diff --git a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
index 77f231fbb768..cbdbcda6494b 100644
--- a/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -1,15 +1,14 @@
-To help us understand and resolve your issue please check that you have provided
-the information that corresponds to the type of issue that you are submitting. You can feel free to delete the sections that do not apply to your issue.
+To help us understand and resolve your issue, please fill out the form to the best of your ability. You can feel free to delete the sections that do not apply.
 
-###Bug report
+### Bug report
 
 **Bug summary**
 
-- [ ] A short 1-2 sentences that succinctly describes the bug
+- A short 1-2 sentences that succinctly describes the bug
 
 **Code for reproduction**
 
-- [ ] A minimum code snippet required to reproduce the bug, also minimizing the number of dependencies required
+- A minimum code snippet required to reproduce the bug, also minimizing the number of dependencies required
 
 ```python
 # Paste your code here
@@ -19,7 +18,7 @@ the information that corresponds to the type of issue that you are submitting. Y
 
 **Actual outcome**
 
-- [ ] The output produced by the above code, which may be a screenshot, console output, etc.
+- The output produced by the above code, which may be a screenshot, console output, etc.
 
 ```
 # If applicable, paste the console output here
@@ -29,11 +28,11 @@ the information that corresponds to the type of issue that you are submitting. Y
 
 **Expected outcome**
 
-- [ ] A description of the expected outcome from the code snippet
-- [ ] If this used to work in an earlier version of Matplotlib, please note the version it used to work on
+- A description of the expected outcome from the code snippet
+- If this used to work in an earlier version of Matplotlib, please note the version it used to work on
 
 **Matplotlib version**
 
-- [ ] Matplotlib version, Python version and Platform (Windows, OSX, Linux ...)
-- [ ] How did you install Matplotlib and Python (pip, anaconda, from source ...)
+- Matplotlib version, Python version and Platform (Windows, OSX, Linux ...)
+- How did you install Matplotlib and Python (pip, anaconda, from source ...)