diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index 314e1079c..72fd633e7 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -80,10 +80,13 @@ Finally, thank you for taking the time to report a problem.
 Pull Requests
 -------------
 
+### Branch to work against
+
 Whether implementing a new feature, fixing a bug, or modifying documentation, please work against the latest development branch (currently, 0.13).
-Binary compatible changes will be backported to a previous series (currently, 0.12.x) at the time of the next stable release.
 See below for instructions on building sbt from source.
 
+### Adding notes
+
 All pull requests are required to include a "Notes" file which documents the change.  This file should reside in the
 directory:
 
@@ -100,6 +103,13 @@ Notes files should have the following contents:
   - `### Fixes with compatibility implications`
 * Complete section describing new features.
 
+### Clean history
+
+Make sure you document each commit and squash them appropriately. You can use the following guides as a reference:
+
+* Scala's documentation on [Git Hygiene](https://github.com/scala/scala/tree/v2.12.0-M3#git-hygiene)
+* Play's documentation on [Working with Git](https://www.playframework.com/documentation/2.4.4/WorkingWithGit#Squashing-commits)
+
 Documentation
 -------------
 
diff --git a/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md b/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
index 3953ce47d..748cd9fd1 100644
--- a/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/ISSUE_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-(For more details see the guidelines for contributing linked above)
+(See the guidelines for contributing, linked above)
 
 ## steps
 
diff --git a/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index f6c26c19d..0392fc0ee 100644
--- a/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -1 +1 @@
-(Strongly consider adding notes for this change)
+(See the guidelines for contributing, linked above)