diff --git a/wp-admin/plugin-editor.php b/wp-admin/plugin-editor.php
index 55551e1c7b..9c918af16b 100644
--- a/wp-admin/plugin-editor.php
+++ b/wp-admin/plugin-editor.php
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ if ($plugin_files) :
 ?>
 </p>
 <?php else : ?>
-<p><em><?php _e('If this file was writable you could edit it.'); ?></em></p>
+<p><em><?php _e('If this file were writable you could edit it.'); ?></em></p>
 <?php endif; ?>
    </form> 
   <?php
diff --git a/wp-admin/templates.php b/wp-admin/templates.php
index 32b0d6c8e1..bdd9087986 100644
--- a/wp-admin/templates.php
+++ b/wp-admin/templates.php
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ endif;
 ?>
 </p>
 <?php else : ?>
-<p><em><?php _e('If this file was writable you could edit it.'); ?></em></p>
+<p><em><?php _e('If this file were writable you could edit it.'); ?></em></p>
 <?php endif; ?>
    </form> 
   <?php
diff --git a/wp-admin/theme-editor.php b/wp-admin/theme-editor.php
index 7cb2a57924..08e15c30b7 100644
--- a/wp-admin/theme-editor.php
+++ b/wp-admin/theme-editor.php
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ if ($allowed_files) :
 ?>
 </p>
 <?php else : ?>
-<p><em><?php _e('If this file was writable you could edit it.'); ?></em></p>
+<p><em><?php _e('If this file were writable you could edit it.'); ?></em></p>
 <?php endif; ?>
    </form> 
   <?php