-r, --reverse reverse the result of comparisons -k, --key=KEYDEF sort via a key; KEYDEF gives location and type -t, --field-separator=SEP use SEP instead of non-blank to blank transition -u, --unique with -c, check for strict ordering; without -c, output only the first of an equal run -n, --numeric-sort compare according to string numerical value
$ sort -k 2 -t ":" test.txt $ sort -k 2,3 -t ":" test.txt $ sort -k 2 -t ":" -n test.txt