Filename containing a newline is not listed in a way reusable by shell regardless of the --quoting-style: $ touch a$'\n'b $ for s in literal shell shell-always c c-maybe escape locale clocale ; do ls -Q a?b --quoting-style=$s done a?b 'a?b' 'a?b' "a\nb" "a\nb" a\nb Ħa\nb˘ Ħa\nb˘ I'd expect something like $'a\nb' (might be bash specific) or 'a b' (i.e. containing the actual newline) or something. Versions: bash 4.2.53(1)-release ls (GNU coreutils) 8.23 system: OpenSUSE 13.2 x86_64 Reference: http://stackoverflow.com/q/38938218/1030675 Ch.