diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/crypto/openssl_certificate.py b/lib/ansible/modules/crypto/openssl_certificate.py
index 9ac0306bb9..57ab1c2acc 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/crypto/openssl_certificate.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/crypto/openssl_certificate.py
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@ options:
     privatekey_passphrase:
         description:
             - The passphrase for the I(privatekey_path).
+            - This is required if the private key is password protected.
         type: str
 
     selfsigned_version:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/crypto/openssl_csr.py b/lib/ansible/modules/crypto/openssl_csr.py
index 7e0f9acbd0..e2bd819537 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/crypto/openssl_csr.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/crypto/openssl_csr.py
@@ -40,12 +40,13 @@ options:
         default: sha256
     privatekey_path:
         description:
-            - The path to the privatekey to use when signing the certificate signing request.
+            - The path to the private key to use when signing the certificate signing request.
         type: path
         required: true
     privatekey_passphrase:
         description:
-            - The passphrase for the privatekey.
+            - The passphrase for the private key.
+            - This is required if the private key is password protected.
         type: str
     version:
         description:
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/crypto/openssl_publickey.py b/lib/ansible/modules/crypto/openssl_publickey.py
index d1e3f78cd1..1ae797f36a 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/crypto/openssl_publickey.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/crypto/openssl_publickey.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ options:
         required: true
     privatekey_passphrase:
         description:
-            - The passphrase for the privatekey.
+            - The passphrase for the private key.
         type: str
         version_added: "2.4"
 extends_documentation_fragment: