Struct {
 }
 
 /**
- * A C++ nested struct. See 11.12.
+ * A C++ nested struct. See 11.12. For example, the type `MyNestedStruct` in:
+ * ```
+ * class MyClass
+ * {
+ * public:
+ *   struct MyNestedStruct {
+ *     int x, y, z;
+ *   };
+ * };
+ * ```
  */
 class NestedStruct extends Struct {
   NestedStruct() {
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/Union.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/Union.qll
index e5c2fd90f12..b4e284768da 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/Union.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/Union.qll
@@ -2,7 +2,13 @@ import semmle.code.cpp.Type
 import semmle.code.cpp.Struct
 
 /**
- * A C/C++ union. See C.8.2.
+ * A C/C++ union. See C.8.2. For example, the type `MyUnion` in:
+ * ```
+ * union MyUnion {
+ *   int i;
+ *   float f;
+ * };
+ * ```
  */
 class Union extends Struct  {
 
@@ -17,7 +23,17 @@ class Union extends Struct  {
 }
 
 /**
- * A C++ union that is directly enclosed by a function.
+ * A C++ union that is directly enclosed by a function. For example, the type
+ * `MyLocalUnion` in:
+ * ```
+ * void myFunction()
+ * {
+ *   union MyLocalUnion {
+ *     int i;
+ *     float f;
+ *   };
+ * }
+ * ```
  */
 class LocalUnion extends Union {
   LocalUnion() {
@@ -28,7 +44,17 @@ class LocalUnion extends Union {
 }
 
 /**
- * A C++ nested union.
+ * A C++ nested union. For example, the type `MyNestedUnion` in:
+ * ```
+ * class MyClass
+ * {
+ * public:
+ *   union MyNestedUnion {
+ *     int i;
+ *     float f;
+ *   };
+ * };
+ * ```
  */
 class NestedUnion extends Union {
   NestedUnion() {