mysql - How to fix `unknown variable 'sql-mode=ANSI'`? -

using mysql 5.5.27, in my.cnf have:

[mysql] sql_mode=ansi 

upon starting mysql console get:

unknown variable 'sql-mode=traditional' 

the mysql doc server sql modes shows option, why not work?

(if helps, on osx lion)

also, here pastebin showing things person has tried, no solution.

i'm pretty reason isn't working because argument mysqld , not client. came alternative way instead. edit users my.cnf i.e. ~/.my.cnf this:

[client] init-command="set sql_mode='traditional'"