diff --git a/docs/src/matrix.md b/docs/src/matrix.md
index 643d8b7d50..5abfc9af5f 100644
--- a/docs/src/matrix.md
+++ b/docs/src/matrix.md
@@ -739,11 +739,11 @@ Rationals
 ### Symmetry testing
 
 ```@docs
-is_symmetric(a::MatrixElem{T}) where T <: RingElement
+is_symmetric(::MatrixElem)
 ```
 
 ```@docs
-is_skew_symmetric(::MatElem)
+is_skew_symmetric(::MatrixElem)
 ```
 
 ### Powering
diff --git a/src/Matrix.jl b/src/Matrix.jl
index 7541cafb58..36b3608f99 100644
--- a/src/Matrix.jl
+++ b/src/Matrix.jl
@@ -1272,10 +1272,10 @@ end
 ###############################################################################
 
 """
-    is_symmetric(a::MatrixElem{T}) where T <: RingElement
+    is_symmetric(M::MatrixElem)
 
 Return `true` if the given matrix is symmetric with respect to its main
-diagonal, i.e., `tr(M) == M`, otherwise return `false`.
+diagonal, i.e., `transpose(M) == M`, otherwise return `false`.
 
 Alias for `LinearAlgebra.issymmetric`.
 
@@ -1299,18 +1299,13 @@ julia> is_symmetric(N)
 false
 ```
 """
-function is_symmetric(a::MatrixElem{T}) where T <: NCRingElement
-    if !is_square(a)
-        return false
-    end
-    for row in 2:nrows(a)
-        for col in 1:(row - 1)
-            if a[row, col] != a[col, row]
-                return false
-            end
-        end
-    end
-    return true
+function is_symmetric(M::MatrixElem)
+   n = nrows(M)
+   n == ncols(M) || return false
+   for i in 2:n, j in 1:i-1
+      M[i, j] == M[j, i] || return false
+   end
+   return true
 end
 
 
@@ -2406,10 +2401,10 @@ end
 ###############################################################################
 
 """
-    is_skew_symmetric(M::MatElem)
+    is_skew_symmetric(M::MatrixElem)
 
 Return `true` if the given matrix is skew symmetric with respect to its main
-diagonal, i.e., `tr(M) == -M`, otherwise return `false`.
+diagonal, i.e., `transpose(M) == -M`, otherwise return `false`.
 
 # Examples
 ```jldoctest; setup = :(using AbstractAlgebra)
@@ -2423,7 +2418,7 @@ true
 
 ```
 """
-function is_skew_symmetric(M::MatElem)
+function is_skew_symmetric(M::MatrixElem)
    n = nrows(M)
    n == ncols(M) || return false
    for i in 1:n, j in 1:i
diff --git a/src/NemoStuff.jl b/src/NemoStuff.jl
index 4bae890de4..82855637f0 100644
--- a/src/NemoStuff.jl
+++ b/src/NemoStuff.jl
@@ -136,17 +136,6 @@ end
 
 base_ring(::Vector{Int}) = Int
 
-function is_symmetric(M::MatElem)
-    for i in 1:nrows(M)
-        for j in i:ncols(M)
-            if M[i, j] != M[j, i]
-                return false
-            end
-        end
-    end
-    return true
-end
-
 nrows(A::Matrix{T}) where {T} = size(A)[1]
 ncols(A::Matrix{T}) where {T} = size(A)[2]