diff --git a/INSTALL.md b/INSTALL.md
index 2e28b492..cc5515c1 100644
--- a/INSTALL.md
+++ b/INSTALL.md
@@ -31,15 +31,14 @@ If you place the git-filter-repo script in your $PATH, then you can
 shorten commands by replacing `python3 git-filter-repo` with `git
 filter-repo`; the manual assumes this but you can use the longer form.
 
-If for some reason downloading a single file is too much of an
-installation hassle for you, or you really want some kind of "official
-installation", the other sections may have useful tips.
-
 Optionally, if you also want to use some of the contrib scripts, then
 you need to make sure you have a `git_filter_repo.py` file which is
 either a link to or copy of `git-filter-repo`, and you need to place
 that git_filter_repo.py file in $PYTHONPATH.
 
+If you prefer an "official" installation over the manual installation
+explained above, the other sections may have useful tips.
+
 # Installation via Package Manager
 
 If you want to install via some [package
@@ -147,7 +146,7 @@ you'll still need to do that yourself.
 
 # Notes for Windows Users
 
-Windows likes to make things difficult.  Common and historical issues:
+Sadly, Windows sometimes makes things difficult.  Common and historical issues:
 
   * **Non-functional Python stub**: Windows apparently ships with a
     [non-functional
@@ -160,11 +159,11 @@ Windows likes to make things difficult.  Common and historical issues:
     [Python](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/python/beginners)
     from the [Microsoft
     Store](https://apps.microsoft.com/store/search?publisher=Python%20Software%20Foundation)
-  * **Modifying PATH, making the script executable**: For some reason lots of
-    Windows users have a hard time modifying their PATH and/or making scripts
-    executable.  You can skip that step by just using
-    `python3 git-filter-repo` instead of `git filter-repo` in your commands.
-  * **Different python executable name**:  It seems some users don't have
+  * **Modifying PATH, making the script executable**: If modifying your PATH
+    and/or making scripts executable is difficult for you, you can skip that
+    step by just using `python3 git-filter-repo` instead of `git filter-repo`
+    in your commands.
+  * **Different python executable name**:  Some users don't have
     a `python3` executable but one named something else like `python`
     or `python3.8` or whatever.  You may need to edit the first line
     of the git-filter-repo script to specify the appropriate path.  Or
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 1fd72ab0..f9d09153 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -44,9 +44,10 @@ filter-repo requires:
 
 # How do I install it?
 
-`git-filter-repo` is a single-file python script, which was done to make
-installation for basic use on many systems trivial: just place that
-file into your $PATH.
+While the `git-filter-repo` repository has many files, the main logic
+is all contained in a single-file python script named
+`git-filter-repo`, which was done to make installation for basic use
+on many systems trivial: just place that one file into your $PATH.
 
 See [INSTALL.md](INSTALL.md) for things beyond basic usage or special
 cases.  The more involved instructions are only needed if one of the