diff --git a/autoload/ale/statusline.vim b/autoload/ale/statusline.vim
index bec8a6e4..673748ca 100644
--- a/autoload/ale/statusline.vim
+++ b/autoload/ale/statusline.vim
@@ -90,6 +90,9 @@ function! s:StatusForListFormat() abort
 endfunction
 
 " Returns a formatted string that can be integrated in the statusline.
+"
+" This function is deprecated, and should not be used. Use the airline plugin
+" instead, or write your own status function with ale#statusline#Count()
 function! ale#statusline#Status() abort
     if !exists('g:ale_statusline_format')
         return 'OK'
diff --git a/doc/ale.txt b/doc/ale.txt
index 207f5747..c8aa154f 100644
--- a/doc/ale.txt
+++ b/doc/ale.txt
@@ -646,17 +646,6 @@ g:ale_sign_warning                                         *g:ale_sign_warning*
   The sign for warnings in the sign gutter.
 
 
-g:ale_statusline_format                               *g:ale_statusline_format*
-
-  Type: |List|
-  Default: `['%d error(s)', '%d warning(s)', 'OK']`
-
-  This variable defines the format of |`ale#statusline#status()`| output.
-  - The 1st element is for errors
-  - The 2nd element is for warnings
-  - The 3rd element is for when no errors are detected
-
-
 g:ale_warn_about_trailing_whitespace     *g:ale_warn_about_trailing_whitespace*
 b:ale_warn_about_trailing_whitespace     *b:ale_warn_about_trailing_whitespace*
 
@@ -1102,12 +1091,17 @@ ale#linter#Get(filetype)                                     *ale#linter#Get()*
   components.
 
 
-ale#statusline#Status()                               *ale#statusline#Status()*
+ale#statusline#Count()                                 *ale#statusline#Count()*
 
-  Return a formatted string that can be added to the statusline.
-  The output's format is defined in |`g:ale_statusline_format`|.
-  To enable it, the following should be present in your |statusline| settings: >
-  %{ale#statusline#Status()}
+  Returns a |Dictionary| containing information about the number of problems
+  detected by ALE. The following keys are supported:
+
+  `error`         -> The number of problems with type `E` and `sub_type != 'style'`
+  `warning`       -> The number of problems with type `W` and `sub_type != 'style'`
+  `info`          -> The number of problems with type `I`
+  `style_error`   -> The number of problems with type `E` and `sub_type == 'style'`
+  `style_warning` -> The number of problems with type `W` and `sub_type == 'style'`
+  `total`         -> The total number of problems.
 
 
 ALELint                                                       *ALELint-autocmd*
diff --git a/plugin/ale.vim b/plugin/ale.vim
index cf97032a..8c674a36 100644
--- a/plugin/ale.vim
+++ b/plugin/ale.vim
@@ -142,11 +142,8 @@ let g:ale_echo_msg_warning_str = get(g:, 'ale_echo_msg_warning_str', 'Warning')
 " This flag can be set to 0 to disable echoing when the cursor moves.
 let g:ale_echo_cursor = get(g:, 'ale_echo_cursor', 1)
 
-" String format for statusline
-" Its a list where:
-" * The 1st element is for errors
-" * The 2nd element is for warnings
-" * The 3rd element is when there are no errors
+" A deprecated setting for ale#statusline#Status()
+" See :help ale#statusline#Count() for getting status reports.
 let g:ale_statusline_format = get(g:, 'ale_statusline_format',
 \   ['%d error(s)', '%d warning(s)', 'OK']
 \)