diff --git a/docs/packaging/creating-a-new-package.md b/docs/packaging/creating-a-new-package.md
index f5b4fc04a..9c019ba0a 100644
--- a/docs/packaging/creating-a-new-package.md
+++ b/docs/packaging/creating-a-new-package.md
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ There should be a summary line (with the package name), a blank line, and then t
 Here is an example in our standard format (make sure to check the box in the checklist):
 
 ```
-tree: initial inclusion in the repository
+tree: Add at v2.1.1
 
 **Summary**
 
diff --git a/docs/packaging/updating-an-existing-package.md b/docs/packaging/updating-an-existing-package.md
index 7c493c342..b91303fe6 100644
--- a/docs/packaging/updating-an-existing-package.md
+++ b/docs/packaging/updating-an-existing-package.md
@@ -112,9 +112,17 @@ If all looks well, commit your changes.
 git commit
 ```
 
-### Commit message format for updated / bumped packages
+## Commit message format
 
-There should be a meaningful summary line (which starts with the package name), a blank line, and then the rest of the commit message.
+With the switch to a single large package git repository, having a regular, easy-to-read, and standardized commit message format helps enable quick and efficient "at-a-glance" reading of git commit messages for packagers and Staff alike.
+
+Each commit message should consist of a meaningful summary line (which starts with the package name), a blank line, and then the rest of the commit message body.
+
+Note that `[NFC]` (listed in an example below) is an abbreviation for "No Functional Change".
+
+### Package update
+
+The following guidelines apply to the commit message body:
 
 - Bullet point lists should start with a dash.
 - Include a changelog with a brief list of updates from the upstream release notes, with no links or issue numbers.
@@ -167,6 +175,19 @@ Full release notes:
 - [ ] Package was built and tested against unstable
 ```
 
+### Other commit message format examples
+
+In the cases where you are not updating a package to a new version, but simply applying a patch or fixing an existing version, the following commit messages are considered suitable:
+
+- Add the `homepage` metadata key:
+  - `package: Add homepage`
+- Fix a packaging issue (including adding a patch to fix the package)
+  - `package: Fix (...)`
+- Updating a README, [monitoring.yml file](monitoring.yml.md) or other stuff that does not directly _change_ the package, meaning the package release number didn't need a bump:
+  - `package: [NFC] Add README.md and monitoring.yml`
+
+As stated previously, `[NFC]` is an abbreviation of "No Functional Change".
+
 For more information on suitable commit messages, please check the [tooling central documentation](https://github.com/solus-project/tooling-central/blob/master/README.rst#using-git).
 
 Next, you'll [submit a pull request for review](submitting-a-pull-request.md).