$ touch testFile1 testFile2 $ chmod -v -w testFile2 mode of `testFile2' changed from 0644 (rw-r--r--) to 0444 (r--r--r--) $ cp -vf testFile1 testFile2 `testFile1' -> `testFile2' removed `testFile2' I would expect the order of the messages to be reversed. Logically, testFile2 was removed before it was copied upon. I have noticed that copying the file works. I merely think that the printed messages should reflect the logical order of actions.