diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d3315c4..4d05bfb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -40,8 +40,12 @@ grunt.loadNpmTasks('grunt-release');
 ```
 
 ## Using grunt-release
+Version numbers should always be bumped in accordance to
+[semver](http://semver.org/). If you ever forget which part of the version
+number should be changed, you can run `grunt release:help` for a quick summary.
 
 **Patch Release:**
+Patch releases are done when making backwards-compatible bug fixes.
 ```shell
 grunt release
 ```
@@ -51,11 +55,14 @@ grunt release:patch
 ```
 
 **Minor Release:**
+If you've added functionality in a backwards-compatible manner, a minor release
+is the right thing to do.
 ```shell
 grunt release:minor
 ```
 
 **Major Release:**
+Should you have made incompatible API changes, it's time for a major release.
 ```shell
 grunt release:major
 ```
diff --git a/tasks/grunt-release.js b/tasks/grunt-release.js
index 1bc11c0..74ebe26 100644
--- a/tasks/grunt-release.js
+++ b/tasks/grunt-release.js
@@ -14,6 +14,21 @@ var Q = require('q');
 
 module.exports = function(grunt){
   grunt.registerTask('release', 'Bump version, git tag, git push, npm publish', function(type){
+    function help(type) {
+      var helpText = {
+        major: 'Release a MAJOR version when you make incompatible API changes.',
+        minor: 'Release a MINOR version when you add functionality in a backwards-compatible manner.',
+        patch: 'Release a PATCH version when you make backwards-compatible bug fixes.'
+      };
+
+      if (type in helpText) {
+        grunt.log.ok(helpText[type]);
+      } else {
+        for (type in helpText) {
+          grunt.log.ok(helpText[type]);
+        }
+      }
+    }
 
     function setup(file, type){
       var pkg = grunt.file.readJSON(file);
@@ -60,6 +75,11 @@ module.exports = function(grunt){
       };
     }
 
+    if (type === 'help') {
+      help();
+      return;
+    }
+
     // Defaults
     var options = grunt.util._.extend({
       bump: true,
@@ -311,6 +331,9 @@ module.exports = function(grunt){
       return fn;
     }
 
+    // Show help for the current release type
+    help(type || 'patch');
+
     new Q()
       .then(ifEnabled('beforeBump', runTasks('beforeBump')))
       .then(ifEnabled('bump', bump))