diff --git a/pygmt/src/shift_origin.py b/pygmt/src/shift_origin.py
index b722dd80b96..200555b8f73 100644
--- a/pygmt/src/shift_origin.py
+++ b/pygmt/src/shift_origin.py
@@ -15,15 +15,15 @@ def shift_origin(
     This method shifts the plot origin relative to the current origin by *xshift* and
     *yshift* in x and y directions, respectively. Optionally, append the length unit
     (**c** for centimeters, **i** for inches, or **p** for points) to the shifts.
-    Default unit if not explicitly given is **c**, but can be changed to other units
-    via :gmt-term:`PROJ_LENGTH_UNIT`.
+    Default unit if not explicitly given is **c**, but can be changed to other units via
+    :gmt-term:`PROJ_LENGTH_UNIT`.
 
     For *xshift*, a special character **w** can also be used, which represents the
     bounding box **width** of the previous plot. The full syntax is
-    [[±][*f*]\ **w**\ [/\ *d*\ ]±]\ *xoff*, where optional signs, factor *f* and
-    divisor *d* can be used to compute an offset that may be adjusted further by
-    ±\ *xoff*. Assuming that the previous plot has a width of 10
-    centimeters, here are some example values for *xshift*:
+    [[±][*f*]\ **w**\ [/\ *d*\ ]±]\ *xoff*, where optional signs, factor *f* and divisor
+    *d* can be used to compute an offset that may be adjusted further by ±\ *xoff*.
+    Assuming that the previous plot has a width of 10 centimeters, here are some example
+    values for *xshift*:
 
     - ``"w"``: x-shift is 10 cm
     - ``"w+2c"``: x-shift is 10+2=12 cm