-The routine \fBwattr_get\fR returns the current attribute and color pair for
-the given window; \fBattr_get\fR returns the current attribute and color pair
-for \fBstdscr\fR.
-The remaining \fBattr_\fR* functions operate exactly like the corresponding
-\fBattr\fR* functions, except that they take arguments of type \fBattr_t\fR
-rather than \fBint\fR.
+Use \fBattr_on\fP and \fBwattr_on\fP to turn on window attributes, i.e.,
+values OR'd together in \fIattr\fP,
+without affecting other attributes.
+Use \fBattr_off\fP and \fBwattr_off\fP to turn off window attributes,
+again values OR'd together in \fIattr\fP,
+without affecting other attributes.
+.\" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+.SS Legacy window attributes
+Most of the window attribute routines are extensions of older routines
+which assume that color pairs are OR'd into the attribute parameter.
+These older routines use the same name, omitting an underscore (\fB_\fP).
+
+The \fBattrset\fP routine is a legacy feature predating SVr4 curses
+but kept in X/Open Curses for the same reason that SVr4 curses kept it:
+compatibility.
+.PP
+The remaining \fBattr\fR* functions operate exactly like the corresponding
+\fBattr_\fR* functions, except that they take arguments of type \fBint\fR
+rather than \fBattr_t\fR.
+.PP
+There is no corresponding \fBattrget\fP function as such in X/Open Curses,
+although ncurses provides \fBgetattrs\fP (see curs_legacy(3X)).
+.\" ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
+.SS Change character rendition