diff --git a/.flake8 b/.flake8
index c4094af462..bd5e70e828 100644
--- a/.flake8
+++ b/.flake8
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 exclude = build,.git,.tox,./tests/.env
 extend-ignore = E203
 max-line-length = 88
+max-doc-length = 79
 per-file-ignores =
     django/core/cache/backends/filebased.py:W601
     django/core/cache/backends/base.py:W601
diff --git a/docs/internals/contributing/writing-code/coding-style.txt b/docs/internals/contributing/writing-code/coding-style.txt
index c7502985b6..656ce0abd5 100644
--- a/docs/internals/contributing/writing-code/coding-style.txt
+++ b/docs/internals/contributing/writing-code/coding-style.txt
@@ -52,12 +52,10 @@ Python style
   that :pep:`8` is only a guide, so respect the style of the surrounding code
   as a primary goal.
 
-  An exception to :pep:`8` is our rules on line lengths. Don't limit lines of
-  code to 79 characters if it means the code looks significantly uglier or is
-  harder to read. We allow up to 88 characters as this is the line length used
-  by ``black``. This check is included when you run ``flake8``. Documentation,
-  comments, and docstrings should be wrapped at 79 characters, even though
-  :pep:`8` suggests 72.
+  An exception to :pep:`8` is our rules on line lengths. We allow up to 88
+  characters in code, as this is the line length used by ``black``.
+  Documentation, comments, and docstrings should be wrapped at 79 characters.
+  These limits are checked when ``flake8`` is run.
 
 * String variable interpolation may use
   :py:ref:`%-formatting <old-string-formatting>`, :py:ref:`f-strings