Emacs Quick Reference

Cancelling and Exiting

C-g -- Cancel command
C-x C-c -- Exit emacs

Using Files

C-x C-f -- Find (load/create) file
C-x C-s -- Save file
C-x C-w -- Write file (under a new name)

Moving Around

arrow keys -- Move cursor
C-f -- Forward one character
C-b -- Back one character
C-p -- Previous line
C-n -- Next line


C-a -- Start of line
C-e -- End of line


C-< -- Beginning of buffer
C-> -- End of buffer
C-v -- Down a screen
M-v -- Up a screen


C-{ -- Back one paragraph
C-} -- Forward one paragraph
M-a -- Back one sentence
M-e -- Forward one sentence
M-b -- back one word (or M-left)
M-f -- forward one word (or M-right)

Marking a Region

Click & Drag the mouse -- The easiest way to mark a region
C-SPACE -- Set the Mark (the region extends from there to the cursor)

Cutting, Copying, Pasting

C-k -- Kill to end of line
C-w -- Wipe out region
C-y -- Paste text
M-w -- Copy

Undo

C-x u -- Undo last action

Buffers

C-x 2 -- split buffer vertically
C-x 3 -- split buffer horizontally
C-x 1 -- make current buffer big
C-x 0 -- hide current buffer


C-x C-b -- list buffers
C-x b -- switch to buffer


C-x k -- kill buffer

Search/Replace

C-s -- search forwards
C-r -- reverse search


M-x replace-string -- replace string
M-x query-replace -- replace string with query

Help

C-h a -- apropos
C-h ? -- list help options
C-h f -- describe function
C-h k -- explain key
C-h m -- describe current mode