diff --git a/Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst b/Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst
index 733478ade91b50efd098bbfd3cd6831cfa99fcc9..1ef19d3a3eee86880777006ac06ea4f19f5e4bec 100644
--- a/Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst
+++ b/Documentation/process/submitting-patches.rst
@@ -621,14 +621,14 @@ The canonical patch subject line is::
 
 The canonical patch message body contains the following:
 
-  - A ``from`` line specifying the patch author (only needed if the person
-    sending the patch is not the author).
-
-  - An empty line.
+  - A ``from`` line specifying the patch author, followed by an empty
+    line (only needed if the person sending the patch is not the author).
 
   - The body of the explanation, line wrapped at 75 columns, which will
     be copied to the permanent changelog to describe this patch.
 
+  - An empty line.
+
   - The ``Signed-off-by:`` lines, described above, which will
     also go in the changelog.