@defvar initial-frame-alist
This variable's value is an alist of parameter values used when creating
-the initial X window frame. Each element has the form:
+the initial X window frame. You can set this variable to specify the
+appearance of the initial frame without altering subsequent frames.
+Each element has the form:
@example
(@var{parameter} . @var{value})
@end defvar
@defvar default-frame-alist
-This is an alist specifying default values of frame parameters for
-subsequent Emacs frames (not the initial ones).
+This is an alist specifying default values of frame parameters for all
+Emacs frames---the first frame, and subsequent frames. In many cases,
+you can get the same results by means of X resources.
@end defvar
See also @code{special-display-frame-alist}, in @ref{Choosing Window}.