diff --git a/wmake/wmake b/wmake/wmake
index 473119fd01..6689fef099 100755
--- a/wmake/wmake
+++ b/wmake/wmake
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 # =========                 |
 # \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
 #  \\    /   O peration     |
-#   \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 1991-2009 OpenCFD Ltd.
+#   \\  /    A nd           | Copyright (C) 1991-2010 OpenCFD Ltd.
 #    \\/     M anipulation  |
 #-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # License
@@ -35,27 +35,31 @@ Script=${0##*/}
 usage() {
     while [ "$#" -ge 1 ]; do echo "$1"; shift; done
     cat<<USAGE
-usage: $Script [dir]
-       $Script target [dir [MakeDir]]
+
+Usage: $Script [OPTION] [dir]
+       $Script [OPTION] target [dir [MakeDir]]
+
+options:
+  -help             print the usage
 
 A general, easy-to-use make system for multi-platform development
 
 The 'target' is a Makefile target:
     e.g., Make/linux64GccDPOpt/fvMesh.o
 
-  or a special target:
-    all       all subdirectories
+or a special target:
+    all       all subdirectories (NB: any Allwmake files will be used if they exist)
     exe       build statically linked executable
     lib       build statically linked archive lib (.a)
-    libso     build dynamically linked lib (.so)
     libo      build statically linked lib (.o)
+    libso     build dynamically linked lib (.so)
     jar       build Java jar
 
 USAGE
     exit 1
 }
 
-# provide immediate help, even if none of the environment is set
+# provide immediate help, even if environment is not set
 if [ "$1" = "-h" -o "$1" = "-help" ]
 then
     usage
@@ -130,16 +134,11 @@ then
         makeOption=$1
     fi
 
-    if [ $# -ge 2 ]
-    then
-        dir=$2
-    fi
+    # specified directory name:
+    [ $# -ge 2 ] && dir=$2
 
-    # alternative name for the Make sub-directory
-    if [ $# -ge 3 ]
-    then
-        MakeDir=$3
-    fi
+    # specified alternative name for the Make sub-directory:
+    [ $# -ge 3 ] && MakeDir=$3
 
     if [ "$dir" ]
     then
@@ -221,7 +220,7 @@ OBJECTS_DIR=$MakeDir/$WM_OPTIONS
 touch $OBJECTS_DIR/dontIncludeDeps
 
 case "$makeOption" in
-lib | libso | libo )
+lib | libo | libso )
     $make -s -f $WM_DIR/Makefile MAKE_DIR=$MakeDir INCLUDE_DEPS=$OBJECTS_DIR/dontIncludeDeps lnInclude/uptodate
     ;;
 esac