diff --git a/R/db-sql.R b/R/db-sql.R
index b8f934d46..63235d7b0 100644
--- a/R/db-sql.R
+++ b/R/db-sql.R
@@ -688,8 +688,9 @@ sql_query_union.DBIConnection <- function(con, x, unions, ..., lvl = 0) {
 #' These functions generate the SQL used in `rows_*(in_place = TRUE)`.
 #'
 #' @param con Database connection.
-#' @param table Table to update. Must be a table identifier, e.g. single string
-#'   or created via `in_schema()`.
+#' @param table Table to update. Must be a table identifier.
+#'   Use a string to refer to tables in the current schema/catalog or
+#'   `I()` to refer to tables in other schemas/catalogs.
 #' @param from Table or query that contains the new data. Either a table
 #'   identifier or SQL.
 #' @inheritParams dplyr::rows_upsert
diff --git a/R/ident.R b/R/ident.R
index ab456ce19..835a21799 100644
--- a/R/ident.R
+++ b/R/ident.R
@@ -1,12 +1,18 @@
 #' Flag a character vector as SQL identifiers
 #'
-#' `ident()` takes unquoted strings and flags them as identifiers.
-#' `ident_q()` assumes its input has already been quoted, and ensures
-#' it does not get quoted again. This is currently used only for
-#' `schema.table`.
+#' @description
+#' `ident()` takes strings and turns them as database identifiers (e.g. table
+#' or column names) quoting them using the identifer rules for your database.
+#' `ident_q()` does the same, but assumes the names have already been
+#' quoted, preventing them from being quoted again.
 #'
-#' @param ... A character vector, or name-value pairs
-#' @param x An object
+#' These are generally for internal use only; if you need to supply an
+#' table name that is qualified with schema or catalog, or has already been
+#' quoted for some other reason, use `I()`.
+#'
+#' @param ... A character vector, or name-value pairs.
+#' @param x An object.
+#' @keywords internal
 #' @export
 #' @examples
 #' # SQL92 quotes strings with '
diff --git a/R/schema.R b/R/schema.R
index 8b75dd3eb..e4f382e28 100644
--- a/R/schema.R
+++ b/R/schema.R
@@ -1,19 +1,26 @@
-#' Refer to a table in a schema or a database catalog
+#' Refer to a table in another schema/catalog
 #'
-#' `in_schema()` can be used in [tbl()] to indicate a table in a specific
-#' schema.
-#' `in_catalog()` additionally allows specifying the database catalog.
+#' @description
+#' `in_schema()` and `in_catalog()` can be used to refer to tables outside of
+#' the current catalog/schema. However, we now recommend using `I()` as it's
+#' typically less typing.
 #'
 #' @param catalog,schema,table Names of catalog, schema, and table.
 #'   These will be automatically quoted; use [sql()] to pass a raw name
 #'   that won't get quoted.
 #' @export
+#' @keywords internal
 #' @examples
+#' # Previously:
 #' in_schema("my_schema", "my_table")
 #' in_catalog("my_catalog", "my_schema", "my_table")
-#' # eliminate quotes
 #' in_schema(sql("my_schema"), sql("my_table"))
 #'
+#' # Now
+#' I("my_schema.my_table")
+#' I("my_catalog.my_schema.my_table")
+#' I("my_schema.my_table")
+#'
 #' # Example using schemas with SQLite
 #' con <- DBI::dbConnect(RSQLite::SQLite(), ":memory:")
 #'
@@ -23,10 +30,10 @@
 #'
 #' library(dplyr, warn.conflicts = FALSE)
 #' copy_to(con, iris, "df", temporary = FALSE)
-#' copy_to(con, mtcars, in_schema("aux", "df"), temporary = FALSE)
+#' copy_to(con, mtcars, I("aux.df"), temporary = FALSE)
 #'
 #' con %>% tbl("df")
-#' con %>% tbl(in_schema("aux", "df"))
+#' con %>% tbl(I("aux.df"))
 in_schema <- function(schema, table) {
   structure(
     list(
diff --git a/R/src_dbi.R b/R/src_dbi.R
index 978be8439..5c62b7e56 100644
--- a/R/src_dbi.R
+++ b/R/src_dbi.R
@@ -15,9 +15,12 @@
 #' the data into R.
 #'
 #' @param src A `DBIConnection` object produced by `DBI::dbConnect()`.
-#' @param from Either a string (giving a table name),
-#'   a fully qualified table name created by [in_schema()]
-#'   or a literal [sql()] string.
+#' @param from Either a table identifier or a literal [sql()] string.
+#'
+#'   Use a string to identify a table in the current schema/catalog. We
+#'   recommend using `I()` to identify a table outside the default catalog or
+#'   schema, e.g. `I("schema.table")` or `I("catalog.schema.table")`. You can
+#'   also use [in_schema()]/[in_catalog()] or [DBI::Id()].
 #' @param ... Passed on to [tbl_sql()]
 #' @export
 #' @examples
@@ -33,8 +36,8 @@
 #' # To retrieve a single table from a source, use `tbl()`
 #' con %>% tbl("mtcars")
 #'
-#' # Use `in_schema()` for fully qualified table names
-#' con %>% tbl(in_schema("temp", "mtcars")) %>% head(1)
+#' # Use `I()` for qualified table names
+#' con %>% tbl(I("temp.mtcars")) %>% head(1)
 #'
 #' # You can also use pass raw SQL if you want a more sophisticated query
 #' con %>% tbl(sql("SELECT * FROM mtcars WHERE cyl = 8"))
diff --git a/R/verb-copy-to.R b/R/verb-copy-to.R
index 03489113a..cd0a2bc50 100644
--- a/R/verb-copy-to.R
+++ b/R/verb-copy-to.R
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@
 #'   from another source. If from another source, all data must transition
 #'   through R in one pass, so it is only suitable for transferring small
 #'   amounts of data.
+#' @param name Name of new remote table. Use a string to create the table
+#'   in the current catalog/schema. Use `I()` if you want to create it
+#'   in a specific catalog/schema, e.g. `I("schema.table")`.
 #' @param types a character vector giving variable types to use for the columns.
 #'    See <https://www.sqlite.org/datatype3.html> for available types.
 #' @param temporary if `TRUE`, will create a temporary table that is
diff --git a/_pkgdown.yml b/_pkgdown.yml
index 23957f2df..4acd672b2 100644
--- a/_pkgdown.yml
+++ b/_pkgdown.yml
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ reference:
 
 - title: Database connection
   contents:
-  - in_schema
   - memdb_frame
   - remote_name
 
@@ -79,7 +78,6 @@ reference:
   contents:
   - build_sql
   - escape
-  - ident
   - partial_eval
   - sql
   - sql_expr
diff --git a/man/copy_to.src_sql.Rd b/man/copy_to.src_sql.Rd
index 590bbc612..c7d8f4a1a 100644
--- a/man/copy_to.src_sql.Rd
+++ b/man/copy_to.src_sql.Rd
@@ -26,7 +26,9 @@ from another source. If from another source, all data must transition
 through R in one pass, so it is only suitable for transferring small
 amounts of data.}
 
-\item{name}{name for new remote table.}
+\item{name}{Name of new remote table. Use a string to create the table
+in the current catalog/schema. Use \code{I()} if you want to create it
+in a specific catalog/schema, e.g. \code{I("schema.table")}.}
 
 \item{overwrite}{If \code{TRUE}, will overwrite an existing table with
 name \code{name}. If \code{FALSE}, will throw an error if \code{name} already
diff --git a/man/ident.Rd b/man/ident.Rd
index 3406d8878..4b728f30f 100644
--- a/man/ident.Rd
+++ b/man/ident.Rd
@@ -10,15 +10,19 @@ ident(...)
 is.ident(x)
 }
 \arguments{
-\item{...}{A character vector, or name-value pairs}
+\item{...}{A character vector, or name-value pairs.}
 
-\item{x}{An object}
+\item{x}{An object.}
 }
 \description{
-\code{ident()} takes unquoted strings and flags them as identifiers.
-\code{ident_q()} assumes its input has already been quoted, and ensures
-it does not get quoted again. This is currently used only for
-\code{schema.table}.
+\code{ident()} takes strings and turns them as database identifiers (e.g. table
+or column names) quoting them using the identifer rules for your database.
+\code{ident_q()} does the same, but assumes the names have already been
+quoted, preventing them from being quoted again.
+
+These are generally for internal use only; if you need to supply an
+table name that is qualified with schema or catalog, or has already been
+quoted for some other reason, use \code{I()}.
 }
 \examples{
 # SQL92 quotes strings with '
@@ -32,3 +36,4 @@ escape_ansi(ident("x"))
 ident(a = "x", b = "y")
 ident_q(a = "x", b = "y")
 }
+\keyword{internal}
diff --git a/man/in_schema.Rd b/man/in_schema.Rd
index a51df1fb4..968a39415 100644
--- a/man/in_schema.Rd
+++ b/man/in_schema.Rd
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 \name{in_schema}
 \alias{in_schema}
 \alias{in_catalog}
-\title{Refer to a table in a schema or a database catalog}
+\title{Refer to a table in another schema/catalog}
 \usage{
 in_schema(schema, table)
 
@@ -15,16 +15,21 @@ These will be automatically quoted; use \code{\link[=sql]{sql()}} to pass a raw
 that won't get quoted.}
 }
 \description{
-\code{in_schema()} can be used in \code{\link[=tbl]{tbl()}} to indicate a table in a specific
-schema.
-\code{in_catalog()} additionally allows specifying the database catalog.
+\code{in_schema()} and \code{in_catalog()} can be used to refer to tables outside of
+the current catalog/schema. However, we now recommend using \code{I()} as it's
+typically less typing.
 }
 \examples{
+# Previously:
 in_schema("my_schema", "my_table")
 in_catalog("my_catalog", "my_schema", "my_table")
-# eliminate quotes
 in_schema(sql("my_schema"), sql("my_table"))
 
+# Now
+I("my_schema.my_table")
+I("my_catalog.my_schema.my_table")
+I("my_schema.my_table")
+
 # Example using schemas with SQLite
 con <- DBI::dbConnect(RSQLite::SQLite(), ":memory:")
 
@@ -34,8 +39,9 @@ DBI::dbExecute(con, paste0("ATTACH '", tmp, "' AS aux"))
 
 library(dplyr, warn.conflicts = FALSE)
 copy_to(con, iris, "df", temporary = FALSE)
-copy_to(con, mtcars, in_schema("aux", "df"), temporary = FALSE)
+copy_to(con, mtcars, I("aux.df"), temporary = FALSE)
 
 con \%>\% tbl("df")
-con \%>\% tbl(in_schema("aux", "df"))
+con \%>\% tbl(I("aux.df"))
 }
+\keyword{internal}
diff --git a/man/sql_query_insert.Rd b/man/sql_query_insert.Rd
index 03abc5f5e..ac320e97b 100644
--- a/man/sql_query_insert.Rd
+++ b/man/sql_query_insert.Rd
@@ -48,8 +48,9 @@ sql_query_delete(con, table, from, by, ..., returning_cols = NULL)
 \arguments{
 \item{con}{Database connection.}
 
-\item{table}{Table to update. Must be a table identifier, e.g. single string
-or created via \code{in_schema()}.}
+\item{table}{Table to update. Must be a table identifier.
+Use a string to refer to tables in the current schema/catalog or
+\code{I()} to refer to tables in other schemas/catalogs.}
 
 \item{from}{Table or query that contains the new data. Either a table
 identifier or SQL.}
diff --git a/man/tbl.src_dbi.Rd b/man/tbl.src_dbi.Rd
index 9ea1bfd23..c2c4ad005 100644
--- a/man/tbl.src_dbi.Rd
+++ b/man/tbl.src_dbi.Rd
@@ -10,9 +10,12 @@
 \arguments{
 \item{src}{A \code{DBIConnection} object produced by \code{DBI::dbConnect()}.}
 
-\item{from}{Either a string (giving a table name),
-a fully qualified table name created by \code{\link[=in_schema]{in_schema()}}
-or a literal \code{\link[=sql]{sql()}} string.}
+\item{from}{Either a table identifier or a literal \code{\link[=sql]{sql()}} string.
+
+Use a string to identify a table in the current schema/catalog. We
+recommend using \code{I()} to identify a table outside the default catalog or
+schema, e.g. \code{I("schema.table")} or \code{I("catalog.schema.table")}. You can
+also use \code{\link[=in_schema]{in_schema()}}/\code{\link[=in_catalog]{in_catalog()}} or \code{\link[DBI:Id]{DBI::Id()}}.}
 
 \item{...}{Passed on to \code{\link[=tbl_sql]{tbl_sql()}}}
 }
@@ -44,8 +47,8 @@ DBI::dbListTables(con)
 # To retrieve a single table from a source, use `tbl()`
 con \%>\% tbl("mtcars")
 
-# Use `in_schema()` for fully qualified table names
-con \%>\% tbl(in_schema("temp", "mtcars")) \%>\% head(1)
+# Use `I()` for qualified table names
+con \%>\% tbl(I("temp.mtcars")) \%>\% head(1)
 
 # You can also use pass raw SQL if you want a more sophisticated query
 con \%>\% tbl(sql("SELECT * FROM mtcars WHERE cyl = 8"))