diff --git a/doc/source/command-objects/server.rst b/doc/source/command-objects/server.rst
index 0ff8e72696..fd487b8ea4 100644
--- a/doc/source/command-objects/server.rst
+++ b/doc/source/command-objects/server.rst
@@ -77,19 +77,20 @@ Create a new server
 
 .. option:: --image <image>
 
-    Create server from this image
+    Create server from this image (name or ID)
 
 .. option:: --volume <volume>
 
-    Create server from this volume
+    Create server from this volume (name or ID)
 
 .. option:: --flavor <flavor>
 
-    Create server with this flavor
+    Create server with this flavor (name or ID)
 
 .. option:: --security-group <security-group-name>
 
-    Security group to assign to this server (repeat for multiple groups)
+    Security group to assign to this server (name or ID)
+    (repeat for multiple groups)
 
 .. option:: --key-name <key-name>
 
diff --git a/openstackclient/compute/v2/server.py b/openstackclient/compute/v2/server.py
index d58ebacd92..adab29c96a 100644
--- a/openstackclient/compute/v2/server.py
+++ b/openstackclient/compute/v2/server.py
@@ -276,25 +276,25 @@ class CreateServer(show.ShowOne):
         disk_group.add_argument(
             '--image',
             metavar='<image>',
-            help=_('Create server from this image'),
+            help=_('Create server from this image (name or ID)'),
         )
         disk_group.add_argument(
             '--volume',
             metavar='<volume>',
-            help=_('Create server from this volume'),
+            help=_('Create server from this volume (name or ID)'),
         )
         parser.add_argument(
             '--flavor',
             metavar='<flavor>',
             required=True,
-            help=_('Create server with this flavor'),
+            help=_('Create server with this flavor (name or ID)'),
         )
         parser.add_argument(
             '--security-group',
             metavar='<security-group-name>',
             action='append',
             default=[],
-            help=_('Security group to assign to this server '
+            help=_('Security group to assign to this server (name or ID) '
                    '(repeat for multiple groups)'),
         )
         parser.add_argument(