diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index 04aff00c20..ac2a6ebbb3 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Thank you for contributing to this project! You must fill out the information be
 
 ### Why:
 
-Closes:
+Closes: ISSUE_NUMBER
 
 <!-- If there's an existing issue for your change, please link to it above.
 If there's _not_ an existing issue, please open one first to make it more likely that this update will be accepted: https://github.com/github/docs/issues/new/choose. -->
@@ -16,6 +16,6 @@ If you made changes to the `content` directory, a table will populate in a comme
 
 ### Check off the following:
 
-- [ ] A subject matter expert (SME) has reviewed the technical accuracy of the content in this PR. In most cases, the author can be the SME. Open source contributions may require a SME review from GitHub staff.
+- [ ] A subject matter expert (SME) has reviewed the technical accuracy of the content in this PR. In most cases, the author can be the SME. Open source contributions may require an SME review from GitHub staff.
 - [ ] The changes in this PR meet [the docs fundamentals that are required for all content](http://docs.github.com/en/contributing/writing-for-github-docs/about-githubs-documentation-fundamentals).
 - [ ] All CI checks are passing and the changes look good in the preview environment.