[PATCH 1/5] manual pages: adjtime_config.5: format pathname with .I

[PATCH 1/5] manual pages: adjtime_config.5: format pathname with .I

[Michael Kerrisk (man-pages)]

Signed-off-by: Michael Kerrisk (man-pages) <mtk.manpages@gmail.com>
---
 sys-utils/adjtime_config.5 | 2 +-
 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)

diff --git a/sys-utils/adjtime_config.5 b/sys-utils/adjtime_config.5
index 0166461c4..f78b40f36 100644
--- a/sys-utils/adjtime_config.5
+++ b/sys-utils/adjtime_config.5
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ adjtime \- information about hardware clock setting and drift factor
 .I /etc/adjtime
 .SH DESCRIPTION
 The file
-.B /etc/adjtime
+.I /etc/adjtime
 contains descriptive information about the hardware mode clock setting and clock drift factor.
 The file is read and write by hwclock; and read by programs like rtcwake to get RTC time mode.
 .PP
-- 
2.26.2

[PATCH 2/5] Manual pages: login.1: SEE ALSO: add utmp(5), lastlog(8)

[Michael Kerrisk (man-pages)]

utmp and lastlog are referred to in the manual page, and thus deserve a
cross references in SEE ALSO.

Signed-off-by: Michael Kerrisk (man-pages) <mtk.manpages@gmail.com>
---
 login-utils/login.1 | 2 ++
 1 file changed, 2 insertions(+)

diff --git a/login-utils/login.1 b/login-utils/login.1
index 57959d45f..3c72480c5 100644
--- a/login-utils/login.1
+++ b/login-utils/login.1
@@ -376,9 +376,11 @@ Karel Zak
 .BR mail (1),
 .BR passwd (1),
 .BR passwd (5),
+.BR utmp (5),
 .BR environ (7),
 .BR getty (8),
 .BR init (8),
+.BR lastlog (8)
 .BR shutdown (8)
 .SH AVAILABILITY
 The login command is part of the util-linux package and is
-- 
2.26.2

[PATCH 3/5] Manual pages: login.1: formatting fixes

[Michael Kerrisk (man-pages)]

Bold for command names; italic for pathnames, etc.

Signed-off-by: Michael Kerrisk (man-pages) <mtk.manpages@gmail.com>
---
 login-utils/login.1 | 48 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++------------
 1 file changed, 35 insertions(+), 13 deletions(-)

diff --git a/login-utils/login.1 b/login-utils/login.1
index 3c72480c5..f3938b571 100644
--- a/login-utils/login.1
+++ b/login-utils/login.1
@@ -131,7 +131,9 @@ Used by other servers (i.e.,
 to tell
 .B login
 that printing the hostname should be suppressed in the login: prompt.
-See also LOGIN_PLAIN_PROMPT below if your server does not allow to configure
+See also
+.B LOGIN_PLAIN_PROMPT
+below if your server does not allow to configure
 .B login
 command line.
 .TP
@@ -147,7 +149,7 @@ reads the
 configuration file.  Note that the configuration file could be
 distributed with another package (e.g., shadow-utils).  The following
 configuration items are relevant for
-.BR login (1):
+.BR login :
 .PP
 .B MOTD_FILE
 (string)
@@ -173,12 +175,17 @@ are supported since version 2.36.
 Note that
 .B login
 does not implement any filenames overriding behavior like pam_motd
-(see also MOTD_FIRSTONLY), but all content from all files is displayed.  It is
-recommended to keep extra logic in content generators and use /run/motd.d rather
+(see also
+.BR MOTD_FIRSTONLY ),
+but all content from all files is displayed.  It is
+recommended to keep extra logic in content generators and use
+.I /run/motd.d
+rather
 than rely on overriding behavior hardcoded in system tools.
 .RE
 .PP
-.B MOTD_FIRSTONLY (boolean)
+.B MOTD_FIRSTONLY
+(boolean)
 .RS 4
 Forces
 .B login
@@ -193,7 +200,9 @@ semantic to be more compatible with pam_motd.
 .B LOGIN_PLAIN_PROMPT
 (boolean)
 .RS 4
-Tell login that printing the hostname should be suppressed in the login:
+Tell
+.B login
+that printing the hostname should be suppressed in the login:
 prompt.  This is alternative to the \fB\-H\fR command line option.  The default
 value is
 .IR no .
@@ -286,12 +295,18 @@ to change directory to her home.  The default value is
 .B LASTLOG_UID_MAX
 (unsigned number)
 .RS 4
-Highest user ID number for which the lastlog entries should be
+Highest user ID number for which the
+.I lastlog
+entries should be
 updated.  As higher user IDs are usually tracked by remote user
 identity and authentication services there is no need to create
-a huge sparse lastlog file for them.  No LASTLOG_UID_MAX option
+a huge sparse
+.I lastlog
+file for them.  No LASTLOG_UID_MAX option
 present in the configuration means that there is no user ID limit
-for writing lastlog entries.
+for writing
+.I lastlog
+entries.
 .RE
 .PP
 .B LOG_UNKFAIL_ENAB
@@ -308,7 +323,9 @@ user enters her password instead of her login name.
 .B ENV_PATH
 (string)
 .RS 4
-If set, it will be used to define the PATH environment variable when
+If set, it will be used to define the
+.B PATH
+environment variable when
 a regular user logs in.  The default value is
 .I /usr\:/local\:/bin:\:/bin:\:/usr\:/bin
 .RE
@@ -347,12 +364,17 @@ programs.
 A recursive login, as used to be possible in the good old days, no
 longer works; for most purposes
 .BR su (1)
-is a satisfactory substitute.  Indeed, for security reasons, login
-does a vhangup() system call to remove any possible listening
+is a satisfactory substitute.  Indeed, for security reasons,
+.B login
+does a
+.BR vhangup (2)
+system call to remove any possible listening
 processes on the tty.  This is to avoid password sniffing.  If one
 uses the command
 .BR login ,
-then the surrounding shell gets killed by vhangup() because it's no
+then the surrounding shell gets killed by
+.BR vhangup (2)
+because it's no
 longer the true owner of the tty.  This can be avoided by using
 .B exec login
 in a top-level shell or xterm.
-- 
2.26.2

[PATCH 4/5] Manual pages: login.1: various minor wording fixes

[Michael Kerrisk (man-pages)]

Signed-off-by: Michael Kerrisk (man-pages) <mtk.manpages@gmail.com>
---
 login-utils/login.1 | 18 ++++++++++--------
 1 file changed, 10 insertions(+), 8 deletions(-)

diff --git a/login-utils/login.1 b/login-utils/login.1
index f3938b571..73c59462a 100644
--- a/login-utils/login.1
+++ b/login-utils/login.1
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ not to destroy the environment.
 .TP
 .B \-f
 Used to skip a login authentication.  This option is usually
-used by
+used by the
 .BR getty (8)
 autologin feature.
 .TP
@@ -111,14 +111,14 @@ use this option.
 .IP
 Note that the
 .B \-h
-option has impact on the
+option has an impact on the
 .B PAM service
 .BR name .
 The standard service name is
 .IR login ,
-with the
+but with the
 .B \-h
-option the name is
+option, the name is
 .IR remote .
 It is necessary to create proper PAM config files (e.g.,
 .I /etc\:/pam.d\:/login
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ If the
 .B MOTD_FILE
 item is empty or a quiet login is enabled, then the message of the day
 is not displayed.  Note that the same functionality is also provided
-by
+by the
 .BR pam_motd (8)
 PAM module.
 .PP
@@ -191,7 +191,8 @@ Forces
 .B login
 to stop display content specified by
 .B MOTD_FILE
-after first accessible item in the list.  Note that a directory is one item in this case.
+after the first accessible item in the list.
+Note that a directory is one item in this case.
 This option allows to configure
 .B login
 semantic to be more compatible with pam_motd.
@@ -203,7 +204,8 @@ semantic to be more compatible with pam_motd.
 Tell
 .B login
 that printing the hostname should be suppressed in the login:
-prompt.  This is alternative to the \fB\-H\fR command line option.  The default
+prompt.
+This is an alternative to the \fB\-H\fR command line option.  The default
 value is
 .IR no .
 .RE
@@ -211,7 +213,7 @@ value is
 .B LOGIN_TIMEOUT
 (number)
 .RS 4
-Max time in seconds for login.  The default value is
+Maximum time in seconds for login.  The default value is
 .IR 60 .
 .RE
 .PP
-- 
2.26.2

[PATCH 5/5] Manual pages: various: reword "allow(s) to"

[Michael Kerrisk (man-pages)]

The wording "allow(s) to" is not grammatical English. Reword various
pages to use a more correct form such "can be use to" or "allows
the [noun] of".

Aklong the way, fix a few nearby wording errors in some pages.

Signed-off-by: Michael Kerrisk (man-pages) <mtk.manpages@gmail.com>
---
 disk-utils/fdisk.8     | 3 ++-
 disk-utils/sfdisk.8    | 3 ++-
 disk-utils/swaplabel.8 | 2 +-
 libblkid/libblkid.3    | 3 ++-
 login-utils/login.1    | 8 ++++----
 login-utils/su.1       | 6 +++---
 misc-utils/findmnt.8   | 2 +-
 sys-utils/hwclock.8.in | 3 ++-
 sys-utils/mount.8      | 6 +++---
 sys-utils/setarch.8    | 2 +-
 sys-utils/umount.8     | 6 ++++--
 term-utils/agetty.8    | 7 ++++---
 term-utils/script.1    | 2 +-
 text-utils/column.1    | 6 ++++--
 14 files changed, 34 insertions(+), 25 deletions(-)

diff --git a/disk-utils/fdisk.8 b/disk-utils/fdisk.8
index f683bcaaa..9d6443873 100644
--- a/disk-utils/fdisk.8
+++ b/disk-utils/fdisk.8
@@ -200,7 +200,8 @@ are deprecated.
 
 .SH SCRIPT FILES
 .B fdisk
-allows to read (by 'I' command) sfdisk compatible script files. The script is
+can be used to read (by 'I' command) sfdisk compatible script files.
+The script is
 applied to in-memory partition table, and then it is possible to modify the
 partition table before you write it to the device.
 .PP
diff --git a/disk-utils/sfdisk.8 b/disk-utils/sfdisk.8
index 6c278afb6..f2346fb4f 100644
--- a/disk-utils/sfdisk.8
+++ b/disk-utils/sfdisk.8
@@ -295,7 +295,8 @@ disk label (see the \fBEMPTY DISK LABEL\fR section below).
 .TP
 .BR \-Y , " \-\-label\-nested " \fItype
 Force editing of a nested disk label.  The primary disk label has to exist already.
-This option allows to edit for example a hybrid/protective MBR on devices with GPT.
+For example,
+this option allows you to edit a hybrid/protective MBR on devices with GPT.
 
 .TP
 .BR \-w , " \-\-wipe "\fIwhen
diff --git a/disk-utils/swaplabel.8 b/disk-utils/swaplabel.8
index b623a5020..c43a9b22a 100644
--- a/disk-utils/swaplabel.8
+++ b/disk-utils/swaplabel.8
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ These values can also be set during swap creation using
 .BR mkswap (8).
 The
 .B swaplabel
-utility allows to change the label or UUID on an actively used swap device.
+utility can be used to change the label or UUID on an actively used swap device.
 .SH OPTIONS
 .TP
 .BR \-h , " \-\-help"
diff --git a/libblkid/libblkid.3 b/libblkid/libblkid.3
index a3795ab79..7fa1539b8 100644
--- a/libblkid/libblkid.3
+++ b/libblkid/libblkid.3
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ filesystem labels/volume names, unique identifiers/serial numbers.
 A common use is to allow use of LABEL= and UUID= tags instead of hard-coding
 specific block device names into configuration files.
 .P
-The low-level part of the library also allows to extract information about
+The low-level part of the library also allows the extraction
+of information about
 partitions and block device topology.
 .P
 The high-level part of the library keeps information about block devices in a
diff --git a/login-utils/login.1 b/login-utils/login.1
index 73c59462a..3f5a05ee7 100644
--- a/login-utils/login.1
+++ b/login-utils/login.1
@@ -133,9 +133,9 @@ to tell
 that printing the hostname should be suppressed in the login: prompt.
 See also
 .B LOGIN_PLAIN_PROMPT
-below if your server does not allow to configure
+below if your server does not allow the
 .B login
-command line.
+command line to be configured.
 .TP
 \fB\-\-help\fR
 Display help text and exit.
@@ -193,9 +193,9 @@ to stop display content specified by
 .B MOTD_FILE
 after the first accessible item in the list.
 Note that a directory is one item in this case.
-This option allows to configure
+This option allows
 .B login
-semantic to be more compatible with pam_motd.
+semantics to be configured to be more compatible with pam_motd.
 .RE
 .PP
 .B LOGIN_PLAIN_PROMPT
diff --git a/login-utils/su.1 b/login-utils/su.1
index 1589eb4a3..80949dae1 100644
--- a/login-utils/su.1
+++ b/login-utils/su.1
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ su \- run a command with substitute user and group ID
 .RI [ user " [" argument ...]]
 .SH DESCRIPTION
 .B su
-allows to run commands with a substitute user and group ID.
+allows commands to be with a substitute user and group ID.
 .PP
 When called with no
 .I user
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ This option is ignored if the option \fB\-\-login\fR is specified.
 .BR \-P , " \-\-pty"
 Create pseudo-terminal for the session. The independent terminal provides
 better security as user does not share terminal with the original
-session.  This allow to avoid TIOCSTI ioctl terminal injection and other
+session.  This can be used to avoid TIOCSTI ioctl terminal injection and other
 security attacks against terminal file descriptors. The all session is also
 possible to move to background (e.g., "su \-\-pty \- username \-c
 application &"). If the pseudo-terminal is enabled then su command works
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ global logindef config file
 For security reasons
 .B su
 always logs failed log-in attempts to the btmp file, but it does not write to
-the lastlog file at all.  This solution allows to control
+the lastlog file at all.  This solution can be used to control
 .B su
 behavior by PAM configuration.  If you want to use the pam_lastlog module to
 print warning message about failed log-in attempts then the pam_lastlog has to
diff --git a/misc-utils/findmnt.8 b/misc-utils/findmnt.8
index 128793451..dda6c13bf 100644
--- a/misc-utils/findmnt.8
+++ b/misc-utils/findmnt.8
@@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ The standard columns always use the new version of the information from the
 mountinfo file, except the umount action which is based on the original
 information cached by
 .BR findmnt (8).
-The poll mode allows to use extra columns:
+The poll mode allows the use of extra columns:
 .RS
 .TP
 .B ACTION
diff --git a/sys-utils/hwclock.8.in b/sys-utils/hwclock.8.in
index e62b4ad09..9912b48d5 100644
--- a/sys-utils/hwclock.8.in
+++ b/sys-utils/hwclock.8.in
@@ -281,7 +281,8 @@ parameters should be observed.
 .
 .TP
 .BI \%\-\-delay= seconds
-This option allows to overwrite internally used delay when set clock time. The
+This option can be used to overwrite the internally used delay
+when setting the clock time. The
 default is 0.5 (500ms) for rtc_cmos, for another RTC types the delay is 0. If
 RTC type is impossible to determine (from sysfs) then it defaults also to 0.5
 to be backwardly compatible.
diff --git a/sys-utils/mount.8 b/sys-utils/mount.8
index 190335c23..d232896f6 100644
--- a/sys-utils/mount.8
+++ b/sys-utils/mount.8
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ with a single
 .BR mount (2)
 system call, and the flags cannot be mixed with other mount options and operations.
 
-Since util-linux 2.23 the \fBmount\fR command allows to do more propagation
+Since util-linux 2.23 the \fBmount\fR command can be used to do more propagation
 (topology) changes by one mount(8) call and do it also together with other
 mount operations.  This feature is EXPERIMENTAL.  The propagation flags are applied
 by additional \fBmount\fR(2) system calls when the preceding mount operations
@@ -891,9 +891,9 @@ explicitly define that the argument is the mount target.
 .TP
 .BI \-\-target\-prefix " directory"
 Prepend the specified directory to all mount targets.
-This option allows to follow
+This option can be used to follow
 .IR fstab ,
-but mount operations is done on another place, for example:
+but mount operations are done in another place, for example:
 .RS
 .RS
 .sp
diff --git a/sys-utils/setarch.8 b/sys-utils/setarch.8
index 7040ac003..7276fdd55 100644
--- a/sys-utils/setarch.8
+++ b/sys-utils/setarch.8
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ modifies execution domains and process personality flags.
 The execution domains currently only affects the output of \fBuname \-m\fR.
 For example, on an AMD64 system, running \fBsetarch i386 \fIprogram\fR
 will cause \fIprogram\fR to see i686 instead of x86_64 as the machine type.
-It also allows to set various personality options.
+It can also be used to set various personality options.
 The default \fIprogram\fR is \fB/bin/sh\fR.
 .PP
 Since version 2.33 the
diff --git a/sys-utils/umount.8 b/sys-utils/umount.8
index 6f402fd67..a66d11961 100644
--- a/sys-utils/umount.8
+++ b/sys-utils/umount.8
@@ -215,13 +215,15 @@ option on a line, anybody can umount the corresponding filesystem.  For more det
 .BR mount (8)
 man page.
 .PP
-Since version 2.34 \fBumount\fR command allows to perform umount operation also
+Since version 2.34 the \fBumount\fR command can be used to
+perform umount operation also
 for fuse filesystems if kernel mount table contains user's ID.  In this case fstab
 user= mount option is not required.
 .PP
 Since version 2.35 \fBumount\fR command does not exit when user permissions are
 inadequate by internal libmount security rules.  It drops suid permissions
-and continue as regular non-root user. It allows to support use-cases where
+and continue as regular non-root user.
+This can be used to support use-cases where
 root permissions are not necessary (e.g., fuse filesystems, user namespaces,
 etc).
 .SH LOOP DEVICE
diff --git a/term-utils/agetty.8 b/term-utils/agetty.8
index 76ba9e280..902914197 100644
--- a/term-utils/agetty.8
+++ b/term-utils/agetty.8
@@ -241,7 +241,8 @@ Call vhangup() to do a virtual hangup of the specified terminal.
 Try to keep the existing baud rate.  The baud rates from the command line are
 used when agetty receives a BREAK character.  If another baud rates specified
 then the original baud rate is also saved to the end of the wanted baud rates
-list.  It allows to return to the original baud rate after unexpected BREAKs.
+list.
+This can be used to return to the original baud rate after unexpected BREAKs.
 .TP
 \-t, \-\-timeout \fItimeout\fP
 Terminate if no user name could be read within \fItimeout\fP seconds.
@@ -357,7 +358,7 @@ checks for \fI/etc/issue.d\fP directory. The directory is optional extension to
 the default issue file and content of the directory is printed after
 \fI/etc/issue\fP content. If the \fI/etc/issue\fP does not exist than the
 directory is ignored. All files \fBwith .issue extension\fP from the directory are
-printed in version-sort order. The directory allow to maintain 3rd-party
+printed in version-sort order. The directory can be used to maintain 3rd-party
 messages independently on the primary system \fI/etc/issue\fP file.
 
 Since version 2.35 additional locations for issue file and directory are
@@ -413,7 +414,7 @@ S or S{VARIABLE}
 Insert the VARIABLE data from \fI/etc/os-release\fP.  If this file does not exist
 then fall back to \fI/usr/lib/os-release\fP.  If the VARIABLE argument is not
 specified, then use PRETTY_NAME from the file or the system name (see \\s).
-This escape code allows to keep \fI/etc/issue\fP distribution and release
+This escape code can be used to keep \fI/etc/issue\fP distribution and release
 independent.  Note that \\S{ANSI_COLOR} is converted to the real terminal
 escape sequence.
 .TP
diff --git a/term-utils/script.1 b/term-utils/script.1
index 59c8b2572..8eda4a58b 100644
--- a/term-utils/script.1
+++ b/term-utils/script.1
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ and to store additional information about the session.
 .PP
 Since version 2.35
 .B script
-supports multiple streams and allows to log input and output to separate
+supports multiple streams and allows the logging of input and output to separate
 files or all the one file.  This version also supports new timing file
 which records additional information.  The command
 .B scriptreplay \-\-summary
diff --git a/text-utils/column.1 b/text-utils/column.1
index 4c2de1cc5..18696954b 100644
--- a/text-utils/column.1
+++ b/text-utils/column.1
@@ -67,7 +67,9 @@ Output is formatted to a width specified as number of characters. The original
 name of this option is \-\-columns; this name is deprecated since v2.30. Note that input
 longer than \fIwidth\fP is not truncated by default.
 .IP "\fB\-d, \-\-table\-noheadings\fP"
-Do not print header. This option allows to use logical column names on command line, but keep the header hidden when print the table.
+Do not print header.
+This option allows the use of logical column names on the command line,
+but keeps the header hidden when printing the table.
 .IP "\fB\-o, \-\-output\-separator\fP \fIstring\fP"
 Specify the columns delimiter for table output (default is two spaces).
 .IP "\fB\-s, \-\-separator\fP \fIseparators\fP"
@@ -83,7 +85,7 @@ for the table header or to address column in option arguments.
 .IP "\fB\-R, \-\-table-right\fP \fIcolumns\fP"
 Right align text in the specified columns.
 .IP "\fB\-T, \-\-table-truncate\fP \fIcolumns\fP"
-Specify columns where is allowed to truncate text when necessary, otherwise
+Specify columns where text can be truncated when necessary, otherwise
 very long table entries may be printed on multiple lines.
 .IP "\fB\-E, \-\-table-noextreme\fP \fIcolumns\fP"
 Specify columns where is possible to ignore unusually long (longer than
-- 
2.26.2

Re: [PATCH 5/5] Manual pages: various: reword "allow(s) to"

[Michael Kerrisk (man-pages)]

Karel,

I noticed a mistake in this patch, in the change to su.1:

-allows to run commands with a substitute user and group ID.
+allows commands to be with a substitute user and group ID.

Should be:

+allows commands to be run with a substitute user and group ID.

Shall I resend the patch, or will you edit?

Thanks,

Michael


On Tue, 14 Jul 2020 at 11:58, Michael Kerrisk (man-pages)
<mtk.manpages@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> The wording "allow(s) to" is not grammatical English. Reword various
> pages to use a more correct form such "can be use to" or "allows
> the [noun] of".
>
> Aklong the way, fix a few nearby wording errors in some pages.
>
> Signed-off-by: Michael Kerrisk (man-pages) <mtk.manpages@gmail.com>
> ---
>  disk-utils/fdisk.8     | 3 ++-
>  disk-utils/sfdisk.8    | 3 ++-
>  disk-utils/swaplabel.8 | 2 +-
>  libblkid/libblkid.3    | 3 ++-
>  login-utils/login.1    | 8 ++++----
>  login-utils/su.1       | 6 +++---
>  misc-utils/findmnt.8   | 2 +-
>  sys-utils/hwclock.8.in | 3 ++-
>  sys-utils/mount.8      | 6 +++---
>  sys-utils/setarch.8    | 2 +-
>  sys-utils/umount.8     | 6 ++++--
>  term-utils/agetty.8    | 7 ++++---
>  term-utils/script.1    | 2 +-
>  text-utils/column.1    | 6 ++++--
>  14 files changed, 34 insertions(+), 25 deletions(-)
>
> diff --git a/disk-utils/fdisk.8 b/disk-utils/fdisk.8
> index f683bcaaa..9d6443873 100644
> --- a/disk-utils/fdisk.8
> +++ b/disk-utils/fdisk.8
> @@ -200,7 +200,8 @@ are deprecated.
>
>  .SH SCRIPT FILES
>  .B fdisk
> -allows to read (by 'I' command) sfdisk compatible script files. The script is
> +can be used to read (by 'I' command) sfdisk compatible script files.
> +The script is
>  applied to in-memory partition table, and then it is possible to modify the
>  partition table before you write it to the device.
>  .PP
> diff --git a/disk-utils/sfdisk.8 b/disk-utils/sfdisk.8
> index 6c278afb6..f2346fb4f 100644
> --- a/disk-utils/sfdisk.8
> +++ b/disk-utils/sfdisk.8
> @@ -295,7 +295,8 @@ disk label (see the \fBEMPTY DISK LABEL\fR section below).
>  .TP
>  .BR \-Y , " \-\-label\-nested " \fItype
>  Force editing of a nested disk label.  The primary disk label has to exist already.
> -This option allows to edit for example a hybrid/protective MBR on devices with GPT.
> +For example,
> +this option allows you to edit a hybrid/protective MBR on devices with GPT.
>
>  .TP
>  .BR \-w , " \-\-wipe "\fIwhen
> diff --git a/disk-utils/swaplabel.8 b/disk-utils/swaplabel.8
> index b623a5020..c43a9b22a 100644
> --- a/disk-utils/swaplabel.8
> +++ b/disk-utils/swaplabel.8
> @@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ These values can also be set during swap creation using
>  .BR mkswap (8).
>  The
>  .B swaplabel
> -utility allows to change the label or UUID on an actively used swap device.
> +utility can be used to change the label or UUID on an actively used swap device.
>  .SH OPTIONS
>  .TP
>  .BR \-h , " \-\-help"
> diff --git a/libblkid/libblkid.3 b/libblkid/libblkid.3
> index a3795ab79..7fa1539b8 100644
> --- a/libblkid/libblkid.3
> +++ b/libblkid/libblkid.3
> @@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ filesystem labels/volume names, unique identifiers/serial numbers.
>  A common use is to allow use of LABEL= and UUID= tags instead of hard-coding
>  specific block device names into configuration files.
>  .P
> -The low-level part of the library also allows to extract information about
> +The low-level part of the library also allows the extraction
> +of information about
>  partitions and block device topology.
>  .P
>  The high-level part of the library keeps information about block devices in a
> diff --git a/login-utils/login.1 b/login-utils/login.1
> index 73c59462a..3f5a05ee7 100644
> --- a/login-utils/login.1
> +++ b/login-utils/login.1
> @@ -133,9 +133,9 @@ to tell
>  that printing the hostname should be suppressed in the login: prompt.
>  See also
>  .B LOGIN_PLAIN_PROMPT
> -below if your server does not allow to configure
> +below if your server does not allow the
>  .B login
> -command line.
> +command line to be configured.
>  .TP
>  \fB\-\-help\fR
>  Display help text and exit.
> @@ -193,9 +193,9 @@ to stop display content specified by
>  .B MOTD_FILE
>  after the first accessible item in the list.
>  Note that a directory is one item in this case.
> -This option allows to configure
> +This option allows
>  .B login
> -semantic to be more compatible with pam_motd.
> +semantics to be configured to be more compatible with pam_motd.
>  .RE
>  .PP
>  .B LOGIN_PLAIN_PROMPT
> diff --git a/login-utils/su.1 b/login-utils/su.1
> index 1589eb4a3..80949dae1 100644
> --- a/login-utils/su.1
> +++ b/login-utils/su.1
> @@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ su \- run a command with substitute user and group ID
>  .RI [ user " [" argument ...]]
>  .SH DESCRIPTION
>  .B su
> -allows to run commands with a substitute user and group ID.
> +allows commands to be with a substitute user and group ID.
>  .PP
>  When called with no
>  .I user
> @@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ This option is ignored if the option \fB\-\-login\fR is specified.
>  .BR \-P , " \-\-pty"
>  Create pseudo-terminal for the session. The independent terminal provides
>  better security as user does not share terminal with the original
> -session.  This allow to avoid TIOCSTI ioctl terminal injection and other
> +session.  This can be used to avoid TIOCSTI ioctl terminal injection and other
>  security attacks against terminal file descriptors. The all session is also
>  possible to move to background (e.g., "su \-\-pty \- username \-c
>  application &"). If the pseudo-terminal is enabled then su command works
> @@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ global logindef config file
>  For security reasons
>  .B su
>  always logs failed log-in attempts to the btmp file, but it does not write to
> -the lastlog file at all.  This solution allows to control
> +the lastlog file at all.  This solution can be used to control
>  .B su
>  behavior by PAM configuration.  If you want to use the pam_lastlog module to
>  print warning message about failed log-in attempts then the pam_lastlog has to
> diff --git a/misc-utils/findmnt.8 b/misc-utils/findmnt.8
> index 128793451..dda6c13bf 100644
> --- a/misc-utils/findmnt.8
> +++ b/misc-utils/findmnt.8
> @@ -170,7 +170,7 @@ The standard columns always use the new version of the information from the
>  mountinfo file, except the umount action which is based on the original
>  information cached by
>  .BR findmnt (8).
> -The poll mode allows to use extra columns:
> +The poll mode allows the use of extra columns:
>  .RS
>  .TP
>  .B ACTION
> diff --git a/sys-utils/hwclock.8.in b/sys-utils/hwclock.8.in
> index e62b4ad09..9912b48d5 100644
> --- a/sys-utils/hwclock.8.in
> +++ b/sys-utils/hwclock.8.in
> @@ -281,7 +281,8 @@ parameters should be observed.
>  .
>  .TP
>  .BI \%\-\-delay= seconds
> -This option allows to overwrite internally used delay when set clock time. The
> +This option can be used to overwrite the internally used delay
> +when setting the clock time. The
>  default is 0.5 (500ms) for rtc_cmos, for another RTC types the delay is 0. If
>  RTC type is impossible to determine (from sysfs) then it defaults also to 0.5
>  to be backwardly compatible.
> diff --git a/sys-utils/mount.8 b/sys-utils/mount.8
> index 190335c23..d232896f6 100644
> --- a/sys-utils/mount.8
> +++ b/sys-utils/mount.8
> @@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ with a single
>  .BR mount (2)
>  system call, and the flags cannot be mixed with other mount options and operations.
>
> -Since util-linux 2.23 the \fBmount\fR command allows to do more propagation
> +Since util-linux 2.23 the \fBmount\fR command can be used to do more propagation
>  (topology) changes by one mount(8) call and do it also together with other
>  mount operations.  This feature is EXPERIMENTAL.  The propagation flags are applied
>  by additional \fBmount\fR(2) system calls when the preceding mount operations
> @@ -891,9 +891,9 @@ explicitly define that the argument is the mount target.
>  .TP
>  .BI \-\-target\-prefix " directory"
>  Prepend the specified directory to all mount targets.
> -This option allows to follow
> +This option can be used to follow
>  .IR fstab ,
> -but mount operations is done on another place, for example:
> +but mount operations are done in another place, for example:
>  .RS
>  .RS
>  .sp
> diff --git a/sys-utils/setarch.8 b/sys-utils/setarch.8
> index 7040ac003..7276fdd55 100644
> --- a/sys-utils/setarch.8
> +++ b/sys-utils/setarch.8
> @@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ modifies execution domains and process personality flags.
>  The execution domains currently only affects the output of \fBuname \-m\fR.
>  For example, on an AMD64 system, running \fBsetarch i386 \fIprogram\fR
>  will cause \fIprogram\fR to see i686 instead of x86_64 as the machine type.
> -It also allows to set various personality options.
> +It can also be used to set various personality options.
>  The default \fIprogram\fR is \fB/bin/sh\fR.
>  .PP
>  Since version 2.33 the
> diff --git a/sys-utils/umount.8 b/sys-utils/umount.8
> index 6f402fd67..a66d11961 100644
> --- a/sys-utils/umount.8
> +++ b/sys-utils/umount.8
> @@ -215,13 +215,15 @@ option on a line, anybody can umount the corresponding filesystem.  For more det
>  .BR mount (8)
>  man page.
>  .PP
> -Since version 2.34 \fBumount\fR command allows to perform umount operation also
> +Since version 2.34 the \fBumount\fR command can be used to
> +perform umount operation also
>  for fuse filesystems if kernel mount table contains user's ID.  In this case fstab
>  user= mount option is not required.
>  .PP
>  Since version 2.35 \fBumount\fR command does not exit when user permissions are
>  inadequate by internal libmount security rules.  It drops suid permissions
> -and continue as regular non-root user. It allows to support use-cases where
> +and continue as regular non-root user.
> +This can be used to support use-cases where
>  root permissions are not necessary (e.g., fuse filesystems, user namespaces,
>  etc).
>  .SH LOOP DEVICE
> diff --git a/term-utils/agetty.8 b/term-utils/agetty.8
> index 76ba9e280..902914197 100644
> --- a/term-utils/agetty.8
> +++ b/term-utils/agetty.8
> @@ -241,7 +241,8 @@ Call vhangup() to do a virtual hangup of the specified terminal.
>  Try to keep the existing baud rate.  The baud rates from the command line are
>  used when agetty receives a BREAK character.  If another baud rates specified
>  then the original baud rate is also saved to the end of the wanted baud rates
> -list.  It allows to return to the original baud rate after unexpected BREAKs.
> +list.
> +This can be used to return to the original baud rate after unexpected BREAKs.
>  .TP
>  \-t, \-\-timeout \fItimeout\fP
>  Terminate if no user name could be read within \fItimeout\fP seconds.
> @@ -357,7 +358,7 @@ checks for \fI/etc/issue.d\fP directory. The directory is optional extension to
>  the default issue file and content of the directory is printed after
>  \fI/etc/issue\fP content. If the \fI/etc/issue\fP does not exist than the
>  directory is ignored. All files \fBwith .issue extension\fP from the directory are
> -printed in version-sort order. The directory allow to maintain 3rd-party
> +printed in version-sort order. The directory can be used to maintain 3rd-party
>  messages independently on the primary system \fI/etc/issue\fP file.
>
>  Since version 2.35 additional locations for issue file and directory are
> @@ -413,7 +414,7 @@ S or S{VARIABLE}
>  Insert the VARIABLE data from \fI/etc/os-release\fP.  If this file does not exist
>  then fall back to \fI/usr/lib/os-release\fP.  If the VARIABLE argument is not
>  specified, then use PRETTY_NAME from the file or the system name (see \\s).
> -This escape code allows to keep \fI/etc/issue\fP distribution and release
> +This escape code can be used to keep \fI/etc/issue\fP distribution and release
>  independent.  Note that \\S{ANSI_COLOR} is converted to the real terminal
>  escape sequence.
>  .TP
> diff --git a/term-utils/script.1 b/term-utils/script.1
> index 59c8b2572..8eda4a58b 100644
> --- a/term-utils/script.1
> +++ b/term-utils/script.1
> @@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ and to store additional information about the session.
>  .PP
>  Since version 2.35
>  .B script
> -supports multiple streams and allows to log input and output to separate
> +supports multiple streams and allows the logging of input and output to separate
>  files or all the one file.  This version also supports new timing file
>  which records additional information.  The command
>  .B scriptreplay \-\-summary
> diff --git a/text-utils/column.1 b/text-utils/column.1
> index 4c2de1cc5..18696954b 100644
> --- a/text-utils/column.1
> +++ b/text-utils/column.1
> @@ -67,7 +67,9 @@ Output is formatted to a width specified as number of characters. The original
>  name of this option is \-\-columns; this name is deprecated since v2.30. Note that input
>  longer than \fIwidth\fP is not truncated by default.
>  .IP "\fB\-d, \-\-table\-noheadings\fP"
> -Do not print header. This option allows to use logical column names on command line, but keep the header hidden when print the table.
> +Do not print header.
> +This option allows the use of logical column names on the command line,
> +but keeps the header hidden when printing the table.
>  .IP "\fB\-o, \-\-output\-separator\fP \fIstring\fP"
>  Specify the columns delimiter for table output (default is two spaces).
>  .IP "\fB\-s, \-\-separator\fP \fIseparators\fP"
> @@ -83,7 +85,7 @@ for the table header or to address column in option arguments.
>  .IP "\fB\-R, \-\-table-right\fP \fIcolumns\fP"
>  Right align text in the specified columns.
>  .IP "\fB\-T, \-\-table-truncate\fP \fIcolumns\fP"
> -Specify columns where is allowed to truncate text when necessary, otherwise
> +Specify columns where text can be truncated when necessary, otherwise
>  very long table entries may be printed on multiple lines.
>  .IP "\fB\-E, \-\-table-noextreme\fP \fIcolumns\fP"
>  Specify columns where is possible to ignore unusually long (longer than
> --
> 2.26.2
>


--
Michael Kerrisk
Linux man-pages maintainer; http://www.kernel.org/doc/man-pages/
Linux/UNIX System Programming Training: http://man7.org/training/

Re: [PATCH 5/5] Manual pages: various: reword "allow(s) to"

[Karel Zak]

On Tue, Jul 14, 2020 at 11:57:41AM +0200, Michael Kerrisk (man-pages) wrote:
> The wording "allow(s) to" is not grammatical English. Reword various
> pages to use a more correct form such "can be use to" or "allows
> the [noun] of".
> 
> Aklong the way, fix a few nearby wording errors in some pages.

Some of the "allow to" has been already fixed by Bjarni Ingi Gislason
(well, his fix is "allows <verb>ing" -- not sure what is better ;-).

The rest has been merged without change.

  Karel


-- 
 Karel Zak  <kzak@redhat.com>
 http://karelzak.blogspot.com

Re: [PATCH 5/5] Manual pages: various: reword "allow(s) to"

[Michael Kerrisk (man-pages)]

Hi Karel,

On Tue, 14 Jul 2020 at 14:14, Karel Zak <kzak@redhat.com> wrote:
>
> On Tue, Jul 14, 2020 at 11:57:41AM +0200, Michael Kerrisk (man-pages) wrote:
> > The wording "allow(s) to" is not grammatical English. Reword various
> > pages to use a more correct form such "can be use to" or "allows
> > the [noun] of".
> >
> > Aklong the way, fix a few nearby wording errors in some pages.
>
> Some of the "allow to" has been already fixed by Bjarni Ingi Gislason
> (well, his fix is "allows <verb>ing" -- not sure what is better ;-).

I see. Those changes also work, of course. Thanks for fixing that conflict.

> The rest has been merged without change.

Thanks.

Michael

-- 
Michael Kerrisk
Linux man-pages maintainer; http://www.kernel.org/doc/man-pages/
Linux/UNIX System Programming Training: http://man7.org/training/

Re: [PATCH 5/5] Manual pages: various: reword "allow(s) to"

[Karel Zak]

On Tue, Jul 14, 2020 at 02:13:01PM +0200, Michael Kerrisk (man-pages) wrote:
> +allows commands to be run with a substitute user and group ID.
> 
> Shall I resend the patch, or will you edit?

Fixed.

    Karel

-- 
 Karel Zak  <kzak@redhat.com>
 http://karelzak.blogspot.com

Re: [PATCH 5/5] Manual pages: various: reword "allow(s) to"

[Michael Kerrisk (man-pages)]

On Tue, 14 Jul 2020 at 14:38, Karel Zak <kzak@redhat.com> wrote:
>
> On Tue, Jul 14, 2020 at 02:13:01PM +0200, Michael Kerrisk (man-pages) wrote:
> > +allows commands to be run with a substitute user and group ID.
> >
> > Shall I resend the patch, or will you edit?
>
> Fixed.

Okay -- we crossed mails on that one. Ignore my patchlet ;-).
-- 
Michael Kerrisk
Linux man-pages maintainer; http://www.kernel.org/doc/man-pages/
Linux/UNIX System Programming Training: http://man7.org/training/