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How do I break a line at the cursor position without entering Insert mode?

Answer

r<CR>

Explanation

You can split a line at the cursor without entering Insert mode by using r<CR>. The r command replaces the character under the cursor with a single keystroke — in this case, a newline (<CR>). The result is that the character under the cursor is removed and the line breaks at that point.

How it works

  • r — Replace: overwrites the character under the cursor with the next keystroke
  • <CR> — newline character (Enter key)

This is faster than i<CR><Esc> (enter Insert mode, press Enter, escape) and stays in Normal mode throughout.

Example

Before: Hello, |World!

After pressing r<CR>:

Hello,
World!

The comma (character under cursor) is replaced by a newline.

Tips

  • If you want to keep the character under the cursor and insert a newline before it, use i<CR><Esc> or O<Esc>j instead
  • r<CR> is ideal for fixing lines that were accidentally joined (J) — quickly re-break at the right position
  • For soft wraps in textwidth-limited files, use gq{motion} to reformat instead
  • To break a line and preserve indentation, use a<CR><Esc> to enter after the character

Next

How do I visually select a double-quoted string including the quotes themselves?