diff --git a/cmd/root.go b/cmd/root.go
index 7babf1b5..d6fb7fae 100644
--- a/cmd/root.go
+++ b/cmd/root.go
@@ -97,7 +97,8 @@ yq -P -oy sample.json
 		panic(err)
 	}
 
-	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&outputFormat, "output-format", "o", "auto", "[auto|a|yaml|y|json|j|props|p|xml|x|tsv|t|csv|c] output format type.")
+	rootCmd.PersistentFlags().StringVarP(&outputFormat, "output-format", "o", "auto", fmt.Sprintf("[auto|a|%v] output format type.", yqlib.GetAvailableOutputFormatString()))
+
 	if err = rootCmd.RegisterFlagCompletionFunc("output-format", cobra.FixedCompletions([]string{"auto", "yaml", "json", "props", "xml", "tsv", "csv"}, cobra.ShellCompDirectiveNoFileComp)); err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/utils.go b/cmd/utils.go
index 0a13c31f..769e421b 100644
--- a/cmd/utils.go
+++ b/cmd/utils.go
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ func createDecoder(format yqlib.InputFormat, evaluateTogether bool) (yqlib.Decod
 	return nil, fmt.Errorf("invalid decoder: %v", format)
 }
 
-func configurePrinterWriter(format yqlib.PrinterOutputFormat, out io.Writer) (yqlib.PrinterWriter, error) {
+func configurePrinterWriter(format *yqlib.PrinterOutputFormat, out io.Writer) (yqlib.PrinterWriter, error) {
 
 	var printerWriter yqlib.PrinterWriter
 
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ func configureEncoder() (yqlib.Encoder, error) {
 	return yqlibEncoder, err
 }
 
-func createEncoder(format yqlib.PrinterOutputFormat) (yqlib.Encoder, error) {
+func createEncoder(format *yqlib.PrinterOutputFormat) (yqlib.Encoder, error) {
 	switch format {
 	case yqlib.JSONOutputFormat:
 		return yqlib.NewJSONEncoder(indent, colorsEnabled, unwrapScalar), nil
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/json_test.go b/pkg/yqlib/json_test.go
index ff81618c..49ce2330 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/json_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/json_test.go
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ func documentJSONDecodeScenario(t *testing.T, w *bufio.Writer, s formatScenario)
 	writeOrPanic(w, "will output\n")
 
 	var output bytes.Buffer
-	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(bufio.NewWriter(&output), YamlOutputFormat, true, false, 2, true)
+	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(bufio.NewWriter(&output), true, false, 2, true)
 
 	node := decodeJSON(t, s.input)
 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/lexer_participle.go b/pkg/yqlib/lexer_participle.go
index 1b365d88..b45a60bc 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/lexer_participle.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/lexer_participle.go
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ func numberValue() yqAction {
 	}
 }
 
-func encodeParseIndent(outputFormat PrinterOutputFormat) yqAction {
+func encodeParseIndent(outputFormat *PrinterOutputFormat) yqAction {
 	return func(rawToken lexer.Token) (*token, error) {
 		value := rawToken.Value
 		var indent, errParsingInt = extractNumberParameter(value)
@@ -510,7 +510,7 @@ func encodeParseIndent(outputFormat PrinterOutputFormat) yqAction {
 	}
 }
 
-func encodeWithIndent(outputFormat PrinterOutputFormat, indent int) yqAction {
+func encodeWithIndent(outputFormat *PrinterOutputFormat, indent int) yqAction {
 	prefs := encoderPreferences{format: outputFormat, indent: indent}
 	return opTokenWithPrefs(encodeOpType, nil, prefs)
 }
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_encoder_decoder.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_encoder_decoder.go
index c68a2d3d..68202c54 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_encoder_decoder.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_encoder_decoder.go
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 )
 
-func configureEncoder(format PrinterOutputFormat, indent int) Encoder {
+func configureEncoder(format *PrinterOutputFormat, indent int) Encoder {
 	switch format {
 	case JSONOutputFormat:
 		return NewJSONEncoder(indent, false, false)
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ func encodeToString(candidate *CandidateNode, prefs encoderPreferences) (string,
 }
 
 type encoderPreferences struct {
-	format PrinterOutputFormat
+	format *PrinterOutputFormat
 	indent int
 }
 
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operators_test.go b/pkg/yqlib/operators_test.go
index b6f37aa1..24e07532 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operators_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operators_test.go
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ func TestMain(m *testing.M) {
 	os.Exit(code)
 }
 
-func NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer io.Writer, _ PrinterOutputFormat, unwrapScalar bool, colorsEnabled bool, indent int, printDocSeparators bool) Printer {
+func NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer io.Writer, unwrapScalar bool, colorsEnabled bool, indent int, printDocSeparators bool) Printer {
 	prefs := NewDefaultYamlPreferences()
 	prefs.PrintDocSeparators = printDocSeparators
 	prefs.UnwrapScalar = unwrapScalar
@@ -132,7 +132,7 @@ func testScenario(t *testing.T, s *expressionScenario) {
 func resultToString(t *testing.T, n *CandidateNode) string {
 	var valueBuffer bytes.Buffer
 	log.Debugf("printing result %v", NodeToString(n))
-	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(bufio.NewWriter(&valueBuffer), YamlOutputFormat, true, false, 4, true)
+	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(bufio.NewWriter(&valueBuffer), true, false, 4, true)
 
 	err := printer.PrintResults(n.AsList())
 	if err != nil {
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ func copySnippet(source string, out *os.File) error {
 
 func formatYaml(yaml string, filename string) string {
 	var output bytes.Buffer
-	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(bufio.NewWriter(&output), YamlOutputFormat, true, false, 2, true)
+	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(bufio.NewWriter(&output), true, false, 2, true)
 
 	node, err := getExpressionParser().ParseExpression(".. style= \"\"")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -331,7 +331,7 @@ func documentInput(w *bufio.Writer, s expressionScenario) (string, string) {
 func documentOutput(t *testing.T, w *bufio.Writer, s expressionScenario, formattedDoc string, formattedDoc2 string) {
 	var output bytes.Buffer
 	var err error
-	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(bufio.NewWriter(&output), YamlOutputFormat, true, false, 2, true)
+	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(bufio.NewWriter(&output), true, false, 2, true)
 
 	node, err := getExpressionParser().ParseExpression(s.expression)
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/printer.go b/pkg/yqlib/printer.go
index f4af16c2..86b68b11 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/printer.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/printer.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"fmt"
 	"io"
 	"regexp"
+	"strings"
 )
 
 type Printer interface {
@@ -17,46 +18,75 @@ type Printer interface {
 	SetNulSepOutput(nulSepOutput bool)
 }
 
-type PrinterOutputFormat uint32
+type PrinterOutputFormat struct {
+	FormalName string
+	Names      []string
+}
 
-const (
-	YamlOutputFormat = 1 << iota
-	JSONOutputFormat
-	PropsOutputFormat
-	CSVOutputFormat
-	TSVOutputFormat
-	XMLOutputFormat
-	Base64OutputFormat
-	UriOutputFormat
-	ShOutputFormat
-	TomlOutputFormat
-	ShellVariablesOutputFormat
-	LuaOutputFormat
-)
+var YamlOutputFormat = &PrinterOutputFormat{"yaml", []string{"y", "yml"}}
+var JSONOutputFormat = &PrinterOutputFormat{"json", []string{"j"}}
+var PropsOutputFormat = &PrinterOutputFormat{"props", []string{"p", "properties"}}
+var CSVOutputFormat = &PrinterOutputFormat{"csv", []string{"c"}}
+var TSVOutputFormat = &PrinterOutputFormat{"tsv", []string{"t"}}
+var XMLOutputFormat = &PrinterOutputFormat{"xml", []string{"x"}}
 
-func OutputFormatFromString(format string) (PrinterOutputFormat, error) {
-	switch format {
-	case "yaml", "y", "yml":
-		return YamlOutputFormat, nil
-	case "json", "j":
-		return JSONOutputFormat, nil
-	case "props", "p", "properties":
-		return PropsOutputFormat, nil
-	case "csv", "c":
-		return CSVOutputFormat, nil
-	case "tsv", "t":
-		return TSVOutputFormat, nil
-	case "xml", "x":
-		return XMLOutputFormat, nil
-	case "toml":
-		return TomlOutputFormat, nil
-	case "shell", "s", "sh":
-		return ShellVariablesOutputFormat, nil
-	case "lua", "l":
-		return LuaOutputFormat, nil
-	default:
-		return 0, fmt.Errorf("unknown format '%v' please use [yaml|json|props|csv|tsv|xml|toml|shell|lua]", format)
+var Base64OutputFormat = &PrinterOutputFormat{}
+var UriOutputFormat = &PrinterOutputFormat{}
+var ShOutputFormat = &PrinterOutputFormat{}
+
+var TomlOutputFormat = &PrinterOutputFormat{"toml", []string{}}
+var ShellVariablesOutputFormat = &PrinterOutputFormat{"shell", []string{"s", "sh"}}
+
+var LuaOutputFormat = &PrinterOutputFormat{"lua", []string{"l"}}
+
+var Formats = []*PrinterOutputFormat{
+	YamlOutputFormat,
+	JSONOutputFormat,
+	PropsOutputFormat,
+	CSVOutputFormat,
+	TSVOutputFormat,
+	XMLOutputFormat,
+	Base64OutputFormat,
+	UriOutputFormat,
+	ShOutputFormat,
+	TomlOutputFormat,
+	ShellVariablesOutputFormat,
+	LuaOutputFormat,
+}
+
+func (f *PrinterOutputFormat) MatchesName(name string) bool {
+	if f.FormalName == name {
+		return true
 	}
+	for _, n := range f.Names {
+		if n == name {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+func OutputFormatFromString(format string) (*PrinterOutputFormat, error) {
+	for _, printerFormat := range Formats {
+		if printerFormat.MatchesName(format) {
+			return printerFormat, nil
+		}
+	}
+
+	return nil, fmt.Errorf("unknown format '%v' please use [%v]", format, GetAvailableOutputFormatString())
+}
+
+func GetAvailableOutputFormatString() string {
+	var formats = []string{}
+	for _, printerFormat := range Formats {
+		if printerFormat.FormalName != "" {
+			formats = append(formats, printerFormat.FormalName)
+		}
+		if len(printerFormat.Names) >= 1 {
+			formats = append(formats, printerFormat.Names[0])
+		}
+	}
+	return strings.Join(formats, "|")
 }
 
 type resultsPrinter struct {
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/printer_test.go b/pkg/yqlib/printer_test.go
index 371bb6f0..49e6ce13 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/printer_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/printer_test.go
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ func nodeToList(candidate *CandidateNode) *list.List {
 func TestPrinterMultipleDocsInSequenceOnly(t *testing.T) {
 	var output bytes.Buffer
 	var writer = bufio.NewWriter(&output)
-	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, YamlOutputFormat, true, false, 2, true)
+	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, true, false, 2, true)
 
 	inputs, err := readDocuments(strings.NewReader(multiDocSample), "sample.yml", 0, NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences))
 	if err != nil {
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ func TestPrinterMultipleDocsInSequenceOnly(t *testing.T) {
 func TestPrinterMultipleDocsInSequenceWithLeadingContent(t *testing.T) {
 	var output bytes.Buffer
 	var writer = bufio.NewWriter(&output)
-	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, YamlOutputFormat, true, false, 2, true)
+	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, true, false, 2, true)
 
 	inputs, err := readDocuments(strings.NewReader(multiDocSample), "sample.yml", 0, NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences))
 	if err != nil {
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ func TestPrinterMultipleDocsInSequenceWithLeadingContent(t *testing.T) {
 func TestPrinterMultipleFilesInSequence(t *testing.T) {
 	var output bytes.Buffer
 	var writer = bufio.NewWriter(&output)
-	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, YamlOutputFormat, true, false, 2, true)
+	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, true, false, 2, true)
 
 	inputs, err := readDocuments(strings.NewReader(multiDocSample), "sample.yml", 0, NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences))
 	if err != nil {
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ func TestPrinterMultipleFilesInSequence(t *testing.T) {
 func TestPrinterMultipleFilesInSequenceWithLeadingContent(t *testing.T) {
 	var output bytes.Buffer
 	var writer = bufio.NewWriter(&output)
-	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, YamlOutputFormat, true, false, 2, true)
+	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, true, false, 2, true)
 
 	inputs, err := readDocuments(strings.NewReader(multiDocSample), "sample.yml", 0, NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences))
 	if err != nil {
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ func TestPrinterMultipleFilesInSequenceWithLeadingContent(t *testing.T) {
 func TestPrinterMultipleDocsInSinglePrint(t *testing.T) {
 	var output bytes.Buffer
 	var writer = bufio.NewWriter(&output)
-	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, YamlOutputFormat, true, false, 2, true)
+	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, true, false, 2, true)
 
 	inputs, err := readDocuments(strings.NewReader(multiDocSample), "sample.yml", 0, NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences))
 	if err != nil {
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ func TestPrinterMultipleDocsInSinglePrint(t *testing.T) {
 func TestPrinterMultipleDocsInSinglePrintWithLeadingDoc(t *testing.T) {
 	var output bytes.Buffer
 	var writer = bufio.NewWriter(&output)
-	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, YamlOutputFormat, true, false, 2, true)
+	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, true, false, 2, true)
 
 	inputs, err := readDocuments(strings.NewReader(multiDocSample), "sample.yml", 0, NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences))
 	if err != nil {
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ a: coconut
 func TestPrinterMultipleDocsInSinglePrintWithLeadingDocTrailing(t *testing.T) {
 	var output bytes.Buffer
 	var writer = bufio.NewWriter(&output)
-	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, YamlOutputFormat, true, false, 2, true)
+	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, true, false, 2, true)
 
 	inputs, err := readDocuments(strings.NewReader(multiDocSample), "sample.yml", 0, NewYamlDecoder(ConfiguredYamlPreferences))
 	if err != nil {
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ a: coconut
 func TestPrinterScalarWithLeadingCont(t *testing.T) {
 	var output bytes.Buffer
 	var writer = bufio.NewWriter(&output)
-	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, YamlOutputFormat, true, false, 2, true)
+	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, true, false, 2, true)
 
 	node, err := getExpressionParser().ParseExpression(".a")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -344,7 +344,7 @@ func TestPrinterMultipleDocsJson(t *testing.T) {
 func TestPrinterNulSeparator(t *testing.T) {
 	var output bytes.Buffer
 	var writer = bufio.NewWriter(&output)
-	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, YamlOutputFormat, true, false, 2, false)
+	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, true, false, 2, false)
 	printer.SetNulSepOutput(true)
 	node, err := getExpressionParser().ParseExpression(".a")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -394,7 +394,7 @@ func TestPrinterNulSeparatorWithJson(t *testing.T) {
 func TestPrinterRootUnwrap(t *testing.T) {
 	var output bytes.Buffer
 	var writer = bufio.NewWriter(&output)
-	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, YamlOutputFormat, true, false, 2, false)
+	printer := NewSimpleYamlPrinter(writer, true, false, 2, false)
 	node, err := getExpressionParser().ParseExpression(".")
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/printer_writer.go b/pkg/yqlib/printer_writer.go
index b900df27..2a72e1f6 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/printer_writer.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/printer_writer.go
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ type multiPrintWriter struct {
 	index          int
 }
 
-func NewMultiPrinterWriter(expression *ExpressionNode, format PrinterOutputFormat) PrinterWriter {
+func NewMultiPrinterWriter(expression *ExpressionNode, format *PrinterOutputFormat) PrinterWriter {
 	extension := "yml"
 
 	switch format {