How do I cycle through numbered registers to find a previous deletion?

Explanation

Vim stores the last 9 deletions in numbered registers 1-9, with the most recent in register 1. The special u. (undo-repeat) pattern lets you cycle through them: paste from register 1, undo, and dot-repeat automatically advances to register 2, then 3, and so on.

How it works

• "1p — paste from register 1 (most recent delete)
• u — undo the paste
• . — repeat the paste, but Vim automatically advances to the next register
• Each . after u tries register 2, then 3, etc.
• When you see the text you want, stop pressing u.

Example

After several deletions:
"1 = last deleted text
"2 = second-to-last
"3 = third-to-last
...
"9 = ninth-to-last

Sequence:
"1p → pastes register 1
u.  → replaces with register 2
u.  → replaces with register 3
(stop when you find what you need)

Tips

• Small deletes (less than a line) go to the "- register, not the numbered ones
• The numbered registers are a stack: new deletes push old ones up
• Use :registers 0123456789 to preview all numbered register contents
• Register 0 always holds the last yank (not affected by deletes)