- <para><command>systemd-run</command> may be used
- create a transient <filename>.service</filename> unit
- or a <filename>.scope</filename> unit and launch the
- specified <replaceable>COMMAND</replaceable> as part
- of this unit.</para>
+ <para><command>systemd-run</command> may be used to create and start
+ a transient <filename>.service</filename> or a
+ <filename>.scope</filename> unit and run the specified
+ <replaceable>COMMAND</replaceable> in it.</para>
+
+ <para>If a command is run as transient service unit, it will be
+ started and managed by the service manager like any other service,
+ and thus show up in the output of <command>systemctl
+ list-units</command> like any other unit. It will run in a clean
+ and detached execution environment. <command>systemd-run</command>
+ will start the service asynchronously in the background and
+ immediately return.</para>
+
+ <para>If a command is run as transient scope unit, it will be
+ started directly by <command>systemd-run</command> and thus
+ inherit the execution environment of the caller. It is however
+ managed by the service manager similar to normal services, and
+ will also show up in the output of <command>systemctl
+ list-units</command>. Execution in this case is synchronous, and
+ execution will return only when the command finishes.</para>