diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9eedc51e..73157570 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ The strategy can be specified either on the task or as a system property for ad
 ```groovy
 gradle dependencyUpdates -Drevision=release
 ```
- 
+
 
 To further define which version to accept, you need to define what means an unstable version. Sadly, there are
 no agreed standard on this, but this is a good starting point:
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ no agreed standard on this, but this is a good starting point:
 ```groovy
 def isNonStable = { String version ->
   def stableKeyword = ['RELEASE', 'FINAL', 'GA'].any { it -> version.toUpperCase().contains(it) }
-  def regex = /^[0-9,\\.v\\-]+(-r)?$/
+  def regex = /^[0-9,.v-]+(-r)?$/
   return !stableKeyword && !(version ==~ regex)
 }
 ```
@@ -108,7 +108,7 @@ def isNonStable = { String version ->
 ```kotlin
 fun isNonStable(version: String): Boolean {
     val stableKeyword = listOf("RELEASE", "FINAL", "GA").any { version.toUpperCase().contains(it) }
-    val regex = "^[0-9,\\.v\\-]+(-r)?$".toRegex()
+    val regex = "^[0-9,.v-]+(-r)?$".toRegex()
     val isStable = stableKeyword || regex.matches(version)
     return isStable.not()
 }
@@ -188,8 +188,8 @@ tasks.withType<DependencyUpdatesTask> {
 
 #### Constraints
 
-If you use constraints, for example to define a BOM using the [`java-platform`](https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/java_platform_plugin.html) 
-plugin or to [manage](https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/managing_transitive_dependencies.html#sec:dependency_constraints) 
+If you use constraints, for example to define a BOM using the [`java-platform`](https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/java_platform_plugin.html)
+plugin or to [manage](https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/managing_transitive_dependencies.html#sec:dependency_constraints)
 transitive dependency versions, you can enable checking of constraints by specifying the `checkConstraints`
 attribute of the `dependencyUpdates` task.
 
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ Have a look at [`examples/groovy`](https://github.com/ben-manes/gradle-versions-
 
 ```bash
 # Publish the latest version of the plugin to mavenLocal()
-$ ./gradlew install  
+$ ./gradlew install
 
 # Try out the samples
 $ ./gradlew -p examples/groovy dependencyUpdate
diff --git a/examples/groovy/build.gradle b/examples/groovy/build.gradle
index 8f580fd1..b5c3976a 100644
--- a/examples/groovy/build.gradle
+++ b/examples/groovy/build.gradle
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ configurations {
 
 def isNonStable = { String version ->
   def stableKeyword = ['RELEASE', 'FINAL', 'GA'].any { it -> version.toUpperCase().contains(it) }
-  def regex = /^[0-9,\\.v\\-]+(-r)?$/
+  def regex = /^[0-9,.v-]+(-r)?$/
   return !stableKeyword && !(version ==~ regex)
 }
 
diff --git a/examples/kotlin/build.gradle.kts b/examples/kotlin/build.gradle.kts
index cd2050b7..6415f91a 100644
--- a/examples/kotlin/build.gradle.kts
+++ b/examples/kotlin/build.gradle.kts
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ configurations {
 
 fun isNonStable(version: String): Boolean {
   val stableKeyword = listOf("RELEASE", "FINAL", "GA").any { version.toUpperCase().contains(it) }
-  val regex = "^[0-9,\\.v\\-]+(-r)?$".toRegex()
+  val regex = "^[0-9,.v-]+(-r)?$".toRegex()
   val isStable = stableKeyword || regex.matches(version)
   return isStable.not()
 }