Since there is an identity() function, which new users might find in the course of trying to figure out how to construct an identity matrix, it might make sense to add a "See also" to diag(). (And, on the same topic, perhaps an \alias{diagonal} in diag.Rd?) If there is interest in this I could submit a doc patch. (Thought sparked by http://www.r-bloggers.com/how-do-i-create-the-identity-matrix-in-r/ ) Ben Bolker