diff --git a/content/patterns/tabs/tabs-pattern.html b/content/patterns/tabs/tabs-pattern.html
index c32132b334..2418ecde3b 100644
--- a/content/patterns/tabs/tabs-pattern.html
+++ b/content/patterns/tabs/tabs-pattern.html
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ <h2>WAI-ARIA Roles, States, and Properties</h2>
           <li>Each element that contains the content panel for a <code>tab</code> has role <a class="role-reference" href="#tabpanel">tabpanel</a>.</li>
           <li>
             If the tab list has a visible label, the element with role <code>tablist</code> has <a href="#aria-labelledby" class="property-reference">aria-labelledby</a> set to a value that refers to the labelling element.
-            Otherwise, the <code>tablist</code> element has a label provided by <a href="#aria-label" class="property-reference">aria-label</a>.
+            Otherwise, the <code>tablist</code> element has an optional name provided by <a href="#aria-label" class="property-reference">aria-label</a>.
           </li>
           <li>Each element with role <code>tab</code> has the property <a href="#aria-controls" class="property-reference">aria-controls</a> referring to its associated <code>tabpanel</code> element.</li>
           <li>The active <code>tab</code> element has the state <a href="#aria-selected" class="state-reference">aria-selected</a> set to <code>true</code> and all other <code>tab</code> elements have it set to <code>false</code>.</li>
diff --git a/content/practices/names-and-descriptions/names-and-descriptions-practice.html b/content/practices/names-and-descriptions/names-and-descriptions-practice.html
index d57cc649a3..6d30cb1f44 100644
--- a/content/practices/names-and-descriptions/names-and-descriptions-practice.html
+++ b/content/practices/names-and-descriptions/names-and-descriptions-practice.html
@@ -1360,11 +1360,11 @@ <h2><span id="naming_role_guidance_heading">Accessible Name Guidance by Role</sp
               <td>
                 <a href="#tablist" class="role-reference"><code>tablist</code></a>
               </td>
-              <td>Recommended</td>
+              <td>Required **only if** a visible label is present</td>
               <td>
                 <ul>
                   <li>Helps screen reader users understand the context and purpose of the tablist.</li>
-                  <li>Use <code>aria-labelledby</code> if a visible label is present, otherwise use <code>aria-label</code>.</li>
+                  <li>Use <code>aria-labelledby</code> if a visible label is present, otherwise optionally name with <code>aria-label</code>.</li>
                   <li>See the <a href="../../patterns/carousel/carousel-pattern.html">Carousel Pattern</a> and <a href="../../patterns/tabs/tabs-pattern.html">Tabs Pattern</a>.</li>
                 </ul>
               </td>