diff --git a/hbase-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/HBaseConfiguration.java b/hbase-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/HBaseConfiguration.java
index 1323240719f..41bacf403eb 100644
--- a/hbase-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/HBaseConfiguration.java
+++ b/hbase-common/src/main/java/org/apache/hadoop/hbase/HBaseConfiguration.java
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ public class HBaseConfiguration extends Configuration {
     String thisVersion = VersionInfo.getVersion();
     if (!thisVersion.equals(defaultsVersion)) {
       throw new RuntimeException(
-        "hbase-default.xml file seems to be for and old version of HBase (" +
+        "hbase-default.xml file seems to be for an older version of HBase (" +
         defaultsVersion + "), this version is " + thisVersion);
     }
   }