diff --git a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/repository/query/QueryUtils.java b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/repository/query/QueryUtils.java
index 177f08183..f587e27f6 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/repository/query/QueryUtils.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/repository/query/QueryUtils.java
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ import javax.persistence.criteria.From;
 import javax.persistence.criteria.Join;
 import javax.persistence.criteria.JoinType;
 import javax.persistence.criteria.Path;
-import javax.persistence.criteria.Root;
 import javax.persistence.metamodel.Attribute;
 import javax.persistence.metamodel.Attribute.PersistentAttributeType;
 import javax.persistence.metamodel.Bindable;
@@ -210,11 +209,11 @@ public abstract class QueryUtils {
 	}
 
 	/**
-	 * Adds {@literal order by} clause to the JPQL query. Uses the {@link #DEFAULT_ALIAS} to bind the sorting property to.
+	 * Adds {@literal order by} clause to the JPQL query. Uses the first alias to bind the sorting property to.
 	 * 
-	 * @param query
-	 * @param sort
-	 * @return
+	 * @param query the query string to which sorting is applied
+	 * @param sort the sort specification to apply.
+	 * @return the modified query string.
 	 */
 	public static String applySorting(String query, Sort sort) {
 		return applySorting(query, sort, detectAlias(query));
@@ -223,10 +222,10 @@ public abstract class QueryUtils {
 	/**
 	 * Adds {@literal order by} clause to the JPQL query.
 	 * 
-	 * @param query must not be {@literal null} or empty.
-	 * @param sort
-	 * @param alias
-	 * @return
+	 * @param query the query string to which sorting is applied. Must not be {@literal null} or empty.
+	 * @param sort the sort specification to apply.
+	 * @param alias the alias to be used in the order by clause. Must not be {@literal null} or empty.
+	 * @return the modified query string.
 	 */
 	public static String applySorting(String query, Sort sort, String alias) {
 
@@ -481,9 +480,9 @@ public abstract class QueryUtils {
 	 * @param sort the {@link Sort} instance to be transformed into JPA {@link javax.persistence.criteria.Order}s.
 	 * @param from must not be {@literal null}.
 	 * @param cb must not be {@literal null}.
-	 * @return
+	 * @return a {@link List} of {@link javax.persistence.criteria.Order}s.
 	 */
-	public static List<javax.persistence.criteria.Order> toOrders(Sort sort, From<?,?> from, CriteriaBuilder cb) {
+	public static List<javax.persistence.criteria.Order> toOrders(Sort sort, From<?, ?> from, CriteriaBuilder cb) {
 
 		List<javax.persistence.criteria.Order> orders = new ArrayList<javax.persistence.criteria.Order>();
 
@@ -539,7 +538,7 @@ public abstract class QueryUtils {
 	 * @return
 	 */
 	@SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
-	private static javax.persistence.criteria.Order toJpaOrder(Order order, From<?,?> from, CriteriaBuilder cb) {
+	private static javax.persistence.criteria.Order toJpaOrder(Order order, From<?, ?> from, CriteriaBuilder cb) {
 
 		PropertyPath property = PropertyPath.from(order.getProperty(), from.getJavaType());
 		Expression<?> expression = toExpressionRecursively(from, property);
@@ -584,7 +583,7 @@ public abstract class QueryUtils {
 	 * non-optional association.
 	 * 
 	 * @param propertyPathModel must not be {@literal null}.
-	 * @param for
+	 * @param forPluralAttribute
 	 * @return
 	 */
 	private static boolean requiresJoin(Bindable<?> propertyPathModel, boolean forPluralAttribute) {
diff --git a/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/repository/query/QueryUtilsIntegrationTests.java b/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/repository/query/QueryUtilsIntegrationTests.java
index 0a9bfe70f..e781ba995 100644
--- a/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/repository/query/QueryUtilsIntegrationTests.java
+++ b/src/test/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/repository/query/QueryUtilsIntegrationTests.java
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ package org.springframework.data.jpa.repository.query;
 
 import static org.hamcrest.Matchers.*;
 import static org.junit.Assert.*;
+import static java.util.Collections.*;
 import static org.mockito.Mockito.*;
 
 import java.util.Arrays;
@@ -156,7 +157,8 @@ public class QueryUtilsIntegrationTests {
 	}
 
 	@Test // DATAJPA-1080
-	public void sortByJoinColumn() {
+	public void toOrdersCanSortByJoinColumn() {
+
 		CriteriaBuilder builder = em.getCriteriaBuilder();
 		CriteriaQuery<User> query = builder.createQuery(User.class);
 		Root<User> root = query.from(User.class);
@@ -170,6 +172,7 @@ public class QueryUtilsIntegrationTests {
 	}
 
 	@Entity
+	@SuppressWarnings("unused")
 	static class Merchant {
 
 		@Id String id;
@@ -177,6 +180,7 @@ public class QueryUtilsIntegrationTests {
 	}
 
 	@Entity
+	@SuppressWarnings("unused")
 	static class Employee {
 
 		@Id String id;
@@ -184,6 +188,7 @@ public class QueryUtilsIntegrationTests {
 	}
 
 	@Entity
+	@SuppressWarnings("unused")
 	static class Credential {
 
 		@Id String id;
@@ -200,7 +205,7 @@ public class QueryUtilsIntegrationTests {
 
 		@Override
 		public List<PersistenceProvider> getPersistenceProviders() {
-			return Arrays.asList(HibernateTestUtils.getPersistenceProvider());
+			return singletonList(HibernateTestUtils.getPersistenceProvider());
 		}
 
 		@Override