diff --git a/bot.py b/bot.py
index db5abed..f8b0b76 100644
--- a/bot.py
+++ b/bot.py
@@ -60,7 +60,13 @@ def remove_ping(term, user_id):
     elif user_id not in ping_terms[term]:
         return False
     else:
-        ping_terms[term].remove(user_id)
+        #if there is only one remaining person in the ping term list, delete the whole term
+        if len(ping_terms[term]) == 1 and ping_terms[term][0] == user_id:
+            del ping_terms[term]
+        #if there is more than on person in the ping term list, delete only that user_id
+        else:
+            ping_terms[term].remove(user_id)
+        
         config["ping_terms"] = ping_terms
         save_config("config.json", config)
         return True
@@ -225,28 +231,28 @@ async def myLoop():
 @bot.slash_command(description="Pings you when auction name contains the given term")
 async def ping_me(interaction: nextcord.Interaction, term: str):
     if add_ping(term, interaction.user.id):
-        await interaction.response.send_message(f"Success! You will be pinged for {term}", ephemeral=False)
+        await interaction.response.send_message(f"Success! You will be pinged for `{term}`", ephemeral=False)
     else:
         pings = get_user_pings(interaction.user.id)
         if len(pings) > 0:
-            await interaction.response.send_message(f"Failed to add {term}. You are pinged for {', '.join(pings)}",
+            await interaction.response.send_message(f"Failed to add `{term}`. You are pinged for `{', '.join(pings)}`",
                                                     ephemeral=True)
         else:
-            await interaction.response.send_message(f"Failed to add {term}. You are not pinged for anything",
+            await interaction.response.send_message(f"Failed to add `{term}`. You are not pinged for anything",
                                                     ephemeral=True)
 
 
 @bot.slash_command(description="No longer pings you when auction name contains the given term")
 async def unping_me(interaction: nextcord.Interaction, term: str):
     if remove_ping(term, interaction.user.id):
-        await interaction.response.send_message(f"Success! You will no longer be pinged for {term}", ephemeral=False)
+        await interaction.response.send_message(f"Success! You will no longer be pinged for `{term}`", ephemeral=False)
     else:
         pings = get_user_pings(interaction.user.id)
         if len(pings) > 0:
-            await interaction.response.send_message(f"Failed to remove {term}. You are pinged for {', '.join(pings)}",
+            await interaction.response.send_message(f"Failed to remove `{term}`. You are pinged for `{', '.join(pings)}`",
                                                     ephemeral=True)
         else:
-            await interaction.response.send_message(f"Failed to remove {term}. You are not pinged for anything",
+            await interaction.response.send_message(f"Failed to remove `{term}`. You are not pinged for anything",
                                                     ephemeral=True)