diff --git a/django/core/checks/model_checks.py b/django/core/checks/model_checks.py
index 7029317324..46e5c6ff94 100644
--- a/django/core/checks/model_checks.py
+++ b/django/core/checks/model_checks.py
@@ -31,9 +31,9 @@ def check_model_signals(app_configs=None, **kwargs):
                     # The receiver is either a function or an instance of class
                     # defining a `__call__` method.
                     if isinstance(receiver, types.FunctionType):
-                        description = "The `%s` function" % receiver.__name__
+                        description = "The '%s' function" % receiver.__name__
                     else:
-                        description = "An instance of the `%s` class" % receiver.__class__.__name__
+                        description = "An instance of the '%s' class" % receiver.__class__.__name__
                     errors.append(
                         Error(
                             "%s was connected to the '%s' signal "
diff --git a/tests/check_framework/tests.py b/tests/check_framework/tests.py
index c3ddc770e0..c770ee517b 100644
--- a/tests/check_framework/tests.py
+++ b/tests/check_framework/tests.py
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ class Django_1_6_0_CompatibilityChecks(TestCase):
                 errors = check_1_6_compatibility()
                 expected = [
                     checks.Warning(
-                        'BooleanField does not have a default value. ',
+                        'BooleanField does not have a default value.',
                         hint=('Django 1.6 changed the default value of BooleanField from False to None. '
                               'See https://docs.djangoproject.com/en/1.6/ref/models/fields/#booleanfield '
                               'for more information.'),
diff --git a/tests/model_validation/tests.py b/tests/model_validation/tests.py
index 4c2c55dd21..a9fb30cbcd 100644
--- a/tests/model_validation/tests.py
+++ b/tests/model_validation/tests.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ class ModelValidationTest(TestCase):
         errors = run_checks()
         expected = [
             Error(
-                "The `on_post_init` function was connected to the `post_init` "
+                "The 'on_post_init' function was connected to the 'post_init' "
                 "signal with a lazy reference to the 'missing-app.Model' "
                 "sender, which has not been installed.",
                 hint=None,
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ class ModelValidationTest(TestCase):
                 id='signals.E001',
             ),
             Error(
-                "An instance of the `OnPostInit` class was connected to "
-                "the `post_init` signal with a lazy reference to the "
+                "An instance of the 'OnPostInit' class was connected to "
+                "the 'post_init' signal with a lazy reference to the "
                 "'missing-app.Model' sender, which has not been installed.",
                 hint=None,
                 obj='model_validation.tests',