bash sorting in a loop error -
i trying sort bunch of files in bash loop numerically (option -n) according second column (option -k 2): for ch_perm in {0..99}; ch_set in {1..15}; sort -nk 2 $ch_perm.results.$ch_set > sortedbyscore2/$ch_perm.results.$ch_set ; done done but sort won't work correctly. know? in advance! this output get: for ch_perm in {0..99}; > ch_set in {1..15}; > display 1504 possibilities? (y or n) 11.results.21 13.results.35 15.results.49 3.results.61 5.results.74 7.results.88 [...] > -k 2 $ch_set.results.$ch_perm > sortedbyscore2/$ch_set.results.$ch_perm ; > done > done -bash: -k: command not found -bash: -k: command not found -bash: -k: command not found (many many times) you have used tabs indent script, confusing bash when paste terminal, , end triggering bash's autocomplete double tab. can see "sort" has been lost when happened. indent spaces, or put script in file , run there.