diff --git a/README b/README
index ccf24b04df..1dd3330d31 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -116,8 +116,8 @@ This is what you need to do to compile and install Ruby:
      * <tt>${DESTDIR}${prefix}/share/man/man1</tt>
      * <tt>${DESTDIR}${prefix}/share/ri/${MAJOR}.${MINOR}.${TEENY}/system</tt>
 
-     If Ruby's API version is `_x.y.z_', the <tt>${MAJOR}</tt> is `_x_', the
-     <tt>${MINOR}</tt> is `_y_', and the <tt>${TEENY}</tt> is `_z_'.
+     If Ruby's API version is '_x.y.z_', the <tt>${MAJOR}</tt> is '_x_', the
+     <tt>${MINOR}</tt> is '_y_', and the <tt>${TEENY}</tt> is '_z_'.
 
      *NOTE*: teeny of the API version may be different from one of
      Ruby's program version
diff --git a/README.ja b/README.ja
index 87f45d7dc9..cca01eadbd 100644
--- a/README.ja
+++ b/README.ja
@@ -142,8 +142,8 @@ Ruby拡張モジュールについて話し合うruby-extメーリングリス
      * <tt>${DESTDIR}${prefix}/share/man/man1</tt>
      * <tt>${DESTDIR}${prefix}/share/ri/${MAJOR}.${MINOR}.${TEENY}/system</tt>
 
-     RubyのAPIバージョンが`_x.y.z_'であれば，<tt>${MAJOR}</tt>は
-     `_x_'で，<tt>${MINOR}</tt>は`_y_'，<tt>${TEENY}</tt>は`_z_'です．
+     RubyのAPIバージョンが'_x.y.z_'であれば，<tt>${MAJOR}</tt>は
+     '_x_'で，<tt>${MINOR}</tt>は'_y_'，<tt>${TEENY}</tt>は'_z_'です．
 
      <b>注意</b>: APIバージョンの+teeny+は，Rubyプログラムのバージョ
      ンとは異なることがあります．