diff --git a/docs/topics/settings.txt b/docs/topics/settings.txt
index 8b14d3ba52..25b3f94fe3 100644
--- a/docs/topics/settings.txt
+++ b/docs/topics/settings.txt
@@ -161,9 +161,9 @@ Creating your own settings
 ==========================
 
 There's nothing stopping you from creating your own settings, for your own
-Django apps. Just follow these conventions:
+Django apps. Just follow these guidelines:
 
-* Setting names are in all uppercase.
+* Setting names must be all uppercase.
 * Don't reinvent an already-existing setting.
 
 For settings that are sequences, Django itself uses lists, but this is only