gbranden pushed a commit to branch master
in repository groff.
commit 4e3b1a9a668377d483711c3e06a34d84dd13809a
Author: G. Branden Robinson <g.branden.robin...@gmail.com>
AuthorDate: Sat Jul 12 11:32:00 2025 -0500
doc/*,man/*: Recast discussion of arguments.
---
doc/groff.texi.in | 23 ++++++++++++++---------
man/groff.7.man | 12 +++++++++---
2 files changed, 23 insertions(+), 12 deletions(-)
diff --git a/doc/groff.texi.in b/doc/groff.texi.in
index 6173e2262..17a57b56d 100644
--- a/doc/groff.texi.in
+++ b/doc/groff.texi.in
@@ -7216,15 +7216,20 @@ non-destructively replaced. @xref{Strings}.
@cindex tabs, and request arguments
@cindex request arguments, and tabs
@cindex arguments to requests, and tabs
-There is no inherent limit on argument length or quantity. Most
-requests take one or more arguments, and ignore any they do not expect.
-A request may be separated from its arguments by tabs or spaces, but
-only spaces can separate an argument from its successor. Only one
-between arguments is necessary; any excess is ignored. GNU @code{troff}
-does not allow tabs for argument separation.@footnote{In compatibility
-mode, a space is not necessary after a request or macro name of two
-characters' length. Also, Plan@tie{}9 @code{troff} allows tabs to
-separate arguments.}
+There is no inherent limit on argument length or quantity.
+Most requests take one or more arguments,
+and ignore any they do not expect.
+A request may be separated from its arguments by tabs or spaces,
+but only spaces can separate an argument from its successor.
+Only one between arguments is necessary;
+any excess is ignored.@footnote{In compatibility mode,
+a space is not necessary
+after a request or macro name of two characters' length.}
+GNU
+@command{troff} @c GNU
+does not interpret tabs as argument separators.@footnote{Plan@tie{}9
+@command{troff} @c Plan 9
+does.}
Generally, a space @emph{within} a request argument is not relevant, not
meaningful, or is supported by bespoke provisions, as with the @code{tl}
diff --git a/man/groff.7.man b/man/groff.7.man
index 13be8e4a9..339dca459 100644
--- a/man/groff.7.man
+++ b/man/groff.7.man
@@ -1582,12 +1582,18 @@ but only spaces can separate an argument from its
successor.
Only one between arguments is necessary;
any excess is ignored.
.
+.\" slack text for widow/orphan management
+.\" (In compatibility mode,
+.\" a space is not necessary
+.\" after a request or macro name of two characters' length.)
+.
GNU
.I troff \" GNU
does not allow tabs for argument separation.
-.\" @footnote{In compatibility mode, a space is not necessary after a
-.\" request or macro name of two characters' length. Also, Plan@tie{}9
-.\" @code{troff} allows tabs to separate arguments.}
+.
+(Plan\~9
+.I troff \" Plan 9
+does.)
.
.
.br
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