diff --git a/Doc/whatsnew/3.0.rst b/Doc/whatsnew/3.0.rst
index ace0199bca9..f855d123c67 100644
--- a/Doc/whatsnew/3.0.rst
+++ b/Doc/whatsnew/3.0.rst
@@ -141,9 +141,9 @@ changes to rarely used features.)
   :meth:`dict.values` return views instead of lists.  For example, this no
   longer works: ``k = d.keys(); k.sort()``.  Use ``k = sorted(d)`` instead.
 
-* :meth:`builtin.sorted` and :meth:`list.sort` no longer accept the `cmp`
-  argument providing a comparision function.  Use the `key` argument
-  instead. N.B. the `key` and `reverse` arguments are now "keyword-only".
+* :meth:`builtin.sorted` and :meth:`list.sort` no longer accept the *cmp*
+  argument providing a comparision function.  Use the *key* argument
+  instead. N.B. the *key* and *reverse* arguments are now "keyword-only".
 
 * ``1/2`` returns a float.  Use ``1//2`` to get the truncating behavior.