diff --git a/.pylintrc b/.pylintrc
index 7d7a8f50cf8..0345f53ad60 100644
--- a/.pylintrc
+++ b/.pylintrc
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ indent-after-paren=4
 indent-string='    '
 
 # Maximum number of characters on a single line.
-max-line-length=100
+max-line-length=79
 
 # Maximum number of lines in a module.
 max-module-lines=1000
diff --git a/opentelemetry-api/opentelemetry/trace/__init__.py b/opentelemetry-api/opentelemetry/trace/__init__.py
index 282bc72b3f0..3ed57c0dac5 100644
--- a/opentelemetry-api/opentelemetry/trace/__init__.py
+++ b/opentelemetry-api/opentelemetry/trace/__init__.py
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ def start_span(self, name: str, parent: 'Span') -> Iterator['Span']:
                     child.add_event("child's event")
                     tracer.get_current_span()  # returns child
                 tracer.get_current_span()      # returns parent
-            tracer.get_current_span()          # returns the previously active span
+            tracer.get_current_span()          # returns previously active span
 
         This is a convenience method for creating spans attached to the
         tracer's context. Applications that need more control over the span