diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f29d4e8..21c053c 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+# backup and temporary files
 *~
+
+# patches
 *.patch
+
+# html files (as generated from markdown)
 *.html