diff --git a/public/grade/grading/form/guide/styles.css b/public/grade/grading/form/guide/styles.css
index d70bb15c9bb..4a41ec08d42 100644
--- a/public/grade/grading/form/guide/styles.css
+++ b/public/grade/grading/form/guide/styles.css
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@
 
 .gradingform_guide .plainvalue.empty {
     font-style: italic;
-    color: #aaa;
+    color: #555;
 }
 
 .gradingform_guide .plainvalue.editname {
diff --git a/public/grade/grading/form/rubric/styles.css b/public/grade/grading/form/rubric/styles.css
index 729f9772a72..18ca1560d95 100644
--- a/public/grade/grading/form/rubric/styles.css
+++ b/public/grade/grading/form/rubric/styles.css
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@
 
 .gradingform_rubric .plainvalue.empty {
     font-style: italic;
-    color: #aaa;
+    color: #555;
 }
 
 /* Make invisible the buttons 'Move up' for the first criterion and