diff --git a/data/json/items/book/cooking.json b/data/json/items/book/cooking.json
index a04ac25028b5c..15eb923c04cf7 100644
--- a/data/json/items/book/cooking.json
+++ b/data/json/items/book/cooking.json
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@
     "id": "modern_tanner",
     "type": "BOOK",
     "name": { "str": "The Modern Tanner", "str_pl": "copies of The Modern Tanner" },
-    "description": "A in-depth and easy to read guide that details a very modern take on the ancient art of leather tanning.",
+    "description": "An in-depth and easy to read guide that details a very modern take on the ancient art of leather tanning.",
     "weight": "568 g",
     "volume": "750 ml",
     "price": 2000,
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@
     "id": "recipe_alpha",
     "type": "BOOK",
     "name": { "str": "PE050 \"Alpha\": Preliminary Report", "str_pl": "copies of PE050 \"Alpha\": Preliminary Report" },
-    "description": "This sheaf of papers-dated two weeks before all this started-describes some new chemical formula, and its effects on human subjects.  It's stamped \"APPROVED\"…",
+    "description": "This sheaf of papers--dated two weeks before all this started--describes some new chemical formula, and its effects on human subjects.  It's stamped \"APPROVED\"…",
     "weight": "50 g",
     "volume": "500 ml",
     "price": 125000,
diff --git a/data/json/items/book/electronics.json b/data/json/items/book/electronics.json
index 12a2e587f3225..c6212631cf2ab 100644
--- a/data/json/items/book/electronics.json
+++ b/data/json/items/book/electronics.json
@@ -232,14 +232,14 @@
     "id": "schematics_nursebot",
     "type": "BOOK",
     "name": { "str": "nurse bot schematics", "str_pl": "nurse bot schematics" },
-    "description": "Bearing the logo of Uncanny, those are assembly plans, design specs, and technical drawings for the nurse bot.  Most of this is useless to you, but you could use the assembly plans to re-assemble the robot from salvaged parts.",
+    "description": "Bearing the logo of Uncanny, these are assembly plans, design specs, and technical drawings for the nurse bot.  Most of this is useless to you, but you could use the assembly plans to re-assemble the robot from salvaged parts.",
     "copy-from": "schematics_generic"
   },
   {
     "id": "schematics_grocerybot",
     "type": "BOOK",
     "name": { "str": "grocery bot schematics", "str_pl": "grocery bot schematics" },
-    "description": "Bearing the logo of Uncanny, those are assembly plans, design specs, and technical drawings for the grocery bot.  Most of this is useless to you, but you could use the assembly plans to re-assemble the robot from salvaged parts.",
+    "description": "Bearing the logo of Uncanny, these are assembly plans, design specs, and technical drawings for the grocery bot.  Most of this is useless to you, but you could use the assembly plans to re-assemble the robot from salvaged parts.",
     "copy-from": "schematics_generic"
   },
   {
@@ -302,14 +302,14 @@
     "id": "schematics_dispatch",
     "type": "BOOK",
     "name": { "str": "dispatch schematics", "str_pl": "dispatch schematics" },
-    "description": "Bearing the logo of Northrop, those are assembly plans, design specs, and technical drawings for the dispatch.  Most of this is useless to you, but you could use the assembly plans to re-assemble the robot from salvaged parts.",
+    "description": "Bearing the logo of Northrop, these are assembly plans, design specs, and technical drawings for the dispatch.  Most of this is useless to you, but you could use the assembly plans to re-assemble the robot from salvaged parts.",
     "copy-from": "schematics_generic"
   },
   {
     "id": "schematics_dispatch_military",
     "type": "BOOK",
     "name": { "str": "military dispatch schematics", "str_pl": "military dispatch schematics" },
-    "description": "Bearing the logo of Northrop, those are assembly plans, design specs, and technical drawings for the military dispatch.  Most of this is useless to you, but you could use the assembly plans to re-assemble the robot from salvaged parts.",
+    "description": "Bearing the logo of Northrop, these are assembly plans, design specs, and technical drawings for the military dispatch.  Most of this is useless to you, but you could use the assembly plans to re-assemble the robot from salvaged parts.",
     "copy-from": "schematics_generic"
   },
   {
diff --git a/data/json/items/book/fabrication.json b/data/json/items/book/fabrication.json
index c8fc6477f7451..631290909955f 100644
--- a/data/json/items/book/fabrication.json
+++ b/data/json/items/book/fabrication.json
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@
     "id": "101_carpentry",
     "type": "BOOK",
     "name": { "str": "101 Home Repairs", "str_pl": "copies of 101 Home Repairs" },
-    "description": "A paperback book detailing 101 home repair projects the novice carpenter.",
+    "description": "A paperback book detailing 101 home repair projects for the novice carpenter.",
     "weight": "454 g",
     "volume": "500 ml",
     "price": 1800,
@@ -466,7 +466,7 @@
     "id": "reference_fabrication1",
     "type": "BOOK",
     "name": { "str": "Machinery's Handbook", "str_pl": "copies of Machinery's Handbook" },
-    "description": "This classic reference work contains extensive, dense chapters and tables on materials, metrology, toolmaking, gears, threading and more.  This recent edition includes extensive data on what was the latest techniques in additive manufacturing.  If you need to know how best complete a certain machining operation, the answer lies somewhere in these pages.",
+    "description": "This classic reference work contains extensive, dense chapters and tables on materials, metrology, toolmaking, gears, threading and more.  This recent edition includes extensive data on what were the latest techniques in additive manufacturing.  If you need to know how best complete a certain machining operation, the answer lies somewhere in these pages.",
     "weight": "454 g",
     "volume": "500 ml",
     "price": 8000,
diff --git a/data/json/items/book/misc.json b/data/json/items/book/misc.json
index 696ec8657e82e..3aacf149c8923 100644
--- a/data/json/items/book/misc.json
+++ b/data/json/items/book/misc.json
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@
       },
       {
         "id": "fairyat_408",
-        "text": "A book of Italian fairy tales translated in English.  The cover features an orange fairy juggling a lemon, a lime, and a tangerine."
+        "text": "A book of Italian fairy tales translated into English.  The cover features an orange fairy juggling a lemon, a lime, and a tangerine."
       },
       { "id": "fairyat_451", "text": "A book of fables about people who change into birds." },
       {
@@ -977,7 +977,7 @@
       },
       {
         "id": "scifi1_22",
-        "text": "This is a copy of \"Wasp\" by Eric Frank Russel.  The futuristic terrorists handbook."
+        "text": "This is a copy of \"Wasp\" by Eric Frank Russel.  The futuristic terrorist's handbook."
       },
       {
         "id": "scifi1_23",
@@ -1022,7 +1022,7 @@
       { "id": "scifi1_36", "text": "This is a copy of Jean-Baptiste Cousin de Grainville's \"Le Dernier Homme\"." },
       {
         "id": "scifi1_37",
-        "text": "This is a copy of Orwells \"Nineteen Eighty-Four\".  The pages are loose and thin.  You should probably be careful with this copy."
+        "text": "This is a copy of Orwell's \"Nineteen Eighty-Four\".  The pages are loose and thin.  You should probably be careful with this copy."
       },
       {
         "id": "scifi1_38",
@@ -1725,7 +1725,7 @@
       },
       {
         "id": "fancy13",
-        "text": "This copy of Douglas Adams\" \"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy\" has a certificate of authenticity declaring it to be a first edition, and is autographed by the author himself."
+        "text": "This copy of Douglas Adams' \"The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy\" has a certificate of authenticity declaring it to be a first edition, and is autographed by the author himself."
       },
       {
         "id": "fancy14",
diff --git a/data/json/items/book/smg.json b/data/json/items/book/smg.json
index 4a3cd54499fbe..933ce61edc86e 100644
--- a/data/json/items/book/smg.json
+++ b/data/json/items/book/smg.json
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     "id": "manual_smg",
     "type": "BOOK",
     "name": { "str": "The Submachine Gun Handbook", "str_pl": "copies of The Submachine Gun Handbook" },
-    "description": "This concise guide details the proper care and operation of most forms of machine pistols and submachine guns currently used by regular armed and reserve forces as well as several obsolete weapons.",
+    "description": "This concise guide details the proper care and operation of most forms of machine pistols and submachine guns currently used by regular armed and reserve forces, as well as several obsolete weapons.",
     "weight": "362 g",
     "volume": "500 ml",
     "price": 2100,
diff --git a/data/json/items/book/unarmed.json b/data/json/items/book/unarmed.json
index 0e8852e9f3113..118a4b5516d10 100644
--- a/data/json/items/book/unarmed.json
+++ b/data/json/items/book/unarmed.json
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
     "id": "manual_brawl",
     "type": "BOOK",
     "name": { "str": "101 Wrestling Moves", "str_pl": "copies of 101 Wrestling Moves" },
-    "description": "It seems to be a wrestling manual, poorly photocopied and released on spiral- bound paper.  Still, there are lots of useful tips for unarmed combat.",
+    "description": "It seems to be a wrestling manual, poorly photocopied and released on spiral-bound paper.  Still, there are lots of useful tips for unarmed combat.",
     "weight": "227 g",
     "volume": "500 ml",
     "price": 3800,