diff --git a/base.py b/base.py
index 779a7d4..80226e9 100644
--- a/base.py
+++ b/base.py
@@ -487,12 +487,20 @@ class ServiceManager:
                 print(str(e))
 
     def do_help(self, *args):
+        options = {'ins': '<instance> ', 'optional_ins': '[instance] ', 'remark': '*', 'legend': ''}
+        wildcards = True
         if self.main_ins:
-            usage = self.USAGE.replace('<instance>', '[instance]') % (
-               '[instance] is empty or one of %s' % ', '.join(self.info))
+            if len(self.info) == 1:
+                for key in options:
+                    options[key] = ''
+                wildcards = False
+            else:
+                options['legend'] = '        [instance] is empty or one of %s\n' % ', '.join(self.info)
         else:
-            usage = self.USAGE % ('<instance> is one of %s' % ', '.join(self.info))
-        print(usage)
+            options['legend'] = '        <instance> is one of %s' % ', '.join(self.info)
+        if wildcards:
+            options['legend'] += "      * wildcards allowed, using '.' to replace 0 or more arbitrary characters in <instance>\n"
+        print(self.USAGE % options)
 
     def treat_args(self, argdict, unknown=(), extra=()):
         if unknown:
diff --git a/frappyman.py b/frappyman.py
index 99f1f96..39cf200 100644
--- a/frappyman.py
+++ b/frappyman.py
@@ -175,15 +175,14 @@ class FrappyManager(ServiceManager):
     USAGE = """
     Usage:
 
-      frappy list [instance]                                   *
-      frappy start <instance> <service> <cfgfiles>
-      frappy restart <instance> [<service>] [<cfgfiles>]       *
-      frappy stop <instance> [<service>]                       *
-      frappy listcfg <instance> [<service> | develop]       # list available cfg files
+      frappy list %(optional_ins)s
+      frappy start %(ins)s<service> <cfgfiles>
+      frappy restart %(ins)s[<service>] [<cfgfiles>]       %(remark)s
+      frappy stop %(ins)s[<service>]                       %(remark)s
+      frappy listcfg %(ins)s[<service> | develop]       # list available cfg files
 
       <service> is one of main, stick, addons
-      %s
-      * wildcards allowed, using '.' to replace 0 or more arbitrary characters in <instance>
+%(legend)s
     """
 
     def config_dirs(self, ins, service):
diff --git a/nicosman.py b/nicosman.py
index f984a78..f5672d2 100644
--- a/nicosman.py
+++ b/nicosman.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class NicosManager(ServiceManager):
 
       nicos gui <instance>
       nicos <instance>                  (the same as above)
-      nicos list [<instance>]                      *
+      nicos list [<instance>]
       nicos start <instance> [<service>]           *
       nicos restart <instance> [<service>]         *
       nicos stop <instance> [<service>]            *
diff --git a/seaman.py b/seaman.py
index 268375e..96addb9 100644
--- a/seaman.py
+++ b/seaman.py
@@ -56,17 +56,16 @@ class SeaManager(ServiceManager):
     USAGE = """
     Usage:
 
-      sea gui <instance>
-      sea <instance>                          # the same as sea gui <instance>
-      sea cli <instance>                      # the same as old seacmd
-      sea start <instance> [service]       *  # the same as old 'monit start sea'
-      sea restart <instance> [service]     *
-      sea stop <instance> [service]        *
-      sea list [instance]                  *
+      sea gui %(ins)s
+      sea %(ins)s                          # the same as sea gui <instance>
+      sea cli %(ins)s                      # the same as old seacmd
+      sea start %(ins)s[service]       %(remark)s  # the same as old 'monit start sea'
+      sea restart %(ins)s[service]     %(remark)s
+      sea stop %(ins)s[service]        %(remark)s
+      sea list %(optional_ins)s
 
       [service] is empty or one of sea, graph
-      %s
-      * wildcards allowed, using '.' to replace 0 or more arbitrary characters in <instance>
+%(legend)s
     """
 
     def do_cli(self, ins):