> However, the last paragraph does not describe the form "n>&-" (which > does close descriptor n). Perhaps that is implied by "similarly", but > it would be better to spell it out: > > is used similarly to duplicate output file descriptors. If > word expands to one or more digits, the file descriptor denoted > by n is made to be a copy of that file descriptor. If the > digits in word do not specify a file descriptor open for > output, a redirection error occurs. If word expands to -, > file descriptor n is closed. If n is not specified, the > standard output (file descriptor 1) is used. As a special > case, if n is omitted, and word does not expand to one or more > digits, the standard output and standard error are redirected > as described previously. Hmm, I'd recommend to always check the most recent bash version. I don't have the most recent, but I already have this:
| Duplicating File Descriptors | The redirection operator | | [n]<&word | | is used to duplicate input file descriptors. If word expands to one or more digits, the file descriptor denoted by n is | made to be a copy of that file descriptor. If the digits in word do not specify a file descriptor open for input, a redi‐ | rection error occurs. If word evaluates to -, file descriptor n is closed. If n is not specified, the standard input | (file descriptor 0) is used. | | The operator | | [n]>&word | | is used similarly to duplicate output file descriptors. If n is not specified, the standard output (file descriptor 1) is | used. If the digits in word do not specify a file descriptor open for output, a redirection error occurs. If word evalu‐ | ates to -, file descriptor n is closed. As a special case, if n is omitted, and word does not expand to one or more digits | or -, the standard output and standard error are redirected as described previously. Note the "If word evaluates to -," in both cases. Also, I wouldn't be that picky on "evaluate" vs "expand", because they can be used interchangeable here.
