diff --git a/app/commands.go b/app/commands.go
index eb5abb2..84c67ef 100644
--- a/app/commands.go
+++ b/app/commands.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ var (
 			// check requestedUsername validity
 			valid := checkMcUsernameValid(requestedUsername)
 			if !valid {
-				simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("%s is not a valid minecraft username", requestedUsername))
+				simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("`%s` is not a valid minecraft username", requestedUsername))
 				return
 			}
 
@@ -60,14 +60,14 @@ var (
 				// execute RCON
 				response, err := conn.Execute(fmt.Sprintf("whitelist add %s", requestedUsername))
 				if err != nil {
-					simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("Failed to add %s to whitelist: %s", requestedUsername, err.Error()))
+					simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("Failed to add `%s` to whitelist: %s", requestedUsername, err.Error()))
 					return
 				}
 
 				// this can happen if the username is not a real player, OR if the user is already on the whitelist
 				// In both cases we want to exit early to avoid adding an invalid username to the db
 				if !strings.EqualFold(response, fmt.Sprintf("Added %s to the whitelist", requestedUsername)) {
-					simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("Failed to add %s to whitelist: %s", requestedUsername, response))
+					simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("Failed to add `%s` to whitelist: %s", requestedUsername, response))
 					return
 				}
 
@@ -76,9 +76,9 @@ var (
 				SaveDB(dbPath, db)
 
 				// send response
-				simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("%s linked minecraft username %s", invokingUserName, requestedUsername))
+				simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("`%s` linked minecraft username `%s`", invokingUserName, requestedUsername))
 			} else {
-				simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("%s already has a linked minecraft username %s", invokingUserName, existingMCUsername))
+				simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("`%s` already has a linked minecraft username `%s`", invokingUserName, existingMCUsername))
 			}
 
 		},
@@ -88,18 +88,18 @@ var (
 
 			existingMCUsername, ok := db[invokingUserID]
 			if !ok { // invoking user does not currently have an mc username associated
-				simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("%s does not have a linked minecraft username", invokingUserName))
+				simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("`%s` does not have a linked minecraft username", invokingUserName))
 			} else {
 				// execute RCON
 				response, err := conn.Execute(fmt.Sprintf("whitelist remove %s", existingMCUsername))
 				if err != nil {
-					simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("Failed to remove %s from whitelist: %s", existingMCUsername, err.Error()))
+					simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("Failed to remove `%s` from whitelist: %s", existingMCUsername, err.Error()))
 					return
 				}
 
 				// this can happen if the username is not a real player, OR if the user is already not on the whitelist
 				if !strings.EqualFold(response, fmt.Sprintf("Removed %s from the whitelist", existingMCUsername)) {
-					simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("Failed to remove %s from whitelist: %s", existingMCUsername, response))
+					simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("Failed to remove `%s` from whitelist: %s", existingMCUsername, response))
 					return
 				}
 
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ var (
 				SaveDB(dbPath, db)
 
 				// send response
-				simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("%s unlinked minecraft username %s", invokingUserName, existingMCUsername))
+				simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("`%s` unlinked minecraft username `%s`", invokingUserName, existingMCUsername))
 
 			}
 		},
@@ -119,9 +119,9 @@ var (
 			existingMCUsername, ok := db[invokingUserID]
 
 			if ok {
-				simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("%s is %s", invokingUserName, existingMCUsername))
+				simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("`%s` is `%s`", invokingUserName, existingMCUsername))
 			} else {
-				simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("%s does not have a linked minecraft username", invokingUserName))
+				simpleResponse(s, i, fmt.Sprintf("`%s` does not have a linked minecraft username", invokingUserName))
 			}
 		},
 	}