12/21/22 00:24, Jason McIntyre пишет:
> On Tue, Dec 20, 2022 at 06:24:45PM +0000, Klemens Nanni wrote:
> expr(1) is a good example. i think it doesn;t matter that expr can take
> one arg or many.

But it does, which is why the expr(1) could be considered a bug fix:

        $ expr '1 + 2'
        1 + 2
        $ expr 1 + 2
        3

This is the difference between `expression' and `expression ...'.
DESCRIPTION explains that expressions must be one per argument.

> when we want to descrive it at its basic level, we just
> want to say that it "evalautes expression". jumping through formatting
> hoops to try and indicate that more than one expression is possible is
> pointless. let's try and make the text clear and simple, and let
> formatting come second. here's some ideas:
> 
> -     The
>       .Nm
>       utility evaluates
>       .Ar expression
>        and writes ...
> 
> in this case we leave the reader to understand that SYNOPSIS and the
> description all clearly show that more than one arg is possible. nice
> and simple. this gets my vote.
> 
> -     The
>       .Nm
>       utility evaluates one or more
>       .Ar expression
>        and writes ...
> 
> now we are spelling it out. it is less ambiguous than the first example,
> but reads badly (one or more expression)
> 
> -     The
>       .Nme
>       utility evaluates one or more expressions and writes ...
> 
> that reads better than the last example, but it misses the chance to
> link "expression" as the argument name, and people will complain.
> 
> i am really ok with any of these. but i don;t like "Ar expression Ns s"
> here because it both reads badly and formats ugly. i'm not saying we
> can't use "Ar .* Ns s", just that we should think about not using it
> willy nilly.

I'm fine with just not doing the Ns hoop and writing argument names as
regular words without markups in those sentences.

> 
>> Index: sbin/route/route.8
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/sbin/route/route.8,v
>> retrieving revision 1.106
>> diff -u -p -r1.106 route.8
>> --- sbin/route/route.8       19 Nov 2022 19:23:37 -0000      1.106
>> +++ sbin/route/route.8       20 Dec 2022 17:23:09 -0000
>> @@ -42,8 +42,8 @@
>>  .Op Fl T Ar rtable
>>  .Ar command
>>  .Oo
>> -.Op Ar modifiers
>> -.Ar args
>> +.Op Ar modifier ...
>> +.Ar arg ...
>>  .Oc
>>  .Sh DESCRIPTION
>>  .Nm
>> @@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ option.
>>  .Op Fl T Ar rtable
>>  .Tg
>>  .Cm flush
>> -.Op Ar modifiers
>> +.Op Ar modifier ...
>>  .Xc
>>  Delete all gateway entries from the routing table.
>>  When the address family is specified by any one of the
>> @@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ modifiers.
>>  .Op Fl T Ar rtable
>>  .Tg
>>  .Cm get
>> -.Op Ar modifiers
>> +.Op Ar modifier ...
>>  .Ar address
>>  .Xc
>>  Extract a routing entry from the kernel.
>> @@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ same address family as the destination a
>>  .Op Fl T Ar rtable
>>  .Tg
>>  .Cm monitor
>> -.Op Ar modifiers
>> +.Op Ar modifier ...
>>  .Xc
>>  Continuously report any changes to the routing information base,
>>  routing lookup misses, or suspected network partitionings.
>> @@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ have the syntax:
>>  .Op Fl T Ar rtable
>>  .Tg
>>  .Cm add
>> -.Op Ar modifiers
>> +.Op Ar modifier ...
>>  .Ar destination gateway
>>  .Xc
>>  .It Xo
>> @@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ have the syntax:
>>  .Op Fl T Ar rtable
>>  .Tg
>>  .Cm change
>> -.Op Ar modifiers
>> +.Op Ar modifier ...
>>  .Ar destination gateway
>>  .Xc
>>  .It Xo
>> @@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ have the syntax:
>>  .Tg delete
>>  .Tg
>>  .Cm del Ns Op Cm ete
>> -.Op Ar modifiers
>> +.Op Ar modifier ...
>>  .Ar destination gateway
>>  .Xc
>>  .El
>> Index: sbin/route/route.c
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/sbin/route/route.c,v
>> retrieving revision 1.260
>> diff -u -p -r1.260 route.c
>> --- sbin/route/route.c       10 Nov 2021 20:24:22 -0000      1.260
>> +++ sbin/route/route.c       20 Dec 2022 17:23:06 -0000
>> @@ -135,9 +135,9 @@ usage(char *cp)
>>              warnx("botched keyword: %s", cp);
>>      fprintf(stderr,
>>  #ifndef SMALL
>> -        "usage: %s [-dnqtv] [-T rtable] command [[modifiers] args]\n",
>> +        "usage: %s [-dnqtv] [-T rtable] command [[modifier ...] arg ...]\n",
>>  #else
>> -        "usage: %s [-dnqtv] command [[modifiers] args]\n",
>> +        "usage: %s [-dnqtv] command [[modifier ...] arg ...]\n",
>>  #endif
>>          __progname);
>>      exit(1);
>> Index: usr.bin/cdio/cdio.1
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.bin/cdio/cdio.1,v
>> retrieving revision 1.67
>> diff -u -p -r1.67 cdio.1
>> --- usr.bin/cdio/cdio.1      31 Mar 2022 17:27:24 -0000      1.67
>> +++ usr.bin/cdio/cdio.1      20 Dec 2022 17:17:52 -0000
>> @@ -40,7 +40,7 @@
>>  .Op Fl sv
>>  .Op Fl d Ar host : Ns Ar port
>>  .Op Fl f Ar device
>> -.Op Ar command args ...
>> +.Op Ar command Op Ar arg ...
>>  .Sh DESCRIPTION
>>  The
>>  .Nm
>> Index: usr.bin/cdio/cdio.c
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.bin/cdio/cdio.c,v
>> retrieving revision 1.84
>> diff -u -p -r1.84 cdio.c
>> --- usr.bin/cdio/cdio.c      15 Feb 2022 08:17:50 -0000      1.84
>> +++ usr.bin/cdio/cdio.c      20 Dec 2022 17:18:39 -0000
>> @@ -227,7 +227,8 @@ help(void)
>>  void
>>  usage(void)
>>  {
>> -    fprintf(stderr, "usage: %s [-sv] [-d host:port] [-f device] [command 
>> args ...]\n",
>> +    fprintf(stderr, "usage: %s [-sv] [-d host:port] [-f device] "
>> +        "[command [arg ...]]\n",
>>          __progname);
>>      exit(1);
>>  }
>> Index: usr.bin/csplit/csplit.1
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.bin/csplit/csplit.1,v
>> retrieving revision 1.12
>> diff -u -p -r1.12 csplit.1
>> --- usr.bin/csplit/csplit.1  24 Oct 2015 15:32:50 -0000      1.12
>> +++ usr.bin/csplit/csplit.1  20 Dec 2022 17:27:24 -0000
>> @@ -37,14 +37,15 @@
>>  .Op Fl ks
>>  .Op Fl f Ar prefix
>>  .Op Fl n Ar number
>> -.Ar file args ...
>> +.Ar file
>> +.Ar arg ...
> 
> it's no biggie i guess, but it was simpler on one line. what is gained
> by splitting it?

`.Ar file args ...' could be read as "many file-args" whereas this is
"one file and many args".

> 
>>  .Sh DESCRIPTION
>>  The
>>  .Nm
>>  utility splits
>>  .Ar file
>>  into pieces using the patterns
>> -.Ar args .
>> +.Ar arg Ns s .
> 
> i think we should just say "the pattern Ar arg".
> 
>>  If
>>  .Ar file
>>  is
>> @@ -92,7 +93,7 @@ created.
>>  .El
>>  .Pp
>>  The
>> -.Ar args
>> +.Ar arg Ns s
> 
> ditto
> 
>>  operands may be a combination of the following patterns:
>>  .Bl -tag -width indent
>>  .It Xo
>> Index: usr.bin/csplit/csplit.c
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.bin/csplit/csplit.c,v
>> retrieving revision 1.10
>> diff -u -p -r1.10 csplit.c
>> --- usr.bin/csplit/csplit.c  8 Jul 2021 00:38:42 -0000       1.10
>> +++ usr.bin/csplit/csplit.c  20 Dec 2022 17:26:11 -0000
>> @@ -214,7 +214,7 @@ usage(void)
>>      extern char *__progname;
>>  
>>      fprintf(stderr,
>> -        "usage: %s [-ks] [-f prefix] [-n number] file args ...\n",
>> +        "usage: %s [-ks] [-f prefix] [-n number] file arg ...\n",
>>          __progname);
>>      exit(1);
>>  }
>> Index: usr.bin/doas/doas.1
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.bin/doas/doas.1,v
>> retrieving revision 1.25
>> diff -u -p -r1.25 doas.1
>> --- usr.bin/doas/doas.1      16 Jan 2021 09:18:41 -0000      1.25
>> +++ usr.bin/doas/doas.1      20 Dec 2022 17:13:09 -0000
>> @@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
>>  .Op Fl C Ar config
>>  .Op Fl u Ar user
>>  .Ar command
>> -.Op Ar args
>> +.Op Ar arg ...
>>  .Sh DESCRIPTION
>>  The
>>  .Nm
>> Index: usr.bin/doas/doas.c
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.bin/doas/doas.c,v
>> retrieving revision 1.97
>> diff -u -p -r1.97 doas.c
>> --- usr.bin/doas/doas.c      22 Mar 2022 20:36:49 -0000      1.97
>> +++ usr.bin/doas/doas.c      20 Dec 2022 17:13:31 -0000
>> @@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ static void __dead
>>  usage(void)
>>  {
>>      fprintf(stderr, "usage: doas [-Lns] [-a style] [-C config] [-u user]"
>> -        " command [args]\n");
>> +        " command [arg ...]\n");
>>      exit(1);
>>  }
>>  
>> Index: usr.bin/mandoc/mandoc.1
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.bin/mandoc/mandoc.1,v
>> retrieving revision 1.189
>> diff -u -p -r1.189 mandoc.1
>> --- usr.bin/mandoc/mandoc.1  2 Aug 2022 11:55:51 -0000       1.189
>> +++ usr.bin/mandoc/mandoc.1  20 Dec 2022 17:58:29 -0000
>> @@ -765,7 +765,7 @@ Messages displayed by
>>  follow this format:
>>  .Bd -ragged -offset indent
>>  .Nm :
>> -.Ar file : Ns Ar line : Ns Ar column : level : message : macro arguments
>> +.Ar file : Ns Ar line : Ns Ar column : level : message : macro argument ...
>>  .Pq Ar os
>>  .Ed
>>  .Pp
>> @@ -786,7 +786,7 @@ strings are explained below.
>>  The name of the
>>  .Ar macro
>>  triggering the message and its
>> -.Ar arguments
>> +.Ar argument Ns s
> 
> i would not use Ar in either of these (macro/argument) but i know it's
> the firing squad for heresy
> 
>>  are omitted where meaningless.
>>  The
>>  .Ar os
>> Index: usr.bin/openssl/openssl.1
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.bin/openssl/openssl.1,v
>> retrieving revision 1.139
>> diff -u -p -r1.139 openssl.1
>> --- usr.bin/openssl/openssl.1        19 Jul 2022 16:08:09 -0000      1.139
>> +++ usr.bin/openssl/openssl.1        20 Dec 2022 17:35:52 -0000
>> @@ -119,8 +119,8 @@
>>  .Sh SYNOPSIS
>>  .Nm
>>  .Ar command
>> -.Op Ar command_opts
>> -.Op Ar command_args
>> +.Op Ar command_opt ...
>> +.Op Ar command_arg ...
>>  .Pp
>>  .Nm
>>  .Cm list-standard-commands |
>> Index: usr.bin/su/su.1
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.bin/su/su.1,v
>> retrieving revision 1.37
>> diff -u -p -r1.37 su.1
>> --- usr.bin/su/su.1  8 Jul 2020 16:05:27 -0000       1.37
>> +++ usr.bin/su/su.1  20 Dec 2022 17:49:51 -0000
>> @@ -42,7 +42,7 @@
>>  .Op Fl a Ar auth-type
>>  .Op Fl c Ar login-class
>>  .Op Fl s Ar login-shell
>> -.Op Ar login Op Ar "shell arguments"
>> +.Op Ar login Op Ar shell-argument ...
>>  .Ek
>>  .Sh DESCRIPTION
>>  The
>> @@ -168,8 +168,8 @@ and
>>  options are mutually exclusive; the last one specified
>>  overrides any previous ones.
>>  .Pp
>> -If the optional
>> -.Ar "shell arguments"
>> +If
>> +.Ar shell-argument Ns s
> 
> again, i would not mark this up
> 
>>  are provided on the command line, they are passed to the login shell of
>>  the target login.
>>  This allows it to pass arbitrary commands via the
>> Index: usr.bin/su/su.c
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.bin/su/su.c,v
>> retrieving revision 1.88
>> diff -u -p -r1.88 su.c
>> --- usr.bin/su/su.c  23 Mar 2022 02:18:22 -0000      1.88
>> +++ usr.bin/su/su.c  20 Dec 2022 17:48:18 -0000
>> @@ -487,7 +487,7 @@ usage(void)
>>  
>>      fprintf(stderr, "usage: %s [-fKLlm] [-a auth-type] [-c login-class] "
>>          "[-s login-shell]\n"
>> -        "%-*s[login [shell arguments]]\n", __progname,
>> +        "%-*s[login [shell-argument ...]]\n", __progname,
>>          (int)strlen(__progname) + 8, "");
>>      exit(1);
>>  }
>> Index: usr.bin/time/time.1
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.bin/time/time.1,v
>> retrieving revision 1.21
>> diff -u -p -r1.21 time.1
>> --- usr.bin/time/time.1      1 Jan 2019 16:17:03 -0000       1.21
>> +++ usr.bin/time/time.1      20 Dec 2022 17:53:54 -0000
>> @@ -46,7 +46,7 @@
>>  executes and times
>>  .Ar utility
>>  with optional
>> -.Ar arguments .
>> +.Ar argument Ns s .
>>  After the
>>  .Ar utility
>>  finishes,
> 
> i suppose text like this is showing us why the authors used "arguments"
> rather than "argument". it is natural, in some cases. here i would
> probably let the Ns s slide.
> 
>> Index: usr.bin/timeout/timeout.1
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.bin/timeout/timeout.1,v
>> retrieving revision 1.3
>> diff -u -p -r1.3 timeout.1
>> --- usr.bin/timeout/timeout.1        4 Sep 2021 11:58:31 -0000       1.3
>> +++ usr.bin/timeout/timeout.1        20 Dec 2022 17:14:36 -0000
>> @@ -41,14 +41,12 @@
>>  .Op Fl -preserve-status
>>  .Ar duration
>>  .Ar command
>> -.Op Ar args
>> +.Op Ar arg ...
>>  .Sh DESCRIPTION
>>  The
>>  .Nm
>>  utility executes
>> -.Ar command ,
>> -with any
>> -.Ar args ,
>> +.Ar command
>>  and kills it if it is still running after the
>>  specified
>>  .Ar duration .
>> Index: usr.bin/timeout/timeout.c
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.bin/timeout/timeout.c,v
>> retrieving revision 1.21
>> diff -u -p -r1.21 timeout.c
>> --- usr.bin/timeout/timeout.c        2 Jul 2022 19:00:35 -0000       1.21
>> +++ usr.bin/timeout/timeout.c        20 Dec 2022 17:14:52 -0000
>> @@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ usage(void)
>>      fprintf(stderr,
>>          "usage: timeout [-k time] [-s sig] [--foreground]"
>>          " [--preserve-status] duration\n"
>> -        "               command [args]\n");
>> +        "               command [arg ...]\n");
>>  
>>      exit(1);
>>  }
>> Index: usr.bin/tmux/tmux.1
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.bin/tmux/tmux.1,v
>> retrieving revision 1.909
>> diff -u -p -r1.909 tmux.1
>> --- usr.bin/tmux/tmux.1      16 Dec 2022 08:13:40 -0000      1.909
>> +++ usr.bin/tmux/tmux.1      20 Dec 2022 18:03:28 -0000
>> @@ -961,7 +961,7 @@ Will run
>>  directly without invoking the shell.
>>  .Pp
>>  .Ar command
>> -.Op Ar arguments
>> +.Op Ar argument ...
>>  refers to a
>>  .Nm
>>  command, either passed with the command and arguments separately, for 
>> example:
>> @@ -1538,8 +1538,7 @@ show debugging information about jobs an
>>  .Tg source
>>  .It Xo Ic source-file
>>  .Op Fl Fnqv
>> -.Ar path
>> -.Ar ...
>> +.Ar path ...
>>  .Xc
>>  .D1 Pq alias: Ic source
>>  Execute commands from one or more files specified by
>> @@ -3120,7 +3119,7 @@ Commands related to key bindings are as 
>>  .Op Fl nr
>>  .Op Fl N Ar note
>>  .Op Fl T Ar key-table
>> -.Ar key command Op Ar arguments
>> +.Ar key command Op Ar argument ...
>>  .Xc
>>  .D1 Pq alias: Ic bind
>>  Bind key
>> @@ -3216,7 +3215,7 @@ lists the command for keys that do not h
>>  .Op Fl c Ar target-client
>>  .Op Fl N Ar repeat-count
>>  .Op Fl t Ar target-pane
>> -.Ar key Ar ...
>> +.Ar key ...
>>  .Xc
>>  .D1 Pq alias: Ic send
>>  Send a key or keys to a window or client.
>> @@ -5821,8 +5820,7 @@ until it is dismissed.
>>  .Op Fl y Ar position
>>  .Ar name
>>  .Ar key
>> -.Ar command
>> -.Ar ...
>> +.Ar command Op Ar argument ...
>>  .Xc
>>  .D1 Pq alias: Ic menu
>>  Display a menu on
>> Index: usr.bin/tput/tput.1
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.bin/tput/tput.1,v
>> retrieving revision 1.25
>> diff -u -p -r1.25 tput.1
>> --- usr.bin/tput/tput.1      25 Jul 2022 02:25:56 -0000      1.25
>> +++ usr.bin/tput/tput.1      20 Dec 2022 17:33:35 -0000
>> @@ -41,7 +41,7 @@
>>  .Nm tput
>>  .Op Fl T Ar term
>>  .Ar attribute
>> -.Op Ar attribute-args
>> +.Op Ar attribute-arg ...
>>  .Ar ...
>>  .Nm tput
>>  .Op Fl T Ar term
>> Index: usr.bin/tput/tput.c
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.bin/tput/tput.c,v
>> retrieving revision 1.25
>> diff -u -p -r1.25 tput.c
>> --- usr.bin/tput/tput.c      4 Dec 2022 23:50:49 -0000       1.25
>> +++ usr.bin/tput/tput.c      20 Dec 2022 17:33:51 -0000
>> @@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ usage(void)
>>              (void)fprintf(stderr, "usage: %s [-T term]\n", __progname);
>>      else
>>              (void)fprintf(stderr,
>> -                "usage: %s [-T term] attribute [attribute-args] ...\n"
>> +                "usage: %s [-T term] attribute [attribute-arg ...] ...\n"
>>                  "       %s [-T term] -S\n", __progname, __progname);
>>      exit(1);
>>  }
>> Index: usr.sbin/bgpctl/bgpctl.8
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.sbin/bgpctl/bgpctl.8,v
>> retrieving revision 1.102
>> diff -u -p -r1.102 bgpctl.8
>> --- usr.sbin/bgpctl/bgpctl.8 17 Oct 2022 15:04:12 -0000      1.102
>> +++ usr.sbin/bgpctl/bgpctl.8 20 Dec 2022 17:51:20 -0000
>> @@ -127,21 +127,21 @@ Bring the BGP session to the specified n
>>  may be the neighbor's address, description or the word
>>  .Cm group
>>  followed by a group description.
>> -.It Cm network add Ar prefix Op Ar arguments
>> +.It Cm network add Ar prefix Op Ar argument ...
>>  Add the specified prefix to the list of announced networks.
>>  It is possible to set various path attributes with additional
>> -.Ar arguments .
>> +.Ar argument Ns s .
> 
> would not mark up
> 
>>  Adding a prefix will replace an existing equal prefix, including
>>  prefixes loaded from the configuration.
>>  .It Xo
>>  .Cm network bulk
>> -.Op Ar arguments
>> +.Op Ar argument ...
>>  .Op Cm add
>>  .Xc
>>  Bulk add specified prefixes to the list of announced networks.
>>  Prefixes should be sent via stdin.
>>  It is possible to set various path attributes with additional
>> -.Ar arguments .
>> +.Ar argument Ns s .
> 
> would not mark up
> 
>>  If neither
>>  .Cm add
>>  or
>> Index: usr.sbin/bgpd/bgpd.conf.5
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.sbin/bgpd/bgpd.conf.5,v
>> retrieving revision 1.226
>> diff -u -p -r1.226 bgpd.conf.5
>> --- usr.sbin/bgpd/bgpd.conf.5        21 Jul 2022 12:34:19 -0000      1.226
>> +++ usr.sbin/bgpd/bgpd.conf.5        20 Dec 2022 17:53:14 -0000
>> @@ -730,7 +730,7 @@ More than one
>>  .Ic import-target
>>  can be specified.
>>  .Pp
>> -.It Ic network Ar arguments ...
>> +.It Ic network Ar argument ...
>>  Announce the given networks within this VPN;
>>  see the
>>  .Sx NETWORK ANNOUNCEMENTS
>> Index: usr.sbin/btrace/btrace.8
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.sbin/btrace/btrace.8,v
>> retrieving revision 1.7
>> diff -u -p -r1.7 btrace.8
>> --- usr.sbin/btrace/btrace.8 1 May 2022 20:23:11 -0000       1.7
>> +++ usr.sbin/btrace/btrace.8 20 Dec 2022 17:54:17 -0000
>> @@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ It interprets the
>>  program in
>>  .Ar file
>>  with optional
>> -.Ar arguments
>> +.Ar argument Ns s
> 
> would not mark up
> 
>>  and communicates with the dynamic tracer device using the interface 
>> described in
>>  .Xr dt 4 .
>>  .Pp
>> Index: usr.sbin/rcctl/rcctl.8
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.sbin/rcctl/rcctl.8,v
>> retrieving revision 1.42
>> diff -u -p -r1.42 rcctl.8
>> --- usr.sbin/rcctl/rcctl.8   13 Sep 2022 06:20:38 -0000      1.42
>> +++ usr.sbin/rcctl/rcctl.8   20 Dec 2022 17:41:46 -0000
>> @@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
>>  .Sh SYNOPSIS
>>  .Nm rcctl
>>  .Cm get Ns | Ns Cm getdef Ns | Ns Cm set
>> -.Ar service | daemon Op Ar variable Op Ar arguments
>> +.Ar service | daemon Op Ar variable Op Ar argument ...
>>  .Nm rcctl
>>  .Op Fl df
>>  .Sm off
>> @@ -146,17 +146,17 @@ command is only needed after enabling a 
>>  that needs to run before one or more already enabled daemons.
>>  Specify the new daemon preceded by all that need to run before it,
>>  but not the ones depending on it.
>> -.It Cm set Ar service | daemon variable Op Ar arguments
>> +.It Cm set Ar service | daemon variable Op Ar argument ...
>>  For a daemon, set the variable
>>  .Ar daemon Ns _ Ns Ar variable
>>  to the specified
>> -.Ar arguments .
>> +.Ar argument Ns s .
> 
> would not mark up
> 
>>  If
>>  .Ar variable
>>  is already set,
>>  .Ar daemon Ns _ Ns Ar variable
>>  is reset to the optionally provided
>> -.Ar arguments
>> +.Ar argument Ns s
> 
> would not mark up
> 
>>  or to its default value.
>>  .Pp
>>  The
>> @@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ must be provided with the
>>  .Cm on
>>  or
>>  .Cm off
>> -.Ar arguments .
>> +.Ar argument Ns s .
> 
> would not mark up
> 
>>  It is used to enable or disable
>>  .Ar service
>>  or
>> Index: usr.sbin/rcctl/rcctl.sh
>> ===================================================================
>> RCS file: /cvs/src/usr.sbin/rcctl/rcctl.sh,v
>> retrieving revision 1.114
>> diff -u -p -r1.114 rcctl.sh
>> --- usr.sbin/rcctl/rcctl.sh  1 Sep 2022 07:25:32 -0000       1.114
>> +++ usr.sbin/rcctl/rcctl.sh  20 Dec 2022 17:43:01 -0000
>> @@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ usage()
>>      for _i in ${_rc_actions}; do _a="$(echo -n ${_i}${_a:+|${_a}})"; done
>>  
>>      _rc_err \
>> -    "usage: rcctl get|getdef|set service | daemon [variable [arguments]]
>> +    "usage: rcctl get|getdef|set service | daemon [variable [argument ...]]
>>      rcctl [-df] ${_a} daemon ...
>>      rcctl disable|enable|order [daemon ...]
>>      rcctl ls all|failed|off|on|rogue|started|stopped"
>>
> 
> after rereading my mail, i think what i want to say is i think we
> sometimes tie ourselves in knots trying to make the text accoutn for
> every eventuality. but i think it's simpler just to say what happens
> normally, so people understand, then get in to the detail about well
> this affects that, or this can be altered by doing that.
> 
> in another comparison, look at ls(1) (always a good one to pull out):
> 
>     DESCRIPTION
>        For each operand that names a file of a type ...
> 
> no one would want
> 
>     DESCRIPTION
>        For each operand that names any file/s/ of a type ...
> 
> like you can work out that more than one argument is possible. and when
> you say up front what ls does, you don;t need to say that it can be
> altered using the -x, -y, or -z options.

That's true.  I'll resend a simpler diff tomorrow.

> 
> jmc
> 

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