diff --git a/Doc/library/sys.rst b/Doc/library/sys.rst
index 3fc86e4df24..368bd4cf2e9 100644
--- a/Doc/library/sys.rst
+++ b/Doc/library/sys.rst
@@ -367,10 +367,11 @@ always available.
 
 .. data:: maxsize
 
-   An integer giving the size of ``Py_ssize_t``. It's usually 2**31-1 on a 32
-   bit platform and 2**63-1 on a 64bit platform.
+   An integer giving the maximum value a variable of type :ctype:`Py_ssize_t` can
+   take.  It's usually ``2**31 - 1`` on a 32-bit platform and ``2**63 - 1`` on a
+   64-bit platform.
 
-   ..versionadded:: 3.0
+   .. versionadded:: 3.0
 
 
 .. data:: maxunicode