How do I navigate by sentences, paragraphs, and sections in Vim?

Explanation

Vim provides structural navigation motions that move by sentences, paragraphs, and sections. These are far more efficient than line-by-line navigation for prose, documentation, and code with clear structural boundaries.

How it works

• ( / ) — move backward/forward by sentence
• { / } — move backward/forward by paragraph (blank-line separated)
• [[ / ]] — move backward/forward by section (lines starting with {)
• [] / ][ — move to previous/next section end (lines starting with })

Example

Paragraph 1 first sentence. Second sentence.
Third sentence.

Paragraph 2 starts here. Another sentence.

Cursor at start:
)  → moves to 'Second sentence.'
}  → moves to blank line between paragraphs
}} → moves to after 'Paragraph 2'

Tips

• All of these work as motions with operators: d} deletes a paragraph, c) changes a sentence
• In code, { and } jump between blocks separated by blank lines
• [[ and ]] are designed for C-style code where functions start with { at column 0
• Combine with visual mode: v} selects a paragraph, vi} selects inner paragraph