diff --git a/docs/reference/getting-started.asciidoc b/docs/reference/getting-started.asciidoc
index a88bbb97bb4..533f0e7d64f 100755
--- a/docs/reference/getting-started.asciidoc
+++ b/docs/reference/getting-started.asciidoc
@@ -365,7 +365,7 @@ If we study the above commands carefully, we can actually see a pattern of how w
 
 [source,sh]
 --------------------------------------------------
-curl -<REST Verb> <Node>:<Port>/<Index>/<Type>/<ID>
+curl -X<REST Verb> <Node>:<Port>/<Index>/<Type>/<ID>
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 This REST access pattern is pervasive throughout all the API commands that if you can simply remember it, you will have a good head start at mastering Elasticsearch.