### Elements of a Good Commit Message 1. **Summarize the change succinctly in the header**: Aim for about 50 characters if possible. It's okay to exceed this limit if necessary for clarity, but try to keep it concise. 2. **Use the imperative mood in the header**: Think of each commit as completing the sentence, "If applied, this commit will..." 3. **Add a detailed description if necessary**: Use the body of the commit message to explain "what" changes have been made and "why" they were necessary, especially if the change is complex or not immediately apparent.