diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index ca129146..796b0ac8 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -129,7 +129,6 @@ please preview changes on your machine before submitting a
 [pull request][PR]. To do so, you need to install
 the software described below:
 
->>>>>>> main
 ```bash
 # apt (Ubuntu/Devian)
 sudo apt install ruby-dev ruby-bundler
diff --git a/_episodes/03-configuration.md b/_episodes/03-configuration.md
index b3d0827b..551645e0 100644
--- a/_episodes/03-configuration.md
+++ b/_episodes/03-configuration.md
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ You can get the default configuration file by running:
 ~~~bash
   esmvaltool config get_config_user --path=<target_dir>
 ~~~
-
 The default configuration file will be downloaded to the directory specified with 
 the `--path` variable. For instance, you can provide the path to your working directory 
 as the `target_dir`. If this option is not used, the file will be saved to the default 
diff --git a/reference.md b/reference.md
index ee2704b8..45fbc25c 100644
--- a/reference.md
+++ b/reference.md
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ layout: reference
 ## Glossary
 
 
-## Refences:
+## References:
 
 [ESMValTool main website](https://www.esmvaltool.org/)