"1.6 Startup Files" sez: The `gnus-startup-file' variable says where the startup files are. The default value is `~/.newsrc', with the Gnus (El Dingo) startup file being whatever that one is, with a `.eld' appended. If you want version control for this file, set `gnus-backup-startup-file'. It respects the same values as the `version-control' variable. An informed user might know enough to look at the help for `version-control' and discover that this refers to keeping multiple backup files, but especially these days, most readers are likely to associate "version control" with something like Git or SVN. Either "version control" should be linked, or, preferably, you should s/If you want version control for/If you want to keep multiple numbered backups of/ Package: gnus Version: 5.110018 No Gnus v0.18 GNU Emacs 23.3.1 (x86_64-apple-darwin, NS apple-appkit-1038.35) of 2011-03-09 on black.porkrind.org 200 news.gmane.org InterNetNews NNRP server INN 2.5.1 ready (posting ok) 101 Capability list: VERSION 2 IMPLEMENTATION INN 2.5.1 AUTHINFO USER HDR LIST ACTIVE ACTIVE.TIMES DISTRIB.PATS HEADERS NEWSGROUPS OVERVIEW.FMT OVER POST READER STARTTLS .