diff --git a/src/_pytest/python_api.py b/src/_pytest/python_api.py
index ae466a063..cf3cb1080 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/python_api.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/python_api.py
@@ -561,7 +561,7 @@ def raises(expected_exception, *args, **kwargs):
     :kwparam match: if specified, a string containing a regular expression, 
         or a regular expression object, that is tested against the string 
         representation of the exception using ``re.match``. To match a literal 
-        string that may contain ``special characters``__, the pattern can 
+        string that may contain `special characters`__, the pattern can 
         first be escaped with ``re.escape``.
         
     __ https://docs.python.org/3/library/re.html#regular-expression-syntax