supported for @env{_POSIX2_VERSION}: @samp{199209} stands for
@acronym{POSIX} 1003.2-1992, and @samp{200112} stands for @acronym{POSIX}
1003.1-2001. For example, if you are running older software that
-assumes an older version of @acronym{POSIX} and uses @samp{sort +1}, you
+assumes an older version of @acronym{POSIX} and uses @samp{sort +1},
+@samp{head -1}, or @samp{tail +1}, you
can work around the compatibility problems by setting
@samp{_POSIX2_VERSION=199209} in your environment.
@end table
-You may use @samp{.} in place of the @samp{:} separator. This is a
-@sc{gnu} extension for compatibility with older scripts.
+Some older scripts may still use @samp{.} in place of the @samp{:} separator.
+@acronym{POSIX} 1003.1-2001 (@pxref{Standards conformance}) does not allow that,
+but you may be able to work around the compatibility problems by setting
+@samp{_POSIX2_VERSION=199209} in your environment.
New scripts should avoid the use of @samp{.} because @sc{gnu} @command{chown}
may fail if @var{owner} contains @samp{.} characters.