diff --git a/common.mk b/common.mk
index 46fccf8a7c..66ae570667 100644
--- a/common.mk
+++ b/common.mk
@@ -613,7 +613,7 @@ yes-test-testframework: prog PHONY
 	$(Q)$(exec) $(RUNRUBY) "$(srcdir)/test/runner.rb" --ruby="$(RUNRUBY)" $(TESTOPTS) testunit minitest
 no-test-testframework: PHONY
 
-test-sample: test-basic # backword compatibility for mswin-build
+test-sample: test-basic # backward compatibility for mswin-build
 test: btest-ruby test-knownbug test-basic
 
 # $ make test-all TESTOPTS="--help" displays more detail
diff --git a/sample/test.rb b/sample/test.rb
index beb310dfaf..65dd9abd10 100755
--- a/sample/test.rb
+++ b/sample/test.rb
@@ -1,2 +1,2 @@
-# backword compatibility for chkbuild
+# backward compatibility for chkbuild
 require_relative '../basictest/test'