Changing the style of the command descriptions in appendix A.

git-svn-id: http://svn.linuxfromscratch.org/LFS/trunk/BOOK@2879 4aa44e1e-78dd-0310-a6d2-fbcd4c07a689

50 files changed, 1326 insertions, 2053 deletions

diff --git a/appendixa/autoconf-desc.xml b/appendixa/autoconf-desc.xml
index 8f6e08762..e529d5a77 100644
--- a/appendixa/autoconf-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/autoconf-desc.xml
@@ -3,49 +3,44 @@
 <sect2><title>Descriptions</title>
 
 <para>(Last checked against version &autoconf-contversion;.)</para>
+
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
-<sect4><title>autoconf</title>
-<para>autoconf is a tool for producing shell scripts that automatically
-configure software source code packages to adapt to many kinds of
-Unix-like systems. The configuration scripts produced by autoconf are
-independent of autoconf when they are run, so their users do not need to
-have autoconf.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>autoheader</title>
-<para>The autoheader program can create a template file of C #define
-statements for configure to use.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>autom4te</title>
-<para>autom4te runs GNU M4 on files.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>autoreconf</title>
-<para>If there are a lot of autoconf-generated configure scripts, the
-autoreconf program can save some work. It runs autoconf and
-autoheader (where appropriate) repeatedly to remake the autoconf
-configure scripts and configuration header templates in the directory
-tree rooted at the current directory.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>autoscan</title>
-<para>The autoscan program can help to create a configure.in file for
-a software package. autoscan examines the source files in a directory
-tree. If a directory is not specified on the command line, then the
-current working directory is used. The source files are searched for
-common portability problems and a configure.scan file is created to
-serve as the preliminary configure.in for that package.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>autoupdate</title>
-<para>The autoupdate program updates a configure.in file that calls
-autoconf macros by their old names to use the current
-macro names.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>ifnames</title>
-<para>ifnames can help when writing a configure.in for a software
-package. It prints the identifiers that the package already uses in C
-preprocessor conditionals. If a package has already been set up to
-have some portability, this program can help to determine what configure
-needs to check. It may fill in some gaps in a configure.in file generated
-by autoscan.</para></sect4>
+
+<para><command>autoconf</command> is a tool for producing shell scripts
+that automatically configure software source code packages to adapt to many
+kinds of Unix-like systems. The configuration scripts it produces are
+independent -- running them does not require the autoconf program.</para>
+
+<para><command>autoheader</command> is a tool for creating template files
+of C #define statements for configure to use.</para>
+
+<para><command>autom4te</command> is a wrapper for the M4 macro
+processor.</para>
+
+<para><command>autoreconf</command> comes in handy when there are a lot
+of autoconf-generated configure scripts around. The program runs autoconf and
+autoheader repeatedly (where appropriate) to remake the autoconf configure
+scripts and configuration header templates in a given directory tree.</para>
+
+<para><command>autoscan</command> can help to create a
+<filename>configure.in</filename> file for a software package. It examines
+the source files in a directory tree, searching them for common portability
+problems and creates a <filename>configure.scan</filename> file that serves as
+as a preliminary <filename>configure.in</filename> for the package.</para>
+
+<para><command>autoupdate</command> modifies a 
+<filename>configure.in</filename> file that still calls autoconf macros
+by their old names to use the current macro names.</para>
+
+<para><command>ifnames</command> can be helpful when writing a
+<filename>configure.in</filename> for a software package. It prints the
+identifiers that the package uses in C preprocessor conditionals. If a package
+has already been set up to have some portability, this program can help to
+determine what <userinput>configure</userinput> needs to check. It can fill
+in some gaps in a <filename>configure.in</filename> file generated by
+autoscan.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 </sect2>
+
diff --git a/appendixa/automake-desc.xml b/appendixa/automake-desc.xml
index 321b77010..416ff2e90 100644
--- a/appendixa/automake-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/automake-desc.xml
@@ -6,68 +6,51 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>acinstall</title>
-<para>acinstall is a script which installs aclocal-style M4 files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>acinstall</command> is a script that installs
+aclocal-style M4 files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>aclocal, aclocal-1.6</title>
-<para>automake includes a number of autoconf macros which can be used in
-packages, some of which are needed by automake in certain
-situations. These macros must be defined in the aclocal.m4-file
-or they will not be seen by autoconf.</para>
+<para><command>aclocal</command> generates <filename>aclocal.m4</filename>
+files based on the contents of <filename>configure.in</filename> files.</para>
 
-<para>The aclocal program will automatically generate aclocal.m4 files
-based on the contents of configure.in. This provides a convenient
-way to get automake-provided macros without having to search around.
-Also, the aclocal mechanism is extensible for use 
-by other packages.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>automake</command> is a tool for automatically generating
+<filename>Makefile.in</filename>'s from files called
+<filename>Makefile.am</filename>. To create all the
+<filename>Makefile.in</filename> files for a package, run this program in the
+top level directory. By scanning the <filename>configure.in</filename>s it
+automatically finds each appropriate <filename>Makefile.am</filename> and
+generate the corresponding <filename>Makefile.in</filename>.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>automake, automake-1.6</title>
-<para>To create all the Makefile.in files for a package, run the
-automake program in the top level directory, with no
-arguments. automake will automatically find each appropriate
-Makefile.am (by scanning configure.in) and generate the corresponding
-Makefile.in.</para></sect4> 
+<para><command>compile</command> is a wrapper for compilers.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>compile</title>
-<para>compile is script which acts as a wrapper for compilers.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>config.guess</command> is a script that attempts to guess
+the canonical triplet for the given build, host, or target architecture.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>config.guess</title>
-<para>config.guess is a script which attempts to guess a canonical system
-name.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>config.sub</command> is a configuration validation
+subroutine script.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>config.sub</title>
-<para>config.sub is a configuration validation subroutine script.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>depcomp</command> is a script for compiling a program
+so that not only the desired output is generated but also dependency
+information.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>depcomp</title>
-<para>depcomp is a script which compiles a program while generating
-dependencies as side-effects.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>elisp-comp</command> byte-compiles Emacs Lisp code.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>elisp-comp</title>
-<para>elisp-comp is a script which byte-compiles .el files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>install-sh</command> is a script that installs a program,
+a script, or a datafile.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>install-sh</title>
-<para>install-sh is a script which installs a program, script, or a
-datafile.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mdate-sh</command> is a script that prints the modification
+time of a file or directory.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mdate-sh</title>
-<para>mdate-sh is a script which prints the modification time of a file
-or directory.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>missing</command> is a script acting as a common stub for
+missing GNU programs during an installation.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>missing</title>
-<para>missing is a script which acts as a common stub for a few missing
-GNU programs during an installation.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mkinstalldirs</command> is a script that creates a directory
+tree.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mkinstalldirs</title>
-<para>mkinstalldirs is a script which makes a directory
-hierarchy.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>py-compile</command> compiles a Python program.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>py-compile</title>
-<para>py-compile is a script which compiles a Python program.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>ylwrap</title>
-<para>ylwrap is a script which acts as a wrapper for lex/yacc
-invocations.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ylwrap</command> is a wrapper for lex and yacc.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 </sect2>
+
diff --git a/appendixa/bash-desc.xml b/appendixa/bash-desc.xml
index 921c269ea..418a49423 100644
--- a/appendixa/bash-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/bash-desc.xml
@@ -6,22 +6,16 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>bash</title>
-<para>bash is the Bourne-Again SHell, which is a widely used command
-interpreter on Unix systems. The bash program reads from standard
-input (the keyboard). A user types something and the program will evaluate
-what he has typed and do something with it, like running a
-program.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>bashbug</title>
-<para>bashbug is a shell script to help the user compose and mail bug
-reports concerning bash in a standard format.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>sh</title>
-<para>sh is a symlink to the bash program. When invoked as sh, bash 
-tries to mimic the startup behavior of historical versions of sh as closely 
-as possible, while conforming to the POSIX standard as
-well.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>bash</command> is a widely-used command interpreter. It
+performs all kinds of expansions and substitutions on a given command line
+before executing it, thus making this interpreter a powerful tool.</para>
+
+<para><command>bashbug</command> is a shell script to help the user
+compose and mail bug reports concerning bash in a standard format.</para>
+
+<para><command>sh</command> is a symlink to the bash program. When invoked
+as sh, bash tries to mimic the startup behavior of historical versions of sh as
+closely as possible, while conforming to the POSIX standard as well.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/binutils-desc.xml b/appendixa/binutils-desc.xml
index f1ad9b4fe..e409ece84 100644
--- a/appendixa/binutils-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/binutils-desc.xml
@@ -6,86 +6,60 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>addr2line</title>
-<para>addr2line translates program addresses into file names and line numbers. 
-Given an address and an executable, it uses the debugging information in 
-the executable to figure out which file name and line number are associated 
-with a given address.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>ar</title>
-<para>The ar program creates, modifies, and extracts from archives. An archive 
-is a single file holding a collection of other files in a structure that makes 
-it possible to retrieve the original individual files (called members of 
-the archive).</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>as</title>
-<para>as is primarily intended to assemble the output of the GNU C compiler,
- gcc, for use by the linker ld.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>gprof</title>
-<para>gprof displays call graph profile data.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>ld</title>
-<para>ld combines a number of object and archive files, relocates their data 
-and ties up symbol references. Often the last step in building a new compiled 
-program to run is a call to ld.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>nm</title>
-<para>nm lists the symbols from object files.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>objcopy</title>
-<para>objcopy utility copies the contents of an object file to another. objcopy 
-uses the GNU BFD Library to read and write the object files. It can write 
-the destination object file in a format different from that of the source
-object file.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>objdump</title>
-<para>objdump displays information about one or more object files. The options 
-control what particular information to display. This information is mostly 
-useful to programmers who are working on the compilation tools, as opposed to
-programmers who just want their program to compile and work.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>ranlib</title>
-<para>ranlib generates an index to the contents of an archive, and stores it in 
-the archive. The index lists each symbol defined by an archive member
-that is a relocatable object file.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>readelf</title>
-<para>readelf displays information about elf type binaries.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>size</title>
-<para>size lists the section sizes --and the total size-- for each of the
-object files in its argument list. By default, one line of output is
-generated for each object file or each module in an archive.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>strings</title>
-<para>For each file given, strings prints the printable character sequences 
-that are at least 4 characters long (or the number specified with an
-option to the program) and are followed by an unprintable character. By 
-default, it only prints the strings from the initialized and loaded 
-sections of object files. For other types of files, it prints the strings 
-from the whole file.</para>
-
-<para>strings is mainly useful for determining the contents of non-text files.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>strip</title>
-<para>strip discards all or specific symbols from object files. The list of 
-object files may include archives. At least one object file must be
-given. strip modifies the files named in its argument, rather than writing 
-modified copies under different names.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>addr2line</command> translates program addresses to file
+names and line numbers. Given an address and the name of an executable, it
+uses the debugging information in the executable to figure out which source
+file and line number are associated with the address.</para>
+
+<para><command>ar</command> creates, modifies, and extracts from archives. An archive
+is a single file holding a collection of other files in a structure that makes
+it possible to retrieve the original individual files (called members of
+the archive).</para>
+
+<para><command>as</command> is an assembler. It assembles the output of
+gcc into object files.</para>
+
+<para><command>gprof</command> displays call graph profile data.</para>
+
+<para><command>ld</command> is a linker. It combines a number of object
+and archive files into a single file, relocating their data and tying up symbol
+references.</para>
+
+<para><command>nm</command> lists the symbols occurring in a given object file.</para>
+
+<para><command>objcopy</command> is used to translate one type of object
+file into another.</para>
+
+<para><command>objdump</command> displays information about the given
+object file, with options controlling what particular information to display.
+The information shown is mostly only useful to programmers who are working on
+the compilation tools.</para>
+
+<para><command>ranlib</command> generates an index of the contents of an
+archive, and stores it in the archive. The index lists all the symbols defined
+by archive members that are relocatable object files.</para>
+
+<para><command>readelf</command> displays information about elf type binaries.</para>
+
+<para><command>size</command> lists the section sizes -- and the grand
+total -- for the given object files.</para>
+
+<para><command>strings</command> outputs for each file given the sequences
+of printable characters that are of at least the specified length (defaulting to 4)
+For object files it prints by default only the strings from the initializing
+and loading sections. For other types of files it scans the whole file.</para>
+
+<para><command>strip</command> discards symbols from object files.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 <sect3><title>Library file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>libbfd</title>
-<para>libbfd is the Binary File Descriptor library.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libbfd</command> is the Binary File Descriptor library.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>libopcodes</title>
-<para>libopcodes is a native library for dealing with opcodes and is
-used in the course of building utilities such as objdump. Opcodes are
-actually "readable text" versions of instructions for the 
-processor.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libopcodes</command> is a library for dealing with opcodes.
+It is used for building utilities like objdump. Opcodes are the "readable text"
+versions of instructions for the processor.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/bison-desc.xml b/appendixa/bison-desc.xml
index 1a749dd50..49ffbcd1c 100644
--- a/appendixa/bison-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/bison-desc.xml
@@ -6,46 +6,12 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>bison</title>
-<para>bison is a parser generator, a replacement for yacc. yacc stands for Yet
-Another Compiler Compiler. What is bison then? It is a program that
-generates a program that analyzes the structure of a text file. Instead of
-writing the actual program a user specifies how things should be connected
-and with those rules a program is constructed that analyzes the 
-text file. There are a lot of examples where structure is needed and 
-one of them is the calculator.</para>
-
-<para>Given the string :</para>
-
-<blockquote><literallayout>        1 + 2 * 3</literallayout></blockquote>
-
-<para>A human can easily come to the result 7. Why? Because of the structure. 
-Our brain knows
-how to interpret the string. The computer doesn't know that and bison is a
-tool to help it understand by presenting the string in the following way
-to the compiler:</para>
-
-<blockquote><literallayout>            +
-           / \
-          *   1
-         / \
-        2   3</literallayout></blockquote>
-
-<para>Starting at the bottom of a tree and coming across the numbers 2 and
-3 which are joined by the multiplication symbol, the computer
-multiplies 2 and 3. The result of that multiplication is remembered and
-the next thing that the computer sees is the result of 2*3 and the
-number 1 which are joined by the add symbol. Adding 1 to the previous
-result makes 7. In calculating, the most complex calculations can be
-broken down in this tree format and the computer just starts at the
-bottom and works its way up to the top and comes with the correct
-answer. Of course, bison isn't only used for calculators
-alone.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>yacc</title>
-<para>This bash script calls bison using the -y option. This is for
-compatibility purposes for programs which use yacc instead of
-bison.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>bison</command> generates, from a series of rules, a program
+for analyzing the structure of text files. Bison is a replacement for yacc
+(Yet Another Compiler Compiler).</para>
+
+<para><command>yacc</command> is a wrapper for bison, meant for programs
+that still call yacc instead of bison. It calls bison with the -y option.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/bootscripts-desc.xml b/appendixa/bootscripts-desc.xml
index 87483e0f0..8dc676fb3 100644
--- a/appendixa/bootscripts-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/bootscripts-desc.xml
@@ -6,74 +6,58 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>checkfs</title>
-<para>The checkfs script checks the file systems just before they are
-mounted (with the exception of journal and network based file
-systems).</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>checkfs</command> script checks the file systems just
+before they are mounted (with the exception of journal and network based file
+systems).</para>
 
-<sect4><title>cleanfs</title>
-<para>The cleanfs script removes files that shouldn't be preserved between
+<para>The <command>cleanfs</command> script removes files that shouldn't be preserved between
 reboots, such as /var/run/* and /var/lock/*. It re-creates /var/run/utmp and
 removes the possibly present /etc/nologin, /fastboot and /forcefsck
-files.</para></sect4>
+files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>functions</title>
-<para>The functions script contains functions shared among different
-scripts such as error checking, status checking, etc.</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>functions</command> script contains functions shared among
+different scripts, such as error and status checking.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>halt</title>
-<para>The halt script halts the system.</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>halt</command> script halts the system.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ifdown, ifup</title>
-<para>The ifdown and ifup scripts assist the network script with
-network devices.</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>ifdown</command> and <command>ifup</command> scripts assist
+the network script with network devices.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>loadkeys</title>
-<para>The loadkeys script loads the keymap table you specified as proper for
-your keyboard layout.</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>loadkeys</command> script loads the keymap table you
+specified as proper for your keyboard layout.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>localnet</title>
-<para>The localnet script sets up the system's hostname and local loopback
-device.</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>localnet</command> script sets up the system's hostname and
+local loopback device.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mountfs</title>
-<para>The mountfs script mounts all file systems that aren't marked noauto
-or aren't network based.</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>mountfs</command> script mounts all file systems that
+aren't marked noauto or aren't network based.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mountproc</title>
-<para>The mountproc script is used to mount the proc filesystem.</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>mountproc</command> script is used to mount the proc
+filesystem.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>network</title>
-<para>The network script sets up network interfaces, such as network cards,
-and sets up the default gateway where applicable.</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>network</command> script sets up network interfaces, such
+as network cards, and sets up the default gateway where applicable.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rc</title>
-<para>The rc script is the master runlevel control script. It is
-responsible for running all the other scripts one-by-one in a specific
-sequence.</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>rc</command> script is the master runlevel control script.
+It is responsible for running all the other scripts one-by-one in a specific
+sequence.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>reboot</title>
-<para>The reboot scripts reboots the system.</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>reboot</command> script reboots the system.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>sendsignals</title>
-<para>The sendsignals script makes sure every process is terminated before
-the system reboots or halts.</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>sendsignals</command> script makes sure every process is
+terminated before the system reboots or halts.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>setclock</title>
-<para>The setclock scripts resets the kernel clock to localtime in case
-the hardware clock isn't set to GMT time.</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>setclock</command> script resets the kernel clock to
+localtime in case the hardware clock isn't set to GMT time.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>swap</title>
-<para>The swap scripts enables and disables swap files and
-partitions.</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>swap</command> script enables and disables swap files and
+partitions.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>sysklogd</title>
-<para>The sysklogd script starts and stops the system and kernel log
-daemons.</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>sysklogd</command> script starts and stops the system and
+kernel log daemons.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>template</title>
-<para>The template script is a template you can use to create your own
-bootscripts for your other daemons.</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>template</command> script is a template you can use to
+create your own bootscripts for your other daemons.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/bzip2-desc.xml b/appendixa/bzip2-desc.xml
index 5a64b342b..cbd8171ab 100644
--- a/appendixa/bzip2-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/bzip2-desc.xml
@@ -6,51 +6,36 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>bunzip2</title>
-<para>bunzip2 decompresses files that are compressed with
-bzip2.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>bzcat</title>
-<para>bzcat (or bzip2 -dc) decompresses all specified files to the standard 
-output.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>bzcmp, bzdiff</title>
-<para>bzcmp and bzdiff are used to invoke the cmp or the diff program on
-bzip2 compressed files.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>bzegrep, bzfgrep, bzgrep</title>
-<para>bzegrep, bzfgrep, and bzgrep invoke either egrep, fgrep, or grep
-(respectively) on bzip2-compressed files.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>bzip2</title>
-<para>bzip2 compresses files using the Burrows-Wheeler block sorting text 
-compression algorithm and Huffman coding. Compression is generally 
-considerably better than that achieved by more conventional LZ77/LZ78-based 
-compressors (such as the traditional <userinput>gzip</userinput> utility)
-and approaches the performance of the PPM family of statistical
-compressors.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>bzip2recover</title>
-<para>bzip2recover recovers data from damaged bzip2 files.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>bzless</title>
-<para>bzless is a filter which allows examination of compressed
-or plain text files, one screenful at a time on a soft-copy
-terminal, like less.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>bzmore</title>
-<para>bzmore is a filter which allows examination of compressed
-or plain text files, one screenful at a time on a soft-copy
-terminal, like more.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>bunzip2</command> decompresses bzipped files.</para>
+
+<para><command>bzcat</command> decompresses to standard output.</para>
+
+<para><command>bzcmp</command> runs cmp on bzipped files.</para>
+
+<para><command>bzdiff</command> runs diff on bzipped files.</para>
+
+<para><command>bzgrep</command> and friends run grep on bzipped files.</para>
+
+<para><command>bzip2</command> compresses files using the Burrows-Wheeler
+block sorting text compression algorithm with Huffman coding. The compression
+rate is generally considerably better than that achieved by more conventional
+compressors using LZ77/LZ78, like <userinput>gzip</userinput>.</para>
+
+<para><command>bzip2recover</command> tries to recover data from damaged
+bzip2 files.</para>
+
+<para><command>bzless</command> runs less on bzipped files.</para>
+
+<para><command>bzmore</command> runs more on bzipped files.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 <sect3><title>Library file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>libbz2</title>
-<para>libbz2 is the library for implementing lossless, block-sorting data
-compression, using the Burrows-Wheeler algorithm.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libbz2</command> is the library implementing lossless,
+block-sorting data compression, using the Burrows-Wheeler algorithm.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 </sect2>
+
diff --git a/appendixa/coreutils-desc.xml b/appendixa/coreutils-desc.xml
index 27d89d8c9..9a780a649 100644
--- a/appendixa/coreutils-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/coreutils-desc.xml
@@ -2,315 +2,245 @@
 
 <sect2><title>Descriptions</title>
 
+<para>(Last checked against the old Fileutils, Sh-utils and Textutils.)</para>
+
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>basename</title>
-<para>basename strips directory and suffixes from filenames.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>basename</command> strips any path and a given suffix from
+the given file name.</para>
+
+<para><command>cat</command> concatenates files to standard output.</para>
+
+<para><command>chgrp</command> changes the group ownership of each given
+file to the given group. The group can be either given a a name or a numeric
+ID.</para>
+
+<para><command>chmod</command> changes the permissions of each given file
+to the given mode. The mode can be either a symbolic representation of the
+changes to make, or an octal number representing the new permissions.</para>
+
+<para><command>chown</command> changes the user and/or group ownership of
+each given file to the given user:group pair.</para>
+
+<para><command>chroot</command> runs a given command with the specified
+directory as the <filename>/</filename> directory. The given command can be an
+interactive shell. On most systems only <emphasis>root</emphasis> can do
+this.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>cat</title>
-<para>cat concatenates file(s) or standard input to 
-standard output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>cksum</command> prints the CRC checksum and the byte
+counts of each specified file.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>chgrp</title>
-<para>chgrp changes the group ownership of each given file to the named group, 
-which can be either a group name or a numeric group ID.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>comm</command> compares two sorted files, outputting in
+three columns the lines that are unique, and the lines that are common.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>chmod</title>
-<para>chmod changes the permissions of each given file according to mode, which 
-can be either a symbolic representation of changes to make or an octal 
-number representing the bit pattern for the new permissions.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>cp</command> copies files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>chown</title>
-<para>chown changes the user and/or group ownership of each 
-given file.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>csplit</command> splits a given file into several new files,
+separating them according to given patterns or line numbers, and outputting
+the byte count of each new file.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>chroot</title>
-<para>chroot runs a command or interactive shell with special 
-root directory.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>cut</command> prints parts of lines, selecting the parts
+according to given fields or positions.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>cksum</title>
-<para>cksum prints CRC checksum and byte counts of each specified
-file.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>date</command> displays the current time in the given
+format, or sets the system date.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>comm</title>
-<para>comm compares two sorted files line by line.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>dd</command> copies a file using the given blocksize and
+count, while optionally performing conversions on it.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>cp</title>
-<para>cp copies files from one place to another.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>df</command> reports the amount of disk space available
+(and used) on all mounted filesystems, or only on the filesystems holding the
+given files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>csplit</title>
-<para>csplit outputs pieces of a file separated by (a) pattern(s) to files
-xx01, xx02, ..., and outputs byte counts of each piece to standard 
-output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>dir</command> is the same as ls.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>cut</title>
-<para>cut prints selected parts of lines from specified files to standard 
-output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>dircolors</command> outputs commands to set the LS_COLOR
+environment variable, to change the color scheme used by ls.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>date</title>
-<para>date displays the current time in a specified format, or sets 
-the system date.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>dirname</command> strips the non-directory suffix from
+a given file name.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>dd</title>
-<para>dd copies a file (from the standard input to the standard output, by 
-default) with a user-selectable blocksize, while optionally performing 
-conversions on it.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>du</command> reports the amount of disk space used by the
+current directory, or by each of the given directories including all their
+subdirectories, or by each of the given files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>df</title>
-<para>df displays the amount of disk space available on the filesystem
-containing each file name argument. If no file name is given, the space 
-available on all currently mounted filesystems is shown.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>echo</command> displays the given strings.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>dir, ls and vdir</title>
-<para>dir and vdir are versions of ls with different default output formats. 
-These programs list each given file or directory name. Directory contents 
-are sorted alphabetically. For ls, files are, by default, listed in columns 
-sorted vertically if the standard output is a terminal; otherwise they 
-are listed one per line. For dir, files are, by default, listed in columns
-sorted vertically. For vdir, files are, by default, listed in 
-long format.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>env</command> runs a command in a modified environment.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>dircolors</title>
-<para>dircolors outputs commands to set the LS_COLOR environment variable.
-The LS_COLOR variable is use to change the default color scheme used by
-ls and related utilities.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>expand</command> converts tabs to spaces.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>dirname</title>
-<para>dirname strips non-directory suffixes from file name.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>expr</command> evaluates expressions.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>du</title>
-<para>du displays the amount of disk space used by each file or directory
-listed on the command-line and by each of their subdirectories.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>factor</command> prints the prime factors of all specified
+integer numbers.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>echo</title>
-<para>echo displays a line of text.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>false</command> does nothing, unsuccessfully. It always
+exits with a status code indicating failure.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>env</title>
-<para>env runs a program in a modified environment.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>fmt</command> reformats the paragraphs in the given files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>expand</title>
-<para>expand converts tabs in files to spaces, writing to standard 
-output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>fold</command> wraps the lines in the given files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>expr</title>
-<para>expr evaluates expressions.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>groups</command> reports a user's group memberships.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>factor</title>
-<para>factor prints the prime factors of all specified 
-integer numbers.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>head</command> prints the first ten lines (or the given
+number of lines) of each given file.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>false</title>
-<para>false always exits with a status code indicating failure.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>hostid</command> reports the numeric identifier
+(in hexadecimal) of the host.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>fmt</title>
-<para>fmt reformats each paragraph in the specified file(s), writing to 
-standard output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>hostname</command> reports or sets the name of the
+host.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>fold</title>
-<para>fold wraps input lines in each specified file (standard input by default),
-writing to standard output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>id</command> reports the effective user ID, group ID, and
+group memberships of the current user, or of a given user.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>groups</title>
-<para>groups prints a user's group memberships.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>install</command> copies files while setting their
+permission modes and, if possible, their owner and group.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>head</title>
-<para>head prints the first xx (10 by default) lines of each specified file to
-standard output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>join</command> joins from two files the lines that have
+identical join fields.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>hostid</title>
-<para>hostid prints the numeric identifier (in hexadecimal) for the current 
-host.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>kill</command> terminates the given process.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>hostname</title>
-<para>hostname reports or sets the name of the current host.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>link</command> creates a hard link with the given name
+to the given file.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>id</title>
-<para>id prints the effective user and group IDs of the current
-user or a given user.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ln</command> makes hard links or soft links between files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>install</title>
-<para>install copies files and sets their permission modes and, if possible, 
-their owner and group.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>logname</command> reports the current user's login name.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>join</title>
-<para>join joins lines of two files on a common field.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ls</command> lists the contents of each given directory.
+By default it orders the files and subdirectories alphabetically.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>kill</title>
-<para>kill terminates the given process.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>md5sum</command> reports or checks MD5 checksums.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ln</title>
-<para>ln makes hard or soft (symbolic) links between files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mkdir</command> creates directories with the given names.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>logname</title>
-<para>logname prints the current user's login name.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mkfifo</command> creates FIFOs with the given names.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>md5sum</title>
-<para>md5sum prints or checks MD5 checksums.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mknod</command> creates device nodes with the given names.
+A device node is a character special file, or a block special file, or a FIFO.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mkdir</title>
-<para>mkdir creates directories with a given name.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mv</command> moves or renames files or directories.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mkfifo</title>
-<para>mkfifo creates a FIFO with each given name.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>nice</command> runs a program with modified scheduling priority.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mknod</title>
-<para>mknod creates a FIFO, character special file or block special file 
-with the given file name.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>nl</command> numbers the lines from the given files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mv</title>
-<para>mv moves files from one directory to another or renames files, depending
-on the arguments given to mv.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>nohup</command> runs a command immune to hangups, with
+output redirected to a log file.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>nice</title>
-<para>nice runs a program with modified scheduling priority.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>od</command> dumps files in octal and other formats.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>nl</title>
-<para>nl writes each specified file to standard output, with line numbers
-added.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>paste</command> merges the given files, joining
+sequentially corresponding lines side by side, separated by TABs.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>nohup</title>
-<para>nohup runs a command immune to hangups, with output to a 
-log file.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pathchk</command> checks whether file names are valid
+or portable.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>od</title>
-<para>od writes an unambiguous representation, octal bytes by default, of a
-specified file to standard output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pinky</command> is a lightweight finger. It reports
+some information about the given users.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>paste</title>
-<para>paste writes lines consisting of the sequentially corresponding
-lines from each specified file, separated by TABs, 
-to standard output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pr</command> paginates and columnates files for printing.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pathchk</title>
-<para>pathchk checks whether file names are valid or portable.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>printenv</command> prints the environment.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pinky</title>
-<para>pinky is a lightweight finger utility which retrieves information about
-a certain user.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>printf</command> prints the given arguments according to the
+given format -- much like the C printf function.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pr</title>
-<para>pr paginates or columnates files for printing.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ptx</command> produces from the contents of the given files
+a permuted index, with each keyword in its context.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>printenv</title>
-<para>printenv prints all or part of the environment.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pwd</command> reports the name of the current directory.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>printf</title>
-<para>printf formats and prints data (the same as the C printf 
-function).</para></sect4>
+<para><command>readlink</command> reports the value of the given symbolic
+link.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ptx</title>
-<para>ptx produces a permuted index of file contents.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rm</command> removes files or directories.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pwd</title>
-<para>pwd prints the name of the current/working directory.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rmdir</command> removes directories, if they are empty.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rm</title>
-<para>rm removes files or directories.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>seq</command> prints a sequence of numbers, within a given
+range and with a given increment.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rmdir</title>
-<para>rmdir removes directories, if they are empty.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>sha1sum</command> prints or checks 160-bit SHA1
+checksums.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>seq</title>
-<para>seq prints numbers in a certain range with a certain 
-increment.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>shred</command> overwrites the given files repeatedly with
+strange patterns, to make it real hard to recover the data.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>sha1sum</title>
-<para>sha1sum prints or checks 160-bit SHA1checksums.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>sleep</command> pauses for the given amount of time.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>shred</title>
-<para>shred deletes a file securely, overwriting it first so that its 
-contents can't be recovered.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>sort</command> sorts the lines from the given files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>sleep</title>
-<para>sleep delays for a specified amount of time.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>split</command> splits the given file into pieces, by size
+or by number of lines.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>sort</title>
-<para>sort writes sorted concatenation of files to standard 
-output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>stty</command> sets or reports terminal line settings.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>split</title>
-<para>split outputs fixed-size pieces of an input file to 
-PREFIXaa, PREFIXab, ...</para></sect4>
+<para><command>su</command> runs a shell with substitute user and group IDs.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>stty</title>
-<para>stty changes and prints terminal line settings.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>sum</command> prints checksum and block counts for each
+given file.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>su</title>
-<para>su runs a shell with substitute user and group IDs.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>sync</command> flushes filesystem buffers. It forces
+changed blocks to disk and updates the super block.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>sum</title>
-<para>sum prints checksum and block counts for each specified 
-file.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>tac</command> concatenates the given files in reverse.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>sync</title>
-<para>sync forces changed blocks to disk and updates the 
-super block.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>tail</command> prints the last ten lines (or the given
+number of lines) of each given file.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>tac</title>
-<para>tac writes each specified file to standard output, last line
-first.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>tee</command> reads from standard input while writing both
+to standard output and to the given files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>tail</title>
-<para>tail print the last xx (10 by default) lines of each specified file to 
-standard output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>test</command> compares values and checks file types.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>tee</title>
-<para>tee reads from standard input and writes to standard output and 
-files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>touch</command> changes file timestamps, setting the access
+and modification times of the given files to the current time. Files that do
+not exist are created with zero length.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>test</title>
-<para>test checks file types and compares values.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>tr</command> translates, squeezes, and deletes the given
+characters from standard input.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>touch</title>
-<para>touch changes the access and modification times of each given file to the 
-current time. Files that do not exist are created empty.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>true</command> does nothing, successfully. It always exits
+with a status code indicating success.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>tr</title>
-<para>tr translates, squeezes, and/or deletes characters from standard
-input, writing to standard output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>tsort</command> performs a topological sort. It writes a
+totally ordered list according to the partial ordering in a given file.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>true</title>
-<para>true always exits with a status code indicating success.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>tty</command> reports the file name of the terminal
+connected to standard input.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>tsort</title>
-<para>tsort writes totally ordered lists consistent with the partial ordering 
-in specified files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>uname</command> reports system information.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>tty</title>
-<para>tty prints the file name of the terminal connected to standard 
-input.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>unexpand</command> converts spaces to tabs.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>uname</title>
-<para>uname prints system information.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>uniq</command> discards all but one of successive
+identical lines.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>unexpand</title>
-<para>unexpand converts spaces in each file to tabs, writing to standard
-output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>unlink</command> removes the given file.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>uniq</title>
-<para>uniq removes duplicate lines from a sorted file.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>uptime</command> reports how long the system has been
+running, how many users are logged on, and the system load averages.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>uptime</title>
-<para>uptime tells how long the system has been running.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>users</command> reports the names of the users currently
+logged on.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>users</title>
-<para>users prints the user names of users currently logged in to the 
-current host.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>vdir</command> is the same as ls -l.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>wc</title>
-<para>wc prints line, word and byte counts for each specified file and a
-total line, if more than one file is specified.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>wc</command> reports the number of lines, words, and bytes
+for each given file, and a total line when more than one file is given.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>who</title>
-<para>who shows who is logged on.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>who</command> reports who is logged on.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>whoami</title>
-<para>whoami prints the user name associated with the current
-effective user ID.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>whoami</command> reports the user name associated with the
+current effective user ID.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>yes</title>
-<para>yes outputs 'y' or a given string repeatedly,
-until killed.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>yes</command> outputs 'y' or a given string repeatedly,
+until killed.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/diffutils-desc.xml b/appendixa/diffutils-desc.xml
index 6acf02110..d8653fecb 100644
--- a/appendixa/diffutils-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/diffutils-desc.xml
@@ -6,18 +6,16 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>cmp and diff</title>
-<para>cmp and diff both compare two files and report their differences. Both
-programs have extra options which compare files in 
-different situations.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>diff3</title>
-<para>The difference between diff and diff3 is that diff compares 2 files,
-diff3 compares 3 files.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>sdiff</title>
-<para>sdiff merges two files and interactively outputs 
-the results.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>cmp</command> compares two files and reports whether or
+in which bytes they differ.</para>
+
+<para><command>diff</command> compares two files or directories and reports
+which lines in the files differ.</para>
+
+<para><command>diff3</command> compares three files line by line.</para>
+
+<para><command>sdiff</command> merges two files and interactively outputs
+the results.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/e2fsprogs-desc.xml b/appendixa/e2fsprogs-desc.xml
index 6e452a9ce..3ec288f7a 100644
--- a/appendixa/e2fsprogs-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/e2fsprogs-desc.xml
@@ -6,102 +6,75 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>badblocks</title>
-<para>badblocks is used to search for bad blocks on a device (usually a disk 
-partition).</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>chattr</title>
-<para>chattr changes the file attributes on a Linux second extended file
-system.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>compile_et</title>
-<para>compile_et is used to convert a table, listing error-code names
-and associated messages, into a C source file that is suitable for use
-with the com_err library.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>debugfs</title>
-<para>The debugfs program is a file system debugger. It can be used to examine 
-and change the state of an ext2 file system.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>dumpe2fs</title>
-<para>dumpe2fs prints the super block and blocks group information for the 
-filesystem present on a specified device.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>e2fsck and fsck.ext2</title>
-<para>e2fsck and fsck.ext2 are used to check, and optionally repair, Linux
-second extended filesystems.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>e2image</title>
-<para>e2image is used to save critical ext2 filesystem data to
-a file.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>e2label</title>
-<para>e2label will display or change the filesystem label on the ext2 
-filesystem located on the specified device.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>fsck</title>
-<para>fsck is used to check, and optionally repair, a Linux file
-system.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>fsck.ext3</title>
-<para>fsck.ext3 is used to check, and optionally repair, a Linux ext3 
-filesystems.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>lsattr</title>
-<para>lsattr lists the file attributes on a second extended 
-file system.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>mk_cmds</title>
-<para>The mk_cmds utility takes a command table file as input and produces
-a C source file as output, which is intended to be used with the subsystem
-library, libss.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>mke2fs and mkfs.ext2</title>
-<para>mke2fs is used to create a Linux second extended file system on a device 
-(usually a disk partition). mkfs.ext2 does the same as mke2fs.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>mkfs.ext3</title>
-<para>mkfs.ext3 is used to create an ext3 filesystem.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>mklost+found</title>
-<para>mklost+found is used to create a lost+found directory in the current 
-working directory on a Linux second extended file system. mklost+found 
-pre-allocates disk blocks to the directory to make it 
-usable by e2fsck.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>resize2fs</title>
-<para>resize2fs is used to resize ext2 file systems.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>tune2fs</title>
-<para>tune2fs adjusts tunable filesystem parameters on a Linux second extended 
-filesystem.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>uuidgen</title>
-<para>The uuidgen program creates a new universally unique identifier (UUID) 
-using the libuuid library. The new UUID can reasonably be considered unique 
-among all UUIDs created, on the local system and on other
-systems, in the past and in the future.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>badblocks</command> searches a device (usually a disk
+partition) for bad blocks.</para>
+
+<para><command>chattr</command> changes the attributes of files on a
+second extended (ext2) filesystem.</para>
+
+<para><command>compile_et</command> is an error table compiler. It
+converts a table of error-code names and messages into a C source file
+suitable for use with the com_err library.</para>
+
+<para><command>debugfs</command> is a filesystem debugger. It can be
+used to examine and change the state of an ext2 filesystem.</para>
+
+<para><command>dumpe2fs</command> prints the super block and blocks group
+information for the filesystem present on a given device.</para>
+
+<para><command>e2fsck</command> is used to check, and optionally repair,
+second extended (ext2) filesystems, and also ext3 filesystems.</para>
+
+<para><command>e2image</command> is used to save critical ext2 filesystem
+data to a file.</para>
+
+<para><command>e2label</command> will display or change the filesystem
+label on the ext2 filesystem present on a given device.</para>
+
+<para><command>fsck</command> is used to check, and optionally repair,
+filesystems. By default it checks the filesystems listed in
+<filename>/etc/fstab</filename></para>
+
+<para><command>lsattr</command> lists the attributes of files on a second
+extended filesystem.</para>
+
+<para><command>mk_cmds</command> converts a table of command names
+and help messages into a C source file suitable for use with the
+<filename>libss</filename> subsystem library.</para>
+
+<para><command>mke2fs</command> is used to create a second extended
+filesystem on the given device.</para>
+
+<para><command>mklost+found</command> is used to create a
+<filename>lost+found</filename> directory on a second extended filesystem.
+It pre-allocates disk blocks to this directory to lighten the task of e2fsck.</para>
+
+<para><command>resize2fs</command> can be used to enlarge or shrink an
+ext2 filesystem.</para>
+
+<para><command>tune2fs</command> is used adjust tunable filesystem
+parameters on a second extended filesystem.</para>
+
+<para><command>uuidgen</command> creates new universally unique
+identifiers (UUID). Each new UUID can reasonably be considered unique
+among all UUIDs created, on the local system and on other systems, in the
+past and in the future.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 <sect3><title>Library file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>libcom_err</title>
-<para>The common error display routine.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libcom_err</command> is the common error display routine.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>libe2p</title>
-<para>libe2p is used by dumpe2fs, chattr, and lsattr.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libe2p</command> is used by dumpe2fs, chattr, and lsattr.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>libext2fs</title>
-<para>The ext2fs library is designed to allow user-level programs to
-manipulate an ext2 filesystem.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libext2fs</command> contains routines to enable user-level
+programs to manipulate an ext2 filesystem.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>libss</title>
-<para>libss is used by debugfs.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libss</command> is used by debugfs.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>libuuid</title>
-<para>The libuuid library is used to generate unique identifiers for
-objects that may be accessible beyond the local system.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libuuid</command> contains routines for generating unique
+identifiers for objects that may be accessible beyond the local system.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/ed-desc.xml b/appendixa/ed-desc.xml
index 6cd38d6be..a9a37b02c 100644
--- a/appendixa/ed-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/ed-desc.xml
@@ -6,13 +6,11 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file description</title>
 
-<sect4><title>ed</title>
-<para>ed is a line-oriented text editor. It is used to create, display,
-modify and otherwise manipulate text files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ed</command> is a line-oriented text editor. It can be used
+to create, display, modify and otherwise manipulate text files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>red</title>
-<para>red is a restricted ed: it can only edit files in the current
-directory and cannot execute shell commands.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>red</command> is a restricted ed -- it can only edit files
+in the current directory and cannot execute shell commands.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/file-desc.xml b/appendixa/file-desc.xml
index e2ee33bc6..a49c1f686 100644
--- a/appendixa/file-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/file-desc.xml
@@ -6,11 +6,9 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>file</title>
-<para>file tests each specified file in an attempt to classify it. There are
-three sets of tests, performed in this order: filesystem tests, 
-magic number tests and language tests. The first test that succeeds 
-causes the file type to be printed.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>file</command> tries to classify each given file. It does
+this by performing several tests: filesystem tests, magic number tests, and
+language tests. The first test that succeeds determines the result.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/findutils-desc.xml b/appendixa/findutils-desc.xml
index fd705119d..879505a1d 100644
--- a/appendixa/findutils-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/findutils-desc.xml
@@ -6,46 +6,28 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>bigram</title>
-<para>bigram is used together with code to produce older-style locate 
-databases. To learn more about these last three programs, read the locatedb.5 
-manual page.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>code</title>
-<para>code is the ancestor of frcode. It was used in older-style locate 
-databases.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>find</title>
-<para>The find program searches for files in a directory hierarchy which match
-a certain criteria. If no criteria is given, it lists all files in the
-current directory and its subdirectories.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>frcode</title>
-<para>frcode is called by updatedb to compress the list of file names
-using front-compression, which reduces the database size by a factor of
-4 to 5.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>locate</title>
-<para>locate scans a database which contains all files and directories on a
-filesystem. This program lists the files and directories in this
-database matching a certain criteria. If a user is looking for a file this
-program will scan the database and tell him exactly where the files he
-requested are located. This only makes sense if the locate database is
-fairly up-to-date, else it will provide out-of-date information.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>updatedb</title>
-<para>The updatedb program updates the locate database. It scans the entire
-file system (including other file systems that are currently mounted
-unless it is told not to do so) and puts every directory and file it finds
-into the database that's used by the locate program, which retrieves this
-information. It's good practice to update this database once a day to
-have it up-to-date whenever it is needed.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>xargs</title>
-<para>The xargs command applies a command to a list of files. If there is 
-a need to perform the same command on multiple files, a list can be created 
-that names all those files (one per line) and xargs can perform that
-command on those files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>bigram</command> was formerly used to produce locate
+databases.</para>
+
+<para><command>code</command> was formerly used to produce locate
+databases. It is is the ancestor of frcode.</para>
+
+<para><command>find</command> searches given directory trees for files
+matching the specified criteria.</para>
+
+<para><command>frcode</command> is called by updatedb to compress the
+list of file names. It uses front-compression, reducing the database size by a
+factor of 4 to 5.</para>
+
+<para><command>locate</command> searches through a database of file names,
+and reports the names that contain a given string or match a given pattern.</para>
+
+<para><command>updatedb</command> updates the locate database. It scans
+the entire filesystem (including other filesystems that are currently mounted,
+unless told not to) and puts every file name it finds in the database.</para>
+
+<para><command>xargs</command> can be used to apply a given command to
+a list of files.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/flex-desc.xml b/appendixa/flex-desc.xml
index 0e98029b1..24f9832e9 100644
--- a/appendixa/flex-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/flex-desc.xml
@@ -6,29 +6,20 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>flex</title>
-<para>flex is a tool for generating programs which recognize 
-patterns in text. Pattern recognition is very useful in many applications. 
-A user sets up rules about what to look for and flex will make a program
-that looks for those patterns. The reason people use flex is that it is
-much easier to set up rules for what to look for than to write the actual
-program which finds the text.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>flex++</title>
-<para>flex++ invokes a version of flex which is used exclusively for 
-C++ scanners.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>lex</title>
-<para>We create a bash script called lex which calls flex using the -l option.
-This is for compatibility purposes for programs which use lex instead
-of flex.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>flex</command> is a tool for generating programs that
+recognize patterns in text. Pattern recognition is useful in many applications.
+From a set of rules on what to look for flex makes a program that looks for
+those patterns. The reason to use flex is that it is much easier to specify
+the rules for than to write the actual pattern-finding program.</para>
+
+<para><command>flex++</command> invokes a version of flex that is used
+exclusively for C++ scanners.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 <sect3><title>Library file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>libfl</title>
-<para>libfl is the flex library.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libfl</command> is the flex library.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/gawk-desc.xml b/appendixa/gawk-desc.xml
index d0975e578..2078327cf 100644
--- a/appendixa/gawk-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/gawk-desc.xml
@@ -6,28 +6,21 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>awk</title>
-<para>awk is a symbolic link to gawk.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>gawk</command> is a program for manipulating text files.
+It is the GNU implementation of awk.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>gawk, gawk-3.1.1</title>
-<para>gawk is the GNU implementation of awk, a pattern scanning and
-processing language.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>grcat</command> dumps the group database
+<filename>/etc/group</filename>.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>grcat</title>
-<para>grcat concatenates the group database,
-/etc/group.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>igawk</command> gives gawk the ability to
+include files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>igawk</title>
-<para>igawk is a shell script which gives gawk the ability to
-include files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pgawk</command> is the profiling version of gawk.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pgawk, pgawk-3.1.1</title>
-<para>pgawk is the profiling version of gawk.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>pwcat</title>
-<para>pwcat concatenates the password database,
-/etc/passwd.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pwcat</command> dumps the password database
+<filename>/etc/passwd</filename>.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 </sect2>
+
diff --git a/appendixa/gcc-desc.xml b/appendixa/gcc-desc.xml
index 5acabb5b9..66f7dd23d 100644
--- a/appendixa/gcc-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/gcc-desc.xml
@@ -6,66 +6,38 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>cc, cc1, cc1plus, gcc</title>
-<para>These are the C compiler. A compiler translates source code in
-text format to a format that a computer understands. After a source code 
-file is compiled into an object file, a linker will create an executable 
-file from one or more of these compiler generated object files.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>c++, cc1plus, g++</title>
-<para>These are the C++ compiler, the equivalent of cc and 
-gcc etc.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>c++filt</title>
-<para>The C++ language provides function overloading, which means that it is
-possible to write many functions with the same name (providing each takes
-parameters of different types). All C++ function names are encoded into
-a low-level assembly label (this process is known as mangling). The c++filt
-program does the inverse mapping: it decodes (demangles) low-level names
-into user-level names so that the linker can keep these overloaded functions
-from clashing.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>collect2</title>
-<para>collect2 assists with the compilation of constructors.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>cpp, cpp0</title>
-<para>cpp pre-processes a source file, such as including the contents of
-header files into the source file. Simply add a line, such as #include
-&lt;filename&gt;, to your source file. The preprocessor will insert the
-contents of the included file into the source file.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>gccbug</title>
-<para>gccbug is a shell script which is used to simplify the creation of
-bug reports.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>gcov</title>
-<para>gcov analyzes programs to help create more efficient, faster running
-code through optimization.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>tradcpp0</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>c++filt</command> is used by the linker to demangle C++
+symbols, to keep overloaded functions from clashing.</para>
+
+<para><command>cpp</command> is the C preprocessor. It is used by the
+compiler to have the #include and #define and such statements expanded in
+the source files.</para>
+
+<para><command>g++</command> is the C++ compiler.</para>
+
+<para><command>gcc</command> is the C compiler. It is used to translate
+the source code of a program into assembly code.</para>
+
+<para><command>gccbug</command> is a shell script used to help create
+good bug reports.</para>
+
+<para><command>gcov</command> is a coverage testing tool. It is used to
+analyze programs to find out where optimizations will have the most effect.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 <sect3><title>Library file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>libgcc, libgcc_eh, libgcc_s</title>
-<para>Run-time support files for gcc.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libgcc*</command> contains run-time support for gcc.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>libiberty</title>
-<para>libiberty is a collection of subroutines used by various GNU
-programs including getopt, obstack, strerror, strtol and strtoul.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libiberty</command> contains routines used by various GNU
+programs, including getopt, obstack, strerror, strtol and strtoul.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>libstdc++</title>
-<para>libstdc++ is the C++ library. It is used by C++ programs and contains
-functions that are frequently used in C++ programs. This way the
-programmer doesn't have to write certain functions (such as writing a
-string of text to the screen) from scratch every time he creates a
-program.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libstdc++</command> is the standard C++ library. It contains
+many frequently-used functions.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>libsupc++</title>
-<para>libsupc++ provides support for the c++ programming language. Among other
-things, libsupc++ contains routines for exception handling.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libsupc++</command> provides supporting routines
+for the c++ programming language.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/gettext-desc.xml b/appendixa/gettext-desc.xml
index 7de717e20..39cb47365 100644
--- a/appendixa/gettext-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/gettext-desc.xml
@@ -6,123 +6,79 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>config.charset</title>
-<para>The config.charset script outputs a system-dependent table of
-character encoding aliases.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>config.rpath</title>
-<para>The config.rpath script outputs a system-dependent set of variables,
-describing how to set the run time search path of shared libraries in an
-executable.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>config.charset</command> outputs a system-dependent table of
+character encoding aliases.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>gettext</title>
-<para>The gettext package is used for internationalization (also known as
-i18n) and for localization (also known as l10n). Programs can be
-compiled with Native Language Support (NLS) which enable them to output
-messages in the user's native language rather than in the default English
-language.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>config.rpath</command> outputs a system-dependent set of
+variables, describing how to set the runtime search path of shared libraries in an
+executable.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>gettextize</title>
-<para>The gettextize program copies all standard gettext files into a
-directory. It's used to make a package with gettext translations.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>gettext</command> translates a natural language message into
+the user's language, by looking up the translation in a message catalog.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>hostname</title>
-<para>The hostname program displays a network hostname in various
-forms.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>gettextize</command> copies all standard Gettext files into
+the given top-level directory of a package, to begin internationalizing it.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>msgattrib</title>
-<para>The msgattrib program filters the messages of a translation catalog
-according to their attributes and manipulates the attributes.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>hostname</command> displays a network hostname in various
+forms.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>msgcat</title>
-<para>The msgcat program finds messages which are common in several raw
-translations.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>msgattrib</command> filters the messages of a translation
+catalog according to their attributes and manipulates the attributes.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>msgcmp</title>
-<para>The msgcmp program compares two raw translation files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>msgcat</command> concatenates and merges the given
+<filename>.po</filename> files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>msgcomm</title>
-<para>The msgcomm program searches messages which appear in several .po
-files. It's used to compare how things are translated.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>msgcmp</command> compares two <filename>.po</filename>
+files to check that both contain the same set of msgid strings.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>msgconv</title>
-<para>The msgconv program converts a translation catalog to a different
-character encoding.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>msgcomm</command> finds the messages that are common to
+to the given <filename>.po</filename> files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>msgen</title>
-<para>The msgen program creates an English translation catalog.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>msgconv</command> converts a translation catalog to a
+different character encoding.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>msgexec</title>
-<para>The msgexec program applies a command to all translations of a
-translation catalog.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>msgen</command> creates an English translation catalog.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>msgfilter</title>
-<para>The msgfilter program applies a filter to all translations of a
-translation catalog.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>msgexec</command> applies a command to all translations of a
+translation catalog.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>msgfmt</title>
-<para>The msgfmt program compiles raw translation into machine code. It's
-used to create the final program/package translation file.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>msgfilter</command> applies a filter to all translations of a
+translation catalog.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>msggrep</title>
-<para>The msggrep program extracts all messages of a translation
-catalog that match a given pattern or belong to some given source
-files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>msgfmt</command> generates a binary message catalog from
+from a translation catalog.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>msginit</title>
-<para>The msginit program creates a new PO file, initializing the
-meta information with values from the user's environment.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>msggrep</command> extracts all messages of a translation
+catalog that match a given pattern or belong to some given source files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>msgmerge</title>
-<para>The msgmerge program combines two raw translations into one file.
-It's used to update the raw translation with the source extract.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>msginit</command> creates a new  <filename>.po</filename>
+file, initializing the meta information with values from the user's
+environment.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>msgunfmt</title>
-<para>The msgunfmt program decompiles translation files into raw
-translation text. It can only be used if the compiled versions are
-available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>msgmerge</command> combines two raw translations into a
+single file.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>msguniq</title>
-<para>The msguniq program unifies duplicate translations in a translation
-catalog.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>msgunfmt</command> decompiles a binary message catalog
+into raw translation text.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ngettext</title>
-<para>The ngettext program displays native language translations of a
-textual message whose grammatical form depends on a number.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>msguniq</command> unifies duplicate translations in a
+translation catalog.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>project-id</title>
-<para>The project-id script prints a package's identification package
-version or package.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ngettext</command> displays native language translations of a
+textual message whose grammatical form depends on a number.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>team-address</title>
-<para>The team-address script prints the team's address to stdout and
-outputs additional instructions.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>trigger</title>
-<para>The trigger script tests whether the current package is a GNOME or
-KDE package.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>urlget</title>
-<para>The urlget program gets the contents of a URL.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>user-email</title>
-<para>The user-email script prints the user's email address, with
-confirmation from the user.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>xgettext</title>
-<para>The xgettext program extracts the message lines from the programmers' C
-files. It's used to make the first translation template.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>xgettext</command> extracts the translatable message lines
+from the given source files, to make the first translation template.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 <sect3><title>Library file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>libgettextlib</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libgettextlib</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>libgettextsrc</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libgettextsrc</command>...</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 </sect2>
+
diff --git a/appendixa/glibc-desc.xml b/appendixa/glibc-desc.xml
index c8b2fbd42..d3ff2b7da 100644
--- a/appendixa/glibc-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/glibc-desc.xml
@@ -6,201 +6,136 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>catchsegv</title>
-<para>catchsegv can be used to create a stack trace when a program
-terminates with a segmentation fault.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>catchsegv</command> can be used to create a stack trace
+when a program terminates with a segmentation fault.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>gencat</title>
-<para>gencat generates message catalogues.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>gencat</command> generates message catalogues.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>getconf</title>
-<para>getconf displays the system configuration values for filesystem
-specific variables.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>getconf</command> displays the system configuration values
+for filesystem specific variables.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>getent</title>
-<para>getent gets entries from an administrative database.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>getent</command> gets entries from an administrative
+database.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>glibcbug</title>
-<para>glibcbug creates a bug report about glibc and and mails it to the 
-bug email address.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>glibcbug</command> creates a bug report and mails it to the
+bug email address.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>iconv</title>
-<para>iconv performs character set conversion.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>iconv</command> performs character set conversion.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>iconvconfig</title>
-<para>iconvconfig creates fastloading iconv module 
-configuration file.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>iconvconfig</command> creates fastloading iconv module
+configuration file.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ldconfig</title>
-<para>ldconfig configures the dynamic linker run time bindings.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ldconfig</command> configures the dynamic linker runtime
+bindings.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ldd</title>
-<para>ldd prints the shared libraries required by each program or shared
-library specified on the command line.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ldd</command> reports which shared libraries are required
+by each given program or shared library.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>lddlibc4</title>
-<para>lddlibc4 assists ldd with object files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>lddlibc4</command> assists ldd with object files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>locale</title>
-<para>locale is a Perl program which tells the compiler to enable
-(or disable) the use of POSIX locales for built-in operations.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>locale</command> is a Perl program that tells the compiler
+to enable or disable the use of POSIX locales for built-in operations.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>localedef</title>
-<para>localedef compiles locale specifications.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>localedef</command> compiles locale specifications.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mtrace</title>
-<para>(No description available yet.)</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mtrace</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>nscd</title>
-<para>nscd is a daemon that provides a cache for the most common name
-service requests.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>nscd</command> is a name service cache daemon providing a
+cache for the most common name service requests.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>nscd_nischeck</title>
-<para>nscd_nischeck checks whether or not secure mode is necessary for
-NIS+ lookup.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>nscd_nischeck</command> checks whether or not secure mode
+is necessary for NIS+ lookup.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pcprofiledump</title>
-<para>pcprofiledump dumps information generated by 
-PC profiling.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pcprofiledump</command> dumps information generated by
+PC profiling.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pt_chown</title>
-<para>pt_chown sets the owner, group and access permission of the
-slave pseudo terminal corresponding to the master pseudo terminal passed 
-on file descriptor `3'. This is the helper program for the `grantpt' 
-function. It is not intended to be run directly from the command
-line.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pt_chown</command> is a helper program for grantpt to set
+the owner, group and access permissions of a slave pseudo terminal.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rpcgen</title>
-<para>rpcgen generates C code to implement the RPC protocol.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rpcgen</command> generates C code to implement the
+RPC protocol.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rpcinfo</title>
-<para>rpcinfo makes an RPC call to an RPC server.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rpcinfo</command> makes an RPC call to an RPC server.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>sln</title>
-<para>sln symbolically links dest to source. It is statically linked,
-needing no dynamic linking at all. Thus sln is useful to make symbolic 
-links to dynamic libraries if the dynamic linking system for some reason 
-is nonfunctional.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>sln</command> is used to make symbolic links. The program
+is statically linked, so it is useful for making symbolic links to dynamic
+libraries if the dynamic linking system for some reason is nonfunctional.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>sprof</title>
-<para>sprof reads and displays shared object profiling data.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>sprof</command> reads and displays shared object profiling
+data.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>tzselect</title>
-<para>tzselect asks the user for information about the current location and 
-outputs the resulting time zone description to standard output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>tzselect</command> asks the user about the location of the
+system and reports the corresponding time zone description.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>xtrace</title>
-<para>xtrace traces execution of program by printing the currently executed
-function.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>xtrace</command> traces the execution of a program by
+printing the currently executed function.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>zdump</title>
-<para>zdump is the time zone dumper.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>zdump</command> is the time zone dumper.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>zic</title>
-<para>zic is the time zone compiler.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>zic</command> is the time zone compiler.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 <sect3><title>Library file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>ld.so</title>
-<para>ld.so is the helper program for shared library 
-executables.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libBrokenLocale</title>
-<para>Used by software, such as Mozilla, to solve broken locales.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libSegFault</title>
-<para>libSegFault is a segmentation fault signal handler. It tries to catch
-segfaults.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libanl</title>
-<para>libanl is an asynchronous name lookup library.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libbsd-compat</title>
-<para>libbsd-compat provides the portability needed in order to run certain
-programs in Linux.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libc, libc_nonshared</title>
-<para>These files constitute the main C library. The C library is a
-collection of commonly used functions in programs.
-This way a programmer doesn't need to create his own functions for every
-single task. The most common things like writing a string to the screen
-are already present and at the disposal of the programmer.</para>
-
-<para>The C library (actually almost every library) comes in two flavors:
-a dynamic and a static one. In short, when a program uses a static C
-library, the code from the C library is copied into the executable file.
-When a program uses a dynamic library, the executable will not
-contain the code from the C library, but instead a routine that loads
-the functions from the library at the time the program is run. This
-means a significant decrease in the file size of a program. The
-documentation that comes with the C library describes this in more
-detail, as it is too complicated to explain here in one or two
-lines.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libcrypt</title>
-<para>libcrypt is the cryptography library.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libdl</title>
-<para>libdl is the dynamic linking interface library.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libg</title>
-<para>libg is a runtime library for g++.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libieee</title>
-<para>libieee is the IEEE floating point library.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libm</title>
-<para>libm is the mathematical library.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libmcheck</title>
-<para>libmcheck contains code run at boot.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libmemusage</title>
-<para>libmemusage is used by memusage to help collect information about the
-memory usage of a program.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libnsl</title>
-<para>libnsl is the network services library.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libnss_compat, libnss_dns, libnss_files, 
-libnss_hesiod, libnss_nis, libnss_nisplus</title>
-<para>The basic idea is to put the implementation of the different services
-offered to access the databases in separate modules. This has some
-advantages:</para>
-<itemizedlist>
-<listitem><para>contributors can add new services without adding them to
-GNU C library,</para></listitem>
-<listitem><para>the modules can be updated separately,</para></listitem>
-<listitem><para>the C library image is smaller.</para></listitem>
-</itemizedlist></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libpcprofile</title>
-<para>Code used by the kernel to track CPU time spent in functions, source
-code lines, and instructions.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libpthread</title>
-<para>The POSIX threads library.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libresolv</title>
-<para>Functions in this library provide for creating, sending, and
-interpreting packets to the Internet domain name servers.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>librpcsvc</title>
-<para>Functions in this library provide miscellaneous RPC services.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>librt</title>
-<para>Functions in this library provide most of the interfaces specified by
-the POSIX.1b Realtime Extension.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libthread_db</title>
-<para>Functions is this library are useful for building debuggers for
-multi-threaded programs.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>libutil</title>
-<para>Contains code for "standard" functions used in many different Unix
-utilities.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ld.so</command> is the helper program for shared library
+executables.</para>
+
+<para><command>libBrokenLocale</command> is used by programs, such as
+Mozilla, to solve broken locales.</para>
+
+<para><command>libSegFault</command> is a segmentation fault signal
+handler. It tries to catch segfaults.</para>
+
+<para><command>libanl</command> is an asynchronous name lookup
+library.</para>
+
+<para><command>libbsd-compat</command> provides the portability needed
+in order to run certain BSD programs under Linux.</para>
+
+<para><command>libc</command> is the main C library -- a collection of
+commonly used functions.</para>
+
+<para><command>libcrypt</command> is the cryptography library.</para>
+
+<para><command>libdl</command> is the dynamic linking interface library.</para>
+
+<para><command>libg</command> is a runtime library for g++.</para>
+
+<para><command>libieee</command> is the IEEE floating point library.</para>
+
+<para><command>libm</command> is the mathematical library.</para>
+
+<para><command>libmcheck</command> contains code run at boot.</para>
+
+<para><command>libmemusage</command> is used by memusage to help collect
+information about the memory usage of a program.</para>
+
+<para><command>libnsl</command> is the network services library.</para>
+
+<para><command>libnss*</command> are the Name Service Switch libraries,
+containing functions for resolving host names, user names, group names,
+aliases, services, protocols,and the like.</para>
+
+<para><command>libpcprofile</command> contains profiling functions used
+to track the amount of CPU time spent in which source code lines.</para>
+
+<para><command>libpthread</command> is the POSIX threads library.</para>
+
+<para><command>libresolv</command> contains functions for creating,
+sending, and interpreting packets to the Internet domain name servers.</para>
+
+<para><command>librpcsvc</command>contains functions providing
+miscellaneous RPC services.</para>
+
+<para><command>librt</command> contains functions providing most of the
+interfaces specified by the POSIX.1b Realtime Extension.</para>
+
+<para><command>libthread_db</command> contains functions useful for
+building debuggers for multi-threaded programs.</para>
+
+<para><command>libutil</command> contains code for "standard" functions
+used in many different Unix utilities.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/grep-desc.xml b/appendixa/grep-desc.xml
index b375c9e83..a3973016d 100644
--- a/appendixa/grep-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/grep-desc.xml
@@ -6,17 +6,14 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>egrep</title>
-<para>egrep prints lines from files matching an extended regular expression
-pattern.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>egrep</command> prints lines matching an extended regular
+expression.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>fgrep</title>
-<para>fgrep prints lines from files matching a list of fixed strings,
-separated by newlines, any of which is to be matched.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>fgrep</command> prints lines matching a list of fixed
+strings.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>grep</title>
-<para>grep prints lines from files matching a basic regular expression
-pattern.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>grep</command> prints lines matching a basic regular
+expression.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/groff-desc.xml b/appendixa/groff-desc.xml
index 443b6dd90..a9a6a691a 100644
--- a/appendixa/groff-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/groff-desc.xml
@@ -6,123 +6,100 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>addftinfo</title>
-<para>addftinfo reads a troff font file and adds some additional font-metric 
-information that is used by the groff system.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>addftinfo</command> reads a troff font file and adds some
+additional font-metric information that is used by the groff system.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>afmtodit</title>
-<para>afmtodit creates a font file for use with groff and grops.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>afmtodit</command> creates a font file for use with
+groff and grops.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>eqn</title>
-<para>eqn compiles descriptions of equations embedded within troff input files 
-into commands that are understood by troff.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>eqn</command> compiles descriptions of equations embedded
+within troff input files into commands that are understood by troff.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>geqn</title>
-<para>geqn is the GNU implementation of eqn.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>grn</command> is a groff preprocessor for gremlin files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>grn</title>
-<para>grn is a groff preprocessor for gremlin files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>grodvi</command> is a driver for groff that produces TeX dvi format.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>grodvi</title>
-<para>grodvi is a driver for groff that produces TeX dvi format.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>groff</command> is a front-end to the groff document
+formatting system. Normally it runs the troff program and a post-processor
+appropriate for the selected device.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>groff</title>
-<para>groff is a front-end to the groff document formatting system. Normally it 
-runs the troff program and a post-processor appropriate for the selected 
-device.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>grog</command> reads files and guesses which of the groff
+options -e, -man, -me, -mm, -ms, -p, -s, and -t are required for printing
+files, and reports the groff command including those options.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>grog</title>
-<para>grog reads files and guesses which of the groff options -e, -man, -me, 
--mm, -ms, -p, -s, and -t are required for printing files, and prints the groff
-command including those options on the standard output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>grolbp</command> is a groff driver for Canon CAPSL printers
+(LBP-4 and LBP-8 series laser printers).</para>
 
-<sect4><title>grolbp</title>
-<para>grolbp is a groff driver for Canon CAPSL printers (LBP-4 and LBP-8
-series laser printers).</para></sect4>
+<para><command>grolj4</command> is a driver for groff that produces output
+in PCL5 format suitable for an HP Laserjet 4 printer.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>grolj4</title>
-<para>grolj4 is a driver for groff that produces output in PCL5 format suitable 
-for an HP Laserjet 4 printer.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>grops</command> translates the output of GNU troff to
+Postscript.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>grops</title>
-<para>grops translates the output of GNU troff to Postscript.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>grotty</command> translates the output of GNU troff into
+a form suitable for typewriter-like devices.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>grotty</title>
-<para>grotty translates the output of GNU troff into a form suitable for 
-typewriter-like devices.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>gtbl</command> is the GNU implementation of tbl.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>gtbl</title>
-<para>gtbl is the GNU implementation of tbl.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>hpftodit</command> creates a font file for use with
+groff -Tlj4 from an HP-tagged font metric file.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>hpftodit</title>
-<para>hpftodit creates a font file for use with groff -Tlj4 from an HP
-tagged font metric file.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>indxbib</command> makes an inverted index for the
+bibliographic databases a specified file for use with refer, lookbib,
+and lkbib.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>indxbib</title>
-<para>indxbib makes an inverted index for the bibliographic databases a
-specified file for use with refer, lookbib, and lkbib.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>lkbib</command> searches bibliographic databases for
+references that contain specified keys and reports any references found.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>lkbib</title>
-<para>lkbib searches bibliographic databases for references that contain 
-specified keys and prints any references found on the 
-standard output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>lookbib</command> prints a prompt on the standard error
+(unless the standard input is not a terminal), reads from the standard input
+a line containing a set of keywords, searches the bibliographic databases in
+a specified file for references containing those keywords, prints any
+references found on the standard output and repeats this process until the
+end of input.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>lookbib</title>
-<para>lookbib prints a prompt on the standard error (unless the standard input 
-is not a terminal), reads from the standard input a line containing a set 
-of keywords, searches the bibliographic databases in a specified file for
-references containing those keywords, prints any references found on the
-standard output and repeats this process until the end of input.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mmroff</command> is a simple preprocessor for groff.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mmroff</title>
-<para>mmroff is a simple preprocessor for groff.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>neqn</command> formats equations for ascii output.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>neqn</title>
-<para>The neqn script formats equations for ascii output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>nroff</command> is a script that emulates the nroff command
+using groff.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>nroff</title>
-<para>The nroff script emulates the nroff command using groff.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pfbtops</command> translates a Postscript font in .pfb
+format to ASCII.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pfbtops</title>
-<para>pfbtops translates a Postscript font in .pfb format 
-to ASCII.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pic</command> compiles descriptions of pictures embedded
+within troff or TeX input files into commands understood by TeX or troff.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pic</title>
-<para>pic compiles descriptions of pictures embedded within troff or TeX input 
-files into commands that are understood by TeX or troff.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pre-grohtml </command> translates  the output of GNU troff
+to html.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pre-grohtml and post-grohtml</title>
-<para>pre- and post-grohtml translate the output of GNU troff 
-to html.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>post-grohtml</command> translates the output of GNU troff
+to html.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>refer</title>
-<para>refer copies the contents of a file to the standard output, except that 
-lines between .[ and .] are interpreted as citations, and lines between .R1 
-and .R2 are interpreted as commands about how citations are to be 
-processed.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>refer</command> copies the contents of a file to the
+standard output, except that lines between .[ and .] are interpreted as
+citations, and lines between .R1 and .R2 are interpreted as commands about
+how citations are to be processed.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>soelim</title>
-<para>soelim reads files and replaces lines of the form 
-<emphasis>.so file</emphasis> by the contents of
-<emphasis>file</emphasis>.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>soelim</command> reads files and replaces lines of the form
+<emphasis>.so file</emphasis> by the contents of the mentioned
+<emphasis>file</emphasis>.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>tbl</title>
-<para>tbl compiles descriptions of tables embedded within troff input files 
-into commands that are understood by troff.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>tbl</command> compiles descriptions of tables embedded
+within troff input files into commands that are understood by troff.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>tfmtodit</title>
-<para>tfmtodit creates a font file for use with <userinput>groff
--Tdvi</userinput>.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>tfmtodit</command> creates a font file for use with
+groff -Tdvi.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>troff</title>
-<para>troff is highly compatible with Unix troff. Usually it should be invoked 
-using the groff command, which will also run preprocessors and 
-post-processors in the appropriate order and with the appropriate 
-options.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>troff</command> is highly compatible with Unix troff.
+Usually it should be invoked using the groff command, which will also run
+preprocessors and post-processors in the appropriate order and with the
+appropriate options.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>zsoelim</title>
-<para>zsoelim is the GNU implementation of soelim.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>zsoelim</command> is the GNU implementation of soelim.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 </sect2>
+
diff --git a/appendixa/grub-desc.xml b/appendixa/grub-desc.xml
index a65ab0849..f1d9805d0 100644
--- a/appendixa/grub-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/grub-desc.xml
@@ -2,6 +2,19 @@
 
 <sect2><title>Descriptions</title>
 
-<para>(To be determined)</para>
+<para>(Last checked against version &grub-contversion;.)</para>
+
+<para><command>grub</command> is the GRand Unified Bootloader's command
+shell.</para>
+
+<para><command>grub-install</command> installs GRUB on the given device.</para>
+
+<para><command>grub-md5-crypt</command> encrypts a password in MD5
+format.</para>
+
+<para><command>grub-terminfo</command> generates a terminfo command from a
+terminfo name. It can be used if you have an uncommon terminal.</para>
+
+<para><command>mbchk</command> checks the format of a multiboot kernel.</para>
 
 </sect2>
diff --git a/appendixa/gzip-desc.xml b/appendixa/gzip-desc.xml
index 4641e769e..e5f48fb6e 100644
--- a/appendixa/gzip-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/gzip-desc.xml
@@ -6,46 +6,35 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>gunzip, uncompress</title>
-<para>gunzip and uncompress decompress files which are compressed with 
-gzip.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>gunzip</command> decompresses gzipped files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>gzexe</title>
-<para>gzexe allows you to compress executables in place and have them 
-automatically uncompress and execute when they are run (at a penalty in 
-performance).</para></sect4>
+<para><command>gzexe</command> is used to create self-uncompressing
+executable files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>gzip</title>
-<para>gzip reduces the size of the named files using 
-Lempel-Ziv coding (LZ77).</para></sect4>
+<para><command>gzip</command> compresses the given files, using
+Lempel-Ziv (LZ77) coding.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>zcat</title>
-<para>zcat uncompresses, and writes to standard output, either a list of files
-on the command line or a file being read from standard input.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>zcat</command> uncompresses the given gzipped files to
+standard output.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>zcmp</title>
-<para>zcmp invokes the cmp program on compressed files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>zcmp</command> runs cmp on gzipped files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>zdiff</title>
-<para>zdiff invokes the diff program on compressed files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>zdiff</command> runs diff on gzipped files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>zforce</title>
-<para>zforce forces a .gz extension on all gzip files so that gzip will not 
-compress them twice. This can be useful for files with names truncated 
-after a file transfer.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>zforce</command> forces a .gz extension on all given files
+that are gzipped files, so that gzip will not compress them again. This can be
+useful when file names were truncated during a file transfer.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>zgrep</title>
-<para>zgrep invokes the grep program on compressed files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>zgrep</command> runs grep on gzipped files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>zmore</title>
-<para>zmore is a filter which allows examination of compressed or plain text 
-files, one screen at a time on a soft-copy terminal (similar to the
-more program).</para></sect4>
+<para><command>zless</command> runs less on gzipped files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>znew</title>
-<para>znew re-compresses files from .Z (compress) format to 
-.gz (gzip) format.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>zmore</command> runs more on gzipped files.</para>
+
+<para><command>znew</command> recompresses files from compress format
+to gzip format -- .Z to .gz.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 </sect2>
+
diff --git a/appendixa/inetutils-desc.xml b/appendixa/inetutils-desc.xml
index 0d139eb68..3a1faa611 100644
--- a/appendixa/inetutils-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/inetutils-desc.xml
@@ -6,59 +6,44 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>ftp</title>
-<para>ARPANET file transfer program.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ftp</command> is the ARPANET file transfer program.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ping</title>
-<para>send ICMP_ECHO_REQUEST packets to network hosts.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ping</command> sends echo-request packets and reports how
+long the replies take.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rcp</title>
-<para>remote file copy.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rcp</command> does remote file copy.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rlogin</title>
-<para>remote login.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rlogin</command> does remote login.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rsh</title>
-<para>remote shell.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rsh</command> runs a remote shell.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>talk</title>
-<para>talk to another user.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>talk</command> is used to chat up another user.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>telnet</title>
-<para>user interface to the TELNET protocol.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>telnet</command> is an interface to the TELNET protocol.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>tftp</title>
-<para>trivial file transfer program.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>tftp</command> is a trivial file transfer program.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>whois</title>
-<para>client for whois directory service.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>whois</command> queries the whois directory service.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ftpd</title>
-<para>DARPA Internet File Transfer Protocol server.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ftpd</command> is a daemon for trivial file transfers.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>inetd</title>
-<para>internet super-service.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>inetd</command> is the internet super-service.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rexecd</title>
-<para>remote execution server.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rexecd</command> is the remote execution server.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rlogind</title>
-<para>remote login server.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rlogind</command> is the remote login server.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rshd</title>
-<para>remote shell server.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rshd</command> is the remote shell server.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>talkd</title>
-<para>remote user communication server.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>talkd</command> is the remote user communication server.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>telnetd</title>
-<para>DARPA TELNET protocol server.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>telnetd</command> is the TELNET protocol server.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>tftpd</title>
-<para>Internet Trivial File Transfer Protocol server.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>tftpd</command> is another daemon for trivial file transfers.</para>
+
+<para><command>uucpd</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>uucpd</title>
-<para>No description available.</para></sect4>
 </sect3>
 
 </sect2>
+
diff --git a/appendixa/kbd-desc.xml b/appendixa/kbd-desc.xml
index 09f139c16..10c6c9f2f 100644
--- a/appendixa/kbd-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/kbd-desc.xml
@@ -6,89 +6,64 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>chvt</title>
-<para>chvt changes foreground virtual terminal.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>chvt</command> changes the foreground virtual terminal.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>deallocvt</title>
-<para>deallocvt deallocates unused virtual terminals.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>deallocvt</command> deallocates unused virtual terminals.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>dumpkeys</title>
-<para>dumpkeys dumps keyboard translation tables.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>dumpkeys</command> dumps the keyboard translation tables.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>fgconsole</title>
-<para>fgconsole prints the number of the active virtual terminal.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>fgconsole</command> prints the number of the active virtual terminal.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>getkeycodes</title>
-<para>getkeycodes prints the kernel scancode-to-keycode 
-mapping table.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>getkeycodes</command> prints the kernel scancode-to-keycode
+mapping table.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>getunimap</title>
-<para>getunimap prints the currently used unimap.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>getunimap</command> prints the currently used unimap.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>kbd_mode</title>
-<para>kbd_mode reports or sets the keyboard mode.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>kbd_mode</command> reports or sets the keyboard mode.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>kbdrate</title>
-<para>kbdrate sets the keyboard repeat and delay rates.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>kbdrate</command> sets the keyboard repeat and delay rates.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>loadkeys</title>
-<para>loadkeys loads keyboard translation tables.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>loadkeys</command> loads the keyboard translation tables.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>loadunimap</title>
-<para>loadunimap loads the kernel unicode-to-font mapping table.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>loadunimap</command> loads the kernel unicode-to-font mapping table.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mapscrn</title>
-<para>mapscrn loads a user defined output character
-mapping table into the console driver. Note that it is obsolete and that its
-features are built into setfont.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mapscrn</command> is an obsolete program that used to load
+a user-defined output character mapping table into the console driver. This is
+now done by setfont.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>openvt</title>
-<para>openvt starts a program on a new virtual terminal (VT).</para></sect4>
+<para><command>openvt</command> starts a program on a new virtual terminal (VT).</para>
 
-<sect4><title>psfaddtable, psfgettable, psfstriptable, psfxtable</title>
-<para>These are a set of tools for handling Unicode character tables for 
-console fonts.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>psf*</command> are a set of tools for handling Unicode
+character tables for console fonts.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>resizecons</title>
-<para>resizecons changes the kernel idea of the console size.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>resizecons</command> changes the kernel idea of the console size.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>setfont</title>
-<para>This lets you change the EGA/VGA fonts in console.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>setfont</command> lets you change the EGA/VGA fonts on the console.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>setkeycodes</title>
-<para>setkeycodes loads kernel scancode-to-keycode mapping 
-table entries.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>setkeycodes</command> loads kernel scancode-to-keycode
+mapping table entries, useful if you have some unusual keys on your keyboard.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>setleds</title>
-<para>setleds sets the keyboard LEDs. Many people find it useful to have numlock
-enabled by default and, by using this program, you can 
-achieve this.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>setleds</command> sets the keyboard flags and LEDs. Many
+people find it useful to have NumLock on by default, setleds +num achieves this.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>setlogcons</title>
-<para>setlogcons sends kernel messages to the console.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>setlogcons</command> sends kernel messages to the console.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>setmetamode</title>
-<para>setmetamode defines the keyboard meta key handling.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>setmetamode</command> defines the keyboard meta key handling.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>setvesablank</title>
-<para>This lets you fiddle with the built-in hardware screensaver 
-(not toasters, only a blank screen).</para></sect4>
+<para><command>setvesablank</command> lets you fiddle with the built-in
+hardware screensaver (no toasters, just a blank screen).</para>
 
-<sect4><title>showfont</title>
-<para>showfont displays data about a font. The information shown includes font
-information, font properties, character metrics and 
-character bitmaps.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>showfont</command> displays data about a font, including
+font properties, character metrics and character bitmaps.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>showkey</title>
-<para>showkey examines the scancodes and keycodes sent by 
-the keyboard.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>showkey</command> reports the scancodes and keycodes and
+ASCII codes of the keys pressed on the keyboard.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>unicode_start</title>
-<para>unicode_start puts the console in Unicode mode.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>unicode_start</command> puts the keyboard and console in
+unicode mode.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>unicode_stop</title>
-<para>unicode_stop reverts keyboard and console from 
-unicode mode.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>unicode_stop</command> reverts keyboard and console from
+unicode mode.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/kernel-desc.xml b/appendixa/kernel-desc.xml
index 86857e757..da763659c 100644
--- a/appendixa/kernel-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/kernel-desc.xml
@@ -4,23 +4,20 @@
 
 <para>(Last checked against version &kernel-contversion;.)</para>
 
-<sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
-
-<sect4><title>linux kernel</title>
-<para>The Linux kernel is at the core of every Linux system. It's what makes
-Linux tick. When a computer is turned on and boots a Linux system, the
-very first piece of Linux software that gets loaded is the kernel. The
-kernel initializes the system's hardware components: serial ports, parallel
-ports, sound cards, network cards, IDE controllers, SCSI controllers and a
-lot more. In a nutshell the kernel makes the hardware available so that the
-software can run.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>linux kernel headers</title>
-<para>These are the files we copy to
-<filename>/usr/include/{linux,asm}</filename> in Chapter 6. They should
-match those which glibc was compiled against and therefore should
-<emphasis>not</emphasis> be replaced when upgrading the kernel. They are
-essential for compiling many programs.</para></sect4>
+<sect3><title>File descriptions</title>
+
+<para>The <emphasis>kernel</emphasis> is the engine of your GNU/Linux system.
+When switching on your box, the kernel is the first part of your operating
+system that gets loaded. It detects and initializes all the components of your
+computer's hardware, then makes these components available as a tree of files
+to the software, and turns a single CPU into a multi-tasking machine capable
+of running scores of programs seemingly at the same time.</para>
+                                                            
+<para>The <emphasis>kernel headers</emphasis> define the interface to the
+services that the kernel provides. The headers in your system's
+<filename>include</filename> directory should <emphasis>always</emphasis> be
+the ones against which Glibc was compiled and should therefore
+<emphasis>not</emphasis> be replaced when upgrading the kernel.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/kernel-shortdesc.xml b/appendixa/kernel-shortdesc.xml
index cdfb76203..f12277110 100644
--- a/appendixa/kernel-shortdesc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/kernel-shortdesc.xml
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ software can run.</para>
 
 <para>Linux installs the following files:</para>
 
-<sect3><title>Program Files</title>
+<sect3><title>Files</title>
 <para>kernel and kernel headers</para></sect3>
 
 </sect2>
diff --git a/appendixa/less-desc.xml b/appendixa/less-desc.xml
index 4afc489fc..e60c79abb 100644
--- a/appendixa/less-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/less-desc.xml
@@ -6,20 +6,15 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>less</title>
-<para>The less program is a file pager (or text viewer). It 
-displays the contents of a file and has the ability to scroll. Less is an 
-improvement on the common pager called <quote>more</quote>. Less has 
-the ability to scroll backwards through files as well and it doesn't need 
-to read the entire file when it starts, which makes it faster when reading 
-large files.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>lessecho</title>
-<para>lessecho is needed to expand metacharacters, such as * and ?, in 
-filenames on Unix systems.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>lesskey</title>
-<para>lesskey is used to specify key bindings for less.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>less</command> is a file viewer or pager. It displays the
+contents of the given file, letting you scroll around, find strings, and jump
+to marks.</para>
+
+<para><command>lessecho</command> is needed to expand metacharacters,
+such as * and ?, in filenames on Unix systems.</para>
+
+<para><command>lesskey</command> is used to specify the key bindings
+for less.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/lfs-utils-desc.xml b/appendixa/lfs-utils-desc.xml
index 2d6ac20ce..9b19a60b4 100644
--- a/appendixa/lfs-utils-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/lfs-utils-desc.xml
@@ -6,21 +6,20 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>mktemp</title>
-<para>mktemp creates temporary files in a secure manner for use in scripts.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mktemp</command> creates temporary files in a secure manner.
+It is used in scripts.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>tempfile</title>
-<para>tempfile creates temporary files in a less secure manner than mktemp.
-It is installed for backwards-compatibility.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>tempfile</command> creates temporary files in a less secure
+manner than <userinput>mktemp</userinput>. It is installed for
+backwards-compatibility.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>http-get</title>
-<para>http-get is a script that takes advantage of a little known
-feature of Bash called "net redirection". It is used to download from
-websites without using any third-party programs.</para></sect4>
+<para>The <command>http-get</command> script takes advantage of a little known
+feature of <userinput>bash</userinput> called "net redirection". It is used to
+download from websites without using any other programs.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>iana-net</title>
-<para>iana-net uses the http-get to simplify the process of procuring
-IANA's services and protocols configuration files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>iana-net</command> uses the <userinput>http-get</userinput>
+script to simplify the process of procuring IANA's services and protocols
+configuration files.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/libtool-desc.xml b/appendixa/libtool-desc.xml
index f1714c8c5..54d7f3cc6 100644
--- a/appendixa/libtool-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/libtool-desc.xml
@@ -6,21 +6,17 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>libtool</title>
-<para>libtool provides generalized library-building
-support services.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libtool</command> provides generalized library-building
+support services.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>libtoolize</title>
-<para>libtoolize provides a standard way to add libtool support to a
-package.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libtoolize</command> provides a standard way to add
+libtool support to a package.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 <sect3><title>Library file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>libltdl, libltdl.so.3, libltdl.so.3.1.0</title>
-<para>A small library that aims at hiding, from programmers,
-the various difficulties of dlopening libraries.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libltdl*</command>...</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/m4-desc.xml b/appendixa/m4-desc.xml
index 48192613d..04136d7a0 100644
--- a/appendixa/m4-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/m4-desc.xml
@@ -6,15 +6,15 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>m4</title>
-<para>m4 is a macro processor. It copies input to output, expanding macros as it
-goes. Macros are either built-in or user-defined and can take any number
-of arguments. Besides just doing macro expansion, m4 has built-in functions
-for including named files, running Unix commands, doing integer arithmetic,
-manipulating text in various ways, recursion, etc. The m4 program can be used either
-as a front-end to a compiler or as a macro processor in its own
-right.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>m4</command> copies the given files
+while expanding the macros that it contains. These macros are either built-in
+or user-defined and can take any number of arguments. Besides just doing macro
+expansion, m4 has built-in functions for including named files, running Unix
+commands, doing integer arithmetic, manipulating text in various ways,
+recursion, and so on. The m4 program can be used either as a front-end to a
+compiler or as a macro processor in its own right.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 </sect2>
+
diff --git a/appendixa/make-desc.xml b/appendixa/make-desc.xml
index 5cf7af06e..29904c72e 100644
--- a/appendixa/make-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/make-desc.xml
@@ -6,9 +6,8 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>make</title>
-<para>make determines, automatically, which pieces of a large program need
-to be recompiled and issues the commands to recompile them.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>make</command> automatically determines which pieces of a
+large package need to be recompiled, and then issues the relevant commands.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/makedev-desc.xml b/appendixa/makedev-desc.xml
index 4fe716efe..db04fbe63 100644
--- a/appendixa/makedev-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/makedev-desc.xml
@@ -6,12 +6,9 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>MAKEDEV</title>
-<para><filename>MAKEDEV</filename> is a script that creates the necessary
-static device nodes usually residing in the
-<filename class="directory">/dev</filename> directory.
-Detailed information on device nodes can be found in the Linux kernel source
-tree in <filename>Documentation/devices.txt</filename>.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>MAKEDEV</command> is a script for creating the necessary
+static device nodes, usually residing in the <filename>/dev</filename>
+directory.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/man-desc.xml b/appendixa/man-desc.xml
index db7b08812..4f9273dca 100644
--- a/appendixa/man-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/man-desc.xml
@@ -6,32 +6,23 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>apropos</title>
-<para>apropos searches for keywords in a set of database files, containing
-short descriptions of system commands, and displays the result on the standard 
-output.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>makewhatis</title>
-<para>makewhatis reads all the manual pages contained in given sections of 
-manpath or the pre-formatted pages contained in the given sections of 
-catpath. For each page, it writes a line in the whatis database. Each 
-line consists of the name of the page and a short description, 
-separated by a dash. The description is extracted using the content of 
-the NAME section of the manual page.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>man</title>
-<para>man formats and displays the on-line manual pages.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>man2dvi</title>
-<para>man2dvi converts a manual page into dvi format.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>man2html</title>
-<para>man2html converts a manual page into html.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>whatis</title>
-<para>whatis searches for keywords in a set of database files, containing short
-descriptions of system commands, and displays the result on the standard 
-output. Only complete word matches are displayed.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>apropos</command> searches the whatis database and displays
+the short descriptions of system commands that contain a given string.</para>
+
+<para><command>makewhatis</command> builds the whatis database. It reads
+all the manual pages in the manpath and for each page writes the name and a
+short description in the whatis database.</para>
+
+<para><command>man</command> formats and displays the requested on-line
+manual page.</para>
+
+<para><command>man2dvi</command> converts a manual page into dvi format.</para>
+
+<para><command>man2html</command> converts a manual page into html.</para>
+
+<para><command>whatis</command> searches the whatis database and displays
+the short descriptions of system commands that contain the given keyword as a
+separate word.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/modutils-desc.xml b/appendixa/modutils-desc.xml
index e3e84aff7..08b8da2a6 100644
--- a/appendixa/modutils-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/modutils-desc.xml
@@ -6,45 +6,33 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>depmod</title>
-<para>depmod handles dependency descriptions for loadable 
-kernel modules.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>depmod</command> creates a dependency file, based on the
+symbols it finds in the existing set of modules. This  dependency file is used
+by modprobe to automatically load the required modules.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>genksyms</title>
-<para>genksyms reads (on standard input) the output from gcc -E source.c 
-and generates a file containing version information.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>genksyms</command> generates symbol version information.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>insmod</title>
-<para>insmod installs a loadable module in the running kernel.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>insmod</command> installs a loadable module in the running kernel.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>insmod_ksymoops_clean</title>
-<para>insmod_ksymoops_clean deletes saved ksyms and modules not accessed in 
-2 days.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>insmod_ksymoops_clean</command> deletes saved ksyms and
+modules not accessed for two days.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>kallsyms</title>
-<para>kallsyms extracts all kernel symbols for debugging.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>kallsyms</command> extracts all kernel symbols for debugging.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>kernelversion</title>
-<para>kernelversion reports the major version of the 
-running kernel.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>kernelversion</command> reports the major version of the
+running kernel.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ksyms</title>
-<para>ksyms displays exported kernel symbols.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ksyms</command> displays exported kernel symbols.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>lsmod</title>
-<para>lsmod shows information about all loaded modules.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>lsmod</command> shows which modules are loaded.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>modinfo</title>
-<para>modinfo examines an object file associated with a kernel module and 
-displays any information that it can glean.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>modinfo</command> examines an object file associated with
+a kernel module and displays any information that it can glean.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>modprobe</title>
-<para>modprobe uses a Makefile-like dependency file, created by depmod,
-to automatically load the relevant module(s) from the set of modules 
-available in predefined directory trees.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>modprobe</command> uses a dependency file, created by
+depmod, to automatically load the relevant modules.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rmmod</title>
-<para>rmmod unloads loadable modules from the running kernel.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rmmod</command> unloads modules from the running kernel.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/ncurses-desc.xml b/appendixa/ncurses-desc.xml
index 3712b71f1..aa970d06a 100644
--- a/appendixa/ncurses-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/ncurses-desc.xml
@@ -6,73 +6,52 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>captoinfo</title>
-<para>captoinfo converts a termcap description into a terminfo
-description.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>clear</title>
-<para>clear clears the screen if this is possible. It looks in
-the environment for the terminal type and then in the terminfo database
-to figure out how to clear the screen.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>infocmp</title>
-<para>infocmp can be used to compare a binary terminfo entry with
-other terminfo entries, rewrite a terminfo description to 
-take advantage of the use= terminfo field, or print out a
-terminfo description from the binary file (term) in a variety of 
-formats (the opposite of what tic does).</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>infotocap</title>
-<para>info to cap converts a terminfo description into a termcap
-description.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>reset</title>
-<para>reset sets cooked and echo modes, turns off cbreak and raw modes, 
-turns on new-line translation and resets any unset special characters to
-their default values before doing terminal initialization the same way
-as tset.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>tack</title>
-<para>tack is the terminfo action checker.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>tic</title>
-<para>tic is the terminfo entry-description compiler. The program translates a
-terminfo file from source format into the binary format for use with the
-ncurses library routines. Terminfo files contain information about the
-capabilities of a terminal.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>toe</title>
-<para>toe lists all available terminal types by primary name with
-descriptions.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>tput</title>
-<para>tput uses the terminfo database to make the values of
-terminal-dependent capabilities and information available to the shell,
-to initialize or reset the terminal, or return the long name of the
-requested terminal type.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>tset</title>
-<para>tset initializes terminals so they can be used, but it's not
-widely used anymore. It's provided for 4.4BSD compatibility.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>captoinfo</command> converts a termcap description into a
+terminfo description.</para>
+
+<para><command>clear</command> clears the screen, if this is possible.</para>
+
+<para><command>infocmp</command> compares or prints out terminfo
+descriptions.</para>
+
+<para><command>infotocap</command> converts a terminfo description into
+a termcap description.</para>
+
+<para><command>reset</command> reinitializes a terminal to its default
+values.</para>
+
+<para><command>tack</command> is the terminfo action checker. It is mainly
+used to test the correctness of an entry in the terminfo database.</para>
+
+<para><command>tic</command> is the terminfo entry-description compiler.
+It translates a terminfo file from source format into the binary format needed
+for the ncurses library routines. A terminfo file contains information on the
+capabilities of a certain terminal.</para>
+
+<para><command>toe</command> lists all available terminal types, for each
+giving its primary name and its description.</para>
+
+<para><command>tput</command> makes the values of terminal-dependent
+capabilities available to the shell. It can also be used to reset or initialize
+a terminal, or report its long name.</para>
+
+<para><command>tset</command> can be used to initialize terminals.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 <sect3><title>Library file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>libcurses, libncurses++, libncurses, libncurses_g</title>
-<para>These libraries are the base of the system and are used to display
-text (often in a fancy way) on the screen. An example where ncurses is used
-is in the kernel's <quote>make menuconfig</quote> process.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libncurses*</command> contain functions to display text in
+many complicated ways on a terminal screen. A good example of the use of these
+functions is the menu displayed during the kernel's make menuconfig.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>libform, libform_g</title>
-<para>libform is used to implement forms in ncurses.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libform*</command> contain functions to implement forms.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>libmenu, libmenu_g</title>
-<para>libmenu is used to implement menus in ncurses.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libmenu*</command> contain functions to implement menus.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>libpanel, libpanel_g</title>
-<para>libpanel is used to implement panels in ncurses.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libpanel*</command> contain functions to implement panels.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 </sect2>
+
diff --git a/appendixa/nettools-desc.xml b/appendixa/nettools-desc.xml
index 7619e0770..49f3e848e 100644
--- a/appendixa/nettools-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/nettools-desc.xml
@@ -6,57 +6,43 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>arp</title>
-<para>arp is used to manipulate the kernel's ARP cache, usually to add
-or delete an entry, or to dump the ARP cache.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>arp</command> is used to manipulate the kernel's ARP cache,
+usually to add or delete an entry, or to dump the entire cache.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>dnsdomainname</title>
-<para>dnsdomainname shows the system's DNS domain name.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>dnsdomainname</command> reports the system's DNS domain
+name.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>domainname</title>
-<para>domainname shows or sets the system's NIS/YP domain
-name.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>domainname</command> reports or sets the system's NIS/YP
+domain name.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>hostname</title>
-<para>hostname prints or sets the name of the current host
-system.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>hostname</command> reports or sets the name of the current
+host system.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ifconfig</title>
-<para>The ifconfig command is the general command used to configure network
-interfaces.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ifconfig</command> is the main utility for configuring
+network interfaces.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>nameif</title>
-<para>nameif names network interfaces based on MAC
-addresses.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>nameif</command> names network interfaces based on MAC
+addresses.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>netstat</title>
-<para>netstat is a multi-purpose tool used to print the network connections, 
-routing tables, interface statistics, masquerade connections and multicast 
-memberships.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>netstat</command> is used to report network connections,
+routing tables, and interface statistics..</para>
 
-<sect4><title>nisdomainname</title>
-<para>nisdomainname shows or sets system's NIS/YP domain
-name.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>nisdomainname</command> does the same as domainname.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>plipconfig</title>
-<para>plipconfig is used to fine-tune the PLIP device parameters, hopefully 
-making it faster.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>plipconfig</command> is used to fine tune the PLIP device
+parameters, to improve its performance.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rarp</title>
-<para>Akin to the arp program, the rarp program manipulates the system's 
-RARP table.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rarp</command> is used to manipulate the kernel's RARP
+table.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>route</title>
-<para>route is the general utility which is used to manipulate the IP 
-routing table.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>route</command> is used to manipulate the IP routing
+table.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>slattach</title>
-<para>slattach attaches a network interface to a serial line, i.e.. puts a 
-normal terminal line into one of several "network" modes.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>slattach</command> attaches a network interface to a serial
+line. This allows you to use normal terminal lines for point-to-point links to
+other computers.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ypdomainname</title>
-<para>ypdomainname shows or sets the system's NIS/YP domain
-name.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ypdomainname</command> does the same as domainname.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/patch-desc.xml b/appendixa/patch-desc.xml
index 41baeea59..aa966eebf 100644
--- a/appendixa/patch-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/patch-desc.xml
@@ -6,17 +6,11 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program files descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>patch</title>
-<para>The patch program modifies a file according to a patch file. A patch
-file usually is a list, created by the diff program, that contains
-instructions on how an original file needs to be modified. Patch is used
-a lot for source code patches since it saves time and space. Imagine
-a package that is 1 MB in size. The next version of that package
-only has changes in two files of the first version. It can be shipped as an
-entirely new package of 1 MB or just as a patch file of 1 KB, which will
-update the first version to make it identical to the second version. So
-if the first version was downloaded already, a patch file avoids
-a second large download.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>patch</command> modifies files according to a patch file.
+A patch file normally is a difference listing created with the diff program.
+By applying these differences to the original files, patch creates the patched
+versions. Using patches instead a entire new tarballs to keep your sources
+up-to-date can save you a lot of download time.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/perl-desc.xml b/appendixa/perl-desc.xml
index a6b6662db..083755661 100644
--- a/appendixa/perl-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/perl-desc.xml
@@ -6,141 +6,105 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>a2p</title>
-<para>a2p is an awk to perl translator.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>a2p</command> translates awk to perl.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>c2ph</title>
-<para>c2ph dumps C structures as generated from "cc -g -S" stabs.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>c2ph</command> dumps C structures as generated from
+"cc -g -S" stabs.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>dprofpp</title>
-<para>dprofpp displays perl profile data.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>dprofpp</command> displays perl profile data.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>find2perl</title>
-<para>find2perl translates find command lines to Perl code.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>find2perl</command> translates find commands to perl.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>h2ph</title>
-<para>h2ph converts .h C header files to .ph Perl header files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>h2ph</command> converts .h C header files to .ph Perl header files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>h2xs</title>
-<para>h2xs converts .h C header files to Perl extensions.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>h2xs</command> converts .h C header files to Perl extensions.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>perl, perl5.6.1</title>
-<para>perl is the Practical Extraction and Report Language. It combines
-some of the best features of C, sed, awk and sh into one powerful
-language.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>perl</command> combines some of the best features of C, sed,
+awk and sh into a single swiss-army language.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>perlbug</title>
-<para>perlbug helps to generate bug reports about perl or the
-modules that come with it, and mail them.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>perlbug</command> is used to generate bug reports about
+Perl or the modules that come with it, and mail them.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>perlcc</title>
-<para>perlcc generates executables from Perl programs.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>perlcc</command> generates executables from Perl programs.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>perldoc</title>
-<para>perldoc looks up a piece of documentation in .pod format that is
-embedded in the perl installation tree or in a perl script and displays it 
-via "pod2man | nroff -man | $PAGER".</para></sect4>
+<para><command>perldoc</command> displays a piece of documentation in pod
+format that is embedded in the perl installation tree or in a perl script.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pl2pm</title>
-<para>pl2pm is a tool to aid in the conversion of Perl4-style .pl library 
-files to Perl5-style library modules.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pl2pm</command> is a rough tool for converting Perl4 .pl
+files to Perl5 .pm modules.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pod2html</title>
-<para>pod2html converts files from pod format to HTML format.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pod2html</command> converts files from pod format to HTML
+format.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pod2latex</title>
-<para>pod2latex converts files from pod format to LaTeX format.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pod2latex</command> converts files from pod format to LaTeX
+format.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pod2man</title>
-<para>pod2man converts pod data to formatted *roff input.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pod2man</command> converts pod data to formatted *roff
+input.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pod2text</title>
-<para>pod2text converts pod data to formatted ASCII text.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pod2text</command> converts pod data to formatted ASCII
+text.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pod2usage</title>
-<para>pod2usage prints usage messages from embedded pod docs in 
-files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pod2usage</command> prints usage messages from embedded
+pod docs in files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>podchecker</title>
-<para>podchecker checks the syntax of pod format documentation 
-files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>podchecker</command> checks the syntax of pod format
+documentation files.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>podselect</title>
-<para>podselect prints selected sections of pod documentation on
-standard output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>podselect</command> displays selected sections of pod
+documentation.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pstruct</title>
-<para>pstruct dumps C structures as generated from "cc -g -S" 
-stabs.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pstruct</command> dumps C structures as generated from
+"cc -g -S" stabs.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>s2p</title>
-<para>s2p is a sed to perl translator.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>s2p</command> translates sed to perl.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>splain</title>
-<para>splain is a program to force verbose warning diagnostics 
-in perl.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>splain</command> is used to force verbose warning
+diagnostics in perl.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 <sect3><title>Library file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>attrs</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>attrs</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>B</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>B</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ByteLoader</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ByteLoader</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>DProf</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>DProf</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>Dumper</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>Dumper</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>DynaLoader</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>DynaLoader</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>Fcntl</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>Fcntl</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>Glob</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>Glob</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>Hostname</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>Hostname</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>IO</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>IO</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>libperl</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libperl</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>Opcode</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>Opcode</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>Peek</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>Peek</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>POSIX</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>POSIX</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>re</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>re</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>SDBM_File</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>SDBM_File</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>Socket</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>Socket</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>Syslog</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>Syslog</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>SysV</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>SysV</command>...</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 </sect2>
+
diff --git a/appendixa/procinfo-desc.xml b/appendixa/procinfo-desc.xml
index 6b6bf851e..5a1ea8ad6 100644
--- a/appendixa/procinfo-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/procinfo-desc.xml
@@ -6,21 +6,14 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>lsdev</title>
-<para>lsdev gathers information about your computer's installed hardware from
-the interrupts, ioports and dma files in the /proc directory, thus giving 
-you a quick overview of which hardware uses what I/O addresses and what 
-IRQ and DMA channels.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>procinfo</title>
-<para>procinfo gathers some system data from the /proc directory
-and prints it nicely formatted on the standard output
-device.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>socklist</title>
-<para>is a Perl script that gives you a list of all open sockets, enumerating 
-types, port, inode, uid, pid, fd and the program to which it
-belongs.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>lsdev</command> lists the devices present in your system,
+and which IRQs and IO ports they use.</para>
+
+<para><command>procinfo</command> displays an overview of some of the info
+present in the virtual proc filesystem.</para>
+
+<para><command>socklist</command> lists the open sockets, reporting their
+type, portnumber, and other specifics.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/procps-desc.xml b/appendixa/procps-desc.xml
index 8c307e151..32501415f 100644
--- a/appendixa/procps-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/procps-desc.xml
@@ -6,62 +6,50 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>free</title>
-<para>free displays the total amount of free and used physical and swap memory 
-in the system, as well as the shared memory and buffers used by the 
-kernel.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>free</command> reports the amount of free and used memory
+in the system, both physical and swap memory.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>kill</title>
-<para>kills sends signals to processes.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>kill</command> is used to send signals to processes.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>oldps and ps</title>
-<para>ps gives a snapshot of the current processes.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ps</command> gives a snapshot of the current processes.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pgrep</title>
-<para>pgrep looks up processes based on name and other attributes.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pgrep</command> looks up processes based on their name
+and other attributes.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pkill</title>
-<para>pkill signals processes based on name and other attributes.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pkill</command> signals processes based on their name
+and other attributes.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>skill</title>
-<para>skill sends signals to process matching a criteria.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>skill</command> sends signals to processes matching the
+given criteria.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>snice</title>
-<para>snice changes the scheduling priority for process matching a 
-criteria.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>snice</command> changes the scheduling priority of processes
+matching the given criteria.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>sysctl</title>
-<para>sysctl modifies kernel parameters at runtime.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>sysctl</command> modifies kernel parameters at run time.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>tload</title>
-<para>tload prints a graph of the current system load average to the 
-specified tty or, if none is specified, the tty of the tload 
-process.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>tload</command> prints a graph of the current system load
+average.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>top</title>
-<para>top provides an ongoing look at processor activity 
-in real time.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>top</command> displays the top CPU processes. It provides
+an ongoing look at processor activity in real time.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>vmstat</title>
-<para>vmstat reports information about processes, memory, paging, block IO, 
-traps and cpu activity.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>vmstat</command> reports virtual memory statistics, giving
+information about processes, memory, paging, block IO, traps, and CPU
+activity.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>w</title>
-<para>w displays information about the users, and their processes,
-currently on the machine.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>w</command> shows which users are currently logged on,
+where and since when.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>watch</title>
-<para>watch runs command repeatedly, displaying its output (the first 
-screen full).</para></sect4>
+<para><command>watch</command> runs a given command repeatedly,
+displaying the first screenful of its output. This allows you to watch the
+output change over time.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 <sect3><title>Library file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>libproc</title>
-<para>libproc is the library against which most of the programs in this
-set are linked to save disk space by implementing common functions only
-once.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libproc</command> contains the functions used by most
+programs in this package.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/psmisc-desc.xml b/appendixa/psmisc-desc.xml
index 6f093c6fa..7b4c8e587 100644
--- a/appendixa/psmisc-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/psmisc-desc.xml
@@ -6,19 +6,16 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<para>Note that in LFS we don't install the pidof link by default
-because we use pidof from sysvinit instead.</para>
+<para><command>fuser</command> reports the PIDs of processes that use
+the given files or filesystems.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>fuser</title>
-<para>fuser displays the PIDs of processes that use the specified
-files or file systems.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>killall</command> kills processes by name. It sends a signal
+to all processes running any of the given commands.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>killall</title>
-<para>killall sends a signal to all processes running any of the specified 
-commands.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pidof</command> reports the PIDs of the given programs.
+(Not this pidof program is used, however, but the one from Sysvinit.)</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pstree</title>
-<para>pstree shows running processes as a tree.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pstree</command> displays running processes as a tree.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/sed-desc.xml b/appendixa/sed-desc.xml
index 7e3d39f79..c66d8fed8 100644
--- a/appendixa/sed-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/sed-desc.xml
@@ -6,10 +6,8 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>sed</title>
-<para>sed is a stream editor. A stream editor is used to perform basic text 
-transformations on an input stream (a file or input from a
-pipeline).</para></sect4>
+<para><command>sed</command> is used to filter and transform text files
+in a single pass.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/shadowpwd-desc.xml b/appendixa/shadowpwd-desc.xml
index 4ced96ec1..d71610663 100644
--- a/appendixa/shadowpwd-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/shadowpwd-desc.xml
@@ -6,136 +6,110 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>chage</title>
-<para>chage changes the number of days between password changes and the date of 
-the last password change.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>chage</command> is used to change the maximum number of
+days between obligatory password changes.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>chfn</title>
-<para>chfn changes a user's full name and other information
-(office room number, office phone number, and
-home phone number).</para></sect4>
+<para><command>chfn</command> is used to change a user's full name and
+some other info.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>chpasswd</title>
-<para>chpasswd reads a file of user name and password pairs from standard 
-input and uses this information to update a group of 
-existing users.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>chpasswd</command> is used to update the passwords of a
+whole series of user accounts in one go.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>chsh</title>
-<para>chsh changes the user login shell.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>chsh</command> is used to change a user's default
+ login shell.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>dpasswd</title>
-<para>dpasswd adds, deletes and updates dial-up passwords for 
-user login shells.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>dpasswd</command> is used to change dial-up passwords for
+user login shells.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>expiry</title>
-<para>expiry checks and enforces a password expiration policy.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>expiry</command> checks and enforces the current password
+expiration policy.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>faillog</title>
-<para>faillog formats the contents of the failure log, /var/log/faillog, and 
-maintains failure counts and limits.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>faillog</command> is used to examine the log of login
+failures, to set a maximum number of failures before an account is blocked,
+or to reset the failure count.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>gpasswd</title>
-<para>gpasswd is used to administer the /etc/group file.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>gpasswd</command> is used to add and delete members and
+administrators to groups.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>groupadd</title>
-<para>The groupadd command creates a new group account using the values 
-specified on the command line and the default values from 
-the system.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>groupadd</command> creates a group with the given
+name.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>groupdel</title>
-<para>The groupdel command modifies the system account files, deleting all 
-entries that refer to group.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>groupdel</command> deletes the group with the given
+name.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>groupmod</title>
-<para>The groupmod command modifies the system account files to reflect the 
-changes that are specified on the command line.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>groupmod</command> is used to modify the given group's
+name or GID.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>groups</title>
-<para>groups prints the groups which a user is in.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>groups</command> reports the groups of which the given
+users are members.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>grpck</title>
-<para>grpck verifies the integrity of the system authentication 
-information.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>grpck</command> verifies the integrity of the group files,
+<filename>/etc/group</filename> and <filename>/etc/gshadow</filename>.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>grpconv</title>
-<para>grpunconv converts to shadow group files from normal 
-group files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>grpconv</command> creates or updates the shadow group file
+from the normal group file.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>grpunconv</title>
-<para>grpunconv converts from shadow group files to normal 
-group files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>grpunconv</command> updates <filename>/etc/group</filename>
+from <filename>/etc/gshadow</filename> and then deletes the latter.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>lastlog</title>
-<para>lastlog formats and prints the contents of the last login log, 
-/var/log/lastlog. The login-name, port and last login time will be 
-printed.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>lastlog</command> reports the most recent login of all
+users, or of a given user.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>login</title>
-<para>login is used to establish a new session with the system.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>login</command> is used by the system let users sign on.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>logoutd</title>
-<para>logoutd enforces the login time and port restrictions specified in 
-/etc/porttime.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>logoutd</command> is a daemon used to enforce restrictions
+on log-on time and ports.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mkpasswd</title>
-<para>mkpasswd reads a file in the format given by the flags and converts it 
-to the corresponding database file format.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mkpasswd</command> encrypts the given password using the
+also given perturbation.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>newgrp</title>
-<para>newgrp is used to change the current group ID during a 
-login session.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>newgrp</command> is used to change the current GID during
+a login session.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>newusers</title>
-<para>newusers reads a file of user name and clear text password pairs and uses 
-this information to update a group of existing users or to create new 
-users.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>newusers</command> is used to create or update a whole
+series of user accounts in one go.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>passwd</title>
-<para>passwd changes passwords for user and group accounts.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>passwd</command> is used to change the password for a user
+or group account.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pwck</title>
-<para>pwck verifies the integrity of the password files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pwck</command> verifies the integrity of the password files,
+<filename>/etc/passwd</filename> and <filename>/etc/shadow</filename>.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pwconv</title>
-<para>pwconv converts the normal password file
-to a shadowed password file.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pwconv</command> creates or updates the shadow password file
+from the normal password file.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pwunconv</title>
-<para>pwunconv converts a shadowed password file
-to a normal password file.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pwunconv</command> updates <filename>/etc/passwd</filename>
+from <filename>/etc/shadow</filename> and then deletes the latter.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>sg</title>
-<para>sg sets the user's GID to that of the given group, or executes a
-given command as member of the given group.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>sg</command> executes a given command while the user's GID
+is set to that of the given group.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>useradd</title>
-<para>useradd creates a new user or updates default new user 
-information.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>useradd</command> creates a new user with the given name,
+or updates the default new-user information.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>userdel</title>
-<para>userdel modifies the system account files, deleting all entries that 
-refer to a specified login name.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>userdel</command> deletes the given user account.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>usermod</title>
-<para>usermod modifies the system account files to reflect the changes that 
-are specified on the command line.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>usermod</command> is used to modify the given user's
+login name, UID, shell, initial group, home directory, and the like.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>vipw and vigr</title>
-<para>vipw and vigr will edit the files /etc/passwd and /etc/group, 
-respectively. With the -s flag, they will edit the shadow versions of 
-those files, /etc/shadow and /etc/gshadow, respectively.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>vigr</command> can be used to edit the
+<filename>/etc/group</filename> or <filename>/etc/gshadow</filename>
+files.</para>
+
+<para><command>vipw</command> can be used to edit the
+<filename>/etc/passwd</filename> or <filename>/etc/shadow</filename>
+files.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 <sect3><title>Library file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>libmisc</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libmisc</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>libshadow</title>
-<para>libshadow provides common functionality for the shadow
-programs.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libshadow</command> contains functions used by most
+programs in this package.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 </sect2>
+
diff --git a/appendixa/sysklogd-desc.xml b/appendixa/sysklogd-desc.xml
index 8489ecec0..3b9ccf882 100644
--- a/appendixa/sysklogd-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/sysklogd-desc.xml
@@ -6,15 +6,13 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>klogd</title>
-<para>klogd is a system daemon which intercepts and logs Linux kernel 
-messages.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>syslogd</title>
-<para>syslogd provides the kind of logging that many modern programs use. Every
-logged message contains at least a time and a hostname field and, normally, a
-program name field, too. But that depends on how trusty the logging
-program is.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>klogd</command> is a system daemon for intercepting and
+logging kernel messages.</para>
+
+<para><command>syslogd</command> logs the messages that system programs
+offer for logging. Every logged message contains at least a date stamp and a
+hostname, and normally the program's name too, but that depends on how
+trusting the logging daemon is told to be.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/sysvinit-desc.xml b/appendixa/sysvinit-desc.xml
index 51cfde350..ec9af5434 100644
--- a/appendixa/sysvinit-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/sysvinit-desc.xml
@@ -6,77 +6,53 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>halt</title>
-<para>halt notes, in the file /var/log/wtmp, that the system is being
-brought down and then tells the kernel to either halt, reboot or 
-poweroff the system. If halt or reboot is called when the system is not 
-in runlevel 0 or 6, shutdown will be invoked instead (with 
-the flag -h or -r).</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>init</title>
-<para>init is the parent of all processes. Its primary role is to create 
-processes from a script stored in the file /etc/inittab. This
-file usually has entries which cause init to spawn gettys on each line from
-which users can log in. It also controls autonomous processes required by any 
-particular system.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>killall5</title>
-<para>killall5 is the SystemV killall command. It sends a signal to all 
-processes except the processes in its own session, so it won't kill the 
-shell that is running the script it was called from.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>last</title>
-<para>last searches back through the file /var/log/wtmp (or the file designated 
-by the -f flag) and displays a list of all users logged in (and out) 
-since that file was created.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>lastb</title>
-<para>lastb is the same as last, except that by default it shows a log of the 
-file /var/log/btmp, which contains all the bad login attempts.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>mesg</title>
-<para>mesg controls the access to the user's terminal by others. It's typically
-used to allow or disallow other users to write to his terminal.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>pidof</title>
-<para>pidof displays the process identifiers (PIDs) of the named
-programs.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>poweroff</title>
-<para>poweroff is equivalent to shutdown -h -p now. It halts the computer and
-switches off the computer (when using an APM compliant BIOS and APM is 
-enabled in the kernel).</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>reboot</title>
-<para>reboot is equivalent to shutdown -r now. It reboots 
-the computer.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>runlevel</title>
-<para>runlevel reads the system utmp file (usually /var/run/utmp), locates
-the runlevel record and prints the previous and current system 
-runlevel on its standard output, separated by a single space.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>shutdown</title>
-<para>shutdown brings the system down in a secure way. All logged-in users are 
-notified that the system is going down and login is blocked.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>sulogin</title>
-<para>sulogin is invoked by init when the system goes into single user mode 
-(this is done through an entry in /etc/inittab). Init also tries to 
-execute sulogin when it is passed the -b flag from the boot loader 
-(LILO, for example).</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>telinit</title>
-<para>telinit sends appropriate signals to init, telling it which runlevel to
-enter.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>utmpdump</title>
-<para>utmpdumps prints the content of a file (usually /var/run/utmp) on
-standard output in a user friendly format.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>wall</title>
-<para>wall sends a message to logged in users that have their mesg permission 
-set to yes.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>halt</command> normally invokes shutdown with the -h flag,
+except when already in runlevel 0, then it tells the kernel to halt the system.
+But first it notes in the file <filename>/var/log/wtmp</filename> that the
+system is being brought down.</para>
+
+<para><command>init</command> is the mother of all processes. It reads its
+commands from <filename>/etc/inittab</filename>, which normally tell it which
+scripts to run for which runlevel, and how many gettys to spawn.</para>
+
+<para><command>killall5</command> sends a signal to all processes, except
+the processes in its own session -- so it won't kill the shell running the
+script that called it.</para>
+
+<para><command>last</command> shows which users last logged in (and out),
+searching back through the file <filename>/var/log/wtmp</filename>. It can
+also show system boots and shutdowns, and runlevel changes.</para>
+
+<para><command>lastb</command> shows the failed login attempts, as logged
+in <filename>/var/log/btmp</filename>.</para>
+
+<para><command>mesg</command> controls whether other users can send
+messages to the current user's terminal.</para>
+
+<para><command>pidof</command> reports the PIDs of the given programs.</para>
+
+<para><command>poweroff</command> tells the kernel to halt the system and
+switch off the computer. But see halt.</para>
+
+<para><command>reboot</command> tells the kernel to reboot the system.
+But see halt.</para>
+
+<para><command>runlevel</command> reports the previous and the current
+runlevel, as noted in the last runlevel record  in
+<filename>/var/run/utmp</filename>.</para>
+
+<para><command>shutdown</command> brings the system down in a secure way,
+signaling all processes and notifying all logged-in users.</para>
+
+<para><command>sulogin</command> allows the superuser to log in. It is
+normally invoked by init when the system goes into single user mode.</para>
+
+<para><command>telinit</command> tells init which runlevel to enter.</para>
+
+<para><command>utmpdump</command> displays the content of  the given login
+file in a friendlier format.</para>
+
+<para><command>wall</command> writes a message to all logged-in users.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/tar-desc.xml b/appendixa/tar-desc.xml
index 5fc902807..a5188dd53 100644
--- a/appendixa/tar-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/tar-desc.xml
@@ -6,14 +6,11 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>rmt</title>
-<para>rmt is a program used by the remote dump and restore programs to
-manipulate a magnetic tape drive through an interprocess communication
-connection.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>tar</title>
-<para>tar is an archiving program designed to store and extract files from
-an archive file known as a tar file.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rmt</command> is used to remotely manipulate a magnetic
+tape drive, through an interprocess communication connection.</para>
+
+<para><command>tar</command> is used to create and extract files from
+archives, also known as tarballs.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/texinfo-desc.xml b/appendixa/texinfo-desc.xml
index 12fb4177a..482cfe01d 100644
--- a/appendixa/texinfo-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/texinfo-desc.xml
@@ -6,34 +6,23 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>info</title>
-<para>The info program reads Info documents, usually contained in the 
-/usr/share/info directory. Info documents are like man(ual) pages, but
-they tend to go deeper than just explaining the options to a
-program.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>infokey</title>
-<para>infokey compiles a source file containing Info customizations into
-a binary format.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>install-info</title>
-<para>The install-info program updates the info entries. When the info
-program is run, a list with available topics (ie: available info documents)
-will be presented. The install-info program is used to maintain this list of
-available topics. If info files are removed manually, you must also delete
-the topic in the index file. This program is used for
-that. It also works the other way around when info documents are 
-added.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>makeinfo</title>
-<para>The makeinfo program translates Texinfo source documents into various 
-formats. Available formats are: info files, plain text and HTML.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>texi2dvi</title>
-<para>The texi2dvi program prints Texinfo documents.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>texindex</title>
-<para>The texindex program is used to sort Texinfo index files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>info</command> is used to read Info documents. Info
+documents are a bit like man pages, but often go much deeper than just
+explaining all the flags. Compare for example man tar and info tar.</para>
+
+<para><command>infokey</command> compiles a source file containing Info
+customizations into a binary format.</para>
+
+<para><command>install-info</command> is used to install Info files. It
+updates entries in the Info index file.</para>
+
+<para><command>makeinfo</command> translates the given Texinfo source
+documents into various other formats: Info files, plain text, or HTML.</para>
+
+<para><command>texi2dvi</command> is used to format the given Texinfo
+document into a device-independent file that can be printed.</para>
+
+<para><command>texindex</command> is used to sort Texinfo index files.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/utillinux-desc.xml b/appendixa/utillinux-desc.xml
index a0b049cff..51a543d27 100644
--- a/appendixa/utillinux-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/utillinux-desc.xml
@@ -6,214 +6,166 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>agetty</title>
-<para>agetty opens a tty port, prompts for a login name and invokes the
-/bin/login command.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>agetty</command> opens a tty port, prompts for a login name,
+and then invokes the login program.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>arch</title>
-<para>arch prints the machine architecture.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>arch</command> reports the machine's architecture.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>blockdev</title>
-<para>blockdev allows to call block device ioctls from the command 
-line.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>blockdev</command> allows you to call block device ioctls
+from the command line.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>cal</title>
-<para>cal displays a simple calender.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>cal</command> displays a simple calender.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>cfdisk</title>
-<para>cfdisk is a libncurses based disk partition table
-manipulator.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>cfdisk</command> is used to manipulate the partition table
+of the given device.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>chkdupexe</title>
-<para>chkdupexe finds duplicate executables.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>chkdupexe</command> finds duplicate executables.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>col</title>
-<para>col filters reverse line feeds from input.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>col</command> filters out reverse line feeds.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>colcrt</title>
-<para>colcrt filters nroff output for CRT previewing.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>colcrt</command> is used to filter nroff output for terminals
+that lack some capabilities such as overstriking and half-lines.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>colrm</title>
-<para>colrm removes columns from a file.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>colrm</command> filters out the given columns.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>column</title>
-<para>column columnates lists.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>column</command> formats a given file into multiple
+columns.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ctrlaltdel</title>
-<para>ctrlaltdel sets the function of the CTRL+ALT+DEL key combination (hard
-or soft reset).</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ctrlaltdel</command> sets the function of the Ctrl+Alt+Del
+ key combination, to a hard or a soft reset.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>cytune</title>
-<para>cytune queries and modifies the interruption threshold for the Cyclades
-driver.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>cytune</command> was used to tune the parameters of the
+serial line drivers for Cyclades cards.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ddate</title>
-<para>ddate converts Gregorian dates to Discordian dates.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ddate</command> gives the Discordian date, or converts the
+given Gregorian date to a Discordian one.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>dmesg</title>
-<para>dmesg is used to examine or control the kernel ring buffer (boot
-messages from the kernel).</para></sect4>
+<para><command>dmesg</command> dumps the kernel boot messages.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>elvtune</title>
-<para>elvtune lets you tune the I/O elevator per block device queue 
-basis.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>elvtune</command> can be used to tune the performance
+and interactiveness of a block device.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>fdformat</title>
-<para>fdformat low-level formats a floppy disk.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>fdformat</command> low-level formats a floppy disk.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>fdisk</title>
-<para>fdisk is a disk partition table manipulator.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>fdisk</command> could be used to manipulate the partition
+table of the given device.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>fsck.cramfs</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>fsck.cramfs</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>fsck.minix</title>
-<para>fsck.minix performs a consistency check for the Linux MINIX 
-filesystem.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>fsck.minix</command> performs a consistency check on the
+Minix filesystem on the given device.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>getopt</title>
-<para>getopt parses command options the same way as the getopt C
-command.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>getopt</command> parses options in the given command line.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>hexdump</title>
-<para>hexdump displays specified files, or standard input, in a user specified
-format (ascii, decimal, hexadecimal, octal).</para></sect4>
+<para><command>hexdump</command> dumps the given file in hexadecimal, or
+in another given format.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>hwclock</title>
-<para>hwclock queries and sets the hardware clock (also called the RTC or BIOS
-clock).</para></sect4>
+<para><command>hwclock</command> is used to read or set the system's
+hardware clock (also called the RTC or BIOS clock).</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ipcrm</title>
-<para>ipcrm removes a specified resource.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ipcrm</command> removes the given IPC resource.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ipcs</title>
-<para>ipcs provides information on IPC facilities.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ipcs</command> provides IPC status information.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>isosize</title>
-<para>isosize outputs the length of an iso9660 file system.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>isosize</command> reports the size of an iso9660
+filesystem.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>line</title>
-<para>line copies one line (up to a newline) from standard input and writes it
-to standard output.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>line</command> copies a single line.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>logger</title>
-<para>logger makes entries in the system log.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>logger</command> enters the given message into the system
+log.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>look</title>
-<para>look displays lines beginning with a given string.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>look</command> displays lines that begin with the given
+string.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>losetup</title>
-<para>losetup sets up and controls loop devices.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>losetup</command> is used to set up and control loop devices.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mcookie</title>
-<para>mcookie generates magic cookies for xauth.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mcookie</command> generates magic cookies, 128-bit random
+hexadecimal numbers, for xauth.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mkfs</title>
-<para>mkfs builds a Linux filesystem on a device, usually a harddisk
-partition.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mkfs</command> is used to build a filesystem on a device
+(usually a harddisk partition).</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mkfs.bfs</title>
-<para>mkfs.bfs creates an SCO bfs file system on a device, usually a harddisk
-partition.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mkfs.bfs</command> creates an SCO bfs filesystem.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mkfs.cramfs</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mkfs.cramfs</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mkfs.minix</title>
-<para>mkfs.minix creates a Linux MINIX filesystem on a device, usually a
-harddisk partition.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mkfs.minix</command> creates a Minix filesystem.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mkswap</title>
-<para>mkswap sets up a Linux swap area on a device or in a file.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mkswap</command> initializes the given device or file to be
+used as a swap area.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>more</title>
-<para>more is a filter for paging through text one screen full at a
-time.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>more</command> is a filter for paging through text one
+screenful at a time. But less is much better.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mount</title>
-<para>mount mounts, from many possible sources, filesystems or directories
-on a directory (mount point).</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mount</command> attaches the filesystem on the given device
+to the given directory in the system's file tree.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>namei</title>
-<para>namei follows a pathname until a terminal point is found.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>namei</command> shows the symbolic links in the given
+pathnames.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>parse.bash, parse.tcsh, test.bash, test.tcsh</title>
-<para>These are example scripts for using the getopt program with either
-BASH or TCSH.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pg</command>...</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pg</title>
-<para>No description is currently available.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pivot_root</command> makes the given filesystem the new
+root filesystem of the current process.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pivot_root</title>
-<para>pivot_root moves the root file system of the current process.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ramsize</command> could be used to set the size of the
+RAM disk in a bootable image.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ramsize</title>
-<para>ramsize queries and sets RAM disk size.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rdev</command> could be used to query and set the root
+device and other things in a bootable image.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>raw</title>
-<para>raw is used to bind a Linux raw character device to a block device.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>readprofile</command> reads kernel profiling information.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rdev</title>
-<para>rdev queries and sets image root device, swap device, RAM disk size or
-video mode.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rename</command> renames the given files, replacing a given
+string with another.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>readprofile</title>
-<para>readprofile reads kernel profiling information.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>renice</command> is used to alter the priority of running
+processes.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rename</title>
-<para>rename renames files.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rev</command> reverses the lines of a given file.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>renice</title>
-<para>renice alters priority of running processes.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rootflags</command> could be used to set the rootflags
+in a bootable image.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rev</title>
-<para>rev reverses lines of a file.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>script</command> makes a typescript of a terminal
+session, of everything printed to the terminal.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rootflags</title>
-<para>rootflags queries and sets extra information used when mounting 
-root.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>setfdprm</command> sets user-provided floppy disk
+parameters.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>script</title>
-<para>script makes a typescript of terminal session.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>setsid</command> runs the given program in a new session.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>setfdprm</title>
-<para>setfdprm sets user-provided floppy disk parameters.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>setterm</command> is used to set terminal attributes.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>setsid</title>
-<para>setsid runs programs in a new session.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>sfdisk</command> is a disk partition table manipulator.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>setterm</title>
-<para>setterm sets terminal attributes.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>swapdev</command> could be used to set the swap device
+in a bootable image.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>sfdisk</title>
-<para>sfdisk is a disk partition table manipulator.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>swapoff</command> disables devices and files for paging
+and swapping.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>swapoff</title>
-<para>swapoff disables devices and files for paging and swapping.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>swapon</command> enables devices and files for paging
+and swapping.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>swapon</title>
-<para>swapon enables devices and files for paging and swapping.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>tunelp</command> is used to tune the parameters of the
+line printer.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>tunelp</title>
-<para>tunelp sets various parameters for the LP device.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ul</command> is a filter for translating underscores into
+escape sequences indicating underlining for the terminal in use.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ul</title>
-<para>ul reads a file and translates occurrences of underscores to the sequence
-which indicates underlining for the terminal in use.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>umount</command> disconnects a filesystem from the
+system's file tree.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>umount</title>
-<para>umount unmounts a mounted filesystem or directory.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>vidmode</command> could be used to set the video mode
+in a bootable image.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>vidmode</title>
-<para>vidmode queries and sets the video mode.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>whereis</command> reports the location of binary, the
+source, and the manual page for the given command.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>whereis</title>
-<para>whereis locates a binary, source and manual page for a 
-command.</para></sect4>
-
-<sect4><title>write</title>
-<para>write sends a message to another user, if that user has writing 
-enabled (usually by using mesg).</para></sect4>
+<para><command>write</command> sends a message to the given user. That is,
+if that user has not disabled such messages.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
diff --git a/appendixa/vim-desc.xml b/appendixa/vim-desc.xml
index d808ed81e..9ff2a56ad 100644
--- a/appendixa/vim-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/vim-desc.xml
@@ -6,77 +6,61 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>efm_filter.pl</title>
-<para>efm_filter.pl is a filter which reads from stdin, copies to
-stdout and creates an error file that can be read by vim.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>efm_filter.pl</command> is a filter for creating an error
+file that can be read by vim.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>efm_perl.pl</title>
-<para>efm_perl.pl reformats the error messages of the Perl interpreter for
-use with the quickfix mode of vim.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>efm_perl.pl</command> reformats the error messages of the
+Perl interpreter for use with the quickfix mode of vim.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ex</title>
-<para>ex starts vim in Ex mode.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ex</command> starts vim in ex mode.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>less.sh</title>
-<para>less.sh is a script which starts vim with less.vim.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>less.sh</command> is a script that starts vim with less.vim.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>mve.awk</title>
-<para>mve.awk processes vim errors.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>mve.awk</command> processes vim errors.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>pltags.pl</title>
-<para>pltags.pl creates a tags file for Perl code, for use by
-vim.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>pltags.pl</command> creates a tags file for perl code,
+for use by vim.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>ref</title>
-<para>ref checks the spelling of arguments.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>ref</command> checks the spelling of arguments.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rview</title>
-<para>rview is a restricted version of view. No shell commands can be started
-and vim can't be suspended.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rview</command> is a restricted version of view: no shell
+commands can be started and view can't be suspended.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>rvim</title>
-<para>rvim is the restricted version of vim. No shell commands can be started
-and vim can't be suspended.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>rvim</command> is a restricted version of vim: no shell
+commands can be started and vim can't be suspended.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>shtags.pl</title>
-<para>shtags.pl generates a tag file for perl scripts.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>shtags.pl</command> generates a tag file for perl scripts.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>tcltags</title>
-<para>tcltags generates a tag file for Tcl code.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>tcltags</command> generates a tag file for TCL code.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>vi</title>
-<para>vi starts vim in vi-compatible mode.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>vi</command> starts vim in vi-compatible mode.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>view</title>
-<para>view starts vim in read-only mode.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>view</command> starts vim in read-only mode.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>vim</title>
-<para>vim starts vim in the normal, default way.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>vim</command> is the editor.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>vim132</title>
-<para>vim132 starts vim with the terminal in 132 column mode.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>vim132</command> starts vim with the terminal in
+132-column mode.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>vim2html.pl</title>
-<para>vim2html.pl converts vim documentation to HTML.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>vim2html.pl</command> converts vim documentation to
+HTML.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>vimdiff</title>
-<para>vimdiff edits two or three versions of a file with vim and show
-differences.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>vimdiff</command> edits two or three versions of a file with
+vim and show differences.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>vimm</title>
-<para>vimm enables the DEC locator input model on a remote
-terminal.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>vimm</command> enables the DEC locator input model on a
+remote terminal.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>vimspell.sh</title>
-<para>vimspell.sh is a script which spells a file and generates the syntax
-statements necessary to highlight in vim.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>vimspell.sh</command> is a script which spells a file and generates the syntax
+statements necessary to highlight in vim.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>vimtutor</title>
-<para>vimtutor starts the Vim tutor.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>vimtutor</command> teaches you the basic keys and commands
+of vim.</para>
 
-<sect4><title>xxd</title>
-<para>xxd makes a hexdump or does the reverse.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>xxd</command> makes a hexdump of the given file. It can
+also do the reverse, so it can be used for binary patching.</para>
 
 </sect3>
 
 </sect2>
+
diff --git a/appendixa/zlib-desc.xml b/appendixa/zlib-desc.xml
index 0efbfb944..3a1631016 100644
--- a/appendixa/zlib-desc.xml
+++ b/appendixa/zlib-desc.xml
@@ -6,9 +6,8 @@
 
 <sect3><title>Program file descriptions</title>
 
-<sect4><title>libz</title>
-<para>This is the zlib library, which is used by many programs for its
-compression and uncompression functions.</para></sect4>
+<para><command>libz</command> contains compression and uncompression
+functions used by some programs.</para>
 
 </sect3>