diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index d5905d63..df362f96 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -208,10 +208,10 @@ release {
     failOnUnversionedFiles = true
     failOnUpdateNeeded = true
     revertOnFail = true
-    preCommitText = ''
-    preTagCommitMessage = '[Gradle Release Plugin] - pre tag commit: '
-    tagCommitMessage = '[Gradle Release Plugin] - creating tag: '
-    newVersionCommitMessage = '[Gradle Release Plugin] - new version commit: '
+    preCommitText = '[Gradle Release Plugin]'
+    preTagCommitMessage = 'pre tag commit: '
+    tagCommitMessage = 'creating tag: '
+    newVersionCommitMessage = 'new version commit: '
     tagTemplate = '${version}'
     versionPropertyFile = 'gradle.properties'
     versionProperties = []
diff --git a/src/main/groovy/net/researchgate/release/ReleaseExtension.groovy b/src/main/groovy/net/researchgate/release/ReleaseExtension.groovy
index 44a75259..835a6422 100644
--- a/src/main/groovy/net/researchgate/release/ReleaseExtension.groovy
+++ b/src/main/groovy/net/researchgate/release/ReleaseExtension.groovy
@@ -49,16 +49,16 @@ class ReleaseExtension {
     final Property<String> pushReleaseVersionBranch = project.objects.property(String.class)
 
     @Input
-    final Property<String> preCommitText = project.objects.property(String.class).convention('')
+    final Property<String> preCommitText = project.objects.property(String.class).convention('[Gradle Release Plugin]')
 
     @Input
-    final Property<String> preTagCommitMessage = project.objects.property(String.class).convention('[Gradle Release Plugin] - pre tag commit: ')
+    final Property<String> preTagCommitMessage = project.objects.property(String.class).convention('pre tag commit: ')
 
     @Input
-    final Property<String> tagCommitMessage = project.objects.property(String.class).convention('[Gradle Release Plugin] - creating tag: ')
+    final Property<String> tagCommitMessage = project.objects.property(String.class).convention('creating tag: ')
 
     @Input
-    final Property<String> newVersionCommitMessage = project.objects.property(String.class).convention('[Gradle Release Plugin] - new version commit: ')
+    final Property<String> newVersionCommitMessage = project.objects.property(String.class).convention('new version commit: ')
 
     @Input
     final Property<String> snapshotSuffix = project.objects.property(String.class).convention('-SNAPSHOT')
diff --git a/src/main/groovy/net/researchgate/release/tasks/CommitNewVersion.groovy b/src/main/groovy/net/researchgate/release/tasks/CommitNewVersion.groovy
index d6f489c6..faab79d5 100644
--- a/src/main/groovy/net/researchgate/release/tasks/CommitNewVersion.groovy
+++ b/src/main/groovy/net/researchgate/release/tasks/CommitNewVersion.groovy
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ class CommitNewVersion extends BaseReleaseTask {
     def commitNewVersion() {
         String message = extension.newVersionCommitMessage.get() + " '${tagName()}'."
         if (extension.preCommitText.get()) {
-            message = "${extension.preCommitText.get()} ${message}"
+            message = "${extension.preCommitText.get()} - ${message}"
         }
         getScmAdapter().commit(message)
     }
diff --git a/src/main/groovy/net/researchgate/release/tasks/CreateReleaseTag.groovy b/src/main/groovy/net/researchgate/release/tasks/CreateReleaseTag.groovy
index 48107eaa..41806f20 100644
--- a/src/main/groovy/net/researchgate/release/tasks/CreateReleaseTag.groovy
+++ b/src/main/groovy/net/researchgate/release/tasks/CreateReleaseTag.groovy
@@ -12,9 +12,9 @@ class CreateReleaseTag extends BaseReleaseTask {
 
     @TaskAction
     void createReleaseTag() {
-        def message = extension.tagCommitMessage.get() + " '${tagName()}'."
+        String message = extension.tagCommitMessage.get() + " '${tagName()}'."
         if (extension.preCommitText.get()) {
-            message = "${extension.preCommitText.get()} ${message}"
+            message = "${extension.preCommitText.get()} - ${message}"
         }
         scmAdapter.createReleaseTag(message)
     }
diff --git a/src/main/groovy/net/researchgate/release/tasks/PreTagCommit.groovy b/src/main/groovy/net/researchgate/release/tasks/PreTagCommit.groovy
index af4b77aa..26c18a77 100644
--- a/src/main/groovy/net/researchgate/release/tasks/PreTagCommit.groovy
+++ b/src/main/groovy/net/researchgate/release/tasks/PreTagCommit.groovy
@@ -22,8 +22,8 @@ class PreTagCommit extends BaseReleaseTask {
         if (projectAttributes.usesSnapshot || projectAttributes.versionModified || projectAttributes.propertiesFileCreated) {
             // should only be committed if the project was using a snapshot version.
             String message = extension.preTagCommitMessage.get() + " '${tagName()}'."
-            if (extension.preCommitText) {
-                message = "${extension.preCommitText.get()} ${message}"
+            if (extension.preCommitText.get()) {
+                message = "${extension.preCommitText.get()} - ${message}"
             }
             if (projectAttributes.propertiesFileCreated) {
                 scmAdapter.add(findPropertiesFile(project))
diff --git a/src/test/groovy/net/researchgate/release/GitReleasePluginTests.groovy b/src/test/groovy/net/researchgate/release/GitReleasePluginTests.groovy
index 275a60c0..32b868be 100644
--- a/src/test/groovy/net/researchgate/release/GitReleasePluginTests.groovy
+++ b/src/test/groovy/net/researchgate/release/GitReleasePluginTests.groovy
@@ -130,7 +130,8 @@ class GitReleasePluginTests extends Specification {
         executor.exec(['git', 'checkout', 'myBranch'], failOnStderr: false, directory: remoteRepo, env: [:])
         executor.exec(['git', 'reset', '--hard', 'HEAD'], failOnStderr: false, directory: remoteRepo, env: [:])
         then:
-        newestCommit.contains("Signed-off-by: Unit Test <unit@test>")
+//        newestCommit.contains("Signed-off-by: Unit Test <unit@test>")
+        newestCommit.contains("[Gradle Release Plugin] - new version commit:  '1.1'")
     }
 
     def 'accept empty string to ignore requireBranch'() {