<para>If you interpreting this file from code or a
shell script, use the ID and VERSION_ID fields. When
- looking for an OS indetification string for
+ looking for an OS identification string for
presentation to the user use the PRETTY_STRING
field.</para>
+
+ <para>Note that operating system vendors may choose
+ not to provide version information, for example to
+ accommodate for rolling releases. In this case VERSION
+ and VERSION_ID may be unset. Applications should not
+ rely on these fields to be set.</para>
</refsect1>
<refsect1>