diff --git a/crates/nu-command/src/commands/core_commands/describe.rs b/crates/nu-command/src/commands/core_commands/describe.rs
index 9393753679..fa48a9ee94 100644
--- a/crates/nu-command/src/commands/core_commands/describe.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-command/src/commands/core_commands/describe.rs
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ pub fn describe(args: CommandArgs) -> Result<ActionStream, ShellError> {
     Ok(args
         .input
         .map(|row| {
-            let name = value::format_type(&row, 100);
+            let name = value::plain_type(&row, 100);
             ReturnSuccess::value(
                 UntaggedValue::string(name).into_value(Tag::unknown_anchor(row.tag.span)),
             )
diff --git a/crates/nu-data/src/value.rs b/crates/nu-data/src/value.rs
index 2695b36701..4074bd5d89 100644
--- a/crates/nu-data/src/value.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-data/src/value.rs
@@ -537,6 +537,10 @@ pub fn compare_values(
     Ok(result)
 }
 
+pub fn plain_type<'a>(value: impl Into<&'a UntaggedValue>, width: usize) -> String {
+    Type::from_value(value.into()).plain_string(width)
+}
+
 pub fn format_type<'a>(value: impl Into<&'a UntaggedValue>, width: usize) -> String {
     Type::from_value(value.into()).colored_string(width)
 }