diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index e9642de..bd1f3fe 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -60,4 +60,4 @@ Keep these in mind as you work:
 
 Before contributions are merged, you will receive an email (at the address
 associated with the git commit) and will be asked to confirm the aforementioned
-items.  Ensure that the email addresses associated with the commits is valid.
+items.  Ensure that the email addresses associated with the commits are valid.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 15f677c..74fe250 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -298,7 +298,7 @@ operations generally should be straightforward to implement.
 
 Excel pushes the XLSX format as default starting in Excel 2007.  However, there
 are other formats with more appealing properties.  For example, the XLSB format
-is spiritually similar to XLSX but files often tend up taking less than half the
+is spiritually similar to XLSX but files often end up taking less than half the
 space and open much faster!  Even though an XLSX writer is available, other
 format writers are available so users can take advantage of the unique
 characteristics of each format.