diff --git a/src/uu/printf/printf.md b/src/uu/printf/printf.md
index 60b50354c..9ce295770 100644
--- a/src/uu/printf/printf.md
+++ b/src/uu/printf/printf.md
@@ -78,6 +78,9 @@ Fields
             second parameter is min-width, integer
             output below that width is padded with leading zeroes
 
+* `%q`:       ARGUMENT is printed in a format that can be reused as shell input, escaping non-printable
+            characters with the proposed POSIX $'' syntax.
+
 * `%f` or `%F`: decimal floating point value
 * `%e` or `%E`: scientific notation floating point value
 * `%g` or `%G`: shorter of specially interpreted decimal or SciNote floating point value.
@@ -181,6 +184,11 @@ All string fields have a 'max width' parameter
       still be interpreted and not throw a warning, you will have problems if you use this for a
       literal whose code begins with zero, as it will be viewed as in `\\0NNN` form.)
 
+* `%q`:  escaped string - the string in a format that can be reused as input by most shells.
+      Non-printable characters are escaped with the POSIX proposed ‘$''’ syntax,
+      and shell meta-characters are quoted appropriately.
+      This is an equivalent format to ls --quoting=shell-escape output.
+
 #### CHAR SUBSTITUTIONS
 
 The character field does not have a secondary parameter.