diff --git a/exercises/exercise-basic/README.md b/exercises/exercise-basic/README.md
index cc81fd40918b369e1a2aeafce156083ae7189251..f0dbdf870d69e7061cb0872a76bc0b34a614995f 100644
--- a/exercises/exercise-basic/README.md
+++ b/exercises/exercise-basic/README.md
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ Locate all the files you will need for this exercise
 * The shared __spatial parameters file__: `injection2pspatialparams.hh`
 * The shared __input file__: `exercise_basic.input`
 
-<hr><br><br>
+<hr><br>
 ### Task 2: Compiling and running an executable
 <hr>
 
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ make exercise_basic_2p exercise_basic_2p2c
 paraview injection-2p2c.pvd
 ```
 
-<hr><br><br>
+<hr><br>
 ### Task 3: Setting up a new executable (for a non-isothermal simulation)
 <hr>
 
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ make # should rerun cmake
 make exercise_basic_2pni # builds new executable
 ```
 
-<hr><br><br>
+<hr><br>
 ### Task 4: Setting up a non-isothermal __2pni__ test problem
 <hr>