diff --git a/spec/README.md b/spec/README.md
index 59ae196..de56d70 100644
--- a/spec/README.md
+++ b/spec/README.md
@@ -127,12 +127,12 @@ whole lifetime of the server.
   deleted).
 
 For instance, given this request:
-```
+```http
 HTTP/1.1 GET /routes
 ```
 
 an appropiate reponse may look like this:
-```
+```http
 200 OK
 Content-Type: application/json
 Content-Length: 189
@@ -169,7 +169,7 @@ Returns JSON data about the current routes.
 * **Success Responses**:
   * **Code**: `200 OK`<br />
     **Content**:<br />
-    ```
+    ```json
     [
       {
         "method": "GET",
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ Accepts JSON data that defines a new route to be appended to the current routes.
 * **Method**: `POST`
 * **Header**: `Content-Type: application/json`
 * **Data Params**:<br />
-  ```
+  ```json
   {
     "method": "GET",
     "url_pattern": "/hello",
@@ -209,7 +209,7 @@ Accepts JSON data that defines a new route to be appended to the current routes.
   * **Code**: `201 Created`<br />
     **Header**: `Content-Type: application/json`<br />
     **Content**:<br />
-    ```
+    ```json
     {
       "method": "GET",
       "url_pattern": "/hello",
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ Accepts JSON data that defines a new route to be appended to the current routes.
   * **Code**: `400 Missing Mandatory Field`<br />
     **Header**: `Content-Type: application/json`<br />
     **Content**:
-    ```
+    ```json
     {
       "missing_mandatory_fields": [
         "url_pattern",
@@ -234,7 +234,7 @@ Accepts JSON data that defines a new route to be appended to the current routes.
     }
     ```
 * **Sample Call**:
-    ```
+    ```sh
     $ curl -X POST --data-binary @- $KAPOW_URL/routes <<EOF
     {
       "method": "GET",
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ Accepts JSON data that defines a new route to be appended to the current routes.
 * **Method**: `PUT`
 * **Header**: `Content-Type: application/json`
 * **Data Params**:<br />
-  ```
+  ```json
   {
     "method": "GET",
     "url_pattern": "/hello",
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ Accepts JSON data that defines a new route to be appended to the current routes.
   * **Code**: `200 OK`<br />
     **Header**: `Content-Type: application/json`<br />
     **Content**:<br />
-    ```
+    ```json
     {
       "method": "GET",
       "url_pattern": "/hello",
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@ Accepts JSON data that defines a new route to be appended to the current routes.
   * **Code**: `400 Missing Mandatory Field`<br />
     **Header**: `Content-Type: application/json`<br />
     **Content**:
-    ```
+    ```json
     {
       "missing_mandatory_fields": [
         "url_pattern",
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ Accepts JSON data that defines a new route to be appended to the current routes.
   * **Code**: `404 Invalid Index`
   * **Code**: `404 Invalid Route Spec`
 * **Sample Call**:
-    ```
+    ```sh
     $ curl -X PUT --data-binary @- $KAPOW_URL/routes <<EOF`
     {
       "method": "GET",
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ Removes the route identified by `:id`.
 * **Success Responses**:
   * **Code**: `200 OK`<br />
     **Content**:
-    ```
+    ```json
     {
       "method": "GET",
       "url_pattern": "/hello",
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ Removes the route identified by `:id`.
 * **Error Responses**:
   * **Code**: `404 Not Found`
 * **Sample Call**:
-  ```
+  ```sh
   $ curl -X DELETE $KAPOW_URL/routes/ROUTE_1f186c92_f906_4506_9788_a1f541b11d0f
   ```
 * **Notes**:
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ following resource paths:
   - Comment: That would provide read-only access to the value of the request header `Content-Type`.
 - Read a field from a form.
   - Scenario: A request generated by submitting this form:<br />
-    ```
+    ```html
     <form method="post">
       First name:<br>
       <input type="text" name="firstname" value="Jane"><br>
@@ -490,7 +490,7 @@ Returns the value of the requested resource path, or an error if the resource pa
     **Notes**: Check the list of valid resource paths at the top of this section.
   * **Code**: `404 Not Found`
 * **Sample Call**:
-  ```
+  ```sh
   $ curl /handlers/$KAPOW_HANDLER_ID/request/body
   ```
 * **Notes**: TODO
@@ -512,7 +512,7 @@ Returns the value of the requested resource path, or an error if the resource pa
   * **Code**: `404 Name Not Found`<br />
     **Notes**: Although the resource path is correct, no such name is present in the request.  For instance, `/request/headers/Foo`, when no `Foo` header is not present in the request.
 * **Sample Call**:
-  ```
+  ```sh
   FIXME: python snippet instead?
   $ curl -X PUT /handlers/$KAPOW_HANDLER_ID/response/body < /tmp/some_file
   ```