gbranden pushed a commit to branch master
in repository groff.
commit f99229a0c952d6c44b3258f133490d29e16f40e6
Author: G. Branden Robinson <[email protected]>
AuthorDate: Sat Jan 3 05:30:28 2026 -0600
[doc,man]: Update introductory material.
* Explain pronunciation of "groff".
* Explain that we distinguish "the [generic] formatter" from GNU troff.
---
doc/groff.texi.in | 34 ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++----
man/groff.7.man | 28 +++++++++++++++++++---------
src/roff/groff/groff.1.man | 13 +++++++++++++
3 files changed, 62 insertions(+), 13 deletions(-)
diff --git a/doc/groff.texi.in b/doc/groff.texi.in
index c9eea4e9a..6dc56d324 100644
--- a/doc/groff.texi.in
+++ b/doc/groff.texi.in
@@ -603,6 +603,16 @@ Unix manuals, including man pages. It and its predecessor
have produced
several best-selling software engineering texts. @code{groff} can
create typographically sophisticated documents while consuming minimal
system resources.
+
+Like its predecessor ``troff'',
+the term ``groff'' affords two pronunciations:
+as one syllable
+(like the surname),
+rhyming with ``trough'',
+or as ``jee-roff'',
+in analogy to the Bell Labs pronunciation ``tee-roff''.
+Little risk of confusion exists;
+use whichever suits you.
@c END Keep parallel with groff(1), section "Description" (after the
@c first sentence).
@@ -762,11 +772,27 @@ distribution. Being a GNU project, @code{groff} supports
the familiar
@node Conventions Used in This Manual, Credits, Installation, Introduction
@section Conventions Used in This Manual
-We apply the term ``groff'' to the language documented here, the GNU
-implementation of the overall system, the project that develops that
-system, and the command of that name. In the first sense, @code{groff}
-is an extended dialect of the @code{roff} language, for which many
+@c BEGIN Keep parallel with groff(7), portion of "Description"
+@c (introduction).
+We apply the term ``groff'' to the language documented here,
+the GNU implementation of the overall system,
+the project that develops that system,
+and the command of that name.
+In the first sense,
+@code{groff}
+is an extended dialect of the
+@code{roff}
+language,
+for which many
similar implementations exist.
+When say ``the formatter'' when speaking of behavior
+that is generally true of
+@command{troff} @c generic
+and
+@command{nroff} @c generic
+programs.
+@c END Keep parallel with groff(7), portion of "Description"
+@c (introduction).
A tradition has arisen that GNU programs' names bear a prefix @samp{g}
where necessary to distinguish them from other implementations on the
diff --git a/man/groff.7.man b/man/groff.7.man
index f25fbbf44..6b84157d0 100644
--- a/man/groff.7.man
+++ b/man/groff.7.man
@@ -298,21 +298,31 @@ may be available in
.IR @DOCDIR@ .
.
.
+.\" BEGIN Keep parallel with groff.texi node "Conventions Used in This
+.\" Manual", first paragraph.
.P
-.I groff
-is also a name for an extended dialect of the
-.I roff
-language.
-.
-We use \[lq]roff\[rq] to denote features that are universal,
-or nearly so,
-among implementations of this family.
-.
We apply the term \[lq]groff\[rq] to the language documented here,
the GNU implementation of the overall system,
the project that develops that system,
and the command of that name.
.
+In the first sense,
+.I groff
+is an extended dialect of the
+.I roff
+language,
+for which many
+similar implementations exist.
+.
+When say \[lq]the formatter\[rq] when speaking of behavior
+that is generally true of
+.I troff \" generic
+and
+.I nroff \" generic
+programs.
+.\" END Keep parallel with groff.texi node "Conventions Used in This
+.\" Manual", first paragraph.
+.
.
.P
GNU
diff --git a/src/roff/groff/groff.1.man b/src/roff/groff/groff.1.man
index 87755eeea..d84887d62 100644
--- a/src/roff/groff/groff.1.man
+++ b/src/roff/groff/groff.1.man
@@ -171,6 +171,19 @@ several best-selling software engineering texts.
.I groff
can create typographically sophisticated documents
while consuming minimal system resources.
+.
+.
+.P
+Like its predecessor \[lq]troff\[rq],
+the term \[lq]groff\[rq] affords two pronunciations:
+as one syllable
+(like the surname),
+rhyming with \[lq]trough\[rq],
+or as \[lq]jee-roff\[rq],
+in analogy to the Bell Labs pronunciation \[lq]tee-roff\[rq].
+.
+Little risk of confusion exists;
+use whichever suits you.
.\" END Keep parallel with groff.texi node "What Is groff?".
.
.
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