diff --git a/examples/text_labels_and_annotations/unicode_minus.py b/examples/text_labels_and_annotations/unicode_minus.py
index 4acfc07a58fb..892df43bab68 100644
--- a/examples/text_labels_and_annotations/unicode_minus.py
+++ b/examples/text_labels_and_annotations/unicode_minus.py
@@ -3,25 +3,18 @@
 Unicode minus
 =============
 
-You can use the proper typesetting `Unicode minus`__ or the ASCII hyphen for
-minus, which some people prefer.  :rc:`axes.unicode_minus` controls the default
-behavior.
+By default, tick labels at negative values are rendered using a `Unicode
+minus`__ (U+2212) rather than an ASCII hyphen (U+002D).  This can be controlled
+by setting :rc:`axes.unicode_minus` (which defaults to True).
 
 __ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plus_and_minus_signs#Character_codes
 
-The default is to use the Unicode minus.
+This example showcases the difference between the two glyphs.
 """
 
-import numpy as np
-import matplotlib
 import matplotlib.pyplot as plt
 
-# Fixing random state for reproducibility
-np.random.seed(19680801)
-
-
-matplotlib.rcParams['axes.unicode_minus'] = False
-fig, ax = plt.subplots()
-ax.plot(10*np.random.randn(100), 10*np.random.randn(100), 'o')
-ax.set_title('Using hyphen instead of Unicode minus')
+fig = plt.figure()
+fig.text(.5, .5, "Unicode minus: \N{MINUS SIGN}1", horizontalalignment="right")
+fig.text(.5, .4, "ASCII hyphen: -1", horizontalalignment="right")
 plt.show()