-their names in Lisp expressions. For primitive subr-objects such as
-@code{#<subr car>}, names are the only way you can refer to them: there
-is no read syntax for such objects. For functions written in Lisp, the
-name is more convenient to use in a call than an explicit lambda
-expression. Also, a function with a name can refer to itself---it can
-be recursive. Writing the function's name in its own definition is much
-more convenient than making the function definition point to itself
-(something that is not impossible but that has various disadvantages in
-practice).
-
- We often identify functions with the symbols used to name them. For
-example, we often speak of ``the function @code{car},'' not
-distinguishing between the symbol @code{car} and the primitive
-subr-object that is its function definition. For most purposes, the
-distinction is not important.
-
- Even so, keep in mind that a function need not have a unique name. While
-a given function object @emph{usually} appears in the function cell of only
-one symbol, this is just a matter of convenience. It is easy to store
-it in several symbols using @code{fset}; then each of the symbols is
-equally well a name for the same function.
-
- A symbol used as a function name may also be used as a variable; these
-two uses of a symbol are independent and do not conflict. (Some Lisp
-dialects, such as Scheme, do not distinguish between a symbol's value
-and its function definition; a symbol's value as a variable is also its
-function definition.) If you have not given a symbol a function
-definition, you cannot use it as a function; whether the symbol has a
-value as a variable makes no difference to this.
+their names in Lisp expressions. Also, a named Lisp function can
+easily refer to itself---it can be recursive. Furthermore, primitives
+can only be referred to textually by their names, since primitive
+function objects (@pxref{Primitive Function Type}) have no read
+syntax.
+
+ A function need not have a unique name. A given function object
+@emph{usually} appears in the function cell of only one symbol, but
+this is just a convention. It is easy to store it in several symbols
+using @code{fset}; then each of the symbols is a valid name for the
+same function.
+
+ Note that a symbol used as a function name may also be used as a
+variable; these two uses of a symbol are independent and do not
+conflict. (This is not the case in some dialects of Lisp, like
+Scheme.)