diff --git a/Library/Homebrew/formula.rb b/Library/Homebrew/formula.rb
index f9b5a112c2..f2638bc02d 100644
--- a/Library/Homebrew/formula.rb
+++ b/Library/Homebrew/formula.rb
@@ -651,10 +651,11 @@ private
       #{formula} cannot be installed alongside #{name.downcase}.
       EOS
       message << "This is because #{opts[:because]}\n" if opts[:because]
-      if !ARGV.force? then message << <<-EOS.undent
-      Please `brew unlink` or `brew uninstall` #{formula} before continuing.
-      To install anyway, use:
-        brew install --force
+      unless ARGV.force? then message << <<-EOS.undent
+        Please `brew unlink #{formula}` before continuing. Unlinking removes
+        the formula's symlinks from #{HOMEBREW_PREFIX}. You can link the
+        formula again after the install finishes. You can --force this install
+        but the build may fail or cause obscure side-effects in the end-binary.
         EOS
       end