Emacs Reference - basic and advanced editing

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Basic and Advanced Editing

This reference guide lists the basic and more advanced editing commands available within GNU Emacs.

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DEL N/A Delete character before current cursor. Note: If cursor is at beginning of any line except the first, and DEL is pressed, then the line is joined with the previous line.

RET N/A Start new line (insert newline character).

C-d delete-char Delete character after cursor. If used at the end of a line, the line is joined with the next line.

C-k kill-line Kill to end of line. If used at the end of a line, the line is joined with the next line.

M-d kill-word Kill to end of next word.

M-DEL backward-kill-word Kill to beginning of previous word.

C-q quoted-insert Insert non-graphic character. Can also enter one or more octal sequences - any non-digit ends the sequence after it has been input.

C-o open-line Insert one or more blank lines after the cursor.

C-x C-o delete-blank-lines Delete all but one of current block of consecutive blank lines. If used on a non-blank line, deletes any blank lines following that line. If used on one blank line, that line is deleted.

M-[any digit] digit-argument and
negative-argument Specifies a numeric argument.

C-u universal-argument Followed by number, specifies an argument that can be used as input to another command. Often used to repeat the following command. Followed by a non-digit, means 'multiply next command by 4'. Followed by another 'C-u' means 'multiply next command by 16'.

M-q fill-paragraph Fill text. If any argument is specified, text is justified.

C-x z repeat Repeat previous command. 'z' can be pressed multiple times for multiple repeats.

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DEL	N/A	Delete character before current cursor. Note: If cursor is at beginning of any line except the first, and DEL is pressed, then the line is joined with the previous line.
RET	N/A	Start new line (insert newline character).
C-d	delete-char	Delete character after cursor. If used at the end of a line, the line is joined with the next line.
C-k	kill-line	Kill to end of line. If used at the end of a line, the line is joined with the next line.
M-d	kill-word	Kill to end of next word.
M-DEL	backward-kill-word	Kill to beginning of previous word.
C-q	quoted-insert	Insert non-graphic character. Can also enter one or more octal sequences - any non-digit ends the sequence after it has been input.
C-o	open-line	Insert one or more blank lines after the cursor.
C-x C-o	delete-blank-lines	Delete all but one of current block of consecutive blank lines. If used on a non-blank line, deletes any blank lines following that line. If used on one blank line, that line is deleted.
M-[any digit]	digit-argument and negative-argument	Specifies a numeric argument.
C-u	universal-argument	Followed by number, specifies an argument that can be used as input to another command. Often used to repeat the following command. Followed by a non-digit, means 'multiply next command by 4'. Followed by another 'C-u' means 'multiply next command by 16'.
M-q	fill-paragraph	Fill text. If any argument is specified, text is justified.
C-x z	repeat	Repeat previous command. 'z' can be pressed multiple times for multiple repeats.