diff --git a/doc/man/sphinx-build.rst b/doc/man/sphinx-build.rst
index 0d49ea469b5..74a546b9175 100644
--- a/doc/man/sphinx-build.rst
+++ b/doc/man/sphinx-build.rst
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ Description
 ``<sourcedir>`` and places it in the ``<outputdir>``.
 
 Please note that there are 2 signatures for 2 usage scenarios. ``-M`` flag
-invokes a :ref:`make mode <make_mode>`, otherwise it works in a `build mode`.
+invokes a :ref:`make mode <make_mode>`, otherwise it works in a *build mode*.
 
 :program:`sphinx-build` looks for ``<sourcedir>/conf.py`` for the configuration
 settings.  :manpage:`sphinx-quickstart(1)` may be used to generate template
diff --git a/doc/tutorial/getting-started.rst b/doc/tutorial/getting-started.rst
index f8e5188218e..3b0821eea16 100644
--- a/doc/tutorial/getting-started.rst
+++ b/doc/tutorial/getting-started.rst
@@ -108,8 +108,8 @@ the documentation as HTML for the first time.  To do that, run this command:
 
 .. note::
 
-  Please note that ``-M`` flag is a `make-mode` flag. ``sphinx-build`` also has
-  a `build-mode` that provides more control over cache directories but has less
+  Please note that ``-M`` flag is a *make-mode* flag. ``sphinx-build`` also has
+  a *build-mode* that provides more control over cache directories but has less
   builders available and has a different signature. It is invoked by using a
   ``-b`` flag. These flags are mutually exclusive. You can find out more in
   :doc:`sphinx-build's manual </man/sphinx-build>`.
diff --git a/sphinx/cmd/build.py b/sphinx/cmd/build.py
index e8041b7440f..74e99b1229a 100644
--- a/sphinx/cmd/build.py
+++ b/sphinx/cmd/build.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@
 import sys
 import traceback
 from os import path
-from typing import TYPE_CHECKING, Any, TextIO, IO
+from typing import IO, TYPE_CHECKING, Any, TextIO
 
 from docutils.utils import SystemMessage
 
@@ -111,8 +111,10 @@ def jobs_argument(value: str) -> int:
         else:
             return jobs
 
+
 class ParagraphFormatter(argparse.HelpFormatter):
     """Wraps help text as a default formatter but keeps paragraps separated."""
+
     _paragraph_matcher = re.compile(r"\n\n+")
 
     def _fill_text(self, text: str, width: int, indent: str) -> str:
@@ -126,25 +128,30 @@ def _fill_text(self, text: str, width: int, indent: str) -> str:
             result.append(p)
         return '\n\n'.join(result)
 
+
 class ArgParser(argparse.ArgumentParser):
     """Wraps standard ArgumentParser to add sphinx-specefic flags to help."""
+
     def print_help(self, file: IO[str] | None = None) -> None:
         from gettext import gettext as _
         # we inject -M flag action to positionals before printing help
         # so that there is no risk of side effects on actual execution
         for action_group in self._action_groups:
-            if not action_group.title == _('positional arguments'):
+            if action_group.title != _('positional arguments'):
                 continue
-            m_flag = argparse.Action(["-M"], "BUILDER",  # ugly but works
-                help=__('please refer to usage and main help section'))
+            m_flag = argparse.Action(
+                ["-M"], "BUILDER",  # ugly but works
+                help=__('please refer to usage and main help section')
+            )
             action_group._group_actions.insert(0, m_flag)
             break
         return super().print_help(file)
 
+
 def get_parser() -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
     parser = ArgParser(
-        usage=(       '%(prog)s -M BUILDER SOURCEDIR OUTPUTDIR [OPTIONS]\n'
-               '       %(prog)s [OPTIONS] SOURCEDIR OUTPUTDIR [FILENAMES...]'),
+        usage=('%(prog)s -M BUILDER SOURCEDIR OUTPUTDIR [OPTIONS]\n       '
+               '%(prog)s [OPTIONS] SOURCEDIR OUTPUTDIR [FILENAMES...]'),
         formatter_class=ParagraphFormatter,
         epilog=__('For more information, visit <https://www.sphinx-doc.org/>.'),
         description=__("""
diff --git a/sphinx/cmd/make_mode.py b/sphinx/cmd/make_mode.py
index 1423a213bf9..43cc67371a7 100644
--- a/sphinx/cmd/make_mode.py
+++ b/sphinx/cmd/make_mode.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 import sphinx
 from sphinx.cmd.build import build_main
-from sphinx.util.console import yellow, bold, color_terminal, nocolor
+from sphinx.util.console import bold, color_terminal, nocolor, yellow
 from sphinx.util.osutil import rmtree
 
 if sys.version_info >= (3, 11):