diff --git a/exercises/exercise-basic/README.md b/exercises/exercise-basic/README.md
index ecd78ecfe82dccd2c101be4ba9619da1499e74f0..57dc3f3f9861758bf900888f7138871d5e4066f1 100644
--- a/exercises/exercise-basic/README.md
+++ b/exercises/exercise-basic/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,4 @@
 # Exercise Basics (DuMuX course)
-<br>
 
 ## Problem set-up
 
@@ -14,9 +13,7 @@ The aquifer is situated 2700 m below sea level and the domain size is 60 m x 40
 
 This exercise deals with two problems: a two-phase immiscible problem (__2p__) and a two-phase non-isothermal problem (__2pni__). They both set up the same scenario with the difference that the 2pni model introduces an extra energy equation.
 
-<br><br>
-### Task 1: Getting familiar with the code
-<hr>
+## Task 1: Getting familiar with the code
 
 Locate all the files you will need for this exercise
 * The __main file__ for the __2p__ problem : `2pmain.cc`
@@ -27,9 +24,7 @@ Locate all the files you will need for this exercise
 * The shared __spatial parameters file__: `injection2pspatialparams.hh`
 * The shared __input file__: `params.input`
 
-<br><br>
-### Task 2: Compiling and running an executable
-<hr>
+## Task 2: Compiling and running an executable
 
 * Change to the build-directory
 
@@ -55,9 +50,7 @@ make exercise_basic_2p
 paraview injection-2p.pvd
 ```
 
-<br><br>
-### Task 3: Setting up a new executable (for a non-isothermal simulation)
-<hr>
+## Task 3: Setting up a new executable (for a non-isothermal simulation)
 
 * Copy the main file `2pmain.cc` and rename it to `2pnimain.cc`
 * In  `2pnimain.cc`, include the header `properties2pni.hh` instead of `properties2p.hh`.
@@ -67,7 +60,7 @@ paraview injection-2p.pvd
 ```cmake
 # the two-phase non-isothermal simulation program
 dumux_add_test(NAME exercise_basic_2pni
-              SOURCES 2pnimain.cc)
+               SOURCES 2pnimain.cc)
 ```
 
 * In the respective build-cmake folder, test that everything compiles without error
@@ -77,9 +70,7 @@ make # should rerun cmake
 make exercise_basic_2pni # builds new executable
 ```
 
-<br><br>
-### Task 4: Setting up a non-isothermal __2pni__ test problem
-<hr>
+## Task 4: Setting up a non-isothermal __2pni__ test problem
 
 * Open the files `injection2pniproblem.hh` and `properties2pni.hh`.
 These are copies of the `injection2pproblem.hh` and `properties2p.hh` files, with some useful comments on how to implement a non-isothermal model.