@c This is part of the Emacs manual.
@c Copyright (C) 1985, 1986, 1987, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002,
-@c 2003, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
+@c 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@c See file emacs.texi for copying conditions.
@node Mark, Killing, Help, Top
@chapter The Mark and the Region
On a terminal that supports colors, Emacs has the ability to
highlight the current region. But normally it does not. Why not?
- Once you have set the mark in a buffer, there is @emph{always} a
-region in that buffer. This is because every command that sets the
-mark also activates it, and nothing ever deactivates it. Highlighting
-the region all the time would be a nuisance. So normally Emacs
-highlights the region only immediately after you have selected one
-with the mouse.
+ In the normal mode of use, every command that sets the mark also
+activates it, and nothing ever deactivates it. Thus, once you have
+set the mark in a buffer, there is @emph{always} a region in that
+buffer. Highlighting the region all the time would be a nuisance. So
+normally Emacs highlights the region only immediately after you have
+selected one with the mouse.
If you want region highlighting, you can use Transient Mark mode.
-This is a more rigid mode of operation in which the region always
-``lasts'' only until you use it; you explicitly must set up a region
-for each command that uses one. In Transient Mark mode, most of the
-time there is no region; therefore, highlighting the region when it
-exists is useful and not annoying. When Transient Mark mode is
-enabled, Emacs always highlights the region whenever there is a
-region.
+This is a more rigid mode of operation in which the region ``lasts''
+only until you use it; operating on the region text deactivates the
+mark, so there is no region any more. Therefore, you must explicitly
+set up a region for each command that uses one.
+
+ When Transient Mark mode is enabled, Emacs highlights the region,
+whenever there is a region. In Transient Mark mode, most of the time
+there is no region; therefore, highlighting the region when it exists
+is useful and not annoying.
@findex transient-mark-mode
To enable Transient Mark mode, type @kbd{M-x transient-mark-mode}.
@kbd{M-@@} (@code{mark-word}) puts the mark at the end of the next
word, while @kbd{C-M-@@} (@code{mark-sexp}) puts it at the end of the
next balanced expression (@pxref{Expressions}). These commands handle
-arguments just like @kbd{M-f} and @kbd{C-M-f}. If you repeat these
-commands, that extends the region. For example, you can type either
-@kbd{C-u 2 M-@@} or @kbd{M-@@ M-@@} to mark the next two words. This
-command also extends the region when the mark is active in Transient
-Mark mode, regardless of the last command.
+arguments just like @kbd{M-f} and @kbd{C-M-f}. Repeating these
+commands extends the region. For example, you can type either
+@kbd{C-u 2 M-@@} or @kbd{M-@@ M-@@} to mark the next two words. These
+commands also extend the region in Transient Mark mode, regardless of
+the last command.
@kindex C-x h
@findex mark-whole-buffer
the beginning of the paragraph that surrounds or follows point, and
puts the mark at the end of that paragraph (@pxref{Paragraphs}). It
prepares the region so you can indent, case-convert, or kill a whole
-paragraph. With prefix argument, if the argument's value is positive,
+paragraph. With a prefix argument, if the argument's value is positive,
@kbd{M-h} marks that many paragraphs starting with the one surrounding
point. If the prefix argument is @minus{}@var{n}, @kbd{M-h} also
marks @var{n} paragraphs, running back form the one surrounding point.
Finally, @kbd{C-x h} (@code{mark-whole-buffer}) sets up the entire
buffer as the region, by putting point at the beginning and the mark at
-the end.
+the end. (In some programs this is called ``select all.'')
In Transient Mark mode, all of these commands activate the mark.