I think .format on a separate line without being enclosed in parens is a syntax error, so I think it is probably better to do something that isn't a syntax error standalone. I think the way it was is fugly, but that is (as I understand it) what is recommended by pep8. The way I posted above is a lot nicer at least, but I'm not entirely sure that's what pep8 suggests either (although it's been a while since I've read it). I'm mostly fine with anything, but .format() on its own line looks a little odd.