diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1617b27e..5237c953 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ The return of this call will be the deleted message, as it would appear to other
 This is a _soft delete_ and the message will still be available in the history, but with the `deletedAt` property set.
 
 ```ts
-const deletedMessage = await room.messages.delete(message);
+const deletedMessage = await room.messages.delete(message, { description: 'This message was deleted for ...' });
 ```
 
 ### Subscribing to incoming messages
diff --git a/src/react/README.md b/src/react/README.md
index eb6a38c3..1320d6ad 100644
--- a/src/react/README.md
+++ b/src/react/README.md
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ import { Message } from '@ably/chat';
 
 const MyComponent = () => {
   const { send, get, deleteMessage } = useMessages();
-
+  const [message, setMessage] = useState<Message>;
   const handleGetMessages = () => {
     // fetch the last 3 messages, oldest to newest
     get({ limit: 3, direction: 'forwards' }).then((result) => console.log('Previous messages: ', result.items));
@@ -208,14 +208,14 @@ const MyComponent = () => {
   };
 
   const handleDeleteMessage = (message: Message) => {
-    deleteMessage(message, { description: 'deleted by user', hard: false });
+    deleteMessage(message, { description: 'deleted by user' });
   };
 
   return (
     <div>
       <button onClick={handleMessageSend}>Send Message</button>
       <button onClick={handleGetMessages}>Get Messages</button>
-      <button onClick={handleDeleteMessage}>Delete Message</button>
+      <button onClick={handleDeleteMessage(message)}>Delete Message</button>
     </div>
   );
 };