diff --git a/docs/DATA_FORMATS_OUTPUT.md b/docs/DATA_FORMATS_OUTPUT.md
index f8d8cf4669a1032edd1ff7afb20a26441312a54f..f4e41c2541fc792ac6e4d64d7a7f87fa45069487 100644
--- a/docs/DATA_FORMATS_OUTPUT.md
+++ b/docs/DATA_FORMATS_OUTPUT.md
@@ -58,9 +58,15 @@ interoperability.
 
 ## Graphite
 
-The Graphite data format translates Telegraf metrics into _dot_ buckets. A
-template can be specified for the output of Telegraf metrics into Graphite
-buckets. The default template is:
+The Graphite data format is translated from Telegraf Metrics using either the
+template pattern or tag support method.  You can select between the two
+methods using the [`graphite_tag_support`](#graphite-tag-support) option.  When set, the tag support
+method is used, otherwise the [`template` pattern](#template-pattern) is used.
+
+#### Template Pattern
+
+The `template` option describes how Telegraf traslates metrics into _dot_
+buckets.  The default template is:
 
 ```
 template = "host.tags.measurement.field"
@@ -77,7 +83,7 @@ tag keys are filled.
 1. _measurement_ is a special keyword that outputs the measurement name.
 1. _field_ is a special keyword that outputs the field name.
 
-Which means the following influx metric -> graphite conversion would happen:
+**Example Conversion**:
 
 ```
 cpu,cpu=cpu-total,dc=us-east-1,host=tars usage_idle=98.09,usage_user=0.89 1455320660004257758
@@ -89,8 +95,17 @@ tars.cpu-total.us-east-1.cpu.usage_idle 98.09 1455320690
 Fields with string values will be skipped.  Boolean fields will be converted
 to 1 (true) or 0 (false).
 
-With enable `graphite_tag_support` option following influx metric -> graphite conversion would happen:
+#### Graphite Tag Support
+
+When the `graphite_tag_support` option is enabled, the template pattern is not
+used.  Instead, tags are encoded using
+[Graphite tag support](http://graphite.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tags.html)
+added in Graphite 1.1.  The `metric_path` is a combination of the optional
+`prefix` option, measurement name, and field name.
+
+The tag `name` is reserved by Graphite, any conflicting tags and will be encoded as `_name`.
 
+**Example Conversion**:
 ```
 cpu,cpu=cpu-total,dc=us-east-1,host=tars usage_idle=98.09,usage_user=0.89 1455320660004257758
 =>
@@ -111,47 +126,13 @@ cpu.usage_idle;cpu=cpu-total;dc=us-east-1;host=tars 98.09 1455320690
   ## https://github.com/influxdata/telegraf/blob/master/docs/DATA_FORMATS_OUTPUT.md
   data_format = "graphite"
 
-  # prefix each graphite bucket
+  ## Prefix added to each graphite bucket
   prefix = "telegraf"
-  # graphite template
+  ## Graphite template pattern
   template = "host.tags.measurement.field"
-  # Enable Graphite tags support
-  # Defaults to "false"
-  graphite_tag_support = true
-```
-
-
-## Graphite 1.1
-
-The Graphite11 data format translates Telegraf metrics into Graphite protocol which supports storing data using tags to identify each series. [Graphite Tag Support](http://graphite.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tags.html)
-
-Which means the following influx metric -> graphite 1.1.x conversion would happen:
-
-```
-cpu,cpu=cpu-total,dc=us-east-1,host=tars usage_idle=98.09,usage_user=0.89 1455320660004257758
-=>
-cpu.usage_user;cpu=cpu-total;dc=us-east-1;host=tars 0.89 1455320690
-cpu.usage_idle;cpu=cpu-total;dc=us-east-1;host=tars 98.09 1455320690
-```
 
-Fields with string values will be skipped.  Boolean fields will be converted
-to 1 (true) or 0 (false).
-
-### Graphite Configuration
-
-```toml
-[[outputs.file]]
-  ## Files to write to, "stdout" is a specially handled file.
-  files = ["stdout", "/tmp/metrics.out"]
-
-  ## Data format to output.
-  ## Each data format has its own unique set of configuration options, read
-  ## more about them here:
-  ## https://github.com/influxdata/telegraf/blob/master/docs/DATA_FORMATS_OUTPUT.md
-  data_format = "graphite11"
-
-  # prefix each graphite bucket
-  prefix = "telegraf"
+  ## Support Graphite tags, recommended to enable when using Graphite 1.1 or later.
+  # graphite_tag_support = false
 ```
 
 ## JSON
diff --git a/plugins/outputs/graphite/README.md b/plugins/outputs/graphite/README.md
index c54f07bb13a97ddb74eae4055a5184a2ddd68078..878eb8048f485f3b6bfce989b1e647b532a4aa78 100644
--- a/plugins/outputs/graphite/README.md
+++ b/plugins/outputs/graphite/README.md
@@ -3,12 +3,10 @@
 This plugin writes to [Graphite](http://graphite.readthedocs.org/en/latest/index.html)
 via raw TCP.
 
-<aside class="notice">
-When `graphite_tag_support` is enabled, `name` as tag name is reserved for graphite metric and will be replaced with `_name`.
-</aside>
+For details on the translation between Telegraf Metrics and Graphite output,
+see the [Graphite Data Format](../../../docs/DATA_FORMATS_OUTPUT.md)
 
-
-## Configuration:
+### Configuration:
 
 ```toml
 # Configuration for Graphite server to send metrics to
@@ -22,10 +20,10 @@ When `graphite_tag_support` is enabled, `name` as tag name is reserved for graph
   ## Graphite output template
   ## see https://github.com/influxdata/telegraf/blob/master/docs/DATA_FORMATS_OUTPUT.md
   template = "host.tags.measurement.field"
+
   ## Enable Graphite tags support
-  ## see http://graphite.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tags.html 
-  ## Defaults to "false"
-  # graphite_tag_support = true
+  # graphite_tag_support = false
+
   ## timeout in seconds for the write connection to graphite
   timeout = 2
 
diff --git a/plugins/outputs/graphite/graphite.go b/plugins/outputs/graphite/graphite.go
index 8931dbe0ae40e8150c9b23a0ba702982cbe9f778..c26c1587f0dffc01be2f091af5bfcebc48acc890 100644
--- a/plugins/outputs/graphite/graphite.go
+++ b/plugins/outputs/graphite/graphite.go
@@ -36,10 +36,10 @@ var sampleConfig = `
   ## Graphite output template
   ## see https://github.com/influxdata/telegraf/blob/master/docs/DATA_FORMATS_OUTPUT.md
   template = "host.tags.measurement.field"
+
   ## Enable Graphite tags support
-  ## see http://graphite.readthedocs.io/en/latest/tags.html 
-  ## Defaults to "false"
-  # graphite_tag_support = true
+  # graphite_tag_support = false
+
   ## timeout in seconds for the write connection to graphite
   timeout = 2