diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d2a68c328..f7a2afcdb 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ Why use this non-standard library?
 * Thread safety, and efficient use in parallel programs, has been a design
   consideration from the beginning.
 
-* A svelter design than that codified by X/Open: Exported identifiers are
+* A more orderly surface than that codified by X/Open: Exported identifiers are
   prefixed to avoid common namespace collisions. The library object exports a
   minimal set of symbols. Where reasonable, `static inline` header-only code is
   used. This facilitates compiler optimizations, and reduces loader time.