What is the difference between word and WORD motions in Vim?
w vs W, b vs B, e vs E
Vim distinguishes between "words" (sequences of keyword characters) and "WORDS" (sequences of non-blank characters).
Search: W B E
29 results for "W B E"
How do I navigate by WORD boundaries that include punctuation in Vim?
W, B, and E
How it works Vim distinguishes between two types of word objects: A word (lowercase w, b, e) is a sequence of letters, digits, and underscores, or a sequence of
How do I make word motions like w, b, and e treat hyphens or other characters as part of a word?
:set iskeyword+=-
By default, Vim treats hyphens, dots, and many punctuation characters as word boundaries.
How do I scope a Vimscript variable to a specific buffer, window, tab, or script to avoid conflicts?
b: w: t: s:
Vimscript variables are prefixed with a one-letter scope identifier followed by a colon.
How do I control which sources Vim searches when triggering keyword completion with Ctrl-N?
set complete=.,w,b,u,t
The complete option controls which sources Vim scans when you press or for generic keyword completion.
How do I jump to the beginning of the previous word?
b
The b command moves the cursor backward to the beginning of the previous word.
How do I jump to the beginning of the next word?
w
The w command moves the cursor forward to the beginning of the next word.
How do I run normal mode commands in a script or macro without user mappings interfering?
:normal!
The :normal! command (with !) executes normal mode keystrokes exactly as Vim defines them, ignoring any user-defined mappings.
How do I refer to the matched text in a Vim substitution replacement?
:%s/\w\+/(&)/g
In a Vim substitution, & in the replacement string expands to the entire matched text.
How do I customize what Vim considers a 'word' for motions and text objects?
:setlocal iskeyword+=-
The iskeyword option defines which characters are part of a "word" for motions like w, b, e, , and text objects like iw.
How do I jump to any visible word with EasyMotion?
<leader><leader>w
vim-easymotion lets you jump to any visible position by highlighting targets with unique letters.
How do I jump to any visible word or character on screen instantly in Vim?
<Leader><Leader>w
The vim-easymotion plugin replaces Vim's default motion commands with a visual overlay system that lets you jump to any visible position on screen in just two o
What is the difference between the inner word (iw) and inner WORD (iW) text objects in Vim?
iW vs iw
Vim has two flavors of the "inner word" text object that are easy to confuse: iw (lowercase) and iW (uppercase).
How do I use a macro to wrap each word in quotes?
qabi"<Esc>ea"<Esc>wq
How it works This macro wraps the current word in double quotes and moves to the next word, making it easy to repeat across a line or file.
How do I jump to the end of a word in Vim?
e
The e command moves the cursor to the last character of the current word.
How do I move backward to the end of the previous word?
ge
The ge motion moves the cursor backward to the end of the previous word.
How do I change which characters Vim treats as part of a word for motions and text objects?
:set iskeyword+={char}
iskeyword defines which characters are considered word characters in Vim.
How can I print only arglist files that still contain trailing whitespace before bulk cleanup?
:argdo if search('\s\+$', 'nw') | echo expand('%') | endif
Before running destructive cleanup across many files, it helps to know which files will actually change.
command-line #command-line #search #whitespace #arglist #refactoring
How do I switch between buffers without being forced to save first?
:set hidden
By default, Vim refuses to let you switch away from a buffer that has unsaved changes, forcing you to save or discard with :w or :e! before moving on.
How do I quickly switch between the current file and the last edited file?
<C-^>
Pressing (Ctrl-6 on most keyboards) instantly toggles between the current buffer and the alternate file — the last file you were editing.
buffers-windows #navigation #buffers #normal-mode #productivity #windows