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  • That doesn't address my problem at all. I interpreted it as you suggest. I take issue with the meaning of "files". Why should it mean "file's contents"? I interpreted it as it being their names. Ultimately a file is neither its contents, nor their names. Commented Apr 19, 2019 at 9:30
  • Another thing that led to my confusion and led to the above-mentioned point, is that "ignoring case in the pattern, but not in the contents" is a concept that is extremely alien to me. In my mind if case is ignored in the pattern, then it is also ignored in the contents. Why then, reference contents if it is not possible to ignore case in the pattern, but not in the contents? I thought "OK, if this is being referenced, then surely it doesn't mean the file's contents, but the filenames". Commented Apr 19, 2019 at 9:31
  • @grep : You did not interpret it as I suggest. "in files" is not their filenames. Filenames are on the outside of files. For example, where in the file whatever is the string "whatever"? Commented Apr 19, 2019 at 9:32
  • I interpreted it as "in the pattern and in the input files". The thing is, you look at the word files here and think of its contents. I do not. What I meant with "I interpreted as you suggest" is that your rewording doesn't address my issue at all. It could have be worded as you suggest, and it would have led to my confusion anyway. Commented Apr 19, 2019 at 9:34
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    @grep : Either you read the first line of the description that directly informs you that grep searches the lines in files for matches or you didn't. Since apparently you did not read that line, you have no basis to complain that the documentation is incorrect. Commented Apr 19, 2019 at 9:42