diff --git a/src/sage/combinat/diagram.py b/src/sage/combinat/diagram.py
index 2da21bbe3e0..38b4a9166ef 100644
--- a/src/sage/combinat/diagram.py
+++ b/src/sage/combinat/diagram.py
@@ -42,10 +42,10 @@
 
 class Diagram(ClonableArray, metaclass=InheritComparisonClasscallMetaclass):
     r"""
-    Combinatorial diagrams with positions indexed by rows in columns.
+    Combinatorial diagrams with positions indexed by rows and columns.
 
     The positions are indexed by rows and columns as in a matrix. For example,
-    a Ferrer's diagram is a diagram obtained from a partition
+    a Ferrers diagram is a diagram obtained from a partition
     `\lambda = (\lambda_0, \lambda_1, \ldots, \lambda_{\ell})`, where the
     cells are in rows `i` for `0 \leq i \leq \ell` and the cells in row `i`
     consist of `(i,j)` for `0 \leq j < \lambda_i`. In English notation, the
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ class Diagram(ClonableArray, metaclass=InheritComparisonClasscallMetaclass):
 
     EXAMPLES:
 
-    To create an arbirtrary diagram, pass a list of all cells::
+    To create an arbitrary diagram, pass a list of all cells::
 
         sage: from sage.combinat.diagram import Diagram
         sage: cells = [(0,0), (0,1), (1,0), (1,1), (4,4), (4,5), (4,6), (5,4), (7, 6)]
@@ -469,7 +469,7 @@ def check(self):
             sage: D.check()
 
         In the next two examples, a bad diagram is passed.
-        The first example fails because one cells is indexed by negative
+        The first example fails because one cell is indexed by negative
         integers::
 
             sage: D = Diagram([(0,0), (0,-3), (2,2), (2,4)])
diff --git a/src/sage/combinat/specht_module.py b/src/sage/combinat/specht_module.py
index 3a238c7eeb0..afd454b0dab 100644
--- a/src/sage/combinat/specht_module.py
+++ b/src/sage/combinat/specht_module.py
@@ -394,6 +394,15 @@ def specht_module_spanning_set(D, SGA=None):
         sage: specht_module_spanning_set([(0,0), (1,1), (2,1)], SGA)
         (() - (2,3), -(1,2) + (1,3,2), (1,2,3) - (1,3),
          -() + (2,3), -(1,2,3) + (1,3), (1,2) - (1,3,2))
+
+    TESTS:
+
+    Verify that diagrams bigger than the rank work::
+
+        sage: specht_module_spanning_set([(0,0), (3,5)])
+        ([1, 2], [2, 1])
+        sage: specht_module_spanning_set([(0,0), (5,3)])
+        ([1, 2], [2, 1])
     """
     n = len(D)
     if SGA is None:
@@ -401,10 +410,12 @@ def specht_module_spanning_set(D, SGA=None):
         SGA = SymmetricGroupAlgebra(QQ, n)
     elif SGA.group().rank() != n - 1:
         raise ValueError("the rank does not match the size of the diagram")
-    row_diagram = [set() for _ in range(n)]
-    col_diagram = [set() for _ in range(n)]
-    for i,cell in enumerate(D):
-        x,y = cell
+    nr = max((c[0] for c in D), default=0) + 1
+    nc = max((c[1] for c in D), default=0) + 1
+    row_diagram = [set() for _ in range(nr)]
+    col_diagram = [set() for _ in range(nc)]
+    for i, cell in enumerate(D):
+        x, y = cell
         row_diagram[x].add(i)
         col_diagram[y].add(i)
     # Construct the row and column stabilizer elements
@@ -412,17 +423,17 @@ def specht_module_spanning_set(D, SGA=None):
     col_stab = SGA.zero()
     B = SGA.basis()
     for w in B.keys():
-            # Remember that the permutation w is 1-based
-            row_perm = [set() for _ in range(n)]
-            col_perm = [set() for _ in range(n)]
-            for i,cell in enumerate(D):
-                    x,y = cell
-                    row_perm[x].add(w(i+1)-1)
-                    col_perm[y].add(w(i+1)-1)
-            if row_diagram == row_perm:
-                    row_stab += B[w]
-            if col_diagram == col_perm:
-                    col_stab += w.sign() * B[w]
+        # Remember that the permutation w is 1-based
+        row_perm = [set() for _ in range(nr)]
+        col_perm = [set() for _ in range(nc)]
+        for i, cell in enumerate(D):
+            x, y = cell
+            row_perm[x].add(w(i+1)-1)
+            col_perm[y].add(w(i+1)-1)
+        if row_diagram == row_perm:
+            row_stab += B[w]
+        if col_diagram == col_perm:
+            col_stab += w.sign() * B[w]
     gen = col_stab * row_stab
     return tuple([b * gen for b in B])