A @dfn{backup file} is a copy of the old contents of a file you are
editing. Emacs makes a backup file the first time you save a buffer
-into its visited file. Normally, this means that the backup file
-contains the contents of the file as it was before the current editing
-session. The contents of the backup file normally remain unchanged once
-it exists.
+into its visited file. Thus, normally, the backup file contains the
+contents of the file as it was before the current editing session.
+The contents of the backup file normally remain unchanged once it
+exists.
Backups are usually made by renaming the visited file to a new name.
Optionally, you can specify that backup files should be made by copying
@end defun
@defvar buffer-backed-up
- This buffer-local variable indicates whether this buffer's file has
-been backed up on account of this buffer. If it is non-@code{nil}, then
+ This buffer-local variable says whether this buffer's file has
+been backed up on account of this buffer. If it is non-@code{nil},
the backup file has been written. Otherwise, the file should be backed
up when it is next saved (if backups are enabled). This is a
-permanent local; @code{kill-all-local-variables} does not alter it.
+permanent local; @code{kill-all-local-variables} does not alter@tie{}it.
@end defvar
@defopt make-backup-files
@defopt kept-new-versions
The value of this variable is the number of newest versions to keep
when a new numbered backup is made. The newly made backup is included
-in the count. The default value is 2.
+in the count. The default value is@tie{}2.
@end defopt
@defopt kept-old-versions
The value of this variable is the number of oldest versions to keep
-when a new numbered backup is made. The default value is 2.
+when a new numbered backup is made. The default value is@tie{}2.
@end defopt
If there are backups numbered 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7, and both of these
This variable specifies how many of the newest backup versions to keep
in the Dired command @kbd{.} (@code{dired-clean-directory}). That's the
same thing @code{kept-new-versions} specifies when you make a new backup
-file. The default value is 2.
+file. The default is@tie{}2.
@end defopt
@node Backup Names
@defun backup-file-name-p filename
This function returns a non-@code{nil} value if @var{filename} is a
-possible name for a backup file. A file with the name @var{filename}
-need not exist; the function just checks the name.
+possible name for a backup file. It just checks the name, not whether
+a file with the name @var{filename} exists.
@smallexample
@group