Issue in man page getpt.3

Issue in man page getpt.3

[Helge Kreutzmann]

Without further ado, the following was found:

Issue:    multiplexor → multiplexer

"B<getpt>()  opens a new pseudoterminal device and returns a file descriptor "
"that refers to that device.  It is equivalent to opening the pseudoterminal "
"multiplexor device"

"on Linux systems, though the pseudoterminal multiplexor device is located "
"elsewhere on some systems that use the GNU C library."

Re: Issue in man page getpt.3

[Alejandro Colomar]

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Hi Helge,

On Sun, Aug 24, 2025 at 02:48:41PM +0000, Helge Kreutzmann wrote:
> Without further ado, the following was found:
> 
> Issue:    multiplexor → multiplexer

My dictionary says both are correct.  Does anyone know what's the
difference?  I guess it depends on the country, but I couldn't find
which uses which.

As for the Linux man-pages, there's a tie:

	$ grep -rho multiplexer
	multiplexer
	multiplexer
	multiplexer
	multiplexer
	$ grep -rho multiplexor
	multiplexor
	multiplexor
	multiplexor
	multiplexor


Cheers,
Alex

> "B<getpt>()  opens a new pseudoterminal device and returns a file descriptor "
> "that refers to that device.  It is equivalent to opening the pseudoterminal "
> "multiplexor device"
> 
> "on Linux systems, though the pseudoterminal multiplexor device is located "
> "elsewhere on some systems that use the GNU C library."
> 

-- 
<https://www.alejandro-colomar.es>
Use port 80 (that is, <...:80/>).

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Re: Issue in man page getpt.3

[Helge Kreutzmann]

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Hello Alejandro,
Am Sun, Aug 31, 2025 at 06:36:51PM +0200 schrieb Alejandro Colomar:
> On Sun, Aug 24, 2025 at 02:48:41PM +0000, Helge Kreutzmann wrote:
> > Without further ado, the following was found:
> > 
> > Issue:    multiplexor → multiplexer
> 
> My dictionary says both are correct.  Does anyone know what's the
> difference?  I guess it depends on the country, but I couldn't find
> which uses which.

I only the the latter, but I'm not a native speaker.

Greetings

           Helge

-- 
      Dr. Helge Kreutzmann                     debian@helgefjell.de
           Dipl.-Phys.                   http://www.helgefjell.de/debian.php
        64bit GNU powered                     gpg signed mail preferred
           Help keep free software "libre": http://www.ffii.de/

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Issue in man page getpt.3

[Helge Kreutzmann]

Without further ado, the following was found:

Issue:    multiplexor → multiplexer

"B<getpt>()  opens a new pseudoterminal device and returns a file descriptor "
"that refers to that device.  It is equivalent to opening the pseudoterminal "
"multiplexor device"

"on Linux systems, though the pseudoterminal multiplexor device is located "
"elsewhere on some systems that use the GNU C library."

Re: Issue in man page getpt.3

[Alejandro Colomar]

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Hi Helge,

On Wed, Dec 24, 2025 at 02:38:26PM +0000, Helge Kreutzmann wrote:
> Without further ado, the following was found:
> 
> Issue:    multiplexor → multiplexer

I see both used:

	$ grep -rho multiplex.r man/ | sort| uniq -c
	      4 multiplexer
	      4 multiplexor

Which one should we prefer, and why?

I don't know if any one is more correct than the other, as I'm not
a native English speaker.


Have a lovely day!
Alex

> 
> "B<getpt>()  opens a new pseudoterminal device and returns a file descriptor "
> "that refers to that device.  It is equivalent to opening the pseudoterminal "
> "multiplexor device"
> 
> "on Linux systems, though the pseudoterminal multiplexor device is located "
> "elsewhere on some systems that use the GNU C library."

-- 
<https://www.alejandro-colomar.es>

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Re: Issue in man page getpt.3

[Alejandro Colomar]

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On Thu, Dec 25, 2025 at 02:20:39PM +0100, Alejandro Colomar wrote:
> Hi Helge,
> 
> On Wed, Dec 24, 2025 at 02:38:26PM +0000, Helge Kreutzmann wrote:
> > Without further ado, the following was found:
> > 
> > Issue:    multiplexor → multiplexer
> 
> I see both used:
> 
> 	$ grep -rho multiplex.r man/ | sort| uniq -c
> 	      4 multiplexer
> 	      4 multiplexor
> 
> Which one should we prefer, and why?

A reason for 'e' is that __NR_multiplexer uses 'e'.

> 
> I don't know if any one is more correct than the other, as I'm not
> a native English speaker.
> 
> 
> Have a lovely day!
> Alex
> 
> > 
> > "B<getpt>()  opens a new pseudoterminal device and returns a file descriptor "
> > "that refers to that device.  It is equivalent to opening the pseudoterminal "
> > "multiplexor device"
> > 
> > "on Linux systems, though the pseudoterminal multiplexor device is located "
> > "elsewhere on some systems that use the GNU C library."
> 
> -- 
> <https://www.alejandro-colomar.es>



-- 
<https://www.alejandro-colomar.es>

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Re: Issue in man page getpt.3

[G. Branden Robinson]

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Hi Alex,

At 2025-12-25T14:22:54+0100, Alejandro Colomar wrote:
> On Thu, Dec 25, 2025 at 02:20:39PM +0100, Alejandro Colomar wrote:
> > On Wed, Dec 24, 2025 at 02:38:26PM +0000, Helge Kreutzmann wrote:
> > > Without further ado, the following was found:
> > > 
> > > Issue:    multiplexor → multiplexer
> > 
> > I see both used:
> > 
> > 	$ grep -rho multiplex.r man/ | sort| uniq -c
> > 	      4 multiplexer
> > 	      4 multiplexor
> > 
> > Which one should we prefer, and why?
> 
> A reason for 'e' is that __NR_multiplexer uses 'e'.

That's the best reason to choose 'e', and the one I'd select.

The question of usage of -or or -er is a messy one in English, whether
in Commonwealth or Yankee forms.[1][2]

(If we're being even more picky, -trix further spices the mix.[3])

Regards,
Branden

[1] https://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2007/10/agentive-suffixes-er-and-or-and-little.html
[2] https://ianjamesparsley.wordpress.com/2023/02/17/the-weirdness-of-agent-nouns/
[3] https://www.cjr.org/language_corner/womens_suffixes.php

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Re: Issue in man page getpt.3

[Alejandro Colomar]

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Hi Branden,

On Thu, Dec 25, 2025 at 03:05:33PM -0600, G. Branden Robinson wrote:
> Hi Alex,
> 
> At 2025-12-25T14:22:54+0100, Alejandro Colomar wrote:
> > On Thu, Dec 25, 2025 at 02:20:39PM +0100, Alejandro Colomar wrote:
> > > On Wed, Dec 24, 2025 at 02:38:26PM +0000, Helge Kreutzmann wrote:
> > > > Without further ado, the following was found:
> > > > 
> > > > Issue:    multiplexor → multiplexer
> > > 
> > > I see both used:
> > > 
> > > 	$ grep -rho multiplex.r man/ | sort| uniq -c
> > > 	      4 multiplexer
> > > 	      4 multiplexor
> > > 
> > > Which one should we prefer, and why?
> > 
> > A reason for 'e' is that __NR_multiplexer uses 'e'.
> 
> That's the best reason to choose 'e', and the one I'd select.

Agree.  Thanks!

	commit 011bcb9c453cbf6490f7678e8d2f880acf2026f7 (HEAD -> contrib)
	Author: Alejandro Colomar <alx@kernel.org>
	Date:   Thu Dec 25 22:15:32 2025 +0100

	    man/: Unify spelling of 'multiplexer'
	    
	    Both 'o' and 'e' are used in the manual pages:
	    
		    $ grep -rho multiplex.r man/ | sort| uniq -c
			  4 multiplexer
			  4 multiplexor
	    
	    Let's stick to 'e', for consistency with __NR_multiplexer.
	    
	    Reported-by: Helge Kreutzmann <debian@helgefjell.de>
	    Acked-by: "G. Branden Robinson" <g.branden.robinson@gmail.com>
	    Signed-off-by: Alejandro Colomar <alx@kernel.org>

> 
> The question of usage of -or or -er is a messy one in English, whether
> in Commonwealth or Yankee forms.[1][2]
> 
> (If we're being even more picky, -trix further spices the mix.[3])

:-)

> 
> Regards,
> Branden
> 
> [1] https://separatedbyacommonlanguage.blogspot.com/2007/10/agentive-suffixes-er-and-or-and-little.html
> [2] https://ianjamesparsley.wordpress.com/2023/02/17/the-weirdness-of-agent-nouns/
> [3] https://www.cjr.org/language_corner/womens_suffixes.php

Thanks!


Have a lovely night!
Alex

-- 
<https://www.alejandro-colomar.es>

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