diff --git a/pkg/compiler/lib/src/inferrer/builder_kernel.dart b/pkg/compiler/lib/src/inferrer/builder_kernel.dart
index fdfd67e..55d7ab6 100644
--- a/pkg/compiler/lib/src/inferrer/builder_kernel.dart
+++ b/pkg/compiler/lib/src/inferrer/builder_kernel.dart
@@ -1243,15 +1243,15 @@
     var commonElements = _elementMap.commonElements;
 
     if (commonElements.isUnnamedListConstructor(constructor)) {
-      // We have `new List.filled(..., null)`.
+      // We have `new List(...)`.
       if (arguments.positional.isEmpty && arguments.named.isEmpty) {
-        // We have `[]`.
+        // We have `new List()`.
         return _inferrer.concreteTypes.putIfAbsent(
             node,
             () => _types.allocateList(_types.growableListType, node,
                 _analyzedMember, _types.nonNullEmpty(), 0));
       } else {
-        // We have `new List.filled(len, null)`.
+        // We have `new List(len)`.
         int length = _findLength(arguments);
         return _inferrer.concreteTypes.putIfAbsent(
             node,
diff --git a/pkg/compiler/lib/src/js_backend/runtime_types.dart b/pkg/compiler/lib/src/js_backend/runtime_types.dart
index 2998012..c8084d5 100644
--- a/pkg/compiler/lib/src/js_backend/runtime_types.dart
+++ b/pkg/compiler/lib/src/js_backend/runtime_types.dart
@@ -994,7 +994,7 @@
   /// For instance `A` in:
   ///
   ///     class A {}
-  ///     main() => <A>[] is List<String>;
+  ///     main() => new List<A>() is List<String>;
   ///
   bool typeArgument = false;
 
@@ -1003,7 +1003,7 @@
   /// For instance `A` in:
   ///
   ///     class A {}
-  ///     main() => <String>[] is List<A>;
+  ///     main() => new List<String>() is List<A>;
   ///
   bool checkedTypeArgument = false;
 
diff --git a/pkg/compiler/lib/src/ssa/builder_kernel.dart b/pkg/compiler/lib/src/ssa/builder_kernel.dart
index e81ca79..7c66c12 100644
--- a/pkg/compiler/lib/src/ssa/builder_kernel.dart
+++ b/pkg/compiler/lib/src/ssa/builder_kernel.dart
@@ -3816,12 +3816,12 @@
       return;
     }
 
-    // Recognize `[]` and `List.filled(n, null)`.
+    // Recognize `List()` and `List(n)`.
     if (_commonElements.isUnnamedListConstructor(function)) {
       if (invocation.arguments.named.isEmpty) {
         int argumentCount = invocation.arguments.positional.length;
         if (argumentCount == 0) {
-          // `[]` takes no arguments, `JSArray.list()` takes a sentinel.
+          // `List()` takes no arguments, `JSArray.list()` takes a sentinel.
           assert(arguments.length == 0 || arguments.length == 1,
               '\narguments: $arguments\n');
           _handleInvokeLegacyGrowableListFactoryConstructor(
@@ -3936,14 +3936,14 @@
     stack.add(_setListRuntimeTypeInfoIfNeeded(pop(), type, sourceInformation));
   }
 
-  /// Handle the legacy `<T>[]` constructor.
+  /// Handle the legacy `List<T>()` constructor.
   void _handleInvokeLegacyGrowableListFactoryConstructor(
       ir.StaticInvocation invocation,
       ConstructorEntity function,
       AbstractValue typeMask,
       List<HInstruction> arguments,
       SourceInformation sourceInformation) {
-    // `<T>[]` is essentially the same as `<T>[]`.
+    // `List<T>()` is essentially the same as `<T>[]`.
     push(_buildLiteralList(<HInstruction>[]));
     HInstruction allocation = pop();
     var inferredType = globalInferenceResults.typeOfNewList(invocation);
@@ -3956,7 +3956,7 @@
         _setListRuntimeTypeInfoIfNeeded(allocation, type, sourceInformation));
   }
 
-  /// Handle the `JSArray<T>.list(length)` and legacy `List<T>.filled(length, null)`
+  /// Handle the `JSArray<T>.list(length)` and legacy `List<T>(length)`
   /// constructors.
   void _handleInvokeLegacyFixedListFactoryConstructor(
       ir.StaticInvocation invocation,
diff --git a/pkg/dev_compiler/doc/GENERIC_METHOD_COMMENTS.md b/pkg/dev_compiler/doc/GENERIC_METHOD_COMMENTS.md
index 8f23657..9050eab 100644
--- a/pkg/dev_compiler/doc/GENERIC_METHOD_COMMENTS.md
+++ b/pkg/dev_compiler/doc/GENERIC_METHOD_COMMENTS.md
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@
 
 ```dart
 List/*<T>*/ makeList/*<T extends num>*/() {
-  return <num /*=T*/>[];
+  return new List<num /*=T*/>();
 }
 
 void main() {
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@
    var l0 = <dynamic /*=S*/>[x];
 
    // as above, but with a regular constructor.
-   var l1 = <dynamic /*=S*/>[];
+   var l1 = new List<dynamic /*=S*/>();
    return l1;
 }
 ```