Function build_english_list

src/end.c:1822–1859

}

char *
build_english_list(char *in)
{
    char *out, *p = in;
    int len = (int) strlen(p), words = wordcount(p);

    /* +3: " or " - " "; +(words - 1): (N-1)*(", " - " ") */
    if (words > 1)
        len += 3 + (words - 1);
    out = (char *) alloc(len + 1);
    *out = '\0'; /* bel_copy1() appends */

    switch (words) {
    case 0:
        impossible("no words in list");
        break;
    case 1:
        /* "single" */
        bel_copy1(&p, out);
        break;
    default:
        if (words == 2) {
            /* "first or second" */
            bel_copy1(&p, out);
            Strcat(out, " ");
        } else {
            /* "first, second, or third */
            do {
                bel_copy1(&p, out);
                Strcat(out, ", ");
            } while (--words > 1);
        }
        Strcat(out, "or ");
        bel_copy1(&p, out);
        break;
    }
    return out;
}

/* What do we try to in what order?  Tradeoffs:
 * libc: +no external programs required