DIRECTORY=/usr/local LS=ls CMD="$LS $DIRECTORY" $CMD # Note how the command is executed indirectly. # Add a -1 (one) command-line option. DIRECTORY=/usr/local LS=ls LS_OPTS="-1" CMD="$LS $LS_OPTS $DIRECTORY" $CMD # Even more indirect script. DIRECTORY=/usr/local LS=ls LS_OPTS="-1" LS_CMD="$LS $LS_OPTS" CMD="$LS_CMD $DIRECTORY" $CMD