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bug#14976: [patch] use semicolons in option descriptions, not periods


From: Pádraig Brady
Subject: bug#14976: [patch] use semicolons in option descriptions, not periods
Date: Mon, 29 Jul 2013 18:02:45 +0100
User-agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; Linux x86_64; rv:17.0) Gecko/20130110 Thunderbird/17.0.2

On 07/28/2013 08:27 PM, Benno Schulenberg wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> Attached patch replaces in several usage texts some periods with
> semicolons, removes from them several inconsistent final periods,
> properly double-indents continuation lines, and rephrases two or
> three sentences a little for increased clarity.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Benno
> 
> -- http://www.fastmail.fm - Accessible with your email software or over the 
> web
> 
> 
> 0001-textual-use-semicolon-instead-of-period-in-option-de.patch
> 
> 
> From 2bac2f05a68bc3534b54b480469f58bfd2489c8f Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
> From: Benno Schulenberg <address@hidden>
> Date: Sun, 28 Jul 2013 13:54:20 +0200
> Subject: [PATCH] textual: use semicolon instead of period in option 
> descriptions
> 
> Also do not end option descriptions with a period, properly indent
> continuation lines, and make some tiny clarifications.
> 
> * src/du.c (usage): Lowercase after semicolon.
> * src/ls.c (usage): Semicolons instead of periods, small rephrasing
> and two hyphens for clarity, proper indentation.
> * src/mktemp.c (usage): Semicolons and lowercase.
> * src/od.c (usage): Semicolons.
> * src/ptx.c (usage): Use the standard phrase, clarify default option.
> * src/setuidgid.c (usage): Properly indent continuation line.
> * src/split.c (usage): Semicolons, lowercase, no final period.
> * src/stat.c (usage): Semicolons, lowercase.
> * src/tail.c (usage): Proper indentation, one shorter rephrasing,
> semicolons, no final periods.
> * src/timeout.c (usage): Properly indent, semicolons, no final periods.
> ---
>  src/du.c        |    4 ++--
>  src/ls.c        |   28 ++++++++++++++--------------
>  src/mktemp.c    |   12 ++++++------
>  src/od.c        |    6 +++---
>  src/ptx.c       |    2 +-
>  src/setuidgid.c |    2 +-
>  src/split.c     |    8 ++++----
>  src/stat.c      |    4 ++--
>  src/tail.c      |   21 ++++++++++-----------
>  src/timeout.c   |   16 ++++++++--------
>  10 files changed, 51 insertions(+), 52 deletions(-)
> 
> diff --git a/src/du.c b/src/du.c
> index 9f1f98c..849ddab 100644
> --- a/src/du.c
> +++ b/src/du.c
> @@ -312,8 +312,8 @@ Summarize disk usage of each FILE, recursively for 
> directories.\n\
>  "), stdout);
>        fputs (_("\
>        --files0-from=F   summarize disk usage of the NUL-terminated file\n\
> -                          names specified in file F;\n\
> -                          If F is - then read names from standard input\n\
> +                          names specified in file F; if F is -, then read\n\
> +                          names from standard input\n\

-1 I think it would be better to leave the "if F ..." on a separate line,
the ";" is OK here.

>    -H                    equivalent to --dereference-args (-D)\n\
>    -h, --human-readable  print sizes in human readable format (e.g., 1K 234M 
> 2G)\
>  \n\
> diff --git a/src/ls.c b/src/ls.c
> index e341c67..2936498 100644
> --- a/src/ls.c
> +++ b/src/ls.c
> @@ -4758,19 +4758,19 @@ Sort entries alphabetically if none of -cftuvSUX nor 
> --sort is specified.\n\
>    -b, --escape               print C-style escapes for nongraphic 
> characters\n\
>  "), stdout);
>        fputs (_("\
> -      --block-size=SIZE      scale sizes by SIZE before printing them.  
> E.g.,\n\
> +      --block-size=SIZE      scale sizes by SIZE before printing them; 
> e.g.,\n\
>                                 '--block-size=M' prints sizes in units of\n\
> -                               1,048,576 bytes.  See SIZE format below.\n\
> +                               1,048,576 bytes; see SIZE format below\n\

+1 Marginal but fair enough

>    -B, --ignore-backups       do not list implied entries ending with ~\n\
>    -c                         with -lt: sort by, and show, ctime (time of 
> last\n\
> -                               modification of file status information)\n\
> -                               with -l: show ctime and sort by name\n\
> +                               modification of file status information);\n\
> +                               with -l: show ctime and sort by name;\n\

+1

>                                 otherwise: sort by ctime, newest first\n\
>  "), stdout);
>        fputs (_("\
>    -C                         list entries by columns\n\
>        --color[=WHEN]         colorize the output.  WHEN defaults to 
> 'always'\n\
> -                               or can be 'never' or 'auto'.  More info 
> below\n\
> +                               or can be 'never' or 'auto'; more info 
> below\n\

+1

>    -d, --directory            list directory entries instead of contents,\n\
>                                 and do not dereference symbolic links\n\
>    -D, --dired                generate output designed for Emacs' dired 
> mode\n\
> @@ -4788,8 +4788,8 @@ Sort entries alphabetically if none of -cftuvSUX nor 
> --sort is specified.\n\
>  "), stdout);
>        fputs (_("\
>        --group-directories-first\n\
> -                             group directories before files.\n\
> -                               augment with a --sort option, but any\n\
> +                             group directories before files;\n\
> +                               can be augmented with a --sort option, but 
> any\n\

+1

>                                 use of --sort=none (-U) disables grouping\n\
>  "), stdout);
>        fputs (_("\
> @@ -4803,7 +4803,7 @@ Sort entries alphabetically if none of -cftuvSUX nor 
> --sort is specified.\n\
>                               follow symbolic links listed on the command 
> line\n\
>        --dereference-command-line-symlink-to-dir\n\
>                               follow each command line symbolic link\n\
> -                             that points to a directory\n\
> +                               that points to a directory\n\

+1

>        --hide=PATTERN         do not list implied entries matching shell 
> PATTERN\
>  \n\
>                                 (overridden by -a or -A)\n\
> @@ -4823,7 +4823,7 @@ Sort entries alphabetically if none of -cftuvSUX nor 
> --sort is specified.\n\
>    -L, --dereference          when showing file information for a symbolic\n\
>                                 link, show information for the file the 
> link\n\
>                                 references rather than for the link itself\n\
> -  -m                         fill width with a comma separated list of 
> entries\
> +  -m                         fill width with a comma-separated list of 
> entries\

-1 This doesn't seem warranted.
Also all other mentions in usage() it various utilities use the non hyphenated 
version

>  \n\
>  "), stdout);
>        fputs (_("\
> @@ -4835,7 +4835,7 @@ Sort entries alphabetically if none of -cftuvSUX nor 
> --sort is specified.\n\
>                               append / indicator to directories\n\
>  "), stdout);
>        fputs (_("\
> -  -q, --hide-control-chars   print ? instead of non graphic characters\n\
> +  -q, --hide-control-chars   print ? instead of non-graphic characters\n\

+1

>        --show-control-chars   show non graphic characters as-is (default\n\
>                               unless program is 'ls' and output is a 
> terminal)\n\
>    -Q, --quote-name           enclose entry names in double quotes\n\
> @@ -4860,9 +4860,9 @@ Sort entries alphabetically if none of -cftuvSUX nor 
> --sort is specified.\n\
>  "), stdout);
>        fputs (_("\
>        --time-style=STYLE     with -l, show times using style STYLE:\n\
> -                             full-iso, long-iso, iso, locale, +FORMAT.\n\
> +                             full-iso, long-iso, iso, locale, +FORMAT;\n\
>                               FORMAT is interpreted like 'date'; if FORMAT 
> is\n\
> -                             FORMAT1<newline>FORMAT2, FORMAT1 applies to\n\
> +                             FORMAT1<newline>FORMAT2, then FORMAT1 applies 
> to\n\

+1

>                               non-recent files and FORMAT2 to recent files;\n\
>                               if STYLE is prefixed with 'posix-', STYLE\n\
>                               takes effect only outside the POSIX locale\n\
> @@ -4872,8 +4872,8 @@ Sort entries alphabetically if none of -cftuvSUX nor 
> --sort is specified.\n\
>    -T, --tabsize=COLS         assume tab stops at each COLS instead of 8\n\
>  "), stdout);
>        fputs (_("\
> -  -u                         with -lt: sort by, and show, access time\n\
> -                               with -l: show access time and sort by name\n\
> +  -u                         with -lt: sort by, and show, access time;\n\
> +                               with -l: show access time and sort by name;\n\

+1

>                                 otherwise: sort by access time\n\
>    -U                         do not sort; list entries in directory order\n\
>    -v                         natural sort of (version) numbers within text\n\
> diff --git a/src/mktemp.c b/src/mktemp.c
> index aef140a..04342c3 100644
> --- a/src/mktemp.c
> +++ b/src/mktemp.c
> @@ -81,14 +81,14 @@ Files are created u+rw, and directories u+rwx, minus 
> umask restrictions.\n\
>    -q, --quiet         suppress diagnostics about file/dir-creation failure\n\
>  "), stdout);
>        fputs (_("\
> -      --suffix=SUFF   append SUFF to TEMPLATE.  SUFF must not contain 
> slash.\n\
> -                        This option is implied if TEMPLATE does not end in 
> X.\n\
> +      --suffix=SUFF   append SUFF to TEMPLATE; SUFF must not contain a 
> slash;\n\
> +                        this option is implied if TEMPLATE does not end in 
> X\n\

-1 First ; OK, second doesn't seem right.

>  "), stdout);
>        fputs (_("\
> -      --tmpdir[=DIR]  interpret TEMPLATE relative to DIR.  If DIR is not\n\
> -                        specified, use $TMPDIR if set, else /tmp.  With\n\
> -                        this option, TEMPLATE must not be an absolute 
> name.\n\
> -                        Unlike with -t, TEMPLATE may contain slashes, but\n\
> +      --tmpdir[=DIR]  interpret TEMPLATE relative to DIR; if DIR is not\n\
> +                        specified, use $TMPDIR if set, else /tmp; with\n\
> +                        this option, TEMPLATE must not be an absolute 
> name;\n\
> +                        unlike with -t, TEMPLATE may contain slashes, but\n\
>                          mktemp creates only the final component\n\

-1 The second ; doesn't seem right. Best to have 2 sentences here?

>  "), stdout);
>        fputs ("\n", stdout);
> diff --git a/src/od.c b/src/od.c
> index 1c23401..5635d29 100644
> --- a/src/od.c
> +++ b/src/od.c
> @@ -316,18 +316,18 @@ suffixes may be . for octal and b for multiply by 
> 512.\n\
>        emit_mandatory_arg_note ();
>  
>        fputs (_("\
> -  -A, --address-radix=RADIX   output format for file offsets.  RADIX is 
> one\n\
> +  -A, --address-radix=RADIX   output format for file offsets; RADIX is one\n\
>                                  of [doxn], for Decimal, Octal, Hex or None\n\

+1

>    -j, --skip-bytes=BYTES      skip BYTES input bytes first\n\
>  "), stdout);
>        fputs (_("\
>    -N, --read-bytes=BYTES      limit dump to BYTES input bytes\n\
> -  -S BYTES, --strings[=BYTES]  output strings of at least BYTES graphic 
> chars.\
> +  -S BYTES, --strings[=BYTES]  output strings of at least BYTES graphic 
> chars;\
>  \n\
>                                  3 is implied when BYTES is not specified\n\

+1

>    -t, --format=TYPE           select output format or formats\n\
>    -v, --output-duplicates     do not use * to mark line suppression\n\
> -  -w[BYTES], --width[=BYTES]  output BYTES bytes per output line.\n\
> +  -w[BYTES], --width[=BYTES]  output BYTES bytes per output line;\n\
>                                  32 is implied when BYTES is not specified\n\

+1

>        --traditional           accept arguments in third form above\n\
>  "), stdout);
> diff --git a/src/ptx.c b/src/ptx.c
> index f993673..49ea7a3 100644
> --- a/src/ptx.c
> +++ b/src/ptx.c
> @@ -1853,7 +1853,7 @@ Output a permuted index, including context, of the 
> words in the input files.\n\
>        fputs (VERSION_OPTION_DESCRIPTION, stdout);
>        fputs (_("\
>  \n\
> -With no FILE or if FILE is -, read Standard Input.  '-F /' by default.\n\
> +With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.  Default is '-F /'.\n\

+1

>  "), stdout);
>        emit_ancillary_info ();
>      }
> diff --git a/src/setuidgid.c b/src/setuidgid.c
> index ed6b65d..4a72a15 100644
> --- a/src/setuidgid.c
> +++ b/src/setuidgid.c
> @@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ This program is useful only when run by root (user ID 
> zero).\n\
>  "), stdout);
>        fputs (_("\
>    -g GID[,GID1...]  also set the primary group-ID to the numeric GID, and\n\
> -                    (if specified) supplemental group IDs to GID1, ...\n\
> +                      (if specified) supplemental group IDs to GID1, ...\n\

+1

>  "), stdout);
>        fputs (HELP_OPTION_DESCRIPTION, stdout);
>        fputs (VERSION_OPTION_DESCRIPTION, stdout);
> diff --git a/src/split.c b/src/split.c
> index feabe39..f740652 100644
> --- a/src/split.c
> +++ b/src/split.c
> @@ -215,15 +215,15 @@ is -, read standard input.\n\
>  
>        fprintf (stdout, _("\
>    -a, --suffix-length=N   generate suffixes of length N (default %d)\n\
> -      --additional-suffix=SUFFIX  append an additional SUFFIX to file 
> names.\n\
> +      --additional-suffix=SUFFIX  append an additional SUFFIX to file 
> names\n\

+1

>    -b, --bytes=SIZE        put SIZE bytes per output file\n\
>    -C, --line-bytes=SIZE   put at most SIZE bytes of lines per output file\n\
> -  -d, --numeric-suffixes[=FROM]  use numeric suffixes instead of 
> alphabetic.\n\
> -                                   FROM changes the start value (default 
> 0).\n\
> +  -d, --numeric-suffixes[=FROM]  use numeric suffixes instead of 
> alphabetic;\n\
> +                                   FROM changes the start value (default 
> 0)\n\

+1

>    -e, --elide-empty-files  do not generate empty output files with '-n'\n\
>        --filter=COMMAND    write to shell COMMAND; file name is $FILE\n\
>    -l, --lines=NUMBER      put NUMBER lines per output file\n\
> -  -n, --number=CHUNKS     generate CHUNKS output files.  See below\n\
> +  -n, --number=CHUNKS     generate CHUNKS output files; see explanation 
> below\n\

+1

>    -u, --unbuffered        immediately copy input to output with '-n r/...'\n\
>  "), DEFAULT_SUFFIX_LENGTH);
>        fputs (_("\
> diff --git a/src/stat.c b/src/stat.c
> index 0a6497b..ce0aec8 100644
> --- a/src/stat.c
> +++ b/src/stat.c
> @@ -1368,8 +1368,8 @@ Display file or file system status.\n\
>    -c  --format=FORMAT   use the specified FORMAT instead of the default;\n\
>                            output a newline after each use of FORMAT\n\
>        --printf=FORMAT   like --format, but interpret backslash escapes,\n\
> -                          and do not output a mandatory trailing newline.\n\
> -                          If you want a newline, include \\n in FORMAT\n\
> +                          and do not output a mandatory trailing newline;\n\
> +                          if you want a newline, include \\n in FORMAT\n\

+1

>    -t, --terse           print the information in terse form\n\
>  "), stdout);
>        fputs (HELP_OPTION_DESCRIPTION, stdout);
> diff --git a/src/tail.c b/src/tail.c
> index 0f1a37c..e3d8b40 100644
> --- a/src/tail.c
> +++ b/src/tail.c
> @@ -269,24 +269,23 @@ With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.\n\
>  
>       fputs (_("\
>    -c, --bytes=K            output the last K bytes; alternatively, use -c 
> +K\n\
> -                           to output bytes starting with the Kth of each 
> file\n\
> +                             to output bytes starting with the Kth of each 
> file\n\

+1

>  "), stdout);
>       fputs (_("\
>    -f, --follow[={name|descriptor}]\n\
>                             output appended data as the file grows;\n\
> -                           -f, --follow, and --follow=descriptor are\n\
> -                           equivalent\n\
> +                             --follow equals --follow=descriptor\n\

+1

>    -F                       same as --follow=name --retry\n\
>  "), stdout);
>       printf (_("\
>    -n, --lines=K            output the last K lines, instead of the last 
> %d;\n\
> -                           or use -n +K to output lines starting with the 
> Kth\n\
> +                             or use -n +K to output lines starting with the 
> Kth\n\

+1

>        --max-unchanged-stats=N\n\
>                             with --follow=name, reopen a FILE which has not\n\
> -                           changed size after N (default %d) iterations\n\
> -                           to see if it has been unlinked or renamed\n\
> -                           (this is the usual case of rotated log files).\n\
> -                           With inotify, this option is rarely useful.\n\
> +                             changed size after N (default %d) iterations\n\
> +                             to see if it has been unlinked or renamed\n\
> +                             (this is the usual case of rotated log 
> files);\n\
> +                             with inotify, this option is rarely useful\n\

+1

>  "),
>               DEFAULT_N_LINES,
>               DEFAULT_MAX_N_UNCHANGED_STATS_BETWEEN_OPENS
> @@ -298,9 +297,9 @@ With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.\n\
>  "), stdout);
>       fputs (_("\
>    -s, --sleep-interval=N   with -f, sleep for approximately N seconds\n\
> -                             (default 1.0) between iterations.\n\
> -                             With inotify and --pid=P, check process P at\n\
> -                             least once every N seconds.\n\
> +                             (default 1.0) between iterations;\n\
> +                             with inotify and --pid=P, check process P at\n\
> +                             least once every N seconds\n\

+1

>    -v, --verbose            always output headers giving file names\n\
>  "), stdout);
>       fputs (HELP_OPTION_DESCRIPTION, stdout);
> diff --git a/src/timeout.c b/src/timeout.c
> index 2ffd2b1..a121540 100644
> --- a/src/timeout.c
> +++ b/src/timeout.c
> @@ -235,18 +235,18 @@ Start COMMAND, and kill it if still running after 
> DURATION.\n\
>        fputs (_("\
>        --preserve-status\n\
>                   exit with the same status as COMMAND, even when the\n\
> -                 command times out\n\
> +                   command times out\n\

+1 Given the length of the --long-options-which-delimit each entry,
the identation doesn't improve readability here, but it's good to be consistent.

>        --foreground\n\
> -                 When not running timeout directly from a shell prompt,\n\
> -                 allow COMMAND to read from the TTY and receive TTY 
> signals.\n\
> -                 In this mode, children of COMMAND will not be timed out.\n\
> +                 when not running timeout directly from a shell prompt,\n\
> +                   allow COMMAND to read from the TTY and receive TTY 
> signals;\n\
> +                   in this mode, children of COMMAND will not be timed out\n\

+1

>    -k, --kill-after=DURATION\n\
>                   also send a KILL signal if COMMAND is still running\n\
> -                 this long after the initial signal was sent.\n\
> +                   this long after the initial signal was sent\n\

+1

>    -s, --signal=SIGNAL\n\
> -                 specify the signal to be sent on timeout.\n\
> -                 SIGNAL may be a name like 'HUP' or a number.\n\
> -                 See 'kill -l' for a list of signals\n"), stdout);
> +                 specify the signal to be sent on timeout;\n\
> +                   SIGNAL may be a name like 'HUP' or a number;\n\
> +                   see 'kill -l' for a list of signals\n"), stdout);

+1


thanks!
Pádraig.





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