fmt flags & options

Basic usage

Reflow text to fit within 75 characters (default width).

fmt long_paragraph.txt

Set the maximum line width.

fmt -w 60 document.txt

fmt -w 80 README.txt

Split long lines but don't join short ones.

fmt -s -w 72 file.txt

Use one space between words and two after sentences.

fmt -u document.txt

Preserve the first two lines' indentation, reflow the rest to match the second line.

fmt -c paragraph.txt

Only reformat lines beginning with the given prefix.

fmt -p '# ' comments.txt

Reformat output from other commands.

cat README.md | fmt -w 72

git log --oneline | fmt -w 100