diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index b86605a673..b1fbc8e0f2 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -1,53 +1,52 @@
-<!--
-*** Please remove the following help text before submitting: ***
+***Please remove the italicized help prompts before submitting or merging***
 
-Provide a general summary of your changes in the Title above
+_Provide a general summary of your changes in the Title above_
 
-Pull requests without a rationale and clear improvement may be closed
-immediately.
+_Pull requests without a rationale and clear improvement may be closed
+immediately._
 
-Please provide clear motivation for your patch and explain how it improves
+_Please provide clear motivation for your patch and explain how it improves
 Dash Core user experience or Dash Core developer experience
-significantly:
+significantly:_
 
-* Any test improvements or new tests that improve coverage are always welcome.
-* All other changes should have accompanying unit tests (see `src/test/`) or
+* _Any test improvements or new tests that improve coverage are always welcome._
+* _All other changes should have accompanying unit tests (see `src/test/`) or
   functional tests (see `test/`). Contributors should note which tests cover
   modified code. If no tests exist for a region of modified code, new tests
-  should accompany the change.
-* Bug fixes are most welcome when they come with steps to reproduce or an
+  should accompany the change._
+* _Bug fixes are most welcome when they come with steps to reproduce or an
   explanation of the potential issue as well as reasoning for the way the bug
-  was fixed.
-* Features are welcome, but might be rejected due to design or scope issues.
+  was fixed._
+* _Features are welcome, but might be rejected due to design or scope issues.
   If a feature is based on a lot of dependencies, contributors should first
-  consider building the system outside of Dash Core, if possible.
--->
+  consider building the system outside of Dash Core, if possible._
+
 
 ## Issue being fixed or feature implemented
-<!--- Why is this change required? What problem does it solve? -->
-<!--- If it fixes an open issue, please link to the issue here. -->
+ - _Why is this change required? What problem does it solve?_
+ - _If it fixes an open issue, please link to the issue here._
 
 
 ## What was done?
-<!--- Describe your changes in detail -->
+  _Describe your changes in detail_
 
 
 ## How Has This Been Tested?
-<!--- Please describe in detail how you tested your changes. -->
-<!--- Include details of your testing environment, and the tests you ran to -->
-<!--- see how your change affects other areas of the code, etc. -->
+  _Please describe in detail how you tested your changes._
+
+  _Include details of your testing environment, and the tests you ran
+to see how your change affects other areas of the code, etc._
 
 
 ## Breaking Changes
-<!--- Please describe any breaking changes your code introduces -->
+  _Please describe any breaking changes your code introduces_
 
 
 ## Checklist:
-<!--- Go over all the following points, and put an `x` in all the boxes that apply. -->
+  _Go over all the following points, and put an `x` in all the boxes that apply._
 - [ ] I have performed a self-review of my own code
 - [ ] I have commented my code, particularly in hard-to-understand areas
 - [ ] I have added or updated relevant unit/integration/functional/e2e tests
 - [ ] I have made corresponding changes to the documentation
+- [ ] I have assigned this pull request to a milestone _(for repository code-owners and collaborators only)_
 
-**For repository code-owners and collaborators only**
-- [ ] I have assigned this pull request to a milestone