diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ef631a97..ef100cd9 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ By default, "pip install mfem" downloads and builds the serial version of MFEM a
 Additionally, the installer supports building MFEM with specific options together with other external libraries, including MPI version.
 
 ## Install
-```
+```bash
 pip install mfem                    # binary install is available only on linux platforms (Py36-310)
 pip install mfem --no-binary mfem   # install serial MFEM + wrapper from source
 
@@ -24,12 +24,12 @@ and build parallel version of MFEM library (linked with Metis and Hypre)
 and installs under <prefix>/mfem. See also, docs/install.txt
 
 ### Using pip
-```
+```bash
 $ pip install mfem --install-option="--with-parallel" 
 ```
 
 ### Build from local source file
-```
+```python
 # Download source and build
 $ pip download mfem --no-binary mfem (expand tar.gz file and move to the downloaded directory)
 or clone this repository
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ $ python setup.py install --help
 ## Usage
 Here is an example to solve div(alpha grad(u)) = f in a square and to plot the result
 with matplotlib (modified from ex1.cpp). Use the badge above to open this in Binder.
-```
+```python
 import mfem.ser as mfem
 
 # create sample mesh for square shape