diff --git a/crates/nu-parser/src/hir/baseline_parse/tests.rs b/crates/nu-parser/src/hir/baseline_parse/tests.rs
index 06bd0de328..2ace9e19bb 100644
--- a/crates/nu-parser/src/hir/baseline_parse/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-parser/src/hir/baseline_parse/tests.rs
@@ -183,7 +183,11 @@ fn with_empty_context(source: &Text, callback: impl FnOnce(ExpandContext)) {
                 SyntaxShape::Pattern,
                 "a path to get the directory contents from",
             )
-            .switch("full", "list all available columns for each entry"),
+            .switch(
+                "full",
+                "list all available columns for each entry",
+                Some('f'),
+            ),
     );
 
     callback(ExpandContext::new(Box::new(registry), source, None))
diff --git a/crates/nu-parser/src/parse/token_tree.rs b/crates/nu-parser/src/parse/token_tree.rs
index 7166629f87..ba3c502540 100644
--- a/crates/nu-parser/src/parse/token_tree.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-parser/src/parse/token_tree.rs
@@ -361,9 +361,20 @@ impl SpannedToken {
         }
     }
 
-    pub(crate) fn as_flag(&self, value: &str, source: &Text) -> Option<Flag> {
+    pub(crate) fn as_flag(&self, value: &str, short: Option<char>, source: &Text) -> Option<Flag> {
         match self.unspanned() {
-            Token::Flag(flag @ Flag { .. }) if value == flag.name().slice(source) => Some(*flag),
+            Token::Flag(flag @ Flag { .. }) => {
+                let name = flag.name().slice(source);
+                let is_long = flag.kind == FlagKind::Longhand && value == name;
+                let is_short = flag.kind == FlagKind::Shorthand
+                    && short.is_some()
+                    && short == name.chars().nth(0);
+                if is_long || is_short {
+                    Some(*flag)
+                } else {
+                    None
+                }
+            }
             _ => None,
         }
     }
diff --git a/crates/nu-parser/src/parse_command.rs b/crates/nu-parser/src/parse_command.rs
index 47edbf2664..2a2ee1b58a 100644
--- a/crates/nu-parser/src/parse_command.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-parser/src/parse_command.rs
@@ -31,8 +31,8 @@ pub fn parse_command_tail(
         trace!(target: "nu::parse::trace_remaining", "looking for {} : {:?}", name, kind);
 
         match &kind.0 {
-            NamedType::Switch => {
-                let switch = extract_switch(name, tail);
+            NamedType::Switch(s) => {
+                let switch = extract_switch(name, *s, tail);
 
                 match switch {
                     None => named.insert_switch(name, None),
@@ -45,8 +45,8 @@ pub fn parse_command_tail(
                     }
                 }
             }
-            NamedType::Mandatory(syntax_type) => {
-                match extract_mandatory(config, name, tail, command_span) {
+            NamedType::Mandatory(s, syntax_type) => {
+                match extract_mandatory(config, name, *s, tail, command_span) {
                     Err(err) => {
                         // remember this error, but continue coloring
                         found_error = Some(err);
@@ -71,8 +71,8 @@ pub fn parse_command_tail(
                     }
                 }
             }
-            NamedType::Optional(syntax_type) => {
-                match extract_optional(name, tail) {
+            NamedType::Optional(s, syntax_type) => {
+                match extract_optional(name, *s, tail) {
                     Err(err) => {
                         // remember this error, but continue coloring
                         found_error = Some(err);
@@ -270,10 +270,14 @@ fn expand_spaced_expr<
 
 fn extract_switch(
     name: &str,
+    short: Option<char>,
     tokens: &mut hir::TokensIterator<'_>,
 ) -> Option<(usize, Spanned<Flag>)> {
     let source = tokens.source();
-    let switch = tokens.extract(|t| t.as_flag(name, &source).map(|flag| flag.spanned(t.span())));
+    let switch = tokens.extract(|t| {
+        t.as_flag(name, short, &source)
+            .map(|flag| flag.spanned(t.span()))
+    });
 
     match switch {
         None => None,
@@ -287,11 +291,15 @@ fn extract_switch(
 fn extract_mandatory(
     config: &Signature,
     name: &str,
+    short: Option<char>,
     tokens: &mut hir::TokensIterator<'_>,
     span: Span,
 ) -> Result<(usize, Spanned<Flag>), ParseError> {
     let source = tokens.source();
-    let flag = tokens.extract(|t| t.as_flag(name, &source).map(|flag| flag.spanned(t.span())));
+    let flag = tokens.extract(|t| {
+        t.as_flag(name, short, &source)
+            .map(|flag| flag.spanned(t.span()))
+    });
 
     match flag {
         None => Err(ParseError::argument_error(
@@ -308,10 +316,14 @@ fn extract_mandatory(
 
 fn extract_optional(
     name: &str,
+    short: Option<char>,
     tokens: &mut hir::TokensIterator<'_>,
 ) -> Result<Option<(usize, Spanned<Flag>)>, ParseError> {
     let source = tokens.source();
-    let flag = tokens.extract(|t| t.as_flag(name, &source).map(|flag| flag.spanned(t.span())));
+    let flag = tokens.extract(|t| {
+        t.as_flag(name, short, &source)
+            .map(|flag| flag.spanned(t.span()))
+    });
 
     match flag {
         None => Ok(None),
diff --git a/crates/nu-protocol/src/signature.rs b/crates/nu-protocol/src/signature.rs
index 5697632879..7efe43583f 100644
--- a/crates/nu-protocol/src/signature.rs
+++ b/crates/nu-protocol/src/signature.rs
@@ -7,18 +7,28 @@ use serde::{Deserialize, Serialize};
 /// The types of named parameter that a command can have
 #[derive(Debug, Serialize, Deserialize, Clone)]
 pub enum NamedType {
-    /// A flag without any associated argument. eg) `foo --bar`
-    Switch,
-    /// A mandatory flag, with associated argument. eg) `foo --required xyz`
-    Mandatory(SyntaxShape),
-    /// An optional flag, with associated argument. eg) `foo --optional abc`
-    Optional(SyntaxShape),
+    /// A flag without any associated argument. eg) `foo --bar, foo -b`
+    Switch(Option<char>),
+    /// A mandatory flag, with associated argument. eg) `foo --required xyz, foo -r xyz`
+    Mandatory(Option<char>, SyntaxShape),
+    /// An optional flag, with associated argument. eg) `foo --optional abc, foo -o abc`
+    Optional(Option<char>, SyntaxShape),
+}
+
+impl NamedType {
+    pub fn get_short(&self) -> Option<char> {
+        match self {
+            NamedType::Switch(s) => *s,
+            NamedType::Mandatory(s, _) => *s,
+            NamedType::Optional(s, _) => *s,
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 /// The type of positional arguments
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Serialize, Deserialize)]
 pub enum PositionalType {
-    /// A mandatory postional argument with the expected shape of the value
+    /// A mandatory positional argument with the expected shape of the value
     Mandatory(String, SyntaxShape),
     /// An optional positional argument with the expected shape of the value
     Optional(String, SyntaxShape),
@@ -120,7 +130,10 @@ impl Signature {
     pub fn allowed(&self) -> Vec<String> {
         let mut allowed = indexmap::IndexSet::new();
 
-        for (name, _) in &self.named {
+        for (name, (t, _)) in &self.named {
+            if let Some(c) = t.get_short() {
+                allowed.insert(format!("-{}", c));
+            }
             allowed.insert(format!("--{}", name));
         }
 
@@ -157,14 +170,14 @@ impl PrettyDebugWithSource for Signature {
 }
 
 impl Signature {
-    /// Create a new command signagure with the given name
+    /// Create a new command signature with the given name
     pub fn new(name: impl Into<String>) -> Signature {
         Signature {
             name: name.into(),
             usage: String::new(),
             positional: vec![],
             rest_positional: None,
-            named: indexmap::indexmap! {"help".into() => (NamedType::Switch, "Display this help message".into())},
+            named: indexmap::indexmap! {"help".into() => (NamedType::Switch(Some('h')), "Display this help message".into())},
             is_filter: false,
             yields: None,
             input: None,
@@ -218,9 +231,16 @@ impl Signature {
         name: impl Into<String>,
         ty: impl Into<SyntaxShape>,
         desc: impl Into<String>,
+        short: Option<char>,
     ) -> Signature {
-        self.named
-            .insert(name.into(), (NamedType::Optional(ty.into()), desc.into()));
+        let s = short.and_then(|c| {
+            debug_assert!(!self.get_shorts().contains(&c));
+            Some(c)
+        });
+        self.named.insert(
+            name.into(),
+            (NamedType::Optional(s, ty.into()), desc.into()),
+        );
 
         self
     }
@@ -231,17 +251,35 @@ impl Signature {
         name: impl Into<String>,
         ty: impl Into<SyntaxShape>,
         desc: impl Into<String>,
+        short: Option<char>,
     ) -> Signature {
-        self.named
-            .insert(name.into(), (NamedType::Mandatory(ty.into()), desc.into()));
+        let s = short.and_then(|c| {
+            debug_assert!(!self.get_shorts().contains(&c));
+            Some(c)
+        });
+
+        self.named.insert(
+            name.into(),
+            (NamedType::Mandatory(s, ty.into()), desc.into()),
+        );
 
         self
     }
 
     /// Add a switch to the signature
-    pub fn switch(mut self, name: impl Into<String>, desc: impl Into<String>) -> Signature {
+    pub fn switch(
+        mut self,
+        name: impl Into<String>,
+        desc: impl Into<String>,
+        short: Option<char>,
+    ) -> Signature {
+        let s = short.and_then(|c| {
+            debug_assert!(!self.get_shorts().contains(&c));
+            Some(c)
+        });
+
         self.named
-            .insert(name.into(), (NamedType::Switch, desc.into()));
+            .insert(name.into(), (NamedType::Switch(s), desc.into()));
         self
     }
 
@@ -268,4 +306,15 @@ impl Signature {
         self.input = Some(ty);
         self
     }
+
+    /// Get list of the short-hand flags
+    pub fn get_shorts(&self) -> Vec<char> {
+        let mut shorts = Vec::new();
+        for (_, (t, _)) in &self.named {
+            if let Some(c) = t.get_short() {
+                shorts.push(c);
+            }
+        }
+        shorts
+    }
 }
diff --git a/crates/nu_plugin_binaryview/src/nu/mod.rs b/crates/nu_plugin_binaryview/src/nu/mod.rs
index 01a119eb6e..091cc0c257 100644
--- a/crates/nu_plugin_binaryview/src/nu/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu_plugin_binaryview/src/nu/mod.rs
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ impl Plugin for BinaryView {
     fn config(&mut self) -> Result<Signature, ShellError> {
         Ok(Signature::build("binaryview")
             .desc("Autoview of binary data.")
-            .switch("lores", "use low resolution output mode"))
+            .switch("lores", "use low resolution output mode", Some('l')))
     }
 
     fn sink(&mut self, call_info: CallInfo, input: Vec<Value>) {
diff --git a/crates/nu_plugin_fetch/src/nu/mod.rs b/crates/nu_plugin_fetch/src/nu/mod.rs
index a4ae3b55c2..55857a79be 100644
--- a/crates/nu_plugin_fetch/src/nu/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu_plugin_fetch/src/nu/mod.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ impl Plugin for Fetch {
                 SyntaxShape::Path,
                 "the URL to fetch the contents from",
             )
-            .switch("raw", "fetch contents as text rather than a table")
+            .switch("raw", "fetch contents as text rather than a table", Some('r'))
             .filter())
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu_plugin_inc/src/nu/mod.rs b/crates/nu_plugin_inc/src/nu/mod.rs
index 64622374b6..f3b8c5eb6b 100644
--- a/crates/nu_plugin_inc/src/nu/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu_plugin_inc/src/nu/mod.rs
@@ -16,9 +16,21 @@ impl Plugin for Inc {
     fn config(&mut self) -> Result<Signature, ShellError> {
         Ok(Signature::build("inc")
             .desc("Increment a value or version. Optionally use the column of a table.")
-            .switch("major", "increment the major version (eg 1.2.1 -> 2.0.0)")
-            .switch("minor", "increment the minor version (eg 1.2.1 -> 1.3.0)")
-            .switch("patch", "increment the patch version (eg 1.2.1 -> 1.2.2)")
+            .switch(
+                "major",
+                "increment the major version (eg 1.2.1 -> 2.0.0)",
+                Some('M'),
+            )
+            .switch(
+                "minor",
+                "increment the minor version (eg 1.2.1 -> 1.3.0)",
+                Some('m'),
+            )
+            .switch(
+                "patch",
+                "increment the patch version (eg 1.2.1 -> 1.2.2)",
+                Some('p'),
+            )
             .rest(SyntaxShape::ColumnPath, "the column(s) to update")
             .filter())
     }
diff --git a/crates/nu_plugin_post/src/nu/mod.rs b/crates/nu_plugin_post/src/nu/mod.rs
index 7318f060b4..20dbda0cdd 100644
--- a/crates/nu_plugin_post/src/nu/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu_plugin_post/src/nu/mod.rs
@@ -12,23 +12,35 @@ impl Plugin for Post {
             .desc("Post content to a url and retrieve data as a table if possible.")
             .required("path", SyntaxShape::Any, "the URL to post to")
             .required("body", SyntaxShape::Any, "the contents of the post body")
-            .named("user", SyntaxShape::Any, "the username when authenticating")
+            .named(
+                "user",
+                SyntaxShape::Any,
+                "the username when authenticating",
+                Some('u'),
+            )
             .named(
                 "password",
                 SyntaxShape::Any,
                 "the password when authenticating",
+                Some('p'),
             )
             .named(
                 "content-type",
                 SyntaxShape::Any,
                 "the MIME type of content to post",
+                Some('t'),
             )
             .named(
                 "content-length",
                 SyntaxShape::Any,
                 "the length of the content being posted",
+                Some('l'),
+            )
+            .switch(
+                "raw",
+                "return values as a string instead of a table",
+                Some('r'),
             )
-            .switch("raw", "return values as a string instead of a table")
             .filter())
     }
 
diff --git a/crates/nu_plugin_str/src/nu/mod.rs b/crates/nu_plugin_str/src/nu/mod.rs
index bbde92604b..c74c821458 100644
--- a/crates/nu_plugin_str/src/nu/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/nu_plugin_str/src/nu/mod.rs
@@ -15,19 +15,26 @@ impl Plugin for Str {
     fn config(&mut self) -> Result<Signature, ShellError> {
         Ok(Signature::build("str")
             .desc("Apply string function. Optional use the column of a table")
-            .switch("downcase", "convert string to lowercase")
-            .switch("upcase", "convert string to uppercase")
-            .switch("to-int", "convert string to integer")
-            .named("replace", SyntaxShape::String, "replaces the string")
+            .switch("downcase", "convert string to lowercase", Some('d'))
+            .switch("upcase", "convert string to uppercase", Some('U'))
+            .switch("to-int", "convert string to integer", Some('i'))
+            .named(
+                "replace",
+                SyntaxShape::String,
+                "replaces the string",
+                Some('r'),
+            )
             .named(
                 "find-replace",
                 SyntaxShape::Any,
                 "finds and replaces [pattern replacement]",
+                Some('f'),
             )
             .named(
                 "substring",
                 SyntaxShape::String,
                 "convert string to portion of original, requires \"start,end\"",
+                Some('s'),
             )
             .rest(SyntaxShape::ColumnPath, "the column(s) to convert")
             .filter())
diff --git a/src/commands/config.rs b/src/commands/config.rs
index dd9244b41a..59ce1ed44b 100644
--- a/src/commands/config.rs
+++ b/src/commands/config.rs
@@ -31,21 +31,34 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for Config {
                 "load",
                 SyntaxShape::Path,
                 "load the config from the path give",
+                Some('l'),
             )
             .named(
                 "set",
                 SyntaxShape::Any,
                 "set a value in the config, eg) --set [key value]",
+                Some('s'),
             )
             .named(
                 "set_into",
                 SyntaxShape::Member,
                 "sets a variable from values in the pipeline",
+                Some('i'),
             )
-            .named("get", SyntaxShape::Any, "get a value from the config")
-            .named("remove", SyntaxShape::Any, "remove a value from the config")
-            .switch("clear", "clear the config")
-            .switch("path", "return the path to the config file")
+            .named(
+                "get",
+                SyntaxShape::Any,
+                "get a value from the config",
+                Some('g'),
+            )
+            .named(
+                "remove",
+                SyntaxShape::Any,
+                "remove a value from the config",
+                Some('r'),
+            )
+            .switch("clear", "clear the config", Some('c'))
+            .switch("path", "return the path to the config file", Some('p'))
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
diff --git a/src/commands/cp.rs b/src/commands/cp.rs
index 58457431a6..1bd04040d4 100644
--- a/src/commands/cp.rs
+++ b/src/commands/cp.rs
@@ -24,7 +24,11 @@ impl PerItemCommand for Cpy {
         Signature::build("cp")
             .required("src", SyntaxShape::Pattern, "the place to copy from")
             .required("dst", SyntaxShape::Path, "the place to copy to")
-            .switch("recursive", "copy recursively through subdirectories")
+            .switch(
+                "recursive",
+                "copy recursively through subdirectories",
+                Some('r'),
+            )
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
diff --git a/src/commands/date.rs b/src/commands/date.rs
index b559821fa2..45b730bd5c 100644
--- a/src/commands/date.rs
+++ b/src/commands/date.rs
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for Date {
 
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
         Signature::build("date")
-            .switch("utc", "use universal time (UTC)")
-            .switch("local", "use the local time")
+            .switch("utc", "use universal time (UTC)", Some('u'))
+            .switch("local", "use the local time", Some('l'))
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
diff --git a/src/commands/debug.rs b/src/commands/debug.rs
index a783d81767..63e09c3f91 100644
--- a/src/commands/debug.rs
+++ b/src/commands/debug.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for Debug {
     }
 
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
-        Signature::build("debug").switch("raw", "Prints the raw value representation.")
+        Signature::build("debug").switch("raw", "Prints the raw value representation.", Some('r'))
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
diff --git a/src/commands/du.rs b/src/commands/du.rs
index ecd08edfa6..2b1c39e4fc 100644
--- a/src/commands/du.rs
+++ b/src/commands/du.rs
@@ -40,14 +40,33 @@ impl PerItemCommand for Du {
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
         Signature::build(NAME)
             .optional("path", SyntaxShape::Pattern, "starting directory")
-            .switch("all", "Output File sizes as well as directory sizes")
-            .switch("deref", "Dereference symlinks to their targets for size")
-            .named("exclude", SyntaxShape::Pattern, "Exclude these file names")
-            .named("max-depth", SyntaxShape::Int, "Directory recursion limit")
+            .switch(
+                "all",
+                "Output File sizes as well as directory sizes",
+                Some('a'),
+            )
+            .switch(
+                "deref",
+                "Dereference symlinks to their targets for size",
+                Some('r'),
+            )
+            .named(
+                "exclude",
+                SyntaxShape::Pattern,
+                "Exclude these file names",
+                Some('x'),
+            )
+            .named(
+                "max-depth",
+                SyntaxShape::Int,
+                "Directory recursion limit",
+                Some('d'),
+            )
             .named(
                 "min-size",
                 SyntaxShape::Int,
                 "Exclude files below this size",
+                Some('m'),
             )
     }
 
diff --git a/src/commands/evaluate_by.rs b/src/commands/evaluate_by.rs
index 81831cd1c3..b8969ee230 100644
--- a/src/commands/evaluate_by.rs
+++ b/src/commands/evaluate_by.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for EvaluateBy {
             "evaluate_with",
             SyntaxShape::String,
             "the name of the column to evaluate by",
+            Some('w'),
         )
     }
 
diff --git a/src/commands/exit.rs b/src/commands/exit.rs
index fc22502ebc..a775116777 100644
--- a/src/commands/exit.rs
+++ b/src/commands/exit.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for Exit {
     }
 
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
-        Signature::build("exit").switch("now", "exit out of the shell immediately")
+        Signature::build("exit").switch("now", "exit out of the shell immediately", Some('n'))
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
diff --git a/src/commands/from_csv.rs b/src/commands/from_csv.rs
index fb821d7363..80439b9178 100644
--- a/src/commands/from_csv.rs
+++ b/src/commands/from_csv.rs
@@ -23,8 +23,13 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for FromCSV {
                 "separator",
                 SyntaxShape::String,
                 "a character to separate columns, defaults to ','",
+                Some('s'),
+            )
+            .switch(
+                "headerless",
+                "don't treat the first row as column names",
+                None,
             )
-            .switch("headerless", "don't treat the first row as column names")
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
diff --git a/src/commands/from_json.rs b/src/commands/from_json.rs
index ea06d1ebf3..75e9d0b3e3 100644
--- a/src/commands/from_json.rs
+++ b/src/commands/from_json.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,11 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for FromJSON {
     }
 
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
-        Signature::build("from-json").switch("objects", "treat each line as a separate value")
+        Signature::build("from-json").switch(
+            "objects",
+            "treat each line as a separate value",
+            Some('o'),
+        )
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
diff --git a/src/commands/from_ods.rs b/src/commands/from_ods.rs
index 0f1910250f..118a86b7c9 100644
--- a/src/commands/from_ods.rs
+++ b/src/commands/from_ods.rs
@@ -19,8 +19,11 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for FromODS {
     }
 
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
-        Signature::build("from-ods")
-            .switch("headerless", "don't treat the first row as column names")
+        Signature::build("from-ods").switch(
+            "headerless",
+            "don't treat the first row as column names",
+            None,
+        )
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
diff --git a/src/commands/from_ssv.rs b/src/commands/from_ssv.rs
index 7b8d870203..a29b12a9ad 100644
--- a/src/commands/from_ssv.rs
+++ b/src/commands/from_ssv.rs
@@ -27,12 +27,17 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for FromSSV {
 
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
         Signature::build(STRING_REPRESENTATION)
-            .switch("headerless", "don't treat the first row as column names")
-            .switch("aligned-columns", "assume columns are aligned")
+            .switch(
+                "headerless",
+                "don't treat the first row as column names",
+                None,
+            )
+            .switch("aligned-columns", "assume columns are aligned", Some('a'))
             .named(
                 "minimum-spaces",
                 SyntaxShape::Int,
-                "the mininum spaces to separate columns",
+                "the minimum spaces to separate columns",
+                Some('m'),
             )
     }
 
diff --git a/src/commands/from_tsv.rs b/src/commands/from_tsv.rs
index c4807dd912..425bf302dd 100644
--- a/src/commands/from_tsv.rs
+++ b/src/commands/from_tsv.rs
@@ -17,8 +17,11 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for FromTSV {
     }
 
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
-        Signature::build("from-tsv")
-            .switch("headerless", "don't treat the first row as column names")
+        Signature::build("from-tsv").switch(
+            "headerless",
+            "don't treat the first row as column names",
+            None,
+        )
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
diff --git a/src/commands/from_xlsx.rs b/src/commands/from_xlsx.rs
index 3a86a50f1f..5394efb0ea 100644
--- a/src/commands/from_xlsx.rs
+++ b/src/commands/from_xlsx.rs
@@ -19,8 +19,11 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for FromXLSX {
     }
 
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
-        Signature::build("from-xlsx")
-            .switch("headerless", "don't treat the first row as column names")
+        Signature::build("from-xlsx").switch(
+            "headerless",
+            "don't treat the first row as column names",
+            None,
+        )
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
diff --git a/src/commands/help.rs b/src/commands/help.rs
index 3594339dd9..9448e5bd5c 100644
--- a/src/commands/help.rs
+++ b/src/commands/help.rs
@@ -171,34 +171,67 @@ pub(crate) fn get_help(
     if !signature.named.is_empty() {
         long_desc.push_str("\nflags:\n");
         for (flag, ty) in signature.named {
-            match ty.0 {
-                NamedType::Switch => {
-                    long_desc.push_str(&format!(
-                        "  --{}{} {}\n",
-                        flag,
-                        if !ty.1.is_empty() { ":" } else { "" },
-                        ty.1
-                    ));
+            let msg = match ty.0 {
+                NamedType::Switch(s) => {
+                    if let Some(c) = s {
+                        format!(
+                            "  -{}, --{}{} {}\n",
+                            c,
+                            flag,
+                            if !ty.1.is_empty() { ":" } else { "" },
+                            ty.1
+                        )
+                    } else {
+                        format!(
+                            "  --{}{} {}\n",
+                            flag,
+                            if !ty.1.is_empty() { ":" } else { "" },
+                            ty.1
+                        )
+                    }
                 }
-                NamedType::Mandatory(m) => {
-                    long_desc.push_str(&format!(
-                        "  --{} <{}> (required parameter){} {}\n",
-                        flag,
-                        m.display(),
-                        if !ty.1.is_empty() { ":" } else { "" },
-                        ty.1
-                    ));
+                NamedType::Mandatory(s, m) => {
+                    if let Some(c) = s {
+                        format!(
+                            "  -{}, --{} <{}> (required parameter){} {}\n",
+                            c,
+                            flag,
+                            m.display(),
+                            if !ty.1.is_empty() { ":" } else { "" },
+                            ty.1
+                        )
+                    } else {
+                        format!(
+                            "  --{} <{}> (required parameter){} {}\n",
+                            flag,
+                            m.display(),
+                            if !ty.1.is_empty() { ":" } else { "" },
+                            ty.1
+                        )
+                    }
                 }
-                NamedType::Optional(o) => {
-                    long_desc.push_str(&format!(
-                        "  --{} <{}>{} {}\n",
-                        flag,
-                        o.display(),
-                        if !ty.1.is_empty() { ":" } else { "" },
-                        ty.1
-                    ));
+                NamedType::Optional(s, o) => {
+                    if let Some(c) = s {
+                        format!(
+                            "  -{}, --{} <{}>{} {}\n",
+                            c,
+                            flag,
+                            o.display(),
+                            if !ty.1.is_empty() { ":" } else { "" },
+                            ty.1
+                        )
+                    } else {
+                        format!(
+                            "  --{} <{}>{} {}\n",
+                            flag,
+                            o.display(),
+                            if !ty.1.is_empty() { ":" } else { "" },
+                            ty.1
+                        )
+                    }
                 }
-            }
+            };
+            long_desc.push_str(&msg);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/src/commands/kill.rs b/src/commands/kill.rs
index c6aaed476d..cc11d60a16 100644
--- a/src/commands/kill.rs
+++ b/src/commands/kill.rs
@@ -29,8 +29,8 @@ impl PerItemCommand for Kill {
                 "process id of process that is to be killed",
             )
             .rest(SyntaxShape::Int, "rest of processes to kill")
-            .switch("force", "forcefully kill the process")
-            .switch("quiet", "won't print anything to the console")
+            .switch("force", "forcefully kill the process", Some('f'))
+            .switch("quiet", "won't print anything to the console", Some('q'))
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
diff --git a/src/commands/ls.rs b/src/commands/ls.rs
index 06c378f397..b2252bdf23 100644
--- a/src/commands/ls.rs
+++ b/src/commands/ls.rs
@@ -29,11 +29,20 @@ impl PerItemCommand for Ls {
                 SyntaxShape::Pattern,
                 "a path to get the directory contents from",
             )
-            .switch("full", "list all available columns for each entry")
-            .switch("short-names", "only print the file names and not the path")
+            .switch(
+                "full",
+                "list all available columns for each entry",
+                Some('f'),
+            )
+            .switch(
+                "short-names",
+                "only print the file names and not the path",
+                Some('s'),
+            )
             .switch(
                 "with-symlink-targets",
                 "display the paths to the target files that symlinks point to",
+                Some('w'),
             )
     }
 
diff --git a/src/commands/map_max_by.rs b/src/commands/map_max_by.rs
index 2f94fe32ef..d4b1e051f9 100644
--- a/src/commands/map_max_by.rs
+++ b/src/commands/map_max_by.rs
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for MapMaxBy {
             "column_name",
             SyntaxShape::String,
             "the name of the column to map-max the table's rows",
+            Some('c'),
         )
     }
 
diff --git a/src/commands/open.rs b/src/commands/open.rs
index 91a5aa031e..d416a9c2ac 100644
--- a/src/commands/open.rs
+++ b/src/commands/open.rs
@@ -20,7 +20,11 @@ impl PerItemCommand for Open {
                 SyntaxShape::Path,
                 "the file path to load values from",
             )
-            .switch("raw", "load content as a string insead of a table")
+            .switch(
+                "raw",
+                "load content as a string instead of a table",
+                Some('r'),
+            )
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
diff --git a/src/commands/pivot.rs b/src/commands/pivot.rs
index 810b977200..55f8078e02 100644
--- a/src/commands/pivot.rs
+++ b/src/commands/pivot.rs
@@ -23,8 +23,16 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for Pivot {
 
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
         Signature::build("pivot")
-            .switch("header-row", "treat the first row as column names")
-            .switch("ignore-titles", "don't pivot the column names into values")
+            .switch(
+                "header-row",
+                "treat the first row as column names",
+                Some('h'),
+            )
+            .switch(
+                "ignore-titles",
+                "don't pivot the column names into values",
+                Some('i'),
+            )
             .rest(
                 SyntaxShape::String,
                 "the names to give columns once pivoted",
diff --git a/src/commands/reduce_by.rs b/src/commands/reduce_by.rs
index c36a1bd2fa..7be7fb77e1 100644
--- a/src/commands/reduce_by.rs
+++ b/src/commands/reduce_by.rs
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for ReduceBy {
             "reduce_with",
             SyntaxShape::String,
             "the command to reduce by with",
+            Some('w'),
         )
     }
 
diff --git a/src/commands/rm.rs b/src/commands/rm.rs
index dbc6de7faa..10a2c44e5e 100644
--- a/src/commands/rm.rs
+++ b/src/commands/rm.rs
@@ -26,8 +26,9 @@ impl PerItemCommand for Remove {
             .switch(
                 "trash",
                 "use the platform's recycle bin instead of permanently deleting",
+                Some('t'),
             )
-            .switch("recursive", "delete subdirectories recursively")
+            .switch("recursive", "delete subdirectories recursively", Some('r'))
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
diff --git a/src/commands/save.rs b/src/commands/save.rs
index 1c1d06cae1..bb8aab4453 100644
--- a/src/commands/save.rs
+++ b/src/commands/save.rs
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for Save {
             .switch(
                 "raw",
                 "treat values as-is rather than auto-converting based on file extension",
+                Some('r'),
             )
     }
 
diff --git a/src/commands/split_by.rs b/src/commands/split_by.rs
index 47f1588a48..94254163b6 100644
--- a/src/commands/split_by.rs
+++ b/src/commands/split_by.rs
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for SplitBy {
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
-        "Creates a new table with the data from the inner tables splitted by the column given."
+        "Creates a new table with the data from the inner tables split by the column given."
     }
 
     fn run(
diff --git a/src/commands/split_column.rs b/src/commands/split_column.rs
index 643c9323c1..1af02b1a4b 100644
--- a/src/commands/split_column.rs
+++ b/src/commands/split_column.rs
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for SplitColumn {
                 SyntaxShape::Any,
                 "the character that denotes what separates columns",
             )
-            .switch("collapse-empty", "remove empty columns")
+            .switch("collapse-empty", "remove empty columns", Some('c'))
             .rest(SyntaxShape::Member, "column names to give the new columns")
     }
 
diff --git a/src/commands/t_sort_by.rs b/src/commands/t_sort_by.rs
index 93abe4f1a0..feaafeac76 100644
--- a/src/commands/t_sort_by.rs
+++ b/src/commands/t_sort_by.rs
@@ -28,16 +28,22 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for TSortBy {
 
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
         Signature::build("t-sort-by")
-            .switch("show-columns", "Displays the column names sorted")
+            .switch(
+                "show-columns",
+                "Displays the column names sorted",
+                Some('c'),
+            )
             .named(
                 "group_by",
                 SyntaxShape::String,
                 "the name of the column to group by",
+                Some('g'),
             )
             .named(
                 "split_by",
                 SyntaxShape::String,
                 "the name of the column within the grouped by table to split by",
+                Some('s'),
             )
     }
 
diff --git a/src/commands/table.rs b/src/commands/table.rs
index 1de2665a77..795879d95b 100644
--- a/src/commands/table.rs
+++ b/src/commands/table.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for Table {
             "start_number",
             SyntaxShape::Number,
             "row number to start viewing from",
+            Some('n'),
         )
     }
 
diff --git a/src/commands/to_csv.rs b/src/commands/to_csv.rs
index ca077a21a5..6806313265 100644
--- a/src/commands/to_csv.rs
+++ b/src/commands/to_csv.rs
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for ToCSV {
         Signature::build("to-csv").switch(
             "headerless",
             "do not output the columns names as the first row",
+            None,
         )
     }
 
diff --git a/src/commands/to_tsv.rs b/src/commands/to_tsv.rs
index 3177e1dca9..2ab9c13529 100644
--- a/src/commands/to_tsv.rs
+++ b/src/commands/to_tsv.rs
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for ToTSV {
         Signature::build("to-tsv").switch(
             "headerless",
             "do not output the column names as the first row",
+            None,
         )
     }
 
diff --git a/src/commands/which_.rs b/src/commands/which_.rs
index d13afe3181..a14a1c71ed 100644
--- a/src/commands/which_.rs
+++ b/src/commands/which_.rs
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ impl WholeStreamCommand for Which {
     fn signature(&self) -> Signature {
         Signature::build("which")
             .required("application", SyntaxShape::String, "application")
-            .switch("all", "list all executables")
+            .switch("all", "list all executables", Some('a'))
     }
 
     fn usage(&self) -> &str {
diff --git a/src/data/command.rs b/src/data/command.rs
index 91c52bc0e5..666008376f 100644
--- a/src/data/command.rs
+++ b/src/data/command.rs
@@ -60,9 +60,9 @@ fn signature_dict(signature: Signature, tag: impl Into<Tag>) -> Value {
 
     for (name, ty) in signature.named.iter() {
         match ty.0 {
-            NamedType::Mandatory(_) => sig.push_value(for_spec(name, "flag", true, &tag)),
-            NamedType::Optional(_) => sig.push_value(for_spec(name, "flag", false, &tag)),
-            NamedType::Switch => sig.push_value(for_spec(name, "switch", false, &tag)),
+            NamedType::Mandatory(_, _) => sig.push_value(for_spec(name, "flag", true, &tag)),
+            NamedType::Optional(_, _) => sig.push_value(for_spec(name, "flag", false, &tag)),
+            NamedType::Switch(_) => sig.push_value(for_spec(name, "switch", false, &tag)),
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/tests/commands/cp.rs b/tests/commands/cp.rs
index 72516d4370..4c9362ab53 100644
--- a/tests/commands/cp.rs
+++ b/tests/commands/cp.rs
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ fn copies_the_directory_inside_directory_if_path_to_copy_is_directory_and_with_r
 
         nu!(
             cwd: dirs.test(),
-            "cp originals expected --recursive"
+            "cp originals expected -r"
         );
 
         assert!(expected_dir.exists());
diff --git a/tests/commands/lines.rs b/tests/commands/lines.rs
index e11569e2a4..87e2f5c16a 100644
--- a/tests/commands/lines.rs
+++ b/tests/commands/lines.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ fn lines() {
     let actual = nu!(
         cwd: "tests/fixtures/formats", pipeline(
         r#"
-            open cargo_sample.toml --raw
+            open cargo_sample.toml -r
             | lines
             | skip-while $it != "[dependencies]"
             | skip 1
diff --git a/tests/commands/rm.rs b/tests/commands/rm.rs
index 8cdb1e6283..caaee55e83 100644
--- a/tests/commands/rm.rs
+++ b/tests/commands/rm.rs
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ fn removes_deeply_nested_directories_with_wildcard_and_recursive_flag() {
 
         nu!(
             cwd: dirs.test(),
-            "rm --recursive src/*"
+            "rm -r src/*"
         );
 
         assert!(!files_exist_at(
diff --git a/tests/format_conversions/json.rs b/tests/format_conversions/json.rs
index 5034347a07..9788afc123 100644
--- a/tests/format_conversions/json.rs
+++ b/tests/format_conversions/json.rs
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ fn from_json_text_recognizing_objects_independently_to_table() {
             cwd: dirs.test(), pipeline(
             r#"
                 open katz.txt
-                | from-json --objects
+                | from-json -o
                 | where name == "GorbyPuff"
                 | get rusty_luck
                 | echo $it
diff --git a/tests/format_conversions/ssv.rs b/tests/format_conversions/ssv.rs
index 18e0ad6f83..91854f3849 100644
--- a/tests/format_conversions/ssv.rs
+++ b/tests/format_conversions/ssv.rs
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ fn from_ssv_text_treating_first_line_as_data_with_flag() {
         cwd: dirs.test(), pipeline(
             r#"
                 open oc_get_svc.txt
-                | from-ssv --headerless --aligned-columns
+                | from-ssv --headerless -a
                 | first
                 | get Column1
                 | echo $it
diff --git a/tests/plugins/core_inc.rs b/tests/plugins/core_inc.rs
index e77475a725..d90a7b4f4f 100644
--- a/tests/plugins/core_inc.rs
+++ b/tests/plugins/core_inc.rs
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ fn semversion_major_inc() {
 
         let actual = nu!(
             cwd: dirs.test(),
-            "open sample.toml | inc package.version --major | get package.version | echo $it"
+            "open sample.toml | inc package.version -M | get package.version | echo $it"
         );
 
         assert_eq!(actual, "1.0.0");
diff --git a/tests/plugins/core_str.rs b/tests/plugins/core_str.rs
index 3f61802af2..2908d452a9 100644
--- a/tests/plugins/core_str.rs
+++ b/tests/plugins/core_str.rs
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ fn downcases() {
 
         let actual = nu!(
             cwd: dirs.test(),
-            "open sample.toml | str dependency.name --downcase | get dependency.name | echo $it"
+            "open sample.toml | str dependency.name -d | get dependency.name | echo $it"
         );
 
         assert_eq!(actual, "light");