-options in the file list. Unfortunately, you cannot put
-@samp{--directory} options in the file list. (This interpretation can
-be disabled by using the @value{op-null} option.)
+options in the file list. Notice, however, that in this case the
+option and its argument must occupy two consecutive lines. For
+instance, the file list for the above example will be:
+
+@smallexample
+@group
+-C
+/etc
+passwd
+hosts
+-C
+/lib
+libc.a
+@end group
+@end smallexample
+
+@noindent
+To use it, you would invoke @command{tar} as follows:
+
+@smallexample
+$ @kbd{tar -c -f foo.tar --files-from list}
+@end smallexample
+
+Notice also that you can only use the short option variant in the file
+list, i.e. always use @option{-C}, not @option{--directory}.
+
+The interpretation of @value{op-directory} is disabled by
+@value{op-null} option.