diff --git a/doc/devel/coding_guide.rst b/doc/devel/coding_guide.rst
index 817be30d4296..7f2715c4eb40 100644
--- a/doc/devel/coding_guide.rst
+++ b/doc/devel/coding_guide.rst
@@ -113,8 +113,8 @@ case-by-case basis, should be low-risk, and need someone to advocate
 for and shepherd through the backport.
 
 The only changes to be backported to 2.2.N-doc are changes to
-:path:`doc`, :path:`examples`, or :path:`tutorials`.  Any changes to
-:path:`lib` or :path:`src` should not be backported to this branch.
+``doc``, ``examples``, or ``tutorials``.  Any changes to
+``lib`` or ``src`` should not be backported to this branch.
 
 Automated backports
 -------------------