diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/Critical/MemoryFreed.qll b/cpp/ql/src/Critical/MemoryFreed.qll
index d548aca26e7..880199e54c9 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/Critical/MemoryFreed.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/Critical/MemoryFreed.qll
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ private predicate freed(Expr e) {
   e = any(DeallocationExpr de).getFreedExpr()
   or
   exists(ExprCall c |
-    // cautiously assume that any ExprCall could be a freeCall.
+    // cautiously assume that any `ExprCall` could be a deallocation expression.
     c.getAnArgument() = e
   )
 }
diff --git a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/commons/Alloc.qll b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/commons/Alloc.qll
index a508c929d9a..a9597fc72b5 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/commons/Alloc.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/src/semmle/code/cpp/commons/Alloc.qll
@@ -23,6 +23,8 @@ predicate freeFunction(Function f, int argNum) { argNum = f.(DeallocationFunctio
 
 /**
  * A call to a library routine that frees memory.
+ *
+ * DEPRECATED: Use `DeallocationExpr` instead (this also includes `delete` expressions).
  */
 predicate freeCall(FunctionCall fc, Expr arg) { arg = fc.(DeallocationExpr).getFreedExpr() }