diff --git a/src/_pytest/assertion/util.py b/src/_pytest/assertion/util.py
index 5a7b06a6a..672d858a2 100644
--- a/src/_pytest/assertion/util.py
+++ b/src/_pytest/assertion/util.py
@@ -290,7 +290,10 @@ def _diff_text(left: str, right: str, verbose: int = 0) -> List[str]:
         for line in ndiff(right.splitlines(keepends), left.splitlines(keepends))
     ]
     for i in range(len(explanation)):
+        explanation[i] = explanation[i].replace("+     ", "+ \t")
         explanation[i] = explanation[i].replace("    ", "\t")
+    print("**********************LOOK HERE***********************")
+    print(explanation)
     return explanation
 
 
diff --git a/testing/test_error_diffs.py b/testing/test_error_diffs.py
index c879a707c..a12aac342 100644
--- a/testing/test_error_diffs.py
+++ b/testing/test_error_diffs.py
@@ -272,10 +272,10 @@ TESTCASES = [
         """,
         """
         >       assert result == desired
-        E       AssertionError: assert 'spam\\tbacon\\n\\teggs love' == 'spam bacon eggs love'
+        E       AssertionError: assert 'spam    bacon\\n    eggs love' == 'spam bacon eggs love'
         E         - spam bacon eggs love
-        E         + spam    bacon
-        E         +     eggs love
+        E         + spam\tbacon
+        E         + \teggs love
         """,
         id='Test "not in" string',
     ),