diff --git a/cylc/flow/cfgspec/workflow.py b/cylc/flow/cfgspec/workflow.py
index d75013fd621..7da8c3f191d 100644
--- a/cylc/flow/cfgspec/workflow.py
+++ b/cylc/flow/cfgspec/workflow.py
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ def get_script_common_text(this: str, example: Optional[str] = None):
                     # differentiate between not set vs set to empty
                     default = None
                 elif item.endswith("handlers"):
-                    desc = desc + '\n\n' + dedent(f'''
+                    desc = desc + '\n\n' + dedent(rf'''
                         Examples:
 
                         .. code-block:: cylc
@@ -413,9 +413,9 @@ def get_script_common_text(this: str, example: Optional[str] = None):
                            {item} = echo %(workflow)s
 
                            # configure multiple event handlers
-                           {item} = \\
-                               'echo %(workflow)s, %(event)s', \\
-                               'my_exe %(event)s %(message)s' \\
+                           {item} = \
+                               'echo %(workflow)s, %(event)s', \
+                               'my_exe %(event)s %(message)s' \
                                'curl -X PUT -d event=%(event)s host:port'
                     ''')
                 elif item.startswith("abort on"):