diff --git a/.github/hooks/commit-msg.bash b/.github/hooks/commit-msg.bash
index e0ce8cb22cd..4b4fe647b35 100755
--- a/.github/hooks/commit-msg.bash
+++ b/.github/hooks/commit-msg.bash
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ fi
 if [ ! -z "$third_line" ]; then
     if [[ "$third_line" =~ ^(refs|ref:) ]]; then
         echo -e "${red}Error: Third line should not start with 'refs' or 'ref:'${no_color}" >&2
-        echo -e "Use 'ref <issue link>', 'fixes <issue link>', or 'closes <issue link>' instead" >&2
+        echo -e "Use a supported keyword like 'ref', 'close', 'fixes', 'related to', or 'contributes to' followed by an issue link (or 'no ref')" >&2
         echo -e "${yellow}Press Enter to edit the message...${no_color}" >&2
         read < /dev/tty # Wait for Enter key press from the terminal
 
@@ -67,8 +67,9 @@ if [ ! -z "$third_line" ]; then
         # If fixed, the script will continue to the next checks
     fi
 
-    if ! [[ "$third_line" =~ ^(ref|fixes|closes)\ .*$ ]]; then
-        echo -e "${yellow}Warning: Third line should start with 'ref', 'fixes', or 'closes' followed by an issue link${no_color}" >&2
+    if ! [[ "$third_line" =~ ^(close|closes|closed|closing\ fix|fixes|fixed|fixing|resolve|resolves|resolved|resolving|complete|completes|completed|completing|ref|references|part\ of|related\ to|contributes\ to|towards)\ .*$ ]] \
+       && ! [[ "$third_line" == "no ref" ]]; then
+        echo -e "${yellow}Warning: Third line should start with a supported issue-link keyword (for example: 'ref', 'close', 'fixes', 'related to', or 'contributes to') or be 'no ref'${no_color}" >&2
     fi
 fi