diff --git a/git_fleximod/cli.py b/git_fleximod/cli.py
index bc099fcbc0..9034ac2d09 100644
--- a/git_fleximod/cli.py
+++ b/git_fleximod/cli.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ def find_root_dir(filename=".gitmodules"):
 
 def get_parser():
     description = """
-    %(prog)s manages checking out groups of gitsubmodules with addtional support for Earth System Models
+    %(prog)s manages checking out groups of gitsubmodules with additional support for Earth System Models
     """
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(
         description=description, formatter_class=argparse.RawDescriptionHelpFormatter
diff --git a/git_fleximod/git_fleximod.py b/git_fleximod/git_fleximod.py
index ca5f90622d..e1b8f484a5 100755
--- a/git_fleximod/git_fleximod.py
+++ b/git_fleximod/git_fleximod.py
@@ -304,6 +304,7 @@ def submodules_status(gitmodules, root_dir, toplevel=False):
                 ahash = result[0][1:]
             hhash = None
             atag = None
+            
             needsupdate += 1
             if not toplevel and level:
                 continue
@@ -316,22 +317,23 @@ def submodules_status(gitmodules, root_dir, toplevel=False):
                     hhash = htag.split()[0]
                 if hhash and atag:
                     break
+            optional = " (optional)" if required and "Optional" in required else ""
             if tag and (ahash == hhash or atag == tag):
-                print(f"e {name:>20} not checked out, aligned at tag {tag}")
+                print(f"e {name:>20} not checked out, aligned at tag {tag}{optional}")
             elif tag:
                 ahash = rootgit.git_operation(
                     "submodule", "status", "{}".format(path)
                 ).rstrip()
                 ahash = ahash[1 : len(tag) + 1]
                 if tag == ahash:
-                    print(f"e {name:>20} not checked out, aligned at hash {ahash}")
+                    print(f"e {name:>20} not checked out, aligned at hash {ahash}{optional}")
                 else:
                     print(
-                        f"e {name:>20} not checked out, out of sync at tag {atag}, expected tag is {tag}"
+                        f"e {name:>20} not checked out, out of sync at tag {atag}, expected tag is {tag}{optional}"
                     )
                     testfails += 1
             else:
-                print(f"e {name:>20} has no fxtag defined in .gitmodules")
+                print(f"e {name:>20} has no fxtag defined in .gitmodules{optional}")
                 testfails += 1
         else:
             with utils.pushd(newpath):
diff --git a/git_fleximod/utils.py b/git_fleximod/utils.py
index 7cc1de38cc..1a2d5ccf2f 100644
--- a/git_fleximod/utils.py
+++ b/git_fleximod/utils.py
@@ -241,12 +241,12 @@ def _hanging_msg(working_directory, command):
 has taken {hanging_sec} seconds. It may be hanging.
 
 The command will continue to run, but you may want to abort
-manage_externals with ^C and investigate. A possible cause of hangs is
-when svn or git require authentication to access a private
-repository. On some systems, svn and git requests for authentication
-information will not be displayed to the user. In this case, the program
-will appear to hang. Ensure you can run svn and git manually and access
-all repositories without entering your authentication information.
+git-fleximod with ^C and investigate. A possible cause of hangs is git
+requires authentication to access a private repository. On some
+systems, git requests for authentication information will not
+be displayed to the user. In this case, the program will appear to
+hang. Ensure you can run git manually and access all
+repositories without entering your authentication information.
 
 """.format(
             command=command,
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index 1cc008eb1d..65ee85d23d 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ def logger():
      "submodule_name": "test_optional",
      "status1" : "test_optional MPIserial_2.5.0-3-gd82ce7c is out of sync with .gitmodules MPIserial_2.4.0",
      "status2" : "test_optional at tag MPIserial_2.4.0",
-     "status3" : "test_optional not checked out, out of sync at tag None, expected tag is MPIserial_2.4.0",
+     "status3" : "test_optional not checked out, out of sync at tag None, expected tag is MPIserial_2.4.0 (optional)",
      "status4" : "test_optional at tag MPIserial_2.4.0",
      "gitmodules_content": """
      [submodule "test_optional"]