diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING b/CONTRIBUTING
index 4f3ac48..d7fdc8e 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING
@@ -90,26 +90,44 @@ notice:
  *     USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE SOFTWARE.
  */
 
-When writing code, make sure lines never exceed 80 characters in width when
-using four-character-wide indentation steps.
+Make sure lines never exceed 80 columns in width when using four-character
+indentation steps. This helps contributors with smaller screens, those using
+side-by-side editor windows or panes, and those who have no text wrapping in
+their editor or terminal.
 
-For usage text and help messages, please do not implement a -h option. Just
-print usage information when any erroneous option is specified. Follow the
-NetBSD style guide for usage text output format [1].
+For usage text and help messages, do not implement a -h option. Instead, print
+usage information when any erroneous option is specified. Follow the NetBSD
+style guide for the usage text’s output format [1].
 
-If committing a new source file for a utility, format the commit message like
-this:
+[1] <http://cvsweb.netbsd.org/bsdweb.cgi/~checkout~/src/share/misc/style>
 
-$ git commit -m 'tool(1): <information>'
+If committing a new source file, format the commit message following these
+guidelines:
+
+$ git commit -m 'tool(1): add feature x'
 
 If committing a new library or header file:
 
-$ git commit -m 'library(1): <information>'
+$ git commit -m 'library(3): fix overflow'
+$ git commit -m 'header.h(3): add header.h(3)'
+
+If committing a new manual page:
+
+$ git commit -m 'tool.1: add author details'
 
 If modifying some other file or directory:
 
-$ git commit -m 'README: clarification'
-$ git commit -m 'tests: posix: fixed bug #47'
-$ git commit -m 'docs: tool(1): added author information'
+$ git commit -m 'README: clarify'
+$ git commit -m 'tests/posix: fix bug #47'
 
-etc.
+For multiple of these:
+
+$ git commit -m 'Makefile, tool(1): add tool(1)'
+$ git commit -m 'tool(1): add tool(1); library(3), library.3: add library(3)'
+$ git commit -m 'tool(1): fix #42 & add feature x'
+
+Commit messages should be written in the present tense.
+
+--
+This work © 2023–2024 by Emma Tebibyte is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. To view a
+copy of this license, visit <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/>