diff --git a/i3pystatus/core/desktop.py b/i3pystatus/core/desktop.py
index bac04a6..a457cad 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/core/desktop.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/core/desktop.py
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 
-
-class DesktopNotification:
+class BaseDesktopNotification:
     """
     Class to display a desktop notification
 
@@ -26,6 +25,9 @@ class DesktopNotification:
         """
         return False
 
+class DesktopNotification(BaseDesktopNotification):
+    pass
+
 try:
     from gi.repository import Notify
 except ImportError:
diff --git a/i3pystatus/core/settings.py b/i3pystatus/core/settings.py
index db3ba60..992df69 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/core/settings.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/core/settings.py
@@ -13,14 +13,15 @@ class SettingsBase:
     The constructor is either passed a dictionary containing these settings, or
     keyword arguments specifying the same.
 
-    Settings are stored as attributes of self
+    Settings are stored as attributes of self.
     """
 
     settings = tuple()
     """settings should be tuple containing two types of elements:
-    * bare strings, which must be valid identifiers.
+
+    * bare strings, which must be valid Python identifiers.
     * two-tuples, the first element being a identifier (as above) and the second
-    a docstring for the particular setting"""
+      a docstring for the particular setting"""
 
     required = tuple()
     """required can list settings which are required"""
diff --git a/i3pystatus/core/util.py b/i3pystatus/core/util.py
index d242370..81a83c5 100644
--- a/i3pystatus/core/util.py
+++ b/i3pystatus/core/util.py
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ def formatp(string, **kwargs):
     thus equivalent to a logical or of all enclosing groups with the enclosed
     group.
 
-    Escaped brackets, i.e. \\[ and \\] are copied verbatim to output.
+    Escaped brackets, i.e. \\\\[ and \\\\] are copied verbatim to output.
 
     :param string: Format string
     :param **kwargs: keyword arguments providing data for the format string
@@ -321,9 +321,9 @@ class TimeWrapper:
 
 
 def require(predicate):
-    """
-    Decorator factory for methods requiring a predicate. If the predicate is not fulfilled during a method call, the
-    method call is skipped and None is returned.
+    """Decorator factory for methods requiring a predicate. If the
+    predicate is not fulfilled during a method call, the method call
+    is skipped and None is returned.
 
     :param predicate: A callable returning a truth value
     :returns: Method decorator
@@ -331,6 +331,7 @@ def require(predicate):
     .. seealso::
 
         :py:func:`internet`
+
     """
     def decorator(method):
         @functools.wraps(method)