diff --git a/base/essentials.jl b/base/essentials.jl
index 3bf9ecfad81d31..edd7e75d2f949d 100644
--- a/base/essentials.jl
+++ b/base/essentials.jl
@@ -795,7 +795,7 @@ isdone(itr, state...) = missing
     iterate(iter [, state]) -> Union{Nothing, Tuple{Any, Any}}
 
 Advance the iterator to obtain the next element. If no elements
-remain, nothing should be returned. Otherwise, a 2-tuple of the
+remain, `nothing` should be returned. Otherwise, a 2-tuple of the
 next element and the new iteration state should be returned.
 """
 function iterate end