diff --git a/docs/design_philosophies.txt b/docs/design_philosophies.txt
index 257c3b0c2e..b718942a09 100644
--- a/docs/design_philosophies.txt
+++ b/docs/design_philosophies.txt
@@ -195,9 +195,9 @@ expects some level of code competence in template authors.
 Treat whitespace obviously
 --------------------------
 
-The template system do magic things with whitespace. If a template includes
-whitespace, the system should treat the whitespace as it treats text -- just
-display it.
+The template system shouldn't do magic things with whitespace. If a template
+includes whitespace, the system should treat the whitespace as it treats text
+-- just display it.
 
 Don't invent a programming language
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