diff --git a/cfdm/constructs.py b/cfdm/constructs.py
index 13686b53f3..fe0330b8bb 100644
--- a/cfdm/constructs.py
+++ b/cfdm/constructs.py
@@ -959,8 +959,8 @@ def copy(self, data=True):
         :Parameters:
 
             data: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not copy data contained in the metadata
-                constructs. By default such data are copied.
+                If True (the default) then copy data contained in the
+                metadata constructs.
 
         :Returns:
 
diff --git a/cfdm/core/abstract/propertiesdata.py b/cfdm/core/abstract/propertiesdata.py
index 0e9c2dcfd7..d182df6104 100644
--- a/cfdm/core/abstract/propertiesdata.py
+++ b/cfdm/core/abstract/propertiesdata.py
@@ -167,8 +167,8 @@ def copy(self, data=True):
         :Parameters:
 
             data: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not copy data. By default data are
-                copied.
+                If True (the default) then copy data, else the
+                data is not copied.
 
         :Returns:
 
@@ -397,8 +397,8 @@ def set_data(self, data, copy=True, inplace=True):
                 {{data_like}}
 
             copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not copy the data prior to insertion. By
-                default the data are copied.
+                If True (the default) then copy the data prior to
+                insertion, else the data is not copied.
 
             {{inplace: `bool`, optional (default True)}}
 
diff --git a/cfdm/core/abstract/propertiesdatabounds.py b/cfdm/core/abstract/propertiesdatabounds.py
index 664aedb5bb..d8ec9cab5d 100644
--- a/cfdm/core/abstract/propertiesdatabounds.py
+++ b/cfdm/core/abstract/propertiesdatabounds.py
@@ -606,8 +606,8 @@ def set_bounds(self, bounds, copy=True):
                 The bounds to be inserted.
 
             copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not copy the bounds prior to
-                insertion. By default the bounds are copied.
+                If True (the default) then copy the bounds prior to
+                insertion, else the bounds are not copied.
 
         :Returns:
 
@@ -701,8 +701,8 @@ def set_interior_ring(self, interior_ring, copy=True):
                 The interior_ring to be inserted.
 
             copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not copy the interior_ring prior to
-                insertion. By default the interior_ring are copied.
+                If True (the default) then copy the interior_ring
+                prior to insertion, else it is not copied.
 
         :Returns:
 
diff --git a/cfdm/core/constructs.py b/cfdm/core/constructs.py
index 8c0dbc0e4d..71d8ac9df6 100644
--- a/cfdm/core/constructs.py
+++ b/cfdm/core/constructs.py
@@ -102,9 +102,9 @@ def __init__(
                 constructs from those of *source*.
 
             copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not deep copy metadata constructs
-                from those of *source* prior to initialisation. By
-                default such metadata constructs are deep copied.
+                If True (the default) then deep copy metadata constructs
+                from those of *source* prior to initialisation, else they
+                are not deep copied.
 
             _ignore: sequence of `str`, optional
                 Ignores the given construct types.
@@ -979,9 +979,7 @@ def copy(self, data=True):
 
         :Parameters:
 
-            data: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not copy data contained in the
-                metadata constructs. By default such data are copied.
+            {{data: `bool`, optional}}
 
         :Returns:
 
diff --git a/cfdm/core/coordinatereference.py b/cfdm/core/coordinatereference.py
index dd6aac4bd6..24ce6c60fe 100644
--- a/cfdm/core/coordinatereference.py
+++ b/cfdm/core/coordinatereference.py
@@ -618,10 +618,7 @@ def set_coordinate_conversion(self, coordinate_conversion, copy=True):
             coordinate_conversion: `CoordinateConversion`
                 The coordinate conversion component to be inserted.
 
-            copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not copy the coordinate conversion prior
-                to insertion. By default the coordinate conversion is
-                copied.
+            {{copy: `bool`, optional}}
 
         :Returns:
 
@@ -665,9 +662,7 @@ def set_datum(self, datum, copy=True):
             datum: `Datum`
                 The datum component to be inserted.
 
-            copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not copy the datum prior to insertion. By
-                default the datum is copied.
+            {{copy: `bool`, optional}}
 
         :Returns:
 
diff --git a/cfdm/core/data/data.py b/cfdm/core/data/data.py
index a8637409d3..82b18e6e70 100644
--- a/cfdm/core/data/data.py
+++ b/cfdm/core/data/data.py
@@ -305,8 +305,8 @@ def copy(self, array=True):
         :Parameters:
 
             array: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not copy the array. By default the array
-                is copied.
+                If True (the default) then copy the array, else the
+                array is not copied.
 
         :Returns:
 
diff --git a/cfdm/core/dimensioncoordinate.py b/cfdm/core/dimensioncoordinate.py
index 24905006fd..536c96890e 100644
--- a/cfdm/core/dimensioncoordinate.py
+++ b/cfdm/core/dimensioncoordinate.py
@@ -73,9 +73,7 @@ def set_data(self, data, copy=True, inplace=True):
 
                 {{data_like}}
 
-            copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not copy the data prior to insertion. By
-                default the data are copied.
+            {{data copy: `bool`, optional}}
 
             {{inplace: `bool`, optional (default True)}}
 
diff --git a/cfdm/core/docstring/docstring.py b/cfdm/core/docstring/docstring.py
index c7f81f1271..ea339cf8d9 100644
--- a/cfdm/core/docstring/docstring.py
+++ b/cfdm/core/docstring/docstring.py
@@ -58,10 +58,9 @@
                 raised instead.""",
     # inplace: `bool`, optional (default True)
     "{{inplace: `bool`, optional (default True)}}": """inplace: `bool`, optional:
-                If False then do not do the operation in-place and
-                return a new, modified `{{class}}` instance. By
-                default the operation is in-place and `None` is
-                returned.""",
+                If True (the default) then do the operation in-place and
+                return `None`. If False a new, modified `{{class}}`
+                instance is returned.""",
     # init properties
     "{{init properties: `dict`, optional}}": """properties: `dict`, optional
                 Set descriptive properties. The dictionary keys are
@@ -105,8 +104,8 @@
                 initialisation with the `set_interior_ring` method.""",
     # init copy
     "{{init copy: `bool`, optional}}": """copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not deep copy input parameters prior
-                to initialisation. By default arguments are deep
+                If True (the default) deep copy input parameters prior
+                to initialisation. If False arguments are not deep
                 copied.""",
     # init source
     "{{init source}}": """Note that if *source* is a `{{class}}` instance then
@@ -117,4 +116,16 @@
                 to a `Data` object, i.e. `numpy` array_like objects,
                 `Data` objects, and {{package}} instances that contain
                 `Data` objects.""",
+    # data: `bool`, optional
+    "{{data: `bool`, optional}}": """data: `bool`, optional
+                If True (the default) then copy data contained in the
+                metadata construct(s), else the data is not copied.""",
+    # (component-based) copy: `bool`, optional
+    "{{copy: `bool`, optional}}": """copy: `bool`, optional
+                If True (the default) then copy the component prior to
+                insertion, else it is not copied.""",
+    # data copy: `bool`, optional
+    "{{data copy: `bool`, optional}}": """copy: `bool`, optional
+                If True (the default) then copy the data prior to
+                insertion, else the data is not copied.""",
 }
diff --git a/cfdm/core/domain.py b/cfdm/core/domain.py
index ba8758d24a..77711e7114 100644
--- a/cfdm/core/domain.py
+++ b/cfdm/core/domain.py
@@ -145,9 +145,7 @@ def copy(self, data=True):
 
         :Parameters:
 
-            data: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not copy data. By default data are
-                copied.
+            {{data: `bool`, optional}}
 
         :Returns:
 
diff --git a/cfdm/core/field.py b/cfdm/core/field.py
index a8e3dcac35..c686bddce3 100644
--- a/cfdm/core/field.py
+++ b/cfdm/core/field.py
@@ -488,9 +488,7 @@ def set_data(self, data, axes=None, copy=True, inplace=True):
                 *Parameter example:*
                   ``axes=None``
 
-            copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not copy the data prior to insertion. By
-                default the data are copied.
+            {{data copy: `bool`, optional}}
 
             {{inplace: `bool`, optional (default True)}}
 
diff --git a/cfdm/core/functions.py b/cfdm/core/functions.py
index 21b8bee7fb..23a0a9fa7a 100644
--- a/cfdm/core/functions.py
+++ b/cfdm/core/functions.py
@@ -17,11 +17,13 @@ def environment(display=True, paths=True):
     :Parameters:
 
         display: `bool`, optional
-            If False then return the description of the environment as
-            a string. By default the description is printed.
+            If True (the default) then display the description of the
+            environment as a string. If False the description is
+            instead returned as a list.
 
         paths: `bool`, optional
-            If False then do not output the locations of each package.
+            If True (the default) then output the locations of each
+            package. If False the locations are not included.
 
     :Returns:
 
diff --git a/cfdm/data/abstract/raggedarray.py b/cfdm/data/abstract/raggedarray.py
index 4a895a8aea..9ab3ffedc1 100644
--- a/cfdm/data/abstract/raggedarray.py
+++ b/cfdm/data/abstract/raggedarray.py
@@ -83,10 +83,7 @@ def __init__(
 
                 {{init source}}
 
-            copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not deep copy input parameters prior
-                to initialisation. By default arguments are deep
-                copied.
+            {{deep copy}}
 
         """
         if count_variable is not None:
diff --git a/cfdm/data/data.py b/cfdm/data/data.py
index abdccce980..a486508435 100644
--- a/cfdm/data/data.py
+++ b/cfdm/data/data.py
@@ -130,10 +130,7 @@ def __init__(
 
                 {{init source}}
 
-            copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not deep copy input parameters prior
-                to initialisation. By default arguments are deep
-                copied.
+            {{deep copy}}
 
             kwargs: ignored
                 Not used. Present to facilitate subclassing.
@@ -1274,8 +1271,8 @@ def copy(self, array=True):
         :Parameters:
 
             array: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not copy the array. By default the array
-                is copied.
+                If True (the default) then copy the array, else it
+                is not copied.
 
         :Returns:
 
diff --git a/cfdm/data/gatheredarray.py b/cfdm/data/gatheredarray.py
index 6ed039245d..0260941710 100644
--- a/cfdm/data/gatheredarray.py
+++ b/cfdm/data/gatheredarray.py
@@ -90,10 +90,7 @@ def __init__(
 
                 .. versionadded:: (cfdm) 1.9.TODO.0
 
-            copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not deep copy input parameters prior
-                to initialisation. By default arguments are deep
-                copied.
+            {{deep copy}}
 
                 .. versionadded:: (cfdm) 1.9.TODO.0
 
diff --git a/cfdm/data/netcdfarray.py b/cfdm/data/netcdfarray.py
index 563c7607e8..877e3fcbda 100644
--- a/cfdm/data/netcdfarray.py
+++ b/cfdm/data/netcdfarray.py
@@ -80,8 +80,8 @@ def __init__(
                 The number of array dimensions in the netCDF file.
 
             mask: `bool`
-                If False then do not mask by convention when reading data
-                from disk. By default data is masked by convention.
+                If True (the default) then mask by convention when
+                reading data from disk.
 
                 A netCDF array is masked depending on the values of any of
                 the netCDF variable attributes ``valid_min``,
@@ -97,10 +97,7 @@ def __init__(
 
                 .. versionadded:: (cfdm) 1.9.TODO.0
 
-            copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not deep copy input parameters prior
-                to initialisation. By default arguments are deep
-                copied.
+            {{deep copy}}
 
                 .. versionadded:: (cfdm) 1.9.TODO.0
 
diff --git a/cfdm/data/raggedcontiguousarray.py b/cfdm/data/raggedcontiguousarray.py
index 9744851ffc..db7059b114 100644
--- a/cfdm/data/raggedcontiguousarray.py
+++ b/cfdm/data/raggedcontiguousarray.py
@@ -56,10 +56,7 @@ def __init__(
 
                 .. versionadded:: (cfdm) 1.9.TODO.0
 
-            copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not deep copy input parameters prior
-                to initialisation. By default arguments are deep
-                copied.
+            {{deep copy}}
 
                 .. versionadded:: (cfdm) 1.9.TODO.0
 
diff --git a/cfdm/data/raggedindexedarray.py b/cfdm/data/raggedindexedarray.py
index d416e21d66..b469cc134f 100644
--- a/cfdm/data/raggedindexedarray.py
+++ b/cfdm/data/raggedindexedarray.py
@@ -57,10 +57,7 @@ def __init__(
 
                 .. versionadded:: (cfdm) 1.9.TODO.0
 
-            copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not deep copy input parameters prior
-                to initialisation. By default arguments are deep
-                copied.
+            {{deep copy}}
 
                 .. versionadded:: (cfdm) 1.9.TODO.0
 
diff --git a/cfdm/data/raggedindexedcontiguousarray.py b/cfdm/data/raggedindexedcontiguousarray.py
index 1d3bbc3d9c..6bc2dcce4d 100644
--- a/cfdm/data/raggedindexedcontiguousarray.py
+++ b/cfdm/data/raggedindexedcontiguousarray.py
@@ -65,10 +65,7 @@ def __init__(
 
                 .. versionadded:: (cfdm) 1.9.TODO.0
 
-            copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not deep copy input parameters prior
-                to initialisation. By default arguments are deep
-                copied.
+            {{deep copy}}
 
                 .. versionadded:: (cfdm) 1.9.TODO.0
 
diff --git a/cfdm/data/subarray/abstract/subarray.py b/cfdm/data/subarray/abstract/subarray.py
index 18d63a592b..c09806c6ef 100644
--- a/cfdm/data/subarray/abstract/subarray.py
+++ b/cfdm/data/subarray/abstract/subarray.py
@@ -66,10 +66,7 @@ def __init__(
 
                 {{init source}}
 
-            copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not deep copy input parameters prior
-                to initialisation. By default arguments are deep
-                copied.
+            {{deep copy}}
 
             context_manager: function, optional
                 A context manager that provides a runtime context for
diff --git a/cfdm/data/subarray/abstract/subsampledsubarray.py b/cfdm/data/subarray/abstract/subsampledsubarray.py
index 76df39ad2e..1bfe8aa385 100644
--- a/cfdm/data/subarray/abstract/subsampledsubarray.py
+++ b/cfdm/data/subarray/abstract/subsampledsubarray.py
@@ -109,10 +109,7 @@ def __init__(
 
                 {{init source}}
 
-            copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not deep copy input parameters prior
-                to initialisation. By default arguments are deep
-                copied.
+            {{deep copy}}
 
             context_manager: function, optional
                 A context manager that provides a runtime context for
diff --git a/cfdm/data/subarray/gatheredsubarray.py b/cfdm/data/subarray/gatheredsubarray.py
index c6138e3261..9dd5ebc899 100644
--- a/cfdm/data/subarray/gatheredsubarray.py
+++ b/cfdm/data/subarray/gatheredsubarray.py
@@ -67,10 +67,7 @@ def __init__(
 
                 {{init source}}
 
-            copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not deep copy input parameters prior
-                to initialisation. By default arguments are deep
-                copied.
+            {{deep copy}}
 
             context_manager: function, optional
                 A context manager that provides a runtime context for
diff --git a/cfdm/data/subsampledarray.py b/cfdm/data/subsampledarray.py
index 3dfaf9d239..11ca6e73f6 100644
--- a/cfdm/data/subsampledarray.py
+++ b/cfdm/data/subsampledarray.py
@@ -249,10 +249,7 @@ def __init__(
 
                 {{init source}}
 
-            copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not deep copy input parameters prior
-                to initialisation. By default arguments are deep
-                copied.
+            {{deep copy}}
 
         """
         super().__init__(
diff --git a/cfdm/docstring/docstring.py b/cfdm/docstring/docstring.py
index 154657adc1..125251c0c7 100644
--- a/cfdm/docstring/docstring.py
+++ b/cfdm/docstring/docstring.py
@@ -112,8 +112,8 @@
                   ``name='data1'``""",
     # header: `bool`, optional
     "{{header: `bool`, optional}}": """header: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not output a comment describing the
-                components.""",
+                If True (the default) output a comment describing the
+                components. If False no such comment is returned.""",
     # ignore_compression: `bool`, optional
     "{{ignore_compression: `bool`, optional}}": """ignore_compression: `bool`, optional
                 If False then the compression type and, if applicable,
@@ -345,6 +345,11 @@
                 By default, *chunks* is ``-1``, meaning that all
                 non-compressed dimensions in each subarray have the
                 maximum possible size.""",
+    # deep copy
+    "{{deep copy}}": """copy: `bool`, optional
+                If True (the default) then deep copy input
+                parameters prior to initialisation, else they are
+                not (deep) copied.""",
     # ----------------------------------------------------------------
     # Method description susbstitutions (4 levels of indentataion)
     # ----------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/cfdm/functions.py b/cfdm/functions.py
index a3f2bc76f0..6a4b377cc0 100644
--- a/cfdm/functions.py
+++ b/cfdm/functions.py
@@ -303,7 +303,8 @@ def environment(display=True, paths=True):
             a string. By default the description is printed.
 
         paths: `bool`, optional
-            If False then do not output the locations of each package.
+            If True (the default) then output the locations of each
+            package.
 
     :Returns:
 
@@ -440,8 +441,8 @@ def unique_constructs(constructs, copy=True):
             a mixture of types. The sequence can be empty.
 
         copy: `bool`, optional
-            If False then do not copy returned constructs. By default
-            they are deep copies.
+            If True (the default) then deep copy returned constructs,
+            else they are not (deep) copied.
 
     :Returns:
 
diff --git a/cfdm/mixin/propertiesdatabounds.py b/cfdm/mixin/propertiesdatabounds.py
index 205d9dc14c..5855d050b0 100644
--- a/cfdm/mixin/propertiesdatabounds.py
+++ b/cfdm/mixin/propertiesdatabounds.py
@@ -95,10 +95,7 @@ def __init__(
 
                 {{init source}}
 
-            copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not deep copy input parameters prior
-                to initialisation. By default arguments are deep
-                copied.
+            {{deep copy}}
 
         """
         # Initialise properties, data, geometry and interior ring
@@ -1553,8 +1550,8 @@ def set_node_count(self, node_count, copy=True):
                 The node count variable to be inserted.
 
             copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not copy the node count variable
-                prior to insertion. By default it is copied.
+                If True (the default) then copy the node count
+                variable prior to insertion.
 
         :Returns:
 
@@ -1593,8 +1590,8 @@ def set_part_node_count(self, part_node_count, copy=True):
                 The part node count variable to be inserted.
 
             copy: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not copy the part node count variable
-                prior to insertion. By default it is copied.
+                If True (the default) then copy the part node count
+                variable prior to insertion.
 
         :Returns:
 
diff --git a/cfdm/read_write/netcdf/netcdfread.py b/cfdm/read_write/netcdf/netcdfread.py
index e07b88dfdc..129cff7daa 100644
--- a/cfdm/read_write/netcdf/netcdfread.py
+++ b/cfdm/read_write/netcdf/netcdfread.py
@@ -372,8 +372,8 @@ def file_open(self, filename, flatten=True, verbose=None):
                 `netCDF.Dataset` instance.
 
             flatten: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not flatten a grouped file. Ignored if
-                the file has no groups.
+                If True (the default) then flatten a grouped file.
+                Ignored if the file has no groups.
 
                 .. versionadded:: (cfdm) 1.8.6
 
diff --git a/cfdm/read_write/netcdf/netcdfwrite.py b/cfdm/read_write/netcdf/netcdfwrite.py
index db41258c9a..1ebd4130d8 100644
--- a/cfdm/read_write/netcdf/netcdfwrite.py
+++ b/cfdm/read_write/netcdf/netcdfwrite.py
@@ -4519,13 +4519,22 @@ def write(
                 .. versionadded:: (cfdm) 1.8.0
 
             warn_valid: `bool`, optional
-                If False then do not print a warning when writing
+                If True (the default) then print a warning when writing
                 "out-of-range" data, as indicated by the values, if
                 present, of any of the ``valid_min``, ``valid_max`` or
                 ``valid_range`` properties on field and metadata
-                constructs that have data.
+                constructs that have data. If False the warning
+                is not printed.
 
-                See `cfdm.write` for details.
+                The consequence of writing out-of-range data values is
+                that, by default, these values will be masked when the
+                file is subsequently read.
+
+                *Parameter example:*
+                  If a construct has ``valid_max`` property with value
+                  ``100`` and data with maximum value ``999``, then the
+                  resulting warning may be suppressed by setting
+                  ``warn_valid=False``.
 
                 .. versionadded:: (cfdm) 1.8.3
 
diff --git a/cfdm/read_write/read.py b/cfdm/read_write/read.py
index 6979b1a3c0..4d8ec83115 100644
--- a/cfdm/read_write/read.py
+++ b/cfdm/read_write/read.py
@@ -227,9 +227,8 @@ def read(
             .. versionadded:: (cfdm) 1.8.3
 
         mask: `bool`, optional
-            If False then do not mask by convention the data of field
-            and metadata constructs. By default all data is masked by
-            convention.
+            If True (the default) then mask by convention the data of
+            field and metadata constructs.
 
             The masking by convention of a netCDF array depends on the
             values of any of the netCDF variable attributes
diff --git a/cfdm/read_write/write.py b/cfdm/read_write/write.py
index 63f0601bbd..b54aacb7d2 100644
--- a/cfdm/read_write/write.py
+++ b/cfdm/read_write/write.py
@@ -457,13 +457,12 @@ def write(
             and attributes.
 
        warn_valid: `bool`, optional
-            If False then do not print a warning when writing
+            If True (the default) then print a warning when writing
             "out-of-range" data, as indicated by the values, if
             present, of any of the ``valid_min``, ``valid_max`` or
             ``valid_range`` properties on field and metadata
-            constructs that have data. By default a warning is printed
-            if any such construct has any of these properties in
-            combination with out-of-range data.
+            constructs that have data. If False the warning
+            is not printed.
 
             The consequence of writing out-of-range data values is
             that, by default, these values will be masked when the