diff --git a/src/lifetimes.md b/src/lifetimes.md
index 9d466c7..4d922a1 100644
--- a/src/lifetimes.md
+++ b/src/lifetimes.md
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ are too dumb.
 
 ## The area covered by a lifetime
 
-The lifetime (sometimes called a *borrow*) is *alive* from the place it is
+A reference (sometimes called a *borrow*) is *alive* from the place it is
 created to its last use. The borrowed thing needs to outlive only borrows that
 are alive. This looks simple, but there are few subtleties.