(Character sets): Don't say that an unknown

backslash-escape causes an error message -- it doesn't.
Mention that `\' also removes any special significance, so
is useful for [, ], *, -.  Prompted by Richard Neill in
http://savannah.gnu.org/bugs/index.php?func=detailitem&item_id=14937

diff --git a/doc/coreutils.texi b/doc/coreutils.texi
index 6238876..5abb2c1 100644 (file)
--- a/doc/coreutils.texi
+++ b/doc/coreutils.texi
@@ -4934,8 +4934,7 @@ used only in @var{set1} or @var{set2}, as noted below.
 @item Backslash escapes
 @cindex backslash escapes
 
-A backslash followed by a character not listed below is interpreted
-as that character.
+The following backslash escape sequences are recognized:
 
 @table @samp
 @item \a
@@ -4959,6 +4958,11 @@ octal digits,
 A backslash.
 @end table
 
+While a backslash followed by a character not listed above is
+interpreted as that character, the backslash also effectively
+removes any special significance, so it is useful to escape
+@samp{[}, @samp{]}, @samp{*}, and @samp{-}.
+
 @item Ranges
 @cindex ranges