diff --git a/CHANGELOG b/CHANGELOG
--- a/CHANGELOG
+++ b/CHANGELOG
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+shell-monad (0.6.2) unstable; urgency=medium
+
+  * Avoid using $_ as this doesn't work in bash.
+
+ -- Joey Hess <id@joeyh.name>  Fri, 09 Jan 2015 23:08:21 -0400
+
 shell-monad (0.6.1) unstable; urgency=medium
 
   * Always render comments using : , not #
diff --git a/Control/Monad/Shell.hs b/Control/Monad/Shell.hs
--- a/Control/Monad/Shell.hs
+++ b/Control/Monad/Shell.hs
@@ -431,8 +431,17 @@
 -- | Class of values that provide a hint for the name to use for a shell
 -- variable or function.
 --
--- To skip providing a hint, use '()'.
--- To provide a hint, use '(NamedLike \"name\")'.
+-- If you don't want to provide a naming hint, use @()@.
+--
+-- @
+-- v1 <- 'newVar' ()
+-- @
+--
+-- To provide a naming hint, use either 'NamedLike'.
+--
+-- @
+-- v1 <- 'newVar' ('NamedLike' "x")
+-- @
 class NameHinted h where
 	hinted :: (Maybe L.Text -> a) -> h -> a
 
@@ -463,7 +472,7 @@
 	v <- newVarUnsafe namehint
 	Script $ \env -> ([Cmd (getName v <> "=" <> value)], env, v)
 
--- | Createa a new shell variable, with an initial value which can
+-- | Creates a new shell variable, with an initial value which can
 -- be anything that can be shown.
 --
 -- > s <- newVarContaining "foo bar baz" (NamedLike "s")
@@ -605,7 +614,7 @@
 		setVar tmp orig
 		cmd ("echo" :: L.Text) $ Q $
 			"\"${" <> transform (getName tmp) <> "}\""
-	shortname = NamedLike ""
+	shortname = NamedLike "v"
 
 funcVar' :: (Param param) => forall a b. L.Text -> Term Var a -> param -> Script (Term Var b)
 funcVar' op v p = do
@@ -747,7 +756,7 @@
 -- | Creates a block such as "do : ; cmd ; cmd" or "else : ; cmd ; cmd"
 --
 -- The use of : ensures that the block is not empty, and allows
--- for more regular indetnetion, as well as making the single line
+-- for more regular indentation, as well as making the single line
 -- formatting work.
 block :: L.Text -> Script () -> Script ()
 block word s = do
diff --git a/shell-monad.cabal b/shell-monad.cabal
--- a/shell-monad.cabal
+++ b/shell-monad.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 Name: shell-monad
-Version: 0.6.1
+Version: 0.6.2
 Cabal-Version: >= 1.8
 License: BSD3
 Maintainer: Joey Hess <id@joeyh.name>