diff --git a/CWRU/CWRU.chlog b/CWRU/CWRU.chlog
index 2f863e7c..e00f732a 100644
--- a/CWRU/CWRU.chlog
+++ b/CWRU/CWRU.chlog
@@ -8589,3 +8589,12 @@ pathexp.c
 po/Makefile.in.in
 	- MKINSTALLDIRS: deprecated, no longer in AM_INTL_SUBDIR, so we have
 	  to create the variable manually
+
+lib/readline/doc/rltech.texi
+	- add descriptions of the active mark functions that are available to
+	  applications. I guess they will remain public
+
+subst.c
+	- valid_parameter_transform: new function, reject transformations
+	  longer than a single character or invalid transformation operators
+	- parameter_brace_transform: call valid_parameter_transform
diff --git a/lib/readline/doc/rltech.texi b/lib/readline/doc/rltech.texi
index 4547469e..bbf57c23 100644
--- a/lib/readline/doc/rltech.texi
+++ b/lib/readline/doc/rltech.texi
@@ -1342,6 +1342,29 @@ This differs from @code{clear_history} because it frees private data
 Readline saves in the history list.
 @end deftypefun
 
+@deftypefun {void} rl_activate_mark (void)
+Enable an @emph{active} mark.
+When this is enabled, the text between point and mark (the @var{region}) is
+displayed in the terminal's standout mode (a @var{face}).
+This is called by various readline functions that set the mark and insert
+text, and is available for applications to call.
+@end deftypefun
+
+@deftypefun {void} rl_deactivate_mark (void)
+Turn off the active mark.
+@end deftypefun
+
+@deftypefun {void} rl_keep_mark_active (void)
+Indicate that the mark should remain active when the current readline function
+completes and after redisplay occurs.
+In most cases, the mark remains active for only the duration of a single
+bindable readline function.
+@end deftypefun
+
+@deftypefun {int} rl_mark_active_p (void)
+Return a non-zero value if the mark is currently active; zero otherwise.
+@end deftypefun
+
 @node Alternate Interface
 @subsection Alternate Interface
 
diff --git a/lib/readline/doc/rluser.texi b/lib/readline/doc/rluser.texi
index d71aa4de..e22f28c1 100644
--- a/lib/readline/doc/rluser.texi
+++ b/lib/readline/doc/rluser.texi
@@ -1254,10 +1254,12 @@ being entered.
 @item reverse-search-history (C-r)
 Search backward starting at the current line and moving `up' through
 the history as necessary.  This is an incremental search.
+This command sets the region to the matched text and activates the mark.
 
 @item forward-search-history (C-s)
 Search forward starting at the current line and moving `down' through
 the history as necessary.  This is an incremental search.
+This command sets the region to the matched text and activates the mark.
 
 @item non-incremental-reverse-search-history (M-p)
 Search backward starting at the current line and moving `up'
@@ -1377,6 +1379,11 @@ each character as if it had been read from the keyboard.  The characters
 are inserted as if each one was bound to @code{self-insert} instead of
 executing any editing commands.
 
+Bracketed paste sets the region (the characters between point and the mark)
+to the inserted text. It uses the concept of an @emph{active mark}: when the
+mark is active, Readline redisplay uses the terminal's standout mode to
+denote the region.
+
 @item transpose-chars (C-t)
 Drag the character before the cursor forward over
 the character at the cursor, moving the
diff --git a/lib/readline/doc/version.texi b/lib/readline/doc/version.texi
index ba51a075..74368d2f 100644
--- a/lib/readline/doc/version.texi
+++ b/lib/readline/doc/version.texi
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 Copyright (C) 1988-2020 Free Software Foundation, Inc. 
 @end ignore
 
-@set EDITION 8.0
-@set VERSION 8.0
-@set UPDATED 4 May 2020
-@set UPDATED-MONTH May 2020
+@set EDITION 8.1
+@set VERSION 8.1
+@set UPDATED 18 June 2020
+@set UPDATED-MONTH June 2020
 
-@set LASTCHANGE Mon May  4 14:55:02 EDT 2020
+@set LASTCHANGE Thu Jun 18 11:25:17 EDT 2020
diff --git a/subst.c b/subst.c
index 4e3176d4..5b1ba17d 100644
--- a/subst.c
+++ b/subst.c
@@ -301,6 +301,7 @@ static char *parameter_list_transform PARAMS((int, int, int));
 static char *array_transform PARAMS((int, SHELL_VAR *, int, int));
 #endif
 static char *parameter_brace_transform PARAMS((char *, char *, int, char *, int, int, int, int));
+static int valid_parameter_transform PARAMS((char *));
 
 static char *process_substitute PARAMS((char *, int));
 
@@ -7848,6 +7849,31 @@ array_transform (xc, var, starsub, quoted)
 }
 #endif /* ARRAY_VARS */
 
+static int
+valid_parameter_transform (xform)
+     char *xform;
+{
+  if (xform[1])
+    return 0;
+
+  /* check for valid values of xform[0] */
+  switch (xform[0])
+    {
+    case 'a':		/* expand to a string with just attributes */
+    case 'A':		/* expand as an assignment statement with attributes */
+    case 'K':		/* expand assoc array to list of key/value pairs */
+    case 'E':		/* expand like $'...' */
+    case 'P':		/* expand like prompt string */
+    case 'Q':		/* quote reusably */
+    case 'U':		/* transform to uppercase */
+    case 'u':		/* tranform by capitalizing */
+    case 'L':		/* transform to lowercase */
+      return 1;
+    default:
+      return 0;
+    }
+}
+      
 static char *
 parameter_brace_transform (varname, value, ind, xform, rtype, quoted, pflags, flags)
      char *varname, *value;
@@ -7873,20 +7899,8 @@ parameter_brace_transform (varname, value, ind, xform, rtype, quoted, pflags, fl
       return ((char *)NULL);
     }
 
-  /* check for valid values of xc */
-  switch (xc)
+  if (valid_parameter_transform (xform) == 0)
     {
-    case 'a':		/* expand to a string with just attributes */
-    case 'A':		/* expand as an assignment statement with attributes */
-    case 'K':		/* expand assoc array to list of key/value pairs */
-    case 'E':		/* expand like $'...' */
-    case 'P':		/* expand like prompt string */
-    case 'Q':		/* quote reusably */
-    case 'U':		/* transform to uppercase */
-    case 'u':		/* tranform by capitalizing */
-    case 'L':		/* transform to lowercase */
-      break;
-    default:
       this_command_name = oname;
       return &expand_param_error;
     }