grep for tabs

grep-for-tabs.txt

Several methods depending on the implementation of grep or whether the grep needs to be scripted etc. 

1: If grep comes compiled with perl regex support use 'grep -P '
  grep -P  "\t"  filelist 
  embedded in a pattern:
  grep -P  "^1.1G\t"  /tmp/du-h-output.txt 

2 this is neat  - grep -G  $'\t' 
it works in larger  patterns as well:
     grep -G "^1.1G"$'\t'  /tmp/du-h-output.txt 

3 If you are on the command line and want to risk control-v: 
  in double quotes enter control-v once, let go and then hit the Tab key 
  i.e. 
  grep "<control-v><TAB>"  filename