diff --git a/etc/README.md b/etc/README.md
index 9a161d8e9839eadadaac61d5b46ea10428c24577..6f852a99ef0242d4e322e372d80c86b8ff112277 100644
--- a/etc/README.md
+++ b/etc/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-See the [examples](examples) directory as a starting point for command-line use of nshmp-haz.
+See the [examples](examples) directory as a starting point for command-line use of `nshmp-haz`.
 
-[Matlab](matlab) shows how to take advantage of the ground motion model implementations in nshmp-haz.
+[Matlab](matlab) shows how to take advantage of the ground motion model implementations in `nshmp-haz`.
 
 [Peer](peer) is a collection of simple source models that are used for testing.
diff --git a/etc/examples/1-hazard-curve/README.md b/etc/examples/1-hazard-curve/README.md
index 74aefb8ebd88f366e592fa72f29bb9fd6f3d718c..b9997bf75e736a97367249c129322301894945b2 100644
--- a/etc/examples/1-hazard-curve/README.md
+++ b/etc/examples/1-hazard-curve/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Example 1: A simple hazard calculation
 --------------------------------------
 
-Working directory: `/path/to/nshmp-haz/etc/examples/1-hazard-curve`
+__Working directory:__ `/path/to/nshmp-haz/etc/examples/1-hazard-curve`
 
 On the command line, navigate to this directory and execute the following:
 
diff --git a/etc/examples/2-custom-config/README.md b/etc/examples/2-custom-config/README.md
index 31a3f4b7575fd84c9c31f7b61c5e29352a87d871..e4d3ad7398c828733c4af475223ff24a1dd8a402 100644
--- a/etc/examples/2-custom-config/README.md
+++ b/etc/examples/2-custom-config/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Example 2: A custom configuration
 -------------------------------
 
-Working directory: `/path/to/nshmp-haz/etc/examples`
+__Working directory:__ `/path/to/nshmp-haz/etc/examples`
 
 Navigate up one level to the `examples/` directory and execute the following:
 
@@ -12,12 +12,12 @@ hazard ../peer/models/Set1-Case1 2-custom-config/config.json
 In this example we've overridden the configuration supplied by the model. Specifically:
 
 * The upper end of each hazard curve has been truncated at 3 standard deviations.
-* Hazard curves have been calculated for 3 `imts` (intensity measure types, or spectral periods) and written to the directory containing the config file.
+* Hazard curves have been calculated for 3 `imts` ([intensity measure types](http://usgs.github.io/nshmp-haz/javadoc/index.html?org/opensha2/gmm/Imt.html), or spectral periods) and written to the directory containing the config file.
 * The `imls` (intensity measure levels or x-values) of the resultant curves have been explicitely defined for each `imt`.
 * And two different sites have been specified.
 
 See the [configuration specification](https://github.com/usgs/nshmp-haz/wiki/Configuration) for details on default values and supported options and formats.
 
-**A note on output:** Because we supplied a specific configuration file, all program output will be written to the directory where the config resides, thus keeping a record of calculation settings along with any results.
+**A note on output:** Because we supplied a specific configuration file, all program output is written to the directory where the config resides, thus keeping a record of calculation settings along with any results.
 
 #### Next: [Example 3 – Using a custom sites file](../3-sites-file)
diff --git a/etc/examples/3-sites-file/README.md b/etc/examples/3-sites-file/README.md
index 3001cb9ce837d7f3ca247d70ded0b87f1c2c0e43..8e0f05af7ffd81956d058a9a3c3a290c964b3ff4 100644
--- a/etc/examples/3-sites-file/README.md
+++ b/etc/examples/3-sites-file/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Example 3: Using a custom sites file
 ------------------------------------
 
-Working directory: `/path/to/nshmp-haz/etc/examples`
+__Working directory:__ `/path/to/nshmp-haz/etc/examples`
 
 One may also supply a comma-delimited site data file, which may be easier to work with in some applications.
 
diff --git a/etc/examples/4-hazard-map/README.md b/etc/examples/4-hazard-map/README.md
index 45c766cfc0dbdbfd0cf8faf4d170a80132c6266a..81278f0f835aa665a7b1622f375136771505c63d 100644
--- a/etc/examples/4-hazard-map/README.md
+++ b/etc/examples/4-hazard-map/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Example 4: A simple hazard map
 ------------------------------
 
-Working directory: `/path/to/nshmp-haz/etc/examples`
+__Working directory:__ `/path/to/nshmp-haz/etc/examples`
 
 A hazard map is just a lot of hazard curves. To compute curves at reqularly spaced intervals in latitude and longitude, the [sites configuration](https://github.com/usgs/nshmp-haz/wiki/Configuration#four-sites) can instead be specified as a polygon.
 
diff --git a/etc/examples/5-complex-model/README.md b/etc/examples/5-complex-model/README.md
index 68590eb6ba64a226c26ad8d603fe4db5a04fdfe6..bf5e087edf743c0ce4eebf9c553675ab866ac539 100644
--- a/etc/examples/5-complex-model/README.md
+++ b/etc/examples/5-complex-model/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Example 5: A more complex model
 -------------------------------
 
-Working directory: `/path/to/nshmp-haz/etc/examples`
+__Working directory:__ `/path/to/nshmp-haz/etc/examples`
 
 Most PSHAs involve the use of more complex source models, the components of which might use different ground motion models. For this and ensuing examples, we'll use the 2008 USGS National Seismic Hazard Model (NSHM) for the western U.S.
 
@@ -11,13 +11,13 @@ First, clone the 2008 USGS NSHM. Assuming `examples/` is the current working dir
 git clone https://github.com/usgs/nshmp-model-cous-2008.git ../../../nshmp-model-cous-2008
 ```
 
-The 2008 NSHM repository contains two source models: one for the western U.S. and a one for the central and eastern U.S. More complex models make for longer, per-site calculations. To compute hazard for a few sites in the Western U.S., execute:
+The 2008 NSHM repository contains two source models: one for the western U.S. and a one for the central and eastern U.S. To compute hazard for a few sites in the Western U.S., execute:
 
 ```Shell
 hazard ../../../nshmp-model-cous-2008/Western\ US 5-complex-model/config-sites.json
 ```
 
-More complex models make for longer, per-site calculations. `HazardCalc` will automatically use all cores available and therefore performs better on multi-core systems. To compute a small, low-resolution map for the central San Francisco Bay Area, execute:
+Note that more complex models take longer to initialize, although this only occurs once per calculation, and make for longer, per-site calculations. However, `HazardCalc` will automatically use all cores available and therefore performs better on multi-core systems. To compute a small, low-resolution map for the central San Francisco bay area, execute:
 
 ```Shell
 hazard ../../../nshmp-model-cous-2008/Western\ US 5-complex-model/config-map.json
@@ -25,4 +25,4 @@ hazard ../../../nshmp-model-cous-2008/Western\ US 5-complex-model/config-map.jso
 
 This computes 121 curves over a 2° by 2° area and will give you a sense of how long a larger map might take.
 
-#### Next: [Example 6 – Enhanced output](../4-enhanced-output)
+#### Next: [Example 6 – Enhanced output](../6-enhanced-output)
diff --git a/etc/examples/6-enhanced-output/README.md b/etc/examples/6-enhanced-output/README.md
index 71ba7e543363f35a29b88324eec8f42f57aef5c7..a639f8132ba1fd27e3f97d05f8a8073ef0307707 100644
--- a/etc/examples/6-enhanced-output/README.md
+++ b/etc/examples/6-enhanced-output/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 Example 6: Enhanced output
 --------------------------
 
-Working directory: `/path/to/nshmp-haz/etc/examples`
+__Working directory:__ `/path/to/nshmp-haz/etc/examples`
 
 By default, `HazardCalc` outputs only total mean hazard curves, however, curves by ground motion model and source type can also be written. Execute
 
diff --git a/etc/peer/README.md b/etc/peer/README.md
index 5f359e6887c542713f1c4edb1b5b947fe00a0795..ec9359cf42b7fbed0659f0c4c8a34c7c7d875274 100644
--- a/etc/peer/README.md
+++ b/etc/peer/README.md
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 #### PEER Test Cases
 
-The PEER PSHA validation project developed a number of source models for the purpose of examining the sensitivity of seismic hazard to different PSHA implementations (codes). These test cases are used as end-to-end unit tests in nshmp-haz. 
+The PEER PSHA validation project developed a number of source models for the purpose of examining the sensitivity of seismic hazard to different PSHA implementations (codes). These test cases are used as end-to-end unit tests in `nshmp-haz`. 
 
 For more information, including source model specifications, result tables, and summary reports, please see the [PEER](http://peer.berkeley.edu) PSHA validation project (TODO: link; no site as yet).