PEP 257 says this on the formatting of multi-line docstrings: """ Multi-line docstrings consist of a summary line just like a one-line docstring, followed by a blank line, followed by a more elaborate description. The summary line may be used by automatic indexing tools; it is important that it fits on one line and is separated from the rest of the docstring by a blank line. [...] """ I still like this rule, but it is violated frequently, in the stdlib and elsewhere. I'd like to urge stdlib contributors and core devs to heed it -- or explain why you can't.