diff --git a/README.adoc b/README.adoc
index 9c4956f97a..224d88ed87 100644
--- a/README.adoc
+++ b/README.adoc
@@ -159,7 +159,9 @@ In the `metadata.json` of the rule you want to deprecate:
 * Remove all tags
 * Remove all quality profiles
 * Change the status to `deprecated`
-* Fill in the `replacementRules` field with the rules that deprecate this one, if any
+* Fill in the `replacementRules` array with strings in the form `"RSPEC-xxxx"` with the rules that deprecate this one, if any
+
+See link:rules/S1212/metadata.json[S1212] for an example.
 
 ==== To delete a rule
 If the rule has never been implemented and is still defined in an open pull request, just close the pull request. +