diff --git a/scripts/release_notes.py b/scripts/release_notes.py
index 9964a04..24f97fb 100644
--- a/scripts/release_notes.py
+++ b/scripts/release_notes.py
@@ -210,8 +210,8 @@ def render(
         )
 
     parts.append(
-        f"Built from `{short}`. The rollback unit is the immutable `:c-` tag "
-        f"(rule 145) — these three move together:\n\n```\n"
+        f"Built from `{short}`. To roll back to this release, pull these "
+        f"immutable `:c-` tags — the images move together:\n\n```\n"
         + "\n".join(f"{image}:c-{short}" for image in IMAGES)
         + "\n```"
     )
@@ -221,10 +221,10 @@ def render(
         # truncated to MAX_COMMITS, which is 200 lines of internal build-out
         # presented to someone who has never seen this project.
         parts.append(
-            "---\n\n_First release under rule 148's `vYYYY.MM.DD.HHMM` shape, so "
-            "there is no predecessor to diff against and no changelog to derive. "
-            "The description above is README.md's, quoted at publish time. Later "
-            "releases carry the commits since the previous one._"
+            "---\n\n_The first release, so there is no earlier one to diff "
+            "against and no changelog to derive. The description above is "
+            "README.md's, quoted at publish time. Later releases carry the "
+            "commits since the previous one._"
         )
         return "\n\n".join(parts)
 
@@ -257,8 +257,8 @@ def cross_checks(tag: str, sha: str) -> list[str]:
 
     if not RULE_148.match(tag):
         notes.append(
-            f"`{tag}` is not rule 148's `vYYYY.MM.DD.HHMM` shape. Published "
-            f"anyway — the old `v26.*` tags predate the rule."
+            f"`{tag}` is not the `vYYYY.MM.DD.HHMM` release-tag shape. "
+            f"Published anyway — the old `v26.*` tags predate it."
         )
     else:
         derived = artifact_version("web")
diff --git a/tests/test_release_notes.py b/tests/test_release_notes.py
index 8bc1862..29c1c73 100644
--- a/tests/test_release_notes.py
+++ b/tests/test_release_notes.py
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ re-implementation of it.
 """
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import re
 import subprocess
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -162,6 +163,15 @@ def test_the_first_release_describes_the_product_instead_of_diffing(shaped_histo
     assert not [ln for ln in body.split("\n") if ln.startswith("- work landing")]
 
 
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("tag", ["v2026.08.28.2208", "v2026.08.29.1000"])
+def test_the_release_page_cites_no_internal_rule_numbers(shaped_history, tag):
+    """The release page is read by strangers. "rule 145" names a record in the
+    operator's own notes, which a reader cannot open — say what the rule means
+    instead. Covers the first-release overview and the changelog body."""
+    body = body_of(notes(tag, cwd=shaped_history))
+    assert not re.search(r"\brule\s+\d+", body, re.IGNORECASE), body
+
+
 def test_the_overview_is_readmes_words_not_a_second_copy(shaped_history):
     """Two hand-maintained descriptions of one product drift and nothing
     catches it. The release page quotes README.md so there is one source."""