diff --git a/src/configuration.js b/src/configuration.js
index a6465e68..6d019409 100644
--- a/src/configuration.js
+++ b/src/configuration.js
@@ -11,12 +11,14 @@ export class Configuration {
       - format: (required) `text` | `json`
       - rules: [string array] whitelist rules
       - customRulePaths: [string array] path to additional custom rules to be loaded
+      - commentDescriptions: [boolean] use old way of defining descriptions in GraphQL SDL
       - oldImplementsSyntax: [boolean] use old way of defining implemented interfaces in GraphQL SDL
   */
   constructor(schema, options = {}) {
     const defaultOptions = {
       format: 'text',
       customRulePaths: [],
+      commentDescriptions: false,
       oldImplementsSyntax: false,
     };
 
@@ -27,6 +29,10 @@ export class Configuration {
     this.rulePaths = this.options.customRulePaths.concat(this.builtInRulePaths);
   }
 
+  getCommentDescriptions() {
+    return this.options.commentDescriptions;
+  }
+
   getOldImplementsSyntax() {
     return this.options.oldImplementsSyntax;
   }
@@ -55,7 +61,7 @@ export class Configuration {
     let specifiedRules;
     if (this.options.rules && this.options.rules.length > 0) {
       specifiedRules = this.options.rules.map(toUpperCamelCase);
-      rules = this.getAllRules().filter((rule) => {
+      rules = this.getAllRules().filter(rule => {
         return specifiedRules.indexOf(rule.name) >= 0;
       });
     }
@@ -63,7 +69,7 @@ export class Configuration {
     // DEPRECATED - This code should be removed in v1.0.0.
     if (this.options.only && this.options.only.length > 0) {
       specifiedRules = this.options.only.map(toUpperCamelCase);
-      rules = this.getAllRules().filter((rule) => {
+      rules = this.getAllRules().filter(rule => {
         return specifiedRules.indexOf(rule.name) >= 0;
       });
     }
@@ -71,7 +77,7 @@ export class Configuration {
     // DEPRECATED - This code should be removed in v1.0.0.
     if (this.options.except && this.options.except.length > 0) {
       specifiedRules = this.options.except.map(toUpperCamelCase);
-      rules = this.getAllRules().filter((rule) => {
+      rules = this.getAllRules().filter(rule => {
         return specifiedRules.indexOf(rule.name) == -1;
       });
     }
@@ -93,9 +99,9 @@ export class Configuration {
     const expandedPaths = expandPaths(rulePaths);
     const rules = new Set([]);
 
-    expandedPaths.map((rulePath) => {
+    expandedPaths.map(rulePath => {
       let ruleMap = require(rulePath);
-      Object.keys(ruleMap).forEach((k) => rules.add(ruleMap[k]));
+      Object.keys(ruleMap).forEach(k => rules.add(ruleMap[k]));
     });
 
     return Array.from(rules);
@@ -128,7 +134,7 @@ export class Configuration {
       }
     }
 
-    const ruleNames = rules.map((rule) => rule.name);
+    const ruleNames = rules.map(rule => rule.name);
 
     let misConfiguredRuleNames = []
       .concat(
@@ -137,7 +143,7 @@ export class Configuration {
         this.options.rules || []
       )
       .map(toUpperCamelCase)
-      .filter((name) => ruleNames.indexOf(name) == -1);
+      .filter(name => ruleNames.indexOf(name) == -1);
 
     if (this.getFormatter() == null) {
       issues.push({
@@ -164,6 +170,6 @@ export class Configuration {
 function toUpperCamelCase(string) {
   return string
     .split('-')
-    .map((part) => part[0].toUpperCase() + part.slice(1))
+    .map(part => part[0].toUpperCase() + part.slice(1))
     .join('');
 }
diff --git a/src/rules/arguments_have_descriptions.js b/src/rules/arguments_have_descriptions.js
index 5930fe5c..65ab822a 100644
--- a/src/rules/arguments_have_descriptions.js
+++ b/src/rules/arguments_have_descriptions.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { getDescription } from 'graphql/utilities/buildASTSchema';
+import { getDescription } from 'graphql/utilities/extendSchema';
 import { ValidationError } from '../validation_error';
 
 export function ArgumentsHaveDescriptions(configuration, context) {
@@ -7,19 +7,21 @@ export function ArgumentsHaveDescriptions(configuration, context) {
       const fieldName = node.name.value;
 
       for (const arg of node.arguments || []) {
-        if (arg.description && arg.description.value != '') {
-          continue;
-        }
+        const description = getDescription(arg, {
+          commentDescriptions: configuration.getCommentDescriptions(),
+        });
 
-        const argName = arg.name.value;
+        if (typeof description !== 'string' || description.length === 0) {
+          const argName = arg.name.value;
 
-        context.reportError(
-          new ValidationError(
-            'arguments-have-descriptions',
-            `The \`${argName}\` argument of \`${fieldName}\` is missing a description.`,
-            [arg]
-          )
-        );
+          context.reportError(
+            new ValidationError(
+              'arguments-have-descriptions',
+              `The \`${argName}\` argument of \`${fieldName}\` is missing a description.`,
+              [arg]
+            )
+          );
+        }
       }
     },
   };
diff --git a/src/rules/descriptions_are_capitalized.js b/src/rules/descriptions_are_capitalized.js
index 91c31edd..155a8323 100644
--- a/src/rules/descriptions_are_capitalized.js
+++ b/src/rules/descriptions_are_capitalized.js
@@ -1,16 +1,16 @@
-import { getDescription } from 'graphql/utilities/buildASTSchema';
+import { getDescription } from 'graphql/utilities/extendSchema';
 import { ValidationError } from '../validation_error';
 
 export function DescriptionsAreCapitalized(configuration, context) {
   return {
     FieldDefinition(node, key, parent, path, ancestors) {
+      const description = getDescription(node, {
+        commentDescriptions: configuration.getCommentDescriptions(),
+      });
+
       // Rule should pass if there's an empty/missing string description. If empty
       // strings aren't wanted, the `*_have_descriptions` rules can be used.
-      if (!node.description || node.description.value == '') {
-        return;
-      }
-
-      const description = node.description.value;
+      if (typeof description !== 'string' || description.length === 0) return;
 
       // It's possible there could be some markdown characters that do not
       // pass this test. If we discover some examples of this, we can improve.
diff --git a/src/rules/enum_values_have_descriptions.js b/src/rules/enum_values_have_descriptions.js
index 8b4a5e87..20e41b0b 100644
--- a/src/rules/enum_values_have_descriptions.js
+++ b/src/rules/enum_values_have_descriptions.js
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
-import { getDescription } from 'graphql/utilities/buildASTSchema';
+import { getDescription } from 'graphql/utilities/extendSchema';
 import { ValidationError } from '../validation_error';
 
 export function EnumValuesHaveDescriptions(configuration, context) {
   return {
     EnumValueDefinition(node, key, parent, path, ancestors) {
-      if (node.description && node.description.value != '') {
+      if (
+        getDescription(node, {
+          commentDescriptions: configuration.getCommentDescriptions(),
+        })
+      ) {
         return;
       }
 
diff --git a/src/rules/fields_have_descriptions.js b/src/rules/fields_have_descriptions.js
index c70e0f6c..223382ae 100644
--- a/src/rules/fields_have_descriptions.js
+++ b/src/rules/fields_have_descriptions.js
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
-import { getDescription } from 'graphql/utilities/buildASTSchema';
+import { getDescription } from 'graphql/utilities/extendSchema';
 import { ValidationError } from '../validation_error';
 
 export function FieldsHaveDescriptions(configuration, context) {
   return {
     FieldDefinition(node, key, parent, path, ancestors) {
-      if (node.description && node.description.value != '') {
+      if (
+        getDescription(node, {
+          commentDescriptions: configuration.getCommentDescriptions(),
+        })
+      ) {
         return;
       }
 
diff --git a/src/rules/input_object_values_have_descriptions.js b/src/rules/input_object_values_have_descriptions.js
index b5061eff..30b53c01 100644
--- a/src/rules/input_object_values_have_descriptions.js
+++ b/src/rules/input_object_values_have_descriptions.js
@@ -1,10 +1,14 @@
-import { getDescription } from 'graphql/utilities/buildASTSchema';
+import { getDescription } from 'graphql/utilities/extendSchema';
 import { ValidationError } from '../validation_error';
 
 export function InputObjectValuesHaveDescriptions(configuration, context) {
   return {
     InputValueDefinition(node, key, parent, path, ancestors) {
-      if (node.description && node.description.value != '') {
+      if (
+        getDescription(node, {
+          commentDescriptions: configuration.getCommentDescriptions(),
+        })
+      ) {
         return;
       }
 
diff --git a/src/rules/types_have_descriptions.js b/src/rules/types_have_descriptions.js
index 34e81cac..83774f18 100644
--- a/src/rules/types_have_descriptions.js
+++ b/src/rules/types_have_descriptions.js
@@ -1,8 +1,12 @@
-import { getDescription } from 'graphql/utilities/buildASTSchema';
+import { getDescription } from 'graphql/utilities/extendSchema';
 import { ValidationError } from '../validation_error';
 
 function validateTypeHasDescription(configuration, context, node, typeKind) {
-  if (node.description && node.description.value != '') {
+  if (
+    getDescription(node, {
+      commentDescriptions: configuration.getCommentDescriptions(),
+    })
+  ) {
     return;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/runner.js b/src/runner.js
index 463fc094..0c305c9c 100644
--- a/src/runner.js
+++ b/src/runner.js
@@ -30,6 +30,10 @@ export async function run(stdout, stdin, stderr, argv) {
       '-p, --custom-rule-paths <paths>',
       'path to additional custom rules to be loaded. Example: rules/*.js'
     )
+    .option(
+      '--comment-descriptions',
+      'use old way of defining descriptions in GraphQL SDL'
+    )
     .option(
       '--old-implements-syntax',
       'use old way of defining implemented interfaces in GraphQL SDL'
@@ -77,7 +81,7 @@ export async function run(stdout, stdin, stderr, argv) {
 
   const issues = configuration.validate();
 
-  issues.map((issue) => {
+  issues.map(issue => {
     var prefix;
     if (issue.type == 'error') {
       prefix = `${chalk.red(figures.cross)} Error`;
@@ -89,7 +93,7 @@ export async function run(stdout, stdin, stderr, argv) {
     );
   });
 
-  if (issues.some((issue) => issue.type == 'error')) {
+  if (issues.some(issue => issue.type == 'error')) {
     return 2;
   }
 
@@ -152,6 +156,10 @@ function getOptionsFromCommander(commander) {
     options.customRulePaths = commander.customRulePaths.split(',');
   }
 
+  if (commander.commentDescriptions) {
+    options.commentDescriptions = commander.commentDescriptions;
+  }
+
   if (commander.oldImplementsSyntax) {
     options.oldImplementsSyntax = commander.oldImplementsSyntax;
   }
diff --git a/src/validator.js b/src/validator.js
index d761e487..b96c22f3 100644
--- a/src/validator.js
+++ b/src/validator.js
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ export function validateSchemaDefinition(
   let schemaErrors = validateSDL(ast);
   if (schemaErrors.length > 0) {
     return sortErrors(
-      schemaErrors.map((error) => {
+      schemaErrors.map(error => {
         return new ValidationError(
           'invalid-graphql-schema',
           error.message,
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ export function validateSchemaDefinition(
   }
 
   const schema = buildASTSchema(ast, {
+    commentDescriptions: configuration.getCommentDescriptions(),
     assumeValidSDL: true,
     assumeValid: true,
   });
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ export function validateSchemaDefinition(
   schemaErrors = validateSchema(schema);
   if (schemaErrors.length > 0) {
     return sortErrors(
-      schemaErrors.map((error) => {
+      schemaErrors.map(error => {
         return new ValidationError(
           'invalid-graphql-schema',
           error.message,
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ export function validateSchemaDefinition(
     );
   }
 
-  const rulesWithConfiguration = rules.map((rule) => {
+  const rulesWithConfiguration = rules.map(rule => {
     return ruleWithConfiguration(rule, configuration);
   });
 
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ function sortErrors(errors) {
 
 function ruleWithConfiguration(rule, configuration) {
   if (rule.length == 2) {
-    return function (context) {
+    return function(context) {
       return rule(configuration, context);
     };
   } else {
diff --git a/test/configuration.js b/test/configuration.js
index e76e971a..8b05dd59 100644
--- a/test/configuration.js
+++ b/test/configuration.js
@@ -43,13 +43,13 @@ describe('Configuration', () => {
       assert.equal(rules.length, 2);
       assert.equal(
         rules[0],
-        configuration.getAllRules().find((rule) => {
+        configuration.getAllRules().find(rule => {
           return rule.name == 'FieldsHaveDescriptions';
         })
       );
       assert.equal(
         rules[1],
-        configuration.getAllRules().find((rule) => {
+        configuration.getAllRules().find(rule => {
           return rule.name == 'TypesHaveDescriptions';
         })
       );
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ describe('Configuration', () => {
       assert.equal(rules.length, configuration.getAllRules().length - 2);
       assert.equal(
         0,
-        rules.filter((rule) => {
+        rules.filter(rule => {
           return (
             rule.name == 'FieldsHaveDescriptions' ||
             rule.name == 'TypesHaveDescriptions'
@@ -84,13 +84,13 @@ describe('Configuration', () => {
       assert.equal(rules.length, 2);
       assert.equal(
         rules[0],
-        configuration.getAllRules().find((rule) => {
+        configuration.getAllRules().find(rule => {
           return rule.name == 'FieldsHaveDescriptions';
         })
       );
       assert.equal(
         rules[1],
-        configuration.getAllRules().find((rule) => {
+        configuration.getAllRules().find(rule => {
           return rule.name == 'TypesHaveDescriptions';
         })
       );
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ describe('Configuration', () => {
       assert.equal(rules.length, configuration.getAllRules().length - 2);
       assert.equal(
         0,
-        rules.filter((rule) => {
+        rules.filter(rule => {
           return (
             rule.name == 'FieldsHaveDescriptions' ||
             rule.name == 'TypesHaveDescriptions'
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ describe('Configuration', () => {
 
       assert.equal(
         2,
-        rules.filter((rule) => {
+        rules.filter(rule => {
           return (
             rule.name == 'EnumNameCannotContainEnum' ||
             rule.name == 'TypeNameCannotContainType'
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ describe('Configuration', () => {
 
       assert.equal(
         4,
-        rules.filter((rule) => {
+        rules.filter(rule => {
           return (
             rule.name == 'SomeRule' ||
             rule.name == 'AnotherRule' ||
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ describe('Configuration', () => {
 
       assert.equal(
         1,
-        rules.filter((rule) => {
+        rules.filter(rule => {
           return rule.name == 'TypeNameCannotContainType';
         }).length
       );
@@ -238,6 +238,20 @@ describe('Configuration', () => {
     });
   });
 
+  describe('getCommentDescriptions', () => {
+    it('defaults to false', () => {
+      const configuration = new Configuration(emptySchema, {});
+      assert.equal(configuration.getCommentDescriptions(), false);
+    });
+
+    it('returns specified value', () => {
+      const configuration = new Configuration(emptySchema, {
+        commentDescriptions: true,
+      });
+      assert.equal(configuration.getCommentDescriptions(), true);
+    });
+  });
+
   describe('getOldImplementsSyntax', () => {
     it('defaults to false', () => {
       const configuration = new Configuration(emptySchema, {});
diff --git a/test/rules/arguments_have_descriptions.js b/test/rules/arguments_have_descriptions.js
index 8b02579b..9154a772 100644
--- a/test/rules/arguments_have_descriptions.js
+++ b/test/rules/arguments_have_descriptions.js
@@ -49,4 +49,22 @@ describe('ArgumentsHaveDescriptions rule', () => {
       ]
     );
   });
+
+  it('gets descriptions correctly with commentDescriptions option', () => {
+    expectPassesRuleWithConfiguration(
+      ArgumentsHaveDescriptions,
+      `
+      type Box {
+        widget(
+          "Widget ID"
+          id: Int
+
+          # Widget type
+          type: String
+        ): String!
+      }
+    `,
+      { commentDescriptions: true }
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/test/rules/descriptions_are_capitalized.js b/test/rules/descriptions_are_capitalized.js
index 572fd12e..e4cf81a3 100644
--- a/test/rules/descriptions_are_capitalized.js
+++ b/test/rules/descriptions_are_capitalized.js
@@ -28,6 +28,29 @@ describe('DescriptionsAreCapitalized rule', () => {
     );
   });
 
+  it('detects lowercase field descriptions with commentDescriptions option', () => {
+    expectFailsRuleWithConfiguration(
+      DescriptionsAreCapitalized,
+      `
+      type Widget {
+        # widget name
+        name: String!
+
+        # Valid description
+        other: Int
+      }
+    `,
+      { commentDescriptions: true },
+      [
+        {
+          message:
+            'The description for field `Widget.name` should be capitalized.',
+          locations: [{ line: 4, column: 9 }],
+        },
+      ]
+    );
+  });
+
   it('does not err on an empty description', () => {
     expectPassesRule(
       DescriptionsAreCapitalized,
diff --git a/test/rules/enum_values_have_descriptions.js b/test/rules/enum_values_have_descriptions.js
index 7ac06d04..1cdccc22 100644
--- a/test/rules/enum_values_have_descriptions.js
+++ b/test/rules/enum_values_have_descriptions.js
@@ -31,4 +31,17 @@ describe('EnumValuesHaveDescriptions rule', () => {
       ]
     );
   });
+
+  it('get descriptions correctly with commentDescriptions option', () => {
+    expectPassesRuleWithConfiguration(
+      EnumValuesHaveDescriptions,
+      `
+      enum Status {
+        # Hidden
+        HIDDEN
+      }
+    `,
+      { commentDescriptions: true }
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/test/rules/fields_have_descriptions.js b/test/rules/fields_have_descriptions.js
index 8b991e19..0caa9b2e 100644
--- a/test/rules/fields_have_descriptions.js
+++ b/test/rules/fields_have_descriptions.js
@@ -30,4 +30,17 @@ describe('FieldsHaveDescriptions rule', () => {
       ]
     );
   });
+
+  it('gets descriptions correctly with commentDescriptions option', () => {
+    expectPassesRuleWithConfiguration(
+      FieldsHaveDescriptions,
+      `
+      type A {
+        "Description"
+        withDescription: String
+      }
+    `,
+      { commentDescriptions: true }
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/test/rules/input_object_values_have_descriptions.js b/test/rules/input_object_values_have_descriptions.js
index fcf4e7f8..baaffe7d 100644
--- a/test/rules/input_object_values_have_descriptions.js
+++ b/test/rules/input_object_values_have_descriptions.js
@@ -41,4 +41,17 @@ describe('InputObjectValuesHaveDescriptions rule', () => {
     `
     );
   });
+
+  it('gets descriptions correctly with commentDescriptions option', () => {
+    expectPassesRuleWithConfiguration(
+      InputObjectValuesHaveDescriptions,
+      `
+      input F {
+        # F
+        f: String
+      }
+    `,
+      { commentDescriptions: true }
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/test/rules/types_have_descriptions.js b/test/rules/types_have_descriptions.js
index bb4177b3..9713e18a 100644
--- a/test/rules/types_have_descriptions.js
+++ b/test/rules/types_have_descriptions.js
@@ -161,4 +161,38 @@ describe('TypesHaveDescriptions rule', () => {
     `
     );
   });
+
+  it('gets descriptions correctly with commentDescriptions option', () => {
+    expectPassesRuleWithConfiguration(
+      TypesHaveDescriptions,
+      `
+      # A
+      scalar A
+
+      # B
+      type B {
+        b: String
+      }
+
+      # C
+      interface C {
+        c: String
+      }
+
+      # D
+      union D = B
+
+      # E
+      enum E {
+        A
+      }
+
+      # F
+      input F {
+        f: String
+      }
+    `,
+      { commentDescriptions: true }
+    );
+  });
 });
diff --git a/test/runner.js b/test/runner.js
index 2b1a47ed..055048a3 100644
--- a/test/runner.js
+++ b/test/runner.js
@@ -7,14 +7,14 @@ import { stripAnsi } from './strip_ansi.js';
 describe('Runner', () => {
   var stdout;
   var mockStdout = {
-    write: (text) => {
+    write: text => {
       stdout = stdout + text;
     },
   };
 
   var stderr;
   var mockStderr = {
-    write: (text) => {
+    write: text => {
       stderr = stderr + text;
     },
   };
@@ -107,6 +107,29 @@ describe('Runner', () => {
       assert.equal(0, exitCode);
     });
 
+    it('allows setting descriptions using comments in GraphQL SDL', async () => {
+      const argv = [
+        'node',
+        'lib/cli.js',
+        '--format',
+        'text',
+        '--comment-descriptions',
+        '--rules',
+        'fields-have-descriptions',
+        `${__dirname}/fixtures/schema.comment-descriptions.graphql`,
+      ];
+
+      await run(mockStdout, mockStdin, mockStderr, argv);
+
+      const expected =
+        `${__dirname}/fixtures/schema.comment-descriptions.graphql\n` +
+        '3:3 The field `Query.a` is missing a description.  fields-have-descriptions\n' +
+        '\n' +
+        '✖ 1 error detected\n';
+
+      assert.equal(expected, stripAnsi(stdout));
+    });
+
     it('allows using old `implements` syntax in GraphQL SDL', async () => {
       const argv = [
         'node',