> check “git status” and read every line carefully.

Seconded, but I'd go even further. Run and read git status before and after running any git command until you get comfortable enough with git to where you can predict the output without running it.

Additionally you can go get git prompt[1] installed so you always know your git status at a glance. Saves a lot of typing in any case.

As a last suggestion I'd say go read git-scm.com[2]. It has the excellently written man pages for looking up what a command does and which flags it takes. It also has an amazingly written free ebook explaining git top-to-bottom. After reading that you'll be a git wizard compared to your peers.

[1] https://github.com/git/git/blob/master/contrib/completion/gi... [2] https://git-scm.com/