diff --git a/specs/XKB/ch03.xml b/specs/XKB/ch03.xml
index 4320e286..5789f88a 100644
--- a/specs/XKB/ch03.xml
+++ b/specs/XKB/ch03.xml
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ XkbAllocGeomShapes(geom,4)
 to say <quote>I’ll need space for four new shapes in this geometry.</quote>
 This makes sure that
 <structfield>sz_shapes</structfield>
- -
+ &minus;
 <structfield>num_shapes</structfield>
  &gt;= 4, and resizes the shapes array if it isn’t. If this function
 succeeds, you are guaranteed to have space for the number of shapes you need.
diff --git a/specs/XKB/ch09.xml b/specs/XKB/ch09.xml
index 988da715..4635a1c2 100644
--- a/specs/XKB/ch09.xml
+++ b/specs/XKB/ch09.xml
@@ -426,7 +426,7 @@ To ring the bell on an X input extension device or the default keyboard, use
     </term>
     <listitem>
       <para>
-        bell volume, from -100 to 100 inclusive
+        bell volume, from &minus;100 to 100 inclusive
       </para>
     </listitem>
   </varlistentry>
@@ -535,7 +535,7 @@ default keyboard:
     </term>
     <listitem>
       <para>
-        relative volume, which can range from -100 to 100 inclusive
+        relative volume, which can range from &minus;100 to 100 inclusive
       </para>
     </listitem>
   </varlistentry>
@@ -700,7 +700,7 @@ without ringing the corresponding bell, use
     </term>
     <listitem>
       <para>
-        volume for the bell, which can range from -100 to 100 inclusive
+        volume for the bell, which can range from &minus;100 to 100 inclusive
       </para>
     </listitem>
   </varlistentry>
@@ -795,7 +795,7 @@ the keyboard without ringing the bell:
     </term>
     <listitem>
       <para>
-        relative volume, which can range from -100 to 100 inclusive
+        relative volume, which can range from &minus;100 to 100 inclusive
       </para>
     </listitem>
   </varlistentry>
@@ -938,7 +938,7 @@ audible bells, use <function>XkbForceDeviceBell</function>.
     </term>
     <listitem>
       <para>
-        relative volume, which can range from -100 to 100 inclusive
+        relative volume, which can range from &minus;100 to 100 inclusive
       </para>
     </listitem>
   </varlistentry>
@@ -1006,7 +1006,7 @@ for audible bells, use
     </term>
     <listitem>
       <para>
-        volume for the bell, which can range from -100 to 100 inclusive
+        volume for the bell, which can range from &minus;100 to 100 inclusive
       </para>
     </listitem>
   </varlistentry>
diff --git a/specs/XKB/ch10.xml b/specs/XKB/ch10.xml
index b5559d2c..a679632e 100644
--- a/specs/XKB/ch10.xml
+++ b/specs/XKB/ch10.xml
@@ -1469,7 +1469,7 @@ approaches
 <structfield>mk_time_to_max</structfield>.
 The legal values for
 <structfield>mk_curve</structfield>
- are between -1000 and 1000.
+ are between &minus;1000 and 1000.
 </para>
 
 
diff --git a/specs/XKB/ch14.xml b/specs/XKB/ch14.xml
index 467c0121..dfdfde82 100644
--- a/specs/XKB/ch14.xml
+++ b/specs/XKB/ch14.xml
@@ -1228,7 +1228,7 @@ The
  fields of the client map. The fields are allocated to contain the maximum
 number of entries necessary for
 <structfield>max_key_code</structfield>
- -
+ &minus;
 <structfield>min_key_code</structfield>
  + 1 keys.
 </entry>
@@ -1247,7 +1247,7 @@ The
  field of the client map. The field is allocated to contain the maximum number
 of entries necessary for
 <structfield>max_key_code</structfield>
- -
+ &minus;
 <structfield>min_key_code</structfield>
  + 1 keys.
 </entry>