-t <file>::
--template=<file>::
- Use the contents of the given file as the initial version
- of the commit message. The editor is invoked and you can
- make subsequent changes. If a message is specified using
- the `-m` or `-F` options, this option has no effect. This
- overrides the `commit.template` configuration variable.
+ When editing the commit message, start the editor with the
+ contents in the given file. The `commit.template` configuration
+ variable is often used to give this option implicitly to the
+ command. This mechanism can be used by projects that want to
+ guide participants with some hints on what to write in the message
+ in what order. If the user exits the editor without editing the
+ message, the commit is aborted. This has no effect when a message
+ is given by other means, e.g. with the `-m` or `-F` options.
-s::
--signoff::