diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+1.5.22
+
+* Add new `update` utility
+* Improve documentation for `limit`
+
 1.5.21
 
 * Build against `optparse-applicative-0.16.0.0`
diff --git a/src/Turtle/Prelude.hs b/src/Turtle/Prelude.hs
--- a/src/Turtle/Prelude.hs
+++ b/src/Turtle/Prelude.hs
@@ -191,6 +191,7 @@
     , inplacePrefix
     , inplaceSuffix
     , inplaceEntire
+    , update
     , find
     , findtree
     , yes
@@ -1696,32 +1697,36 @@
 
 -- | Like `sed`, but operates in place on a `FilePath` (analogous to @sed -i@)
 inplace :: MonadIO io => Pattern Text -> FilePath -> io ()
-inplace = inplaceWith sed
+inplace = update . sed
 
 -- | Like `sedPrefix`, but operates in place on a `FilePath`
 inplacePrefix :: MonadIO io => Pattern Text -> FilePath -> io ()
-inplacePrefix = inplaceWith sedPrefix
+inplacePrefix = update . sedPrefix
 
 -- | Like `sedSuffix`, but operates in place on a `FilePath`
 inplaceSuffix :: MonadIO io => Pattern Text -> FilePath -> io ()
-inplaceSuffix = inplaceWith sedSuffix
+inplaceSuffix = update . sedSuffix
 
 -- | Like `sedEntire`, but operates in place on a `FilePath`
 inplaceEntire :: MonadIO io => Pattern Text -> FilePath -> io ()
-inplaceEntire = inplaceWith sedEntire
+inplaceEntire = update . sedEntire
 
-inplaceWith
-    :: MonadIO io
-    => (Pattern Text -> Shell Line -> Shell Line)
-    -> Pattern Text
-    -> FilePath
-    -> io ()
-inplaceWith sed_ pattern' file = liftIO (runManaged (do
-    here              <- pwd
+{-| Update a file in place using a `Shell` transformation
+
+    For example, this is used to implement the @inplace*@ family of utilities
+-}
+update :: MonadIO io => (Shell Line -> Shell Line) -> FilePath -> io ()
+update f file = liftIO (runManaged (do
+    here <- pwd
+
     (tmpfile, handle) <- mktemp here "turtle"
-    outhandle handle (sed_ pattern' (input file))
+
+    outhandle handle (f (input file))
+
     liftIO (hClose handle)
+
     copymod file tmpfile
+
     mv tmpfile file ))
 
 -- | Search a directory recursively for all files matching the given `Pattern`
@@ -1854,7 +1859,11 @@
             loop $! x'
     loop $! begin )
 
--- | Limit a `Shell` to a fixed number of values
+{-| Limit a `Shell` to a fixed number of values
+
+    NOTE: This is not lazy and will still consume the entire input stream.
+    There is no way to implement a lazy version of this utility.
+-}
 limit :: Int -> Shell a -> Shell a
 limit n s = Shell (\(FoldShell step begin done) -> do
     ref <- newIORef 0  -- I feel so dirty
diff --git a/turtle.cabal b/turtle.cabal
--- a/turtle.cabal
+++ b/turtle.cabal
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 Name: turtle
-Version: 1.5.21
+Version: 1.5.22
 Cabal-Version: >=1.10
 Build-Type: Simple
 License: BSD3
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@
     Default-Language: Haskell2010
     Build-Depends:
         base    >= 4   && < 5   ,
-        doctest >= 0.7 && < 0.18
+        doctest >= 0.7 && < 0.19
 
 test-suite regression-broken-pipe
     Type: exitcode-stdio-1.0