diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 3295c1e42d2f7ce7512d67da435789e65b46186d..7225cdeabddc7b7e52771199e2b5d6b54d684b3e 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -36,6 +36,12 @@ a feature branch instead.
 [jung]: https://gitlab.mpi-sws.org/jung
 [iris]: https://gitlab.mpi-sws.org/iris/iris
 
+We prefer small and self-contained merge requests that add a single feature
+over merge requests that add arbitrary collections of lemmas. Small merge
+requests are easier to review, and will typically be merged more quickly
+(because it avoids blocking the whole merge request on a single
+discussion).
+
 ## How to update the std++ dependency
 
 * Do the change in std++, push it.