Instead of the normal output, output only @dfn{string constants}: at
least @var{bytes} consecutive @acronym{ASCII} graphic characters,
followed by a zero byte (@acronym{ASCII} @sc{nul}).
-Prefixes and suffixes on @code{bytes} are interpreted as for the
+Prefixes and suffixes on @var{bytes} are interpreted as for the
@option{-j} option.
If @var{n} is omitted with @option{--strings}, the default is 3.
Likewise, the @option{-f} option has no effect for any
operand specified as @samp{-}, when standard input is a FIFO or a pipe.
+With kernel inotify support, output is asynchronous and generally very prompt.
+Otherwise, @command{tail} sleeps for one second between checks---
+use @option{--sleep-interval=@var{N}} to change that default---which can
+make the output appear slightly less responsive or bursty.
+
@item -F
@opindex -F
This option is the same as @option{--follow=name --retry}. That is, tail