diff --git a/Documentation/git-var.txt b/Documentation/git-var.txt
index bb981822a..458f3e275 100644
--- a/Documentation/git-var.txt
+++ b/Documentation/git-var.txt
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ git-var - Show a git logical variable
 
 SYNOPSIS
 --------
-'git var' [ -l | <variable> ]
+'git var' ( -l | <variable> )
 
 DESCRIPTION
 -----------
diff --git a/builtin-var.c b/builtin-var.c
index 228051819..e6ee7bc0b 100644
--- a/builtin-var.c
+++ b/builtin-var.c
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "exec_cmd.h"
 
-static const char var_usage[] = "git var [-l | <variable>]";
+static const char var_usage[] = "git var (-l | <variable>)";
 
 static const char *editor(int flag)
 {