[tom_mellior]

> And the subject line should complete the sentence "If this commit is applied, it will...".

I kind of do it like this. Others use subjects that complete the sentence "This commit...", so their subjects will start with "adds", "fixes", etc. Though that adds one or two extra characters!

[ticmasta]

Like many of the pedantic things we like to argue about, I think teams/projects should choose consistency over prescription.

[bch]

I think that’s opposing incorrect things, in this case. I think the spirit of The Law should be clear and kept alive. Whether to “[If applied, this commit will] <commit msg here>” or “[This commit]<verb> <work description>” is a tiny matter of difference when the point is clear, straightforward, complete commit msgs of logically discreet-and-coherent commits. Both the above formats would fit the bill, and I think I’d be thrilled if my biggest issue w code commits amongst my team were only these two slightly different formats.

[reilly3000]

Consistency is just prescription by precedence