doc: 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.
Fixes http://bugs.gnu.org/14976

10 files changed, 51 insertions, 52 deletions

diff --git a/src/du.c b/src/du.c
index 9f1f98c5c..b8aba0b32 100644
--- a/src/du.c
+++ b/src/du.c
@@ -311,9 +311,9 @@ Summarize disk usage of each FILE, recursively for directories.\n\
                           --summarize\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\
+      --files0-from=F   summarize disk usage of the\n\
+                          NUL-terminated file names specified in file F;\n\
+                          if F is -, then read names from standard input\n\
   -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 e341c6799..f3c3a1b82 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\
   -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\
                                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\
   -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\
                                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\
       --hide=PATTERN         do not list implied entries matching shell PATTERN\
 \n\
                                (overridden by -a or -A)\n\
@@ -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\
       --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\
                              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\
                                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 aef140afd..44845c33f 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\
 "), stdout);
       fputs (_("\
-      --tmpdir[=DIR]  interpret TEMPLATE relative to DIR.  If DIR is not\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\
+                        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\
 "), stdout);
       fputs ("\n", stdout);
diff --git a/src/od.c b/src/od.c
index 1c234015f..5635d29c7 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\
   -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\
   -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\
       --traditional           accept arguments in third form above\n\
 "), stdout);
diff --git a/src/ptx.c b/src/ptx.c
index f99367328..49ea7a3ea 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\
 "), stdout);
       emit_ancillary_info ();
     }
diff --git a/src/setuidgid.c b/src/setuidgid.c
index ed6b65d20..4a72a1532 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\
 "), stdout);
       fputs (HELP_OPTION_DESCRIPTION, stdout);
       fputs (VERSION_OPTION_DESCRIPTION, stdout);
diff --git a/src/split.c b/src/split.c
index feabe39b1..f740652dd 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\
   -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\
   -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\
   -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 0a6497b7b..ce0aec8d8 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\
   -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 0f1a37c07..8389467b4 100644
--- a/src/tail.c
+++ b/src/tail.c
@@ -268,25 +268,24 @@ With no FILE, or when FILE is -, read standard input.\n\
       emit_mandatory_arg_note ();
 
      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\
+  -c, --bytes=K            output the last K bytes; or use -c +K to output\n\
+                             bytes starting with the Kth of each file\n\
 "), stdout);
      fputs (_("\
   -f, --follow[={name|descriptor}]\n\
                            output appended data as the file grows;\n\
-                           -f, --follow, and --follow=descriptor are\n\
-                           equivalent\n\
+                             -f and --follow[=descriptor] are equivalent\n\
   -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 starting with the Kth\n\
       --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\
 "),
              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\
   -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 2ffd2b119..acb5a34aa 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\
       --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 get TTY signals;\n\
+                   in this mode, children of COMMAND will not be timed out\n\
   -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\
   -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);
 
       fputs (HELP_OPTION_DESCRIPTION, stdout);
       fputs (VERSION_OPTION_DESCRIPTION, stdout);