diff --git a/R/settings.R b/R/settings.R
index 942e44ca0..b9df6f9d2 100644
--- a/R/settings.R
+++ b/R/settings.R
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ get_encoding_from_dcf <- function(file) {
   )
 
   if (!is.null(encodings)) {
-    # Produces a warning in R <= 3.5 if encodings is NULL
+    # Produces a warning in R <= 3.5 if encoding is NULL
     encodings <- encodings[!is.na(encodings)]
   }
   if (length(encodings) > 0L) {
diff --git a/R/zzz.R b/R/zzz.R
index a659a5d1b..fb382dccb 100644
--- a/R/zzz.R
+++ b/R/zzz.R
@@ -234,6 +234,40 @@ default_undesirable_operators <- all_undesirable_operators[names(all_undesirable
 )]
 
 #' Default lintr settings
+#'
+#' @description
+#' The default settings consist of
+#'
+#'  - `linters`: a list of default linters (see [default_linters()])
+#'  - `encoding`: the character encoding assumed for the file
+#'  - `exclude`: pattern used to exclude a line of code
+#'  - `exclude_start`, `exclude_end`: patterns used to mark start and end of the code block to exclude
+#'  - `exclude_linter`, `exclude_linter_sep`: patterns used to exclude linters
+#'  - `exclusions`:a list of files to exclude
+#'  - `cache_directory`: location of cache directory
+#'  - `comment_token`: a GitHub token character
+#'  - `comment_bot`: decides if lintr comment bot on GitHub can comment on commits
+#'  - `error_on_lint`: decides if error should be produced when any lints are found
+#'
+#' @examples
+#' # available settings
+#' names(default_settings)
+#'
+#' # linters included by default
+#' names(default_settings$linters)
+#'
+#' # default values for a few of the other settings
+#' default_settings[c(
+#'   "encoding",
+#'   "exclude",
+#'   "exclude_start",
+#'   "exclude_end",
+#'   "exclude_linter",
+#'   "exclude_linter_sep",
+#'   "exclusions",
+#'   "error_on_lint"
+#' )]
+#'
 #' @seealso [read_settings()], [default_linters]
 #' @export
 default_settings <- NULL
diff --git a/man/default_settings.Rd b/man/default_settings.Rd
index 716c597ec..2ba416b22 100644
--- a/man/default_settings.Rd
+++ b/man/default_settings.Rd
@@ -11,7 +11,39 @@ An object of class \code{list} of length 12.
 default_settings
 }
 \description{
-Default lintr settings
+The default settings consist of
+\itemize{
+\item \code{linters}: a list of default linters (see \code{\link[=default_linters]{default_linters()}})
+\item \code{encoding}: the character encoding assumed for the file
+\item \code{exclude}: pattern used to exclude a line of code
+\item \code{exclude_start}, \code{exclude_end}: patterns used to mark start and end of the code block to exclude
+\item \code{exclude_linter}, \code{exclude_linter_sep}: patterns used to exclude linters
+\item \code{exclusions}:a list of files to exclude
+\item \code{cache_directory}: location of cache directory
+\item \code{comment_token}: a GitHub token character
+\item \code{comment_bot}: decides if lintr comment bot on GitHub can comment on commits
+\item \code{error_on_lint}: decides if error should be produced when any lints are found
+}
+}
+\examples{
+# available settings
+names(default_settings)
+
+# linters included by default
+names(default_settings$linters)
+
+# default values for a few of the other settings
+default_settings[c(
+  "encoding",
+  "exclude",
+  "exclude_start",
+  "exclude_end",
+  "exclude_linter",
+  "exclude_linter_sep",
+  "exclusions",
+  "error_on_lint"
+)]
+
 }
 \seealso{
 \code{\link[=read_settings]{read_settings()}}, \link{default_linters}