Why does apt say

[BioTube]

Selecting previously deselected package

Is it a typo that's supposed to be a reference to dselect? As it stands, it makes no sense.

[rickh]

It only says that if you are adding a new package to your system.

Aptitude knows about all available packages, but the ones you haven't previously installed are "deselected."

[BioTube]

That logic seems shaky, but it makes sense if that line's there just for the sake of saying something.

[llivv]

'

[kink]

That sentence really doesn't add information for me. Not sure why it's there.

[mzilikazi]

Although I do understand what aptitude is saying I think it's a bit confusing too. Technically speaking 'deselect' is a verb not a noun so unless you changed a package from selected to deselected aptitude is wrong. It should say 'unselected' then it would make sense and be proper.