@end defun
@defun copy-keymap keymap
-This function returns a copy of @var{keymap}. Any keymaps that
+This function returns a copy of @var{keymap}. This is almost never
+needed. If you want a keymap that's like another yet with a few
+changes, you should use map inheritance rather than copying.
+I.e., something like:
+
+@example
+@group
+(let ((map (make-sparse-keymap)))
+ (set-keymap-parent map <theirmap>)
+ (define-key map ...)
+ ...)
+@end group
+@end example
+
+When performing @code{copy-keymap}, any keymaps that
appear directly as bindings in @var{keymap} are also copied recursively,
and so on to any number of levels. However, recursive copying does not
take place when the definition of a character is a symbol whose function