diff --git a/IPython/__init__.py b/IPython/__init__.py
index 806566f..4ba3f03 100644
--- a/IPython/__init__.py
+++ b/IPython/__init__.py
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ def embed_kernel(module=None, local_ns=None, **kwargs):
         The namespace to load into IPython user namespace (default: caller)
     **kwargs : various, optional
         Further keyword args are relayed to the IPKernelApp constructor,
+        such as `config`, a traitlets :class:`Config` object (see :ref:`configure_start_ipython`),
         allowing configuration of the Kernel.  Will only have an effect
         on the first embed_kernel call for a given process.
     """
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ def start_ipython(argv=None, **kwargs):
         specify this dictionary to initialize the IPython user namespace with particular values.
     **kwargs : various, optional
         Any other kwargs will be passed to the Application constructor,
-        such as `config`.
+        such as `config`, a traitlets :class:`Config` object (see :ref:`configure_start_ipython`).
     """
     from IPython.terminal.ipapp import launch_new_instance
     return launch_new_instance(argv=argv, **kwargs)
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@ def start_kernel(argv=None, **kwargs):
         specify this dictionary to initialize the IPython user namespace with particular values.
     **kwargs : various, optional
         Any other kwargs will be passed to the Application constructor,
-        such as `config`.
+        such as `config`, a traitlets :class:`Config` object (see :ref:`configure_start_ipython`).
     """
     import warnings
 
diff --git a/IPython/terminal/embed.py b/IPython/terminal/embed.py
index 85e76d5..b5c56b5 100644
--- a/IPython/terminal/embed.py
+++ b/IPython/terminal/embed.py
@@ -369,8 +369,8 @@ def embed(*, header="", compile_flags=None, **kwargs):
         d = 40
         embed()
 
-    Full customization can be done by passing a :class:`Config` in as the
-    config argument.
+    Full customization can be done by passing a traitlets :class:`Config` in as the
+    `config` argument (see :ref:`configure_start_ipython`).
     """
     config = kwargs.get('config')
     if config is None:
diff --git a/docs/source/config/intro.rst b/docs/source/config/intro.rst
index fa46ba0..8d35660 100644
--- a/docs/source/config/intro.rst
+++ b/docs/source/config/intro.rst
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ Running IPython from Python
 
 If you are using :ref:`embedding` to start IPython from a normal 
 python file, you can set configuration options the same way as in a 
-config file by creating a traitlets config object and passing it to 
+config file by creating a traitlets :class:`Config` object and passing it to 
 start_ipython like in the example below.
 
 .. literalinclude:: ../../../examples/Embedding/start_ipython_config.py
diff --git a/docs/source/config/options/index.rst b/docs/source/config/options/index.rst
index a0f38e2..e8fb9b2 100644
--- a/docs/source/config/options/index.rst
+++ b/docs/source/config/options/index.rst
@@ -3,8 +3,8 @@ IPython options
 ===============
 
 Any of the options listed here can be set in config files, at the
-command line, or from inside IPython. See :ref:`setting_config` for
-details.
+command line, from inside IPython, or using a traitlets :class:`Config` object.
+See :ref:`setting_config` for details.
 
 .. toctree::