diff --git a/lispref/tips.texi b/lispref/tips.texi
index 1e12000956f..165c4a9f084 100644
--- a/lispref/tips.texi
+++ b/lispref/tips.texi
@@ -641,7 +641,7 @@ include before the first blank line so as to make this display useful.
 
 @item
 When you define a variable that users ought to set interactively, you
-should normally use @code{defcustom}.  However, if for some reason you
+normally should use @code{defcustom}.  However, if for some reason you
 use @code{defvar} instead, start the doc string with a @samp{*}.
 @xref{Defining Variables}.