diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.rst b/CONTRIBUTING.rst
index 2d1edd52..9ae0492a 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.rst
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.rst
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ to your bug report, e.g.:
 
 Before working on a new feature or a bug, please browse `existing issues`_
 to see whether it has been previously discussed. If the change in question
-is a bigger one, it's always good to discuss before your starting working on
+is a bigger one, it's always good to discuss before you start working on
 it.
 
 
diff --git a/README.rst b/README.rst
index d6850af1..585a0220 100644
--- a/README.rst
+++ b/README.rst
@@ -130,10 +130,9 @@ To see which version HTTPie uses, run ``http --debug``.
 Unstable version
 ----------------
 
-You can also instead of the latest the latest unreleased development version
-directly from the ``master`` branch on GitHub.
-It is a work-in-progress of a future stable release so the experience
-might be not as smooth.
+You can also install the latest unreleased development version directly from
+the ``master`` branch on GitHub.  It is a work-in-progress of a future stable
+release so the experience might be not as smooth.
 
 |unix_build|
 
@@ -435,7 +434,7 @@ JSON
 ====
 
 JSON is the *lingua franca* of modern web services and it is also the
-**implicit content type** HTTPie by default uses.
+**implicit content type** HTTPie uses by default.
 
 
 Simple example:
@@ -620,7 +619,7 @@ There are a couple of default headers that HTTPie sets:
 
 
 
-Any of those—except for ``Host``—can be overwritten and some of them unset.
+Any of these except ``Host`` can be overwritten and some of them unset.