FWIW, I don't like 2, I don't like the irregularity in the invocation: $ git branch * master $ git BRANCH git: 'BRANCH' is not a git command. See 'git --help'. $ git config alias.br 'branch -v' $ git br * master 51c785c initial $ git BR * master 51c785c initial There is also this: $ git branch * master $ git BRANCH git: 'BRANCH' is not a git command. See 'git --help'. $ git config alias.branch 'branch -v' $ git branch * master $ git BRANCH * master 51c785c initial