diff --git a/cylc/flow/cfgspec/workflow.py b/cylc/flow/cfgspec/workflow.py
index 0ef8affebd1..44d639271f1 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/cfgspec/workflow.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/cfgspec/workflow.py
@@ -802,18 +802,18 @@ def get_script_common_text(this: str, example: Optional[str] = None):
                     :ref:`SequentialTasks`.
             ''')
 
-        Conf('sequential xtriggers default', VDR.V_BOOLEAN, False, desc='''
-            When set to ``True``, parentless tasks that trigger off xtriggers
-            will only spawn sequentially, i.e. on the satisfaction of the
-            xtriggers in order. Otherwise, these tasks will all spawn at the
-            same time up to the runahead limit.
-
-            This workflow-wide default can be overridden by a reserved
-            keyword argument in the xtrigger function declaration and/or
-            function (``sequential=True/False``).
-
-            The presence of one sequential xtrigger on a parentless task with
-            multiple xtriggers will cause sequential behavior.
+        Conf('spawn from xtriggers sequentially', VDR.V_BOOLEAN, False,
+             desc='''
+            If ``True``, tasks that only depend on xtriggers will not spawn
+            until their previous (cycle point) instance is satisfied.
+            Otherwise, they will all spawn at once out to the runahead limit.
+
+            This setting can be overridden by a reserved keyword argument in
+            individual xtrigger declarations, or in xtrigger function
+            definitions.
+
+            One sequential xtrigger on a parentless task with multiple
+            xtriggers will cause sequential behavior.
         ''')
         with Conf('xtriggers', desc='''
             This section is for *External Trigger* function declarations -
diff --git a/cylc/flow/config.py b/cylc/flow/config.py
index 6274dfa01d8..8a3f6df076c 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/config.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/config.py
@@ -1715,7 +1715,7 @@ def generate_triggers(self, lexpression, left_nodes, right, seq,
 
         if self.xtrigger_mgr is not None:
             self.xtrigger_mgr.sequential_xtriggers_default = (
-                self.cfg['scheduling']['sequential xtriggers default']
+                self.cfg['scheduling']['spawn from xtriggers sequentially']
             )
         for label in xtrig_labels:
             try:
diff --git a/cylc/flow/scheduler.py b/cylc/flow/scheduler.py
index 02b219fa51c..984696813a1 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/scheduler.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/scheduler.py
@@ -1740,7 +1740,6 @@ async def main_loop(self) -> None:
                     self.pool.queue_task(itask)
 
             if self.xtrigger_mgr.sequential_spawn_next:
-                # Spawn parentless tasks with sequentially checked xtrigger(s).
                 self.pool.spawn_parentless_sequential_xtriggers()
 
             if self.xtrigger_mgr.do_housekeeping:
diff --git a/cylc/flow/task_pool.py b/cylc/flow/task_pool.py
index 28ca1020135..970320f5e43 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/task_pool.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/task_pool.py
@@ -717,8 +717,8 @@ def _get_spawned_or_merged_task(
             is_in_pool:
                 Was the task found in a pool.
             is_xtrig_sequential:
-                Is the next task occurance spawned on xtrigger satisfaction,
-                or do all occurances spawn out to the runahead limit.
+                Is the next task occurrence spawned on xtrigger satisfaction,
+                or do all occurrence spawn out to the runahead limit.
 
         """
         taskid = Tokens(cycle=str(point), task=tdef.name).relative_id
diff --git a/tests/functional/cylc-config/00-simple/section1.stdout b/tests/functional/cylc-config/00-simple/section1.stdout
index 8695889440e..87324cc9e97 100644
--- a/tests/functional/cylc-config/00-simple/section1.stdout
+++ b/tests/functional/cylc-config/00-simple/section1.stdout
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ hold after cycle point =
 stop after cycle point = 
 cycling mode = integer
 runahead limit = P4
-sequential xtriggers default = False
+spawn from xtriggers sequentially = False
 [[queues]]
     [[[default]]]
         limit = 100
diff --git a/tests/functional/xtriggers/04-sequential.t b/tests/functional/xtriggers/04-sequential.t
index 3b55e234892..5ff0faa6f7e 100644
--- a/tests/functional/xtriggers/04-sequential.t
+++ b/tests/functional/xtriggers/04-sequential.t
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ init_workflow "${TEST_NAME_BASE}" << '__FLOW_CONFIG__'
 [scheduling]
     initial cycle point = 3000
     runahead limit = P5
-    sequential xtriggers default = True
+    spawn from xtriggers sequentially = True
     [[xtriggers]]
         clock_1 = wall_clock(offset=P2Y, sequential=False)
         clock_2 = wall_clock()
diff --git a/tests/integration/test_sequential_xtriggers.py b/tests/integration/test_sequential_xtriggers.py
index 00cda19a9c6..051227eabee 100644
--- a/tests/integration/test_sequential_xtriggers.py
+++ b/tests/integration/test_sequential_xtriggers.py
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ async def test_reload(sequential, start):
 # TODO: test setting the sequential argument in [scheduling][xtrigger] items
 # changes the behaviour
 
-# TODO: test the interaction between "sequential xtriggers default" and the
+# TODO: test the interaction between "spawn from xtriggers sequentially" and the
 # sequential argument to [scheduling][xtrigger]
 # * Should we be able to override the default by setting sequential=False?
 # * Or should that result in a validation error?