diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index d43845e44..82f7b1976 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ on our wiki.
 ## Commit messages
 
 We follow the standard git commit message format of a summary on the first line
-(<=50 characterss for preference, <=72 characters otherwise), followed by a new
+(<=50 characters for preference, <=72 characters otherwise), followed by a new
 line, followed by a detailed commit message. An additional line at the end may
 link to an issue being fixed by this MR.