diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index be2542c..50b4c77 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 # git-validation
 
-A way to do per git commit validation
+A way to do validation on git commits.
 
 ## install
 
@@ -26,14 +26,14 @@ Usage of git-validation:
   -v    verbose
 ```
 
-The default rule set are all run by default:
+The entire default rule set is run by default:
 ```bash
 vbatts@valse ~/src/vb/git-validation (master) $ git-validation -list-rules
 "DCO" -- makes sure the commits are signed
 "short-subject" -- commit subjects are strictly less than 90 (github ellipsis length)
 ```
 
-Comma delimited rules to run:
+Or, specify comma-delimited rules to run:
 ```bash
 vbatts@valse ~/src/vb/git-validation (master) $ git-validation -run DCO,short-subject
  * b243ca4 "README: adding install and usage" ... PASS
@@ -91,5 +91,5 @@ Usually by putting them in their own package.
 See [`./rules/`](./rules/).
 Feel free to contribute more.
 
-Otherwise, but using `validate` package API directly, rules can be handed directly to the `validate.Runner`.
+Otherwise, by using `validate` package API directly, rules can be handed directly to the `validate.Runner`.
 
diff --git a/rules/dco/dco.go b/rules/dco/dco.go
index 75184ed..6371720 100644
--- a/rules/dco/dco.go
+++ b/rules/dco/dco.go
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ var (
 	}
 )
 
-// ValidateDCO is the ValidateRule for a git commit
+// ValidateDCO checks that the commit has been signed off, per the DCO process
 func ValidateDCO(c git.CommitEntry) (vr validate.Result) {
 	vr.CommitEntry = c
 	if len(strings.Split(c["parent"], " ")) > 1 {
diff --git a/rules/shortsubject/rule.go b/rules/shortsubject/shortsubject.go
similarity index 84%
rename from rules/shortsubject/rule.go
rename to rules/shortsubject/shortsubject.go
index 64d918d..f09e884 100644
--- a/rules/shortsubject/rule.go
+++ b/rules/shortsubject/shortsubject.go
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ func init() {
 }
 
 // ValidateShortSubject checks that the commit's subject is strictly less than
-// 90 characters (preferrably not more than 72 chars).
+// 90 characters (preferably not more than 72 chars).
 func ValidateShortSubject(c git.CommitEntry) (vr validate.Result) {
 	if len(c["subject"]) >= 90 {
 		vr.Pass = false
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ func ValidateShortSubject(c git.CommitEntry) (vr validate.Result) {
 	}
 	vr.Pass = true
 	if len(c["subject"]) > 72 {
-		vr.Msg = "commit subject is not more than 90 characters, but is still more than 72 chars"
+		vr.Msg = "commit subject is under 90 characters, but is still more than 72 chars"
 	} else {
 		vr.Msg = "commit subject is 72 characters or less! *yay*"
 	}