It was not clear from the "description" section of git-branch(1) that using a <pattern> meant that you _had_ to use the --list option. Let's clarify that, and while we're at it, reword some clunky and ambiguous sentences. Signed-off-by: Jeff King <peff@xxxxxxxx> --- Documentation/git-branch.txt | 16 +++++++++------- 1 file changed, 9 insertions(+), 7 deletions(-) diff --git a/Documentation/git-branch.txt b/Documentation/git-branch.txt index 45a225e..01aa87f 100644 --- a/Documentation/git-branch.txt +++ b/Documentation/git-branch.txt @@ -22,13 +22,15 @@ DESCRIPTION DESCRIPTION ----------- -With no arguments, existing branches are listed and the current branch will -be highlighted with an asterisk. Option `-r` causes the remote-tracking -branches to be listed, and option `-a` shows both. This list mode is also -activated by the `--list` option (see below). -<pattern> restricts the output to matching branches, the pattern is a shell -wildcard (i.e., matched using fnmatch(3)). -Multiple patterns may be given; if any of them matches, the branch is shown. +If `--list` is given, or if there are no non-option arguments, existing +branches are listed; the current branch will be highlighted with an +asterisk. Option `-r` causes the remote-tracking branches to be listed, +and option `-a` shows both local and remote branches. If a `<pattern>` +is given, it is used as a shell wildcard to restrict the output to +matching branches. If multiple patterns are given, a branch is shown if +any it is matched by any of the patterns. Note that when providing a +`<pattern>`, you must use `--list`; otherwise the command is interpreted +as branch creation. With `--contains`, shows only the branches that contain the named commit (in other words, the branches whose tip commits are descendants of the -- 1.8.1.2.5.g1cb3f73 -- To unsubscribe from this list: send the line "unsubscribe git" in the body of a message to majordomo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx More majordomo info at http://vger.kernel.org/majordomo-info.html