diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index bcc9e92ef3b..d3e8f9be39c 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -24,25 +24,23 @@ so that we can have a chance of keeping on top of things.
   * To quickly create a topic branch based on development; `git checkout -b my_contribution development`
 * Make commits of logical units.
 * Check for unnecessary whitespace with `git diff --check` before committing.
+* Make sure your pull request description tags the GitHub issue ID, so it is clear what issue you have fixed.
+* Make sure your commit messages are in the proper format.
 
 ````
     Make the example in CONTRIBUTING imperative and concrete
-```
 
-The Pull Request Description
-
-* Make sure you tag the GitHub Issue ID so it is clear what issue you have fixed.
-
-```
     Without this patch applied the example commit message in the CONTRIBUTING
     document is not a concrete example.  This is a problem because the
     contributor is left to imagine what the commit message should look like
     based on a description rather than an example.  This patch fixes the
     problem by making the example concrete and imperative.
 
-    The first line is a real life imperative statement with a ticket number
-    from our issue tracker.  The body describes the behavior without the patch,
-    why this is a problem, and how the patch fixes the problem when applied.
+    The first line is a real life imperative statement, indicating what 
+    happens to the code when this commit is applied.  The body describes the 
+    behavior without the patch, why this is a problem, and how the patch 
+    fixes the problem when applied.  Finally, a reference to the GitHub issue
+    is made for enable better tracking.
 
     Fixes #123 #345
 ````