diff --git a/LAYOUT.md b/LAYOUT.md
index 9c50c9fea01cfae0f0f3eddc5034b341d937ce88..26bf215d633ca7252e7c4c58aa6641f9257ff04a 100644
--- a/LAYOUT.md
+++ b/LAYOUT.md
@@ -4,15 +4,15 @@ Each lesson is stored in a directory laid out as described below. That
 directory is a self-contained Git repository (i.e., there are no
 submodules or clever tricks with symbolic links).
 
-1.  `README.md`: initially a copy of this file.  It should be
+1.  `README.md`: initially a copy of this repository's README file.  It should be
     overwritten with short description of the lesson, but should
     include the following blockquote to help people find these
     instructions:
 
     ~~~
-    > Please see [https://github.com/swcarpentry/lesson-template](https://github.com/swcarpentry/lesson-template)
-    > for instructions on formatting, building, and submitting lessons,
-    > or run `make` in this directory for a list of helpful commands.
+    Please see [https://github.com/swcarpentry/lesson-template](https://github.com/swcarpentry/lesson-template)
+    for instructions on formatting, building, and submitting lessons,
+    or run `make` in this directory for a list of helpful commands.
     ~~~
 
 2.  Other files in the root directory: the source of the lesson's web