Jerrad Pierce <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: > It's possible POSIX defines this behavior,
No, it doesn't. Also, I don't get the same behavior that you do, with grep 2.5.1. For example: $ cat /etc/motd Sun Microsystems Inc. SunOS 5.10 Generic January 2005 $ cat p a b $ grep -v -f p /etc/motd $ grep -f p /etc/motd Sun Microsystems Inc. SunOS 5.10 Generic January 2005 $ Perhaps the problem depends on your installation somehow.
