Emacs Shortcuts

In the table and descriptions below the modifier M refers to the escape key. The M is used for Meta, a modifier on the computer keyboards used when emacs was first developed. The modifier C refers to the control key. For example, M-x replace-string means "press escape, then x" in the command mini-buffer the prompt M-x will appear, type replace-string in the mini-buffer. As another example, C-x c means "press the control key and the x key at the same time, then press the c key".

Note that M, or escape, is pressed before another key whereas C, or control, is pressed at the same time as a key. You can press the escape key directly, but C-[ is an abbreviation for escape (it doesn't require stretching your pinky a long way to get to the escape key).

At any point you can find all the bindings in effect by typing

C-h b

Commands I use all the time

M-space

Set the mark

Move the cursor/point -- in xemacs a region is grayed out when you do this

Delete the current region (betwen point and mark) with C-w

Editing Commands

key combination functionality C-d delete character to right of cursor (current char) M-d delete one word to right of cursor C-w kill current region (between point and mark) M-w copy current region (often yanked next) C-x u undo M-f move forward one word at a time M-b move backward one word at a time M-< move to top of buffer M-> move to bottom of buffer C-x C-s save current buffer C-k kill from cursor to end of line C-y yank-back (paste) last killed thing M C-q With the cursor on a left-curly brace automagically indent everything to the matching brace. M-/ auto-complete the identifier you've started to type

Saving and Searching