diff --git a/doc/nethack.6 b/doc/nethack.6
index 0e01bf061..cfac65341 100644
--- a/doc/nethack.6
+++ b/doc/nethack.6
@@ -152,19 +152,14 @@ Also
 \&.\|.\|.]
 .PP
 .B nethack
-[
-.B \-\-usage
-|
-.B \-\-help
-]
-[
+.RB { \-\-usage | \-\-help }
+.PP
+.B nethack
 .B \-\-showpaths
-]
-.\" force line wrap now rather than have that happen after the opening brace
-.br
-[
-.BR \-\-version [ :copy | :dump | :show ]
-]
+.PP
+.B nethack
+.BR \-\-version [ :copy | :dump\c
+.RB | :show ]
 .ad
 .hy 14
 .\" Make sure path is not hyphenated below