You want the `-e` and `-i` options to `read`: #!/bin/sh echo "@@@@@@@@@@ @ Enter the new plarform name [for example: our-platform-7.26-2.17-res4]: @@@@@@@@@@" read -i "our-platform-7.26-2.17-res4" -e SuggestDefaultPlatform echo "you chose $SuggestDefaultPlatform" From `help read`: -i text Use TEXT as the initial text for Readline -e use Readline to obtain the line in an interactive shell So, the `-i` sets the default value and the `-e` allows you to enter another or modify it. You don't need the extra `echo`.