diff --git a/R/smooth_formula_string.R b/R/smooth_formula_string.R
index d2225ee..ff9fd26 100644
--- a/R/smooth_formula_string.R
+++ b/R/smooth_formula_string.R
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@
 #' Create a character string that wraps appropriate variables in a dataframe with `s()` smooth functions. Based on the datatype of each variable, it determines whether it is a numeric variable to be smoothed:
 #' * Non-numeric: no smoothing.
 #' * Numeric: determine knots based on the number of unique values for that variable:
-#'     * ⩽ 4: no smoothing
-#'     * 5 to 19 (inclusive): smooth function with knots equal to the floored half of the number of unique values. E.g., 6 unique values receive 3 knots, 7 will receive 3 knots, and 8 will receive 4 knots.
-#'     * ⩾ 20: smooth function with no specified number of knots, allowing the `gam()` function to detect the appropriate number.
+#'     * `<= 4`: no smoothing
+#'     * `5 to 19` (inclusive): smooth function with knots equal to the floored half of the number of unique values. E.g., 6 unique values receive 3 knots, 7 will receive 3 knots, and 8 will receive 4 knots.
+#'     * `>= 20`: smooth function with no specified number of knots, allowing the `gam()` function to detect the appropriate number.
 #'
 # TODO: In the end, rearrange terms in the order they occur in col_names regardless of their numeric status. This only applies if expand_parametric==TRUE.
 #'
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ smooth_formula_string <- function(
       num_unique <- data[[.col]] |> unique() |> length()
 
       # For <20 unique values, do not attempt more than half of that knots or else chances of failure are higher (e.g., if the analysis bootstraps or otherwise samples the data).
-      # For ⩽ 4 unique values, then don't even attempt smoothing; just leave the values distinct.
+      # For <= 4 unique values, then don't even attempt smoothing; just leave the values distinct.
       term <- case_when(
         num_unique <= 4 ~
           .col,
diff --git a/man/smooth_formula_string.Rd b/man/smooth_formula_string.Rd
index c3e7c19..5badd11 100644
--- a/man/smooth_formula_string.Rd
+++ b/man/smooth_formula_string.Rd
@@ -24,9 +24,9 @@ Create a character string that wraps appropriate variables in a dataframe with \
 \item Non-numeric: no smoothing.
 \item Numeric: determine knots based on the number of unique values for that variable:
 \itemize{
-\item ⩽ 4: no smoothing
-\item 5 to 19 (inclusive): smooth function with knots equal to the floored half of the number of unique values. E.g., 6 unique values receive 3 knots, 7 will receive 3 knots, and 8 will receive 4 knots.
-\item ⩾ 20: smooth function with no specified number of knots, allowing the \code{gam()} function to detect the appropriate number.
+\item \verb{<= 4}: no smoothing
+\item \verb{5 to 19} (inclusive): smooth function with knots equal to the floored half of the number of unique values. E.g., 6 unique values receive 3 knots, 7 will receive 3 knots, and 8 will receive 4 knots.
+\item \verb{>= 20}: smooth function with no specified number of knots, allowing the \code{gam()} function to detect the appropriate number.
 }
 }
 }