diff --git a/format.go b/format.go
index 71010cc..ba5df7c 100644
--- a/format.go
+++ b/format.go
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ const PLACEHOLDER_TIMEDIFF = "$TIMEDIFF$"
 const PLACEHOLDER_EXTRAS = "$EXTRAS$"
 
 // current log format (defaults to: "$TIMESTAMP$ - [$LOGLEVEL$] > $MESSAGE ($EXTRAS$) [$TIMEDIFF$]")
-var logFormat = "$TIMESTAMP$ - [$LOGLEVEL$] > $MESSAGE ($EXTRAS$) [$TIMEDIFF$]"
+var logFormat = PLACEHOLDER_TIMESTAMP + " - [" + PLACEHOLDER_LOGLEVEL + "] > " + PLACEHOLDER_MESSAGE + "(" + PLACEHOLDER_EXTRAS + ") [" + PLACEHOLDER_TIMEDIFF + "]"
 
 // current date format (defaults to: "02.01.2006 15:04:05")
 var dateFormat = "02.01.2006 15:04:05"