What is the correct cut command.
 

How could I use the cut command to extract a list of usernames and login shells from the /etc/passwd file, where the resulting usernames and login shells are separated by a single space. Sort the resulting list in ascending alphabetical order, using the login shell as the primary key, and the username as a secondary key. Store the result in the newly created file~/usershells.txt.
This is the command I attempted cut -d /etc/passwd -k7 -k1 | sort > ~/usershells.txt
my kids say this is why at over 40 something's I should leave alone:confused:

What have you done/tried so far?? I'd suggest by reading the man page on the cut and sort commands...and also referencing your textbook, since this sounds VERY much like a verbatim homework question. Personally, I'd shove the file through awk to just grab the two fields you're interested in, then sort it. Pay particular attention to the "-F' flag for awk.

http://linux.die.net/man/1/cut
http://linux.die.net/man/1/sort

the cose I attempted Guru.
 

I have tried this code so far cut -d /etc/passwd -k7 -k1 | sort > ~/usershells.txt

What you want is awk, not cut.
The difficulty with cut is getting the fields specified right. It can be done, but awk is simpler.

Sort with shell first, then reverse.

I have to use the "cut" command. When I did it with awk, it said it was wrong.

Parse error - no antecedent for "it".

Does this happen to be a homework assignment? (having a automated homework checker would explain why it insists on using "cut" - if so, I refer you to the manpage on how to specify fields to be deleted...)