diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 3e5e0bc..bd40bce 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ CGATCGATAAATAGAGTAG---GAATAGCA
 CGATCG---AATAGAGTAGGTCGAATtGCA
 ```
 is represented as `:6-ata:10+gtc:4*at:3`, where `:[0-9]+` represents an
-identical block, `-ata` represents a deltion, `+gtc` an insertion and `*at`
+identical block, `-ata` represents a deletion, `+gtc` an insertion and `*at`
 indicates reference base `a` is substituted with a query base `t`. It is
 similar to the `MD` SAM tag but is standalone and easier to parse.
 
diff --git a/python/README.rst b/python/README.rst
index 3d0fae8..3082980 100644
--- a/python/README.rst
+++ b/python/README.rst
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ properties:
 * **mlen**: length of the matching bases in the alignment, excluding ambiguous
   base matches.
 
-* **NM**: number of mismatches, gaps and ambiguous poistions in the alignment
+* **NM**: number of mismatches, gaps and ambiguous positions in the alignment
 
 * **trans_strand**: transcript strand. +1 if on the forward strand; -1 if on the
   reverse strand; 0 if unknown