-If MODE begins with a digit, it is interpreted as an octal number,
-otherwise it is a symbolic mode string like that accepted by chmod(1).
+If `-p' is supplied, and MODE is omitted, the output is in a form
+that may be used as input. If MODE begins with a digit, it is
+interpreted as an octal number, otherwise it is a symbolic mode string
+like that accepted by chmod(1).