diff --git a/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md b/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md
index b50f4c36a2..7eb96bf8c0 100644
--- a/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md
+++ b/specs/core/0_beacon-chain.md
@@ -1292,7 +1292,7 @@ def process_deposit(state: BeaconState, deposit: Deposit) -> None:
     # Verify the proof of possession
     proof_is_valid = bls_verify(
         pubkey=deposit_input.pubkey,
-        message_hash=signed_root(deposit_input, "proof_of_possession"),
+        message_hash=signed_root(deposit_input),
         signature=deposit_input.proof_of_possession,
         domain=get_domain(
             state.fork,
@@ -1664,8 +1664,8 @@ Below are the processing steps that happen at every `block`.
 #### Block signature
 
 * Let `proposer = state.validator_registry[get_beacon_proposer_index(state, state.slot)]`.
-* Let `proposal = Proposal(block.slot, BEACON_CHAIN_SHARD_NUMBER, signed_root(block, "signature"), block.signature)`.
-* Verify that `bls_verify(pubkey=proposer.pubkey, message_hash=signed_root(proposal, "signature"), signature=proposal.signature, domain=get_domain(state.fork, get_current_epoch(state), DOMAIN_PROPOSAL))`.
+* Let `proposal = Proposal(block.slot, BEACON_CHAIN_SHARD_NUMBER, signed_root(block), block.signature)`.
+* Verify that `bls_verify(pubkey=proposer.pubkey, message_hash=signed_root(proposal), signature=proposal.signature, domain=get_domain(state.fork, get_current_epoch(state), DOMAIN_PROPOSAL))`.
 
 #### RANDAO
 
@@ -1705,7 +1705,7 @@ def process_proposer_slashing(state: BeaconState,
     for proposal in (proposer_slashing.proposal_1, proposer_slashing.proposal_2):
         assert bls_verify(
             pubkey=proposer.pubkey,
-            message_hash=signed_root(proposal, "signature"),           
+            message_hash=signed_root(proposal),
             signature=proposal.signature,
             domain=get_domain(state.fork, slot_to_epoch(proposal.slot), DOMAIN_PROPOSAL)
         )
@@ -1853,7 +1853,7 @@ def process_exit(state: BeaconState, exit: VoluntaryExit) -> None:
     # Verify signature
     assert bls_verify(
         pubkey=validator.pubkey,
-        message_hash=signed_root(exit, "signature"),
+        message_hash=signed_root(exit),
         signature=exit.signature,
         domain=get_domain(state.fork, exit.epoch, DOMAIN_EXIT)
     )
@@ -1898,7 +1898,7 @@ def process_transfer(state: BeaconState, transfer: Transfer) -> None:
     # Verify that the signature is valid
     assert bls_verify(
         pubkey=transfer.pubkey,
-        message_hash=signed_root(transfer, "signature"),
+        message_hash=signed_root(transfer),
         signature=transfer.signature,
         domain=get_domain(state.fork, slot_to_epoch(transfer.slot), DOMAIN_TRANSFER)
     )
diff --git a/specs/simple-serialize.md b/specs/simple-serialize.md
index bb15bb6dac..862d13edf2 100644
--- a/specs/simple-serialize.md
+++ b/specs/simple-serialize.md
@@ -44,9 +44,9 @@ This is a **work in progress** describing typing, serialization and Merkleizatio
 
 For convenience we alias:
 
-* `"byte"` to `"uint8"`
-* `"bytes"` to `["byte"]`
-* `"bytesN"` to `["byte", N]`
+* `"byte"` to `"uint8"` (this is a basic type)
+* `"bytes"` to `["byte"]` (this is *not* a basic type)
+* `"bytesN"` to `["byte", N]` (this is *not* a basic type)
 
 ## Serialization
 
diff --git a/specs/validator/0_beacon-chain-validator.md b/specs/validator/0_beacon-chain-validator.md
index e1083c5c55..0c95fb446a 100644
--- a/specs/validator/0_beacon-chain-validator.md
+++ b/specs/validator/0_beacon-chain-validator.md
@@ -379,7 +379,7 @@ def get_committee_assignment(
 
 ### Lookahead
 
-The beacon chain shufflings are designed to provide a minimum of 1 epoch lookahead on the validator's upcoming assignemnts of proposing and attesting dictated by the shuffling and slot.
+The beacon chain shufflings are designed to provide a minimum of 1 epoch lookahead on the validator's upcoming assignments of proposing and attesting dictated by the shuffling and slot.
 
 There are three possibilities for the shuffling at the next epoch:
 1. The shuffling changes due to a "validator registry change".