+The symbolic mode is described by the following grammar:
+.sp
+.nf
+.RS
+newmode ::= clause [ , clause ]
+ clause ::= [ who ] op [ perm ]
+ who ::= [ u | g | o ] ... | a
+ op ::= + | - | =
+ perm ::= [ r | s | t | w | X | x ] ...
+.RE
+.fi
+.sp
+.PP
+Each
+.I clause
+specifies an operation to be performed on the current mode
+bits.
+Each operation is applied to the mode bits in the order specified.
+.PP
+The
+.I who
+symbols ``u'', ``g'', and ``o'' specify the user, group, and other parts
+of the mode bits, respectively.
+A
+.I who
+consisting of the symbol ``a'' is equivalent to ``ugo''.
+.PP
+The
+.I perm
+symbols represent the portions of the mode bits as follows:
+.TP
+r
+The read bits.
+.TP
+s
+The set-user-ID-on-execution and set-group-ID-on-execution bits.
+.TP
+t
+The sticky bits.
+.TP
+w
+The write bits.
+.TP
+X
+The execute/search bits if the file is a directory or any of the
+execute/search bits are already set.
+.TP
+x
+The execute/search bits.
+.PP
+The
+.I op
+symbols represent the operation performed, as follows:
+.TP
++
+If no value is supplied for
+.IR perm ,
+the ``+'' operation has no effect.
+If no value is supplied for
+.IR who ,
+each permission bit specified in
+.IR perm ,
+for which the corresponding bit in the file mode creation mask of the
+invoking process is clear, is set, and, if
+.I perm
+includes ``s'', the set-user-ID-on-execution and set-group-ID-on-execution
+bits are set.
+If values are provided for both
+.I who
+and
+.IR perm ,
+each mode bit represented by the specified
+.I who
+and
+.I perm
+values is set.
+.TP
+-
+If no value is supplied for
+.IR who ,
+clear the mode bits represented by
+.I perm
+for the owner, group, and other permissions.
+Otherwise, clear the mode bits represented by the specified
+.I who
+and
+.I perm
+values.
+.TP
+=
+If no value is supplied for
+.IR who ,
+set the permission bits specified in
+.I perm
+that correspond to bits that are not set in the value of the file mode
+creation mask of the invoking process.
+Otherwise, clear all the mode bits for user, group, and other as
+specified by the
+.I who
+value.
+Then, if a value is supplied for both
+.I perm
+and
+.IR who ,
+set each mode bit represented by all combinations
+of the specified
+.I who
+and
+.I perm
+values.
+.PP
+Operations upon the other permissions (specified by the symbol ``o'' or
+the symbol ``a'') in combination with the
+.I perm
+symbols ``s'' or ``t''
+are ignored, and do not change any mode bits or cause an error.