diff --git a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
index a0b22cd506..7db714a8fc 100644
--- a/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
+++ b/documentation/ref-manual/ref-variables.xml
@@ -1871,7 +1871,7 @@
                 <para>
                     Git requires that the value you provide for the
                     <filename>BUILDHISTORY_COMMIT_AUTHOR</filename> variable
-                    takes the form of "name &lt;email@host&gt;".
+                    takes the form of "name <replaceable>email@host</replaceable>".
                     Providing an email address or host that is not valid does
                     not produce an error.
                 </para>