--- autoconf.texi.old	2003-01-05 09:29:53.000000000 +1000
+++ autoconf.texi	2003-01-05 09:59:39.000000000 +1000
@@ -9812,6 +9812,21 @@
 @end example
 
 
address@hidden @command{printf}
address@hidden ------------------
address@hidden @command{printf}
+A format string starting with a @samp{-} can cause problems.
address@hidden (eg. 2.05b) will interpret it as an options string and
+give an error.  And @samp{--} to mark the end of options is not good
+in the NetBSD Almquist shell (eg. 0.4.6) which will take that
+literally as the format string.  Putting the @samp{-} in a @samp{%c}
+or @samp{%s} is probably the easiest way to avoid doubt,
+
address@hidden
+printf %s -foo
address@hidden example
+
+
 @item @command{pwd}
 @c ----------------
 @prindex @command{pwd}