italics around nonliteral []*?

bash_prog_ref.md

@@ -5,11 +5,11 @@ geometry:
 colorlinks: on
 ---
 
-Preamble
+Notation
 ========
 
-Roman `[ ] *` stand for themselves; when in italics they denote one or
-more _`[`_ optional elements _`]`_ (0 or 1) or indicate repetition (_`*`_).
+Roman `[ ] *` stand for themselves;  in italics they denote _`[`_ optional
+elements _`]`_ (0 or 1) or indicate repetition (_`*`_) ($\geq 1$).
 
 Operation
 =========
@@ -41,12 +41,12 @@ Parsing
 The tokens are split into commands, of which there are the following four kinds:
 
 * Simple commands: _`[`_`assignment`_`*]`_ `program` _`[`_`arg`_`*] [`_`&`_`]`_
-* Pipelines: `cmd [| cmd]*` (or `|&` to redirect `stderr` too)
+* Pipelines: `cmd` _`[`_`| cmd`_`]*`_ (or `|&` to redirect `stderr` too)
 * Lists: $\geq 1$ pipelines; precedence: `&&`,`||`; `&`,`;`
-  * `ppln1 [&& ppln2]` 2 iff 1 succeeds 
-  * `ppln1 [|| ppln2]` 2 iff 1 fails 
-  * `ppln1 [; ppln2]` 2 waits for 1
-  * `ppln1 [& ppln2]` doesn't wait (bg)
+  * `ppln1` _`[`_`&& ppln2`_`]`_ 2 iff 1 succeeds 
+  * `ppln1` _`[`_`|| ppln2`_`]`_ 2 iff 1 fails 
+  * `ppln1` _`[`_`; ppln2`_`]`_ 2 waits for 1
+  * `ppln1` _`[`_`& ppln2`]] doesn't wait (bg)
 * Compound commands:
   * Loops
   * Conditionals
@@ -68,9 +68,39 @@ Expansions
 
 ## Brace Expansion
 
-special `[]*`
+A prefix and suffix (both possibly empty) are affixed to each
+of a list of strings. This is either an explicit list, or a sequence.
 
-1. Brace: `{X,Y[,Z]*}`; `{x..y[..step]}`
+### `{,}` List
+
+Generate lists of strings, normally with a common prefix, suffix, or both.
+
+\begin{tabular}{p{2.5cm}p{3.5cm}p{4cm}}
+\textbf{expansion}        & \textbf{value}                      & \textbf{comment} \\
+\texttt{pr\{A,B,C\}}     & \texttt{prA prB prC}             & prefix \\
+\texttt{\{A,B,C\}su}    & \texttt{Asu Bsu Csu}          & suffix \\
+\texttt{pr\{A,B,C\}su} & \texttt{prAsu prBsu prCsu} & both
+\end{tabular}
+
+### `{..}` Sequence
+
+Generate sequences, possibly with a common prefix, suffix, or both. Specify
+start, stop, and an optional step.
+
+\begin{tabular}{p{2.0cm}p{4cm}p{4cm}}
+\textbf{expansion}    & \textbf{value}               & \textbf{comment} \\
+\texttt{\{1..5\}}     & \texttt{1 2 3 4 5}           &             \\
+\texttt{f\{1..4\}.c}  & \texttt{f1.c f2.c f3.c f4.c} & affixes     \\
+\texttt{\{5..1\}}     & \texttt{5 4 3 2 1}           & reverse     \\
+\texttt{\{01..5\}}    & \texttt{01 02 03 04 05}      & fixed width \\
+\texttt{\{1..10..2\}} & \texttt{1 3 5 7 9}           & step        \\
+\texttt{\{a..e\}}     & \texttt{a b c d e}           & character   
+\end{tabular}
+
+Nesting is possible: `{a,b,c{1..3}}` $\rightarrow$ ` a b c1 c2 c3`
+
+**Note**: contrary to _filename expansion_, the generated strings do _not_ have to match
+filenames.
 
 Tilde Expansion
 ---------------