diff --git a/libvips/iofuncs/util.c b/libvips/iofuncs/util.c
index ea876d6c..51fff195 100644
--- a/libvips/iofuncs/util.c
+++ b/libvips/iofuncs/util.c
@@ -1563,7 +1563,7 @@ im__open_temp( const char *format )
 	}
 	g_free( name );
 
-	/* Needs to be postclose so we can rewindd disc after write without
+	/* Needs to be postclose so we can rewind after write without
 	 * deleting the file.
 	 */
 	if( im_add_postclose_callback( disc, 
diff --git a/man/im_malloc.3 b/man/im_malloc.3
index e1a9b85b..19d91f13 100644
--- a/man/im_malloc.3
+++ b/man/im_malloc.3
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ with the image. Preclose callbacks are guaranteed to be called exactly once.
 
 .B im_add_evalstart_callback(3) 
 adds a callback which will be triggered just before image evaluation starts.
-It can be called many times. It's a good place to initalize data structures.
+It can be called many times. It's a good place to initialize data structures.
 Don't allocate resources here.
 
 Eval callbacks are inherited. That is, any images which use your image as
@@ -87,7 +87,7 @@ callback to an image, you will be notified if any later image uses your image
 for computation.
 
 If a later image adds eval callbacks, then the inheritance is broken, and that
-image will recieve notification instead.
+image will receive notification instead.
 
 .B im_add_eval_callback(3) 
 adds a callback which will be triggered repeatedly as
diff --git a/man/im_simcontr.3 b/man/im_simcontr.3
index 2871fa8f..b90ecbb7 100644
--- a/man/im_simcontr.3
+++ b/man/im_simcontr.3
@@ -14,8 +14,8 @@ im_simcontr \- shows the effect of simultaneous contrast
 creates an unsigned char one band grey scale image of sizes xsize by ysize.
 The created pattern consists of two neighbouring squares one dark (left
 square) and one light (right square).  The left 
-one containes a smaller light square and the right
-one containes a darker square.
+one contains a smaller light square and the right
+one contains a darker square.
 .SH RETURN VALUE
 The function returns 0 on success and -1 on error.
 .SH SEE\ ALSO
diff --git a/man/simcontr.1 b/man/simcontr.1
index 4d92fae7..efa0fc4c 100644
--- a/man/simcontr.1
+++ b/man/simcontr.1
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ simcontr \- shows the effect of simultaneous contrast
 creates an unsigned char one band grey scale image of sizes xsize by ysize.
 The created pattern consists of two neighbouring squares one dark (left
 square) and one light (right square).  The left 
-one containes a smaller light square and the right
-one containes a darker square.
+one contains a smaller light square and the right
+one contains a darker square.
 .SH SEE\ ALSO
 grey(1)
 .SH COPYRIGHT