diff --git a/changelog.d/5776.misc b/changelog.d/5776.misc
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..1fb1b9c15295
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/5776.misc
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+Update opentracing docs to use the unified `trace` method.
diff --git a/synapse/logging/opentracing.py b/synapse/logging/opentracing.py
index d2c209c471fa..6b706e189282 100644
--- a/synapse/logging/opentracing.py
+++ b/synapse/logging/opentracing.py
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@
 an optional dependency. This does however limit the number of modifiable spans
 at any point in the code to one. From here out references to `opentracing`
 in the code snippets refer to the Synapses module.
+Most methods provided in the module have a direct correlation to those provided
+by opentracing. Refer to docs there for a more in-depth documentation on some of
+the args and methods.
 
 Tracing
 -------
@@ -68,52 +71,62 @@
 Tracing functions
 -----------------
 
-Functions can be easily traced using decorators. There is a decorator for
-'normal' function and for functions which are actually deferreds. The name of
+Functions can be easily traced using decorators. The name of
 the function becomes the operation name for the span.
 
 .. code-block:: python
 
-   from synapse.logging.opentracing import trace, trace_deferred
+   from synapse.logging.opentracing import trace
 
-   # Start a span using 'normal_function' as the operation name
+   # Start a span using 'interesting_function' as the operation name
    @trace
-   def normal_function(*args, **kwargs):
+   def interesting_function(*args, **kwargs):
        # Does all kinds of cool and expected things
        return something_usual_and_useful
 
-   # Start a span using 'deferred_function' as the operation name
-   @trace_deferred
-   @defer.inlineCallbacks
-   def deferred_function(*args, **kwargs):
-       # We start
-       yield we_wait
-       # we finish
-       return something_usual_and_useful
 
 Operation names can be explicitly set for functions by using
-``trace_using_operation_name`` and
-``trace_deferred_using_operation_name``
+``trace_using_operation_name``
 
 .. code-block:: python
 
-   from synapse.logging.opentracing import (
-       trace_using_operation_name,
-       trace_deferred_using_operation_name
-   )
+   from synapse.logging.opentracing import trace_using_operation_name
 
    @trace_using_operation_name("A *much* better operation name")
-   def normal_function(*args, **kwargs):
+   def interesting_badly_named_function(*args, **kwargs):
        # Does all kinds of cool and expected things
        return something_usual_and_useful
 
-   @trace_deferred_using_operation_name("Another exciting operation name!")
-   @defer.inlineCallbacks
-   def deferred_function(*args, **kwargs):
-       # We start
-       yield we_wait
-       # we finish
-       return something_usual_and_useful
+Setting Tags
+------------
+
+To set a tag on the active span do
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   from synapse.logging.opentracing import set_tag
+
+   set_tag(tag_name, tag_value)
+
+There's a convenient decorator to tag all the args of the method. It uses
+inspection in order to use the formal parameter names prefixed with 'ARG_' as
+tag names. It uses kwarg names as tag names without the prefix.
+
+.. code-block:: python
+
+   from synapse.logging.opentracing import tag_args
+
+   @tag_args
+   def set_fates(clotho, lachesis, atropos, father="Zues", mother="Themis"):
+       pass
+
+   set_fates("the story", "the end", "the act")
+   # This will have the following tags
+   #  - ARG_clotho: "the story"
+   #  - ARG_lachesis: "the end"
+   #  - ARG_atropos: "the act"
+   #  - father: "Zues"
+   #  - mother: "Themis"
 
 Contexts and carriers
 ---------------------