diff --git a/unarchived_data_fix.py b/unarchived_data_fix.py
index ef23293..aafead9 100755
--- a/unarchived_data_fix.py
+++ b/unarchived_data_fix.py
@@ -62,14 +62,25 @@ def check_equal(val, ref):
 
 
 
-parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(formatter_class=argparse.ArgumentDefaultsHelpFormatter)
+example_text = """usage examples:
+  Dry run (nothing is changed or overwritten)
+    %(prog)s alvra p12345
 
-parser.add_argument("instrument", choices=INSTRUMENTS)
-parser.add_argument("pgroup", type=check_pgroup)
+  Create new files called scan_mod.json
+    %(prog)s alvra p12345 --no-dryrun
 
-parser.add_argument("--no-dryrun", dest="dryrun", action="store_false")
-parser.add_argument("--inplace",   action="store_true")
-parser.add_argument("--overwrite", action="store_true")
+  Overwrite scan.json
+    %(prog)s alvra p12345 --no-dryrun --overwrite --inplace
+"""
+
+parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(epilog=example_text, formatter_class=argparse.RawDescriptionHelpFormatter)
+
+parser.add_argument("instrument", choices=INSTRUMENTS, help="Which instrument has the data been measured at?")
+parser.add_argument("pgroup", type=check_pgroup, help="Which pgroup is the data in?")
+
+parser.add_argument("--no-dryrun", dest="dryrun", action="store_false", help="Disable dry run. If dryrun is enabled (default) no files are written.")
+parser.add_argument("--inplace",   action="store_true", help="Update scan.json in place. If inplace is disabled (default) a new file scan_mod.json is created.")
+parser.add_argument("--overwrite", action="store_true", help="Overwrite existing files. If overwrite is disabled (default) existing files will be skipped.")
 
 clargs = parser.parse_args()
 #print(clargs)