function f() { echo $1; } f 1 function f() ( echo $1; ) f 2 function f() ( echo $1 ) f 3 function f() for i in 1 2 3; do echo $i done f function f { echo $1; } f 1 # the next two don't work #function f ( echo $1; ) f 2 #function f ( echo $1 ) f 3 function f for i in 1 2 3; do echo $i done f