diff --git a/docs/library/machine.UART.rst b/docs/library/machine.UART.rst
index f832cf4664..0b6b24e894 100644
--- a/docs/library/machine.UART.rst
+++ b/docs/library/machine.UART.rst
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ A UART object acts like a stream object and reading and writing is done
 using the standard stream methods::
 
     uart.read(10)       # read 10 characters, returns a bytes object
-    uart.readall()      # read all available characters
+    uart.read()         # read all available characters
     uart.readline()     # read a line
     uart.readinto(buf)  # read and store into the given buffer
     uart.write('abc')   # write the 3 characters
@@ -95,17 +95,12 @@ Methods
 
 .. method:: UART.read([nbytes])
 
-   Read characters.  If ``nbytes`` is specified then read at most that many bytes.
+   Read characters.  If ``nbytes`` is specified then read at most that many bytes,
+   otherwise read as much data as possible.
 
    Return value: a bytes object containing the bytes read in.  Returns ``None``
    on timeout.
 
-.. method:: UART.readall()
-
-   Read as much data as possible.
-
-   Return value: a bytes object or ``None`` on timeout.
-
 .. method:: UART.readinto(buf[, nbytes])
 
    Read bytes into the ``buf``.  If ``nbytes`` is specified then read at most
diff --git a/docs/library/pyb.UART.rst b/docs/library/pyb.UART.rst
index 4a692469f8..b6c0d1a20f 100644
--- a/docs/library/pyb.UART.rst
+++ b/docs/library/pyb.UART.rst
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ A UART object acts like a stream object and reading and writing is done
 using the standard stream methods::
 
     uart.read(10)       # read 10 characters, returns a bytes object
-    uart.readall()      # read all available characters
+    uart.read()         # read all available characters
     uart.readline()     # read a line
     uart.readinto(buf)  # read and store into the given buffer
     uart.write('abc')   # write the 3 characters
@@ -122,6 +122,9 @@ Methods
    If ``nbytes`` are available in the buffer, returns immediately, otherwise returns
    when sufficient characters arrive or the timeout elapses.
 
+   If ``nbytes`` is not given then the method reads as much data as possible.  It
+   returns after the timeout has elapsed.
+
    .. only:: port_pyboard
 
       *Note:* for 9 bit characters each character takes two bytes, ``nbytes`` must
@@ -130,12 +133,6 @@ Methods
       Return value: a bytes object containing the bytes read in.  Returns ``None``
       on timeout.
 
-.. method:: UART.readall()
-
-   Read as much data as possible. Returns after the timeout has elapsed.
-
-   Return value: a bytes object or ``None`` if timeout prevents any data being read.
-
 .. method:: UART.readchar()
 
    Receive a single character on the bus.
diff --git a/docs/library/pyb.USB_VCP.rst b/docs/library/pyb.USB_VCP.rst
index 4e34af2586..4c4fe45168 100644
--- a/docs/library/pyb.USB_VCP.rst
+++ b/docs/library/pyb.USB_VCP.rst
@@ -44,16 +44,12 @@ Methods
 .. method:: USB_VCP.read([nbytes])
 
    Read at most ``nbytes`` from the serial device and return them as a
-   bytes object.  If ``nbytes`` is not specified then the method acts as
-   ``readall()``. USB_VCP stream implicitly works in non-blocking mode,
+   bytes object.  If ``nbytes`` is not specified then the method reads
+   all available bytes from the serial device.
+   USB_VCP stream implicitly works in non-blocking mode,
    so if no pending data available, this method will return immediately
    with ``None`` value.
 
-.. method:: USB_VCP.readall()
-
-   Read all available bytes from the serial device and return them as
-   a bytes object, or ``None`` if no pending data available.
-
 .. method:: USB_VCP.readinto(buf, [maxlen])
 
    Read bytes from the serial device and store them into ``buf``, which
diff --git a/docs/library/usocket.rst b/docs/library/usocket.rst
index 9b279e5ba7..e3b2b45014 100644
--- a/docs/library/usocket.rst
+++ b/docs/library/usocket.rst
@@ -178,14 +178,10 @@ Methods
           Closing the file object returned by makefile() WILL close the
           original socket as well.
 
-    .. method:: socket.read(size)
+    .. method:: socket.read([size])
 
        Read up to size bytes from the socket. Return a bytes object. If ``size`` is not given, it
-       behaves just like ``socket.readall()``, see below.
-
-    .. method:: socket.readall()
-
-       Read all data available from the socket until ``EOF``. This function will not return until
+       reads all data available from the socket until ``EOF``; as such the method will not return until
        the socket is closed.
 
     .. method:: socket.readinto(buf[, nbytes])