rm -vIf you want to see what rm is doing as it does it, use the -v (or --verbose) option. $ pwd /home/scott/libby/by_pool/lieberman_pool $ ls pool_01.jpg pool_03.jpg pool_01.jpg_bak pool_03.jpg_bak $ rm -v *_bak removed 'pool_01.jpg_bak' removed 'pool_03.jpg_bak' $ ls pool_01.jpg pool_03.jpg |