diff --git a/lib/rexml/element.rb b/lib/rexml/element.rb
index 4e3a60b9..8cd23306 100644
--- a/lib/rexml/element.rb
+++ b/lib/rexml/element.rb
@@ -1505,7 +1505,7 @@ def write(output=$stdout, indent=-1, transitive=false, ie_hack=false)
       Kernel.warn("#{self.class.name}.write is deprecated.  See REXML::Formatters", uplevel: 1)
       formatter = if indent > -1
           if transitive
-            require_relative "formatters/transitive"
+            require_relative "formatters/transitive"  
             REXML::Formatters::Transitive.new( indent, ie_hack )
           else
             REXML::Formatters::Pretty.new( indent, ie_hack )