diff --git a/doc/topics/advanced_usage.rst b/doc/topics/advanced_usage.rst
index 0af10cb..d35bbdb 100644
--- a/doc/topics/advanced_usage.rst
+++ b/doc/topics/advanced_usage.rst
@@ -21,12 +21,12 @@ The return value will vary based on the type of query.
 Embedded Python
 ---------------
 DQL supports the use of python expressions anywhere that you would otherwise
-have to specify a data type. Just surround the python with backticks. Create
-your variable scope as a dict and pass it to the engine with the commands:
+have to specify a data type by surrounding the python with backticks. Set the
+variable scope on the engine and run your query:
 
 .. code-block:: python
 
-    >>> engine.scope = {'foo1': 1, 'foo2': 2}
+    >>> engine.scope.update(foo1=1, foo2=2)
     >>> engine.execute("INSERT INTO foobars (foo) VALUES (`foo1`), (`foo2`)")
 
 The interactive client has a special way to modify the scope. You can switch
diff --git a/doc/topics/queries/update.rst b/doc/topics/queries/update.rst
index bfc7527..a1d4428 100644
--- a/doc/topics/queries/update.rst
+++ b/doc/topics/queries/update.rst
@@ -70,10 +70,9 @@ row dict directly:
 
 .. code-block:: sql
 
-    us-west-1> UPDATE foobars SET foo = m`if row.get('bar'):
-             >     return bar + 1
-             > else:
-             >     return 1`;
+    us-west-1> UPDATE foobars SET foo = `row.get('bar', 0) + 1`
 
-This syntax will NOT WORK if you are using the ``KEYS IN`` form of the query,
-as that performs the update without doing any table reads.
+.. warning::
+
+    This syntax will not work if you are using the ``KEYS IN`` form of the
+    query, as that performs the update without doing any table reads.