2 files changed, 15 insertions, 1 deletions

diff --git a/lisp/ChangeLog b/lisp/ChangeLog
index 0d7ebbadaef..11e828634f5 100644
--- a/lisp/ChangeLog
+++ b/lisp/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,8 @@
+2011-07-02  Drew Adams  <drew.adams@oracle.com>
+
+        * dired.el (dired-mark-if): Make the message about whether it's
+        marking or unmarking clearer (bug#8523).
+
 2011-07-02  Lars Magne Ingebrigtsen  <larsi@gnus.org>
 
         * disp-table.el (display-table-print-array): New function.
diff --git a/lisp/dired.el b/lisp/dired.el
index c446b5d3dfa..92f3a46306b 100644
--- a/lisp/dired.el
+++ b/lisp/dired.el
@@ -485,7 +485,16 @@ Return value is the number of files marked, or nil if none were marked."
   `(let ((inhibit-read-only t) count)
     (save-excursion
       (setq count 0)
-      (if ,msg (message "Marking %ss..." ,msg))
+      (when ,msg
+        (message "%s %ss%s..."
+                 (cond ((eq dired-marker-char ?\040) "Unmarking")
+                       ((eq dired-del-marker dired-marker-char)
+                        "Flagging")
+                       (t "Marking"))
+                 ,msg
+                 (if (eq dired-del-marker dired-marker-char)
+                     " for deletion"
+                   "")))
       (goto-char (point-min))
       (while (not (eobp))
         (if ,predicate