How do I invert the case of an entire paragraph with one operator command?
g~ap
g~ap is a fast way to invert letter case across a full paragraph without entering Visual mode.
editing #editing #operators #text-objects #case #normal-mode
Tag: editing
How to write a macro that saves the current file and advances to the next file in the argument list in Vim?
:wn
:wn (short for :wnext) writes the current buffer to disk and immediately advances to the next file in the argument list.
How to stage individual Git hunks without leaving Neovim using gitsigns.nvim?
:Gitsigns stage_hunk
gitsigns.
How do I delete all lines between two delimiter patterns without removing the delimiters themselves?
:g/BEGIN/+1,/END/-1 delete
By combining the :global command with a relative address range, you can delete the content between repeating delimiter pairs while leaving the delimiters intact
How do I force a normally linewise motion to operate characterwise when combined with an operator?
dv{motion}
In operator-pending mode — after typing an operator like d, y, or c but before the motion — you can press v, V, or to override the motion type to characterw
How do I use an expression in a substitution to perform arithmetic on matched numbers?
:%s/\(\d\+\)/\=submatch(1)+1/g
Vim's substitute command supports using a VimScript expression as the replacement by prefixing it with \=.
How do I yank text from the cursor to the next occurrence of a pattern without entering visual mode?
y/{pattern}<CR>
Any operator in Vim can take a search motion as its argument.
How do I avoid backslash-escaping slashes in a substitution when replacing file paths or URLs?
:s#pattern#replacement#g
Vim's substitution command accepts any non-alphanumeric, non-whitespace character as the delimiter — not just /.
How do I customize which invisible characters are shown in list mode, including trailing spaces and off-screen indicators?
:set listchars=
The listchars option controls exactly which invisible characters Vim highlights when list mode is active.
How do I run a find-and-replace across multiple files at once using the argument list?
:args **/*.py | argdo %s/old/new/ge | update
Combining :args, :argdo, and :update gives you a powerful in-editor multi-file search and replace without leaving Vim.
How do I run a substitution without displacing my marks?
:keepmarks %s/pattern/replacement/g
The :keepmarks modifier prevents Vim from adjusting mark positions when a buffer-modifying command runs.
How do I allow the cursor to sit one position past the end of the line in normal mode?
:set virtualedit=onemore
By default, Vim's cursor cannot go past the last character of a line in normal mode — pressing $ lands on the final character, not after it.
How do I convert space-indented code to tab-indented code in Vim?
:set noexpandtab | retab!
When you inherit space-indented code and need to switch to tabs, :retab! (with the bang) converts groups of spaces into tabs throughout the file.
How do the numbered delete registers work and why does deleted text rotate through registers 1 through 9?
"1 through "9
Vim maintains a rotating history of deleted text across registers "1 through "9.
How do I convert between snake_case, camelCase, MixedCase, and UPPER_CASE using vim-abolish coercions?
crs / crm / crc / cru
The vim-abolish plugin by Tim Pope adds a cr (coerce) prefix command that instantly converts the word under the cursor between common naming conventions.
How do I select, delete, or change a complete sentence using Vim's sentence text objects?
as and is
Vim defines sentence text objects — as (around sentence) and is (inner sentence) — that allow any operator to act on an entire sentence in one motion.
How do I insert special Unicode characters and symbols using Vim's built-in digraph system?
<C-k>{two-chars}
Vim's digraph system lets you type hundreds of special characters — arrows, fractions, accented letters, currency symbols, and more — using intuitive two-ch
How do I sort a range of lines by piping them through an external sort command using the ! operator?
!{motion}sort
The ! operator in Vim filters a motion's text through an external shell command, replacing it with the output.
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 replace a text object with the contents of a register in Neovim 0.11?
gr{motion}
Neovim 0.