git difference on parameter one dash and two dashes

Question

in git when I specify a parameter, ie

git log -n 5

what is the difference of using a parameter with one dash \"-\" as opposed to

Answer 1

Git follows the GNU-adjusted POSIX conventions for command line arguments. Short, one letter options start with a single dash, long options start with two.

^{Note that the linked page claims that this is the POSIX ("unix") standard, but that's not true. --option is a format pioneered by GNU.}