diff --git a/mercurial/cmdutil.py b/mercurial/cmdutil.py
--- a/mercurial/cmdutil.py
+++ b/mercurial/cmdutil.py
@@ -1207,17 +1207,17 @@
                     else:
                         flags = '--force'
                     if rename:
-                        hint = _('(hg rename %s to replace the file by '
+                        hint = _("('hg rename %s' to replace the file by "
                                  'recording a rename)\n') % flags
                     else:
-                        hint = _('(hg copy %s to replace the file by '
+                        hint = _("('hg copy %s' to replace the file by "
                                  'recording a copy)\n') % flags
                 else:
                     msg = _('%s: not overwriting - file exists\n')
                     if rename:
-                        hint = _('(hg rename --after to record the rename)\n')
+                        hint = _("('hg rename --after' to record the rename)\n")
                     else:
-                        hint = _('(hg copy --after to record the copy)\n')
+                        hint = _("('hg copy --after' to record the copy)\n")
                 ui.warn(msg % reltarget)
                 ui.warn(hint)
                 return
diff --git a/tests/test-copy.t b/tests/test-copy.t
--- a/tests/test-copy.t
+++ b/tests/test-copy.t
@@ -224,12 +224,12 @@
 Trying to copy on top of an existing file fails,
   $ hg copy -A bar foo
   foo: not overwriting - file already committed
-  (hg copy --after --force to replace the file by recording a copy)
+  ('hg copy --after --force' to replace the file by recording a copy)
 same error without the --after, so the user doesn't have to go through
 two hints:
   $ hg copy bar foo
   foo: not overwriting - file already committed
-  (hg copy --force to replace the file by recording a copy)
+  ('hg copy --force' to replace the file by recording a copy)
 but it's considered modified after a copy --after --force
   $ hg copy -Af bar foo
   $ hg st -AC foo
@@ -240,6 +240,6 @@
   $ touch xyzzy
   $ hg cp bar xyzzy
   xyzzy: not overwriting - file exists
-  (hg copy --after to record the copy)
+  ('hg copy --after' to record the copy)
 
   $ cd ..
diff --git a/tests/test-rename.t b/tests/test-rename.t
--- a/tests/test-rename.t
+++ b/tests/test-rename.t
@@ -266,7 +266,7 @@
 
   $ hg rename d1/* d2
   d2/b: not overwriting - file already committed
-  (hg rename --force to replace the file by recording a rename)
+  ('hg rename --force' to replace the file by recording a rename)
   moving d1/d11/a1 to d2/d11/a1
   $ hg status -C
   A d2/a
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@
   $ echo "ca" > d1/ca
   $ hg rename d1/ba d1/ca
   d1/ca: not overwriting - file exists
-  (hg rename --after to record the rename)
+  ('hg rename --after' to record the rename)
   $ hg status -C
   ? d1/ca
   $ hg update -C
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@
   $ ln -s ba d1/ca
   $ hg rename --traceback d1/ba d1/ca
   d1/ca: not overwriting - file exists
-  (hg rename --after to record the rename)
+  ('hg rename --after' to record the rename)
   $ hg status -C
   ? d1/ca
   $ hg update -C