diff --git a/docs/pyproject.md b/docs/pyproject.md
index 0d23d89ff02..aebad9f52ac 100644
--- a/docs/pyproject.md
+++ b/docs/pyproject.md
@@ -279,7 +279,9 @@ include = [
 ]
 ```
 
-If no format is specified, it will default to include both `sdist` and `wheel`.
+If no format is specified, `include` defaults to only `sdist`.
+
+In contrast, `exclude` defaults to both `sdist` and `wheel`.
 
 ```toml
 exclude = ["my_package/excluded.py"]