or use something like 'set noclobber' (at least in tcsh) jcs@smug:~% echo asdf > file jcs@smug:~% echo fdsa > file file: File exists. jcs@smug:

or use something like 'set noclobber' (at least in tcsh) jcs@smug:~% echo asdf > file jcs@smug:~% echo fdsa > file file: File exists. jcs@smug:~% echo fdsa >! file jcs@smug:~% this has saved me quite a few times when accidently typing > instead of >> or similar.