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Bash: delete word ahead of cursor

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76

12

Consider the following bash command line, where ^ denotes the cursor location:

svn commit -m very/long/path/to/some/file "[bug 123456] Fix the pixel issue"
 ^

I'd like to commit a different file with the same message. How can I delete the current word, from cursor location to the next space? Is there also a shortcut for backward deletion, form the cursor to the first space backwards?

Update: ctrl+w erases backwards, but which shortcut erases one word forward?

command-line bash shortcut-keys

share|improve this question

edited May 29 at 19:40

wjandrea

10.1k44 gold badges3232 silver badges7070 bronze badges

asked Apr 8 '13 at 15:12

Adam MatanAdam Matan

5,1341919 gold badges5959 silver badges8787 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Ctrl u is an option for erasing from cursor location to beginning...
  
  – nutty about natty
  Apr 8 '13 at 15:23
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  23
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Try alt + d, that might be useful, when emacs editing mode is set.
  
  – user76204
  Apr 8 '13 at 16:20
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Mik how do you enable emacs mode?
  
  – Adam Matan
  Apr 9 '13 at 9:00
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @AdamMatan set -o emacs enables it, but it is usually the default; if not, you can put that line in .bashrc or .bash_aliases, then source the file or reload the terminal. However, then the shortcuts you may be used to in vi mode won't be available, although ones such as ctrl+c will because they are not Bash shortcuts.
  
  – user76204
  Apr 9 '13 at 9:25
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment
 | 

76

12

Consider the following bash command line, where ^ denotes the cursor location:

svn commit -m very/long/path/to/some/file "[bug 123456] Fix the pixel issue"
 ^

I'd like to commit a different file with the same message. How can I delete the current word, from cursor location to the next space? Is there also a shortcut for backward deletion, form the cursor to the first space backwards?

Update: ctrl+w erases backwards, but which shortcut erases one word forward?

command-line bash shortcut-keys

share|improve this question

edited May 29 at 19:40

wjandrea

10.1k44 gold badges3232 silver badges7070 bronze badges

asked Apr 8 '13 at 15:12

Adam MatanAdam Matan

5,1341919 gold badges5959 silver badges8787 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Ctrl u is an option for erasing from cursor location to beginning...
  
  – nutty about natty
  Apr 8 '13 at 15:23
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  23
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Try alt + d, that might be useful, when emacs editing mode is set.
  
  – user76204
  Apr 8 '13 at 16:20
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @Mik how do you enable emacs mode?
  
  – Adam Matan
  Apr 9 '13 at 9:00
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @AdamMatan set -o emacs enables it, but it is usually the default; if not, you can put that line in .bashrc or .bash_aliases, then source the file or reload the terminal. However, then the shortcuts you may be used to in vi mode won't be available, although ones such as ctrl+c will because they are not Bash shortcuts.
  
  – user76204
  Apr 9 '13 at 9:25
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment
 | 

Consider the following bash command line, where ^ denotes the cursor location:

svn commit -m very/long/path/to/some/file "[bug 123456] Fix the pixel issue"
 ^

I'd like to commit a different file with the same message. How can I delete the current word, from cursor location to the next space? Is there also a shortcut for backward deletion, form the cursor to the first space backwards?

Update: ctrl+w erases backwards, but which shortcut erases one word forward?

command-line bash shortcut-keys

share|improve this question

edited May 29 at 19:40

wjandrea

10.1k44 gold badges3232 silver badges7070 bronze badges

asked Apr 8 '13 at 15:12

Adam MatanAdam Matan

5,1341919 gold badges5959 silver badges8787 bronze badges

svn commit -m very/long/path/to/some/file "[bug 123456] Fix the pixel issue"
 ^

share|improve this question

edited May 29 at 19:40

wjandrea

10.1k44 gold badges3232 silver badges7070 bronze badges

asked Apr 8 '13 at 15:12

Adam MatanAdam Matan

5,1341919 gold badges5959 silver badges8787 bronze badges

share|improve this question

edited May 29 at 19:40

wjandrea

10.1k44 gold badges3232 silver badges7070 bronze badges

asked Apr 8 '13 at 15:12

Adam MatanAdam Matan

5,1341919 gold badges5959 silver badges8787 bronze badges

edited May 29 at 19:40

wjandrea

10.1k44 gold badges3232 silver badges7070 bronze badges

edited May 29 at 19:40

wjandrea

10.1k44 gold badges3232 silver badges7070 bronze badges

asked Apr 8 '13 at 15:12

Adam MatanAdam Matan

5,1341919 gold badges5959 silver badges8787 bronze badges

asked Apr 8 '13 at 15:12

Adam MatanAdam Matan

5,1341919 gold badges5959 silver badges8787 bronze badges

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

56

I answered similar question on unix.stackexchange.com:

Bash has readline commands that aren't bound by default. You can find
them at reference:
http://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/html_node/Bindable-Readline-Commands.html#Bindable-Readline-Commands

Command you are looking for is called "shell-backward-kill-word". You
have to select shortcut first. Let's use Crtl+p, since it's "previous
command" - same as up arrow.

bind '"C-p": shell-backward-kill-word'

The only difference is you have to use "shell-kill-word" command instead, since you want to delete forward.

There is also a "kill-word" command with Meta+d shortcut (try Esc+d if you don't have Meta key). It will delete only one part of path at once.

share|improve this answer

edited Apr 16 at 0:55

Pablo A

4,11022 gold badges2020 silver badges4747 bronze badges

answered Apr 10 '13 at 16:04

NykakinNykakin

3,2231212 silver badges1919 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  31
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Alt-d works for me
  
  – ricab
  Jan 20 '15 at 14:24
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  8
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Generally, in the world of keyboards where Meta doesn't exist, Alt = Meta.
  
  – Nate C-K
  Mar 20 '15 at 3:49
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I the world where you have many different keyboards, a convenient and fairly useful fact is that Esc as a prefix also acts as Meta.
  
  – tripleee
  Nov 30 '15 at 18:03
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  In short, add e.g. this to your $HOME/.inputrc file:"ew": shell-kill-word , that will make Alt-w forward delete a word , much like CTRL-w backwards deletes a word (and unlike Alt-d which will forward delete but stop at e.g. a / or - and other characters)
  
  – user964970
  Jul 6 '17 at 10:17
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment
 | 

7

Tested both the esc+d and alt/opt+d on OSX Mavericks and they work there as well.

share|improve this answer

edited Nov 30 '15 at 19:39

Gayan Weerakutti

2,2371515 silver badges3030 bronze badges

answered Nov 30 '15 at 16:24

visyoualvisyoual

8711 silver badge33 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  12
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Option + d gives me ∂ on OSX
  
  – Ivan Balashov
  Apr 16 '16 at 7:35
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  -1 OSX is not Ubuntu. Feel free to add a comment, but this is not an answer.
  
  – wjandrea
  Sep 24 '16 at 16:37
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  you have to first enable the checkbox "use option as meta key" in the terminal preferences (profiles -> keyboard tab -> checkbox)
  
  – nils petersohn
  Apr 23 '18 at 16:15
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  control + d on mac Sierra
  
  – mfink
  Aug 9 '18 at 17:42
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @IvanBalashov if you are using iterm set your let opt key as esc+ . Under Profiles >keys
  
  – tessie
  Nov 27 '18 at 13:09
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

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56

I answered similar question on unix.stackexchange.com:

Bash has readline commands that aren't bound by default. You can find
them at reference:
http://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/html_node/Bindable-Readline-Commands.html#Bindable-Readline-Commands

Command you are looking for is called "shell-backward-kill-word". You
have to select shortcut first. Let's use Crtl+p, since it's "previous
command" - same as up arrow.

bind '"C-p": shell-backward-kill-word'

The only difference is you have to use "shell-kill-word" command instead, since you want to delete forward.

There is also a "kill-word" command with Meta+d shortcut (try Esc+d if you don't have Meta key). It will delete only one part of path at once.

share|improve this answer

edited Apr 16 at 0:55

Pablo A

4,11022 gold badges2020 silver badges4747 bronze badges

answered Apr 10 '13 at 16:04

NykakinNykakin

3,2231212 silver badges1919 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  31
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Alt-d works for me
  
  – ricab
  Jan 20 '15 at 14:24
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  8
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Generally, in the world of keyboards where Meta doesn't exist, Alt = Meta.
  
  – Nate C-K
  Mar 20 '15 at 3:49
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I the world where you have many different keyboards, a convenient and fairly useful fact is that Esc as a prefix also acts as Meta.
  
  – tripleee
  Nov 30 '15 at 18:03
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  In short, add e.g. this to your $HOME/.inputrc file:"ew": shell-kill-word , that will make Alt-w forward delete a word , much like CTRL-w backwards deletes a word (and unlike Alt-d which will forward delete but stop at e.g. a / or - and other characters)
  
  – user964970
  Jul 6 '17 at 10:17
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment
 | 

56

I answered similar question on unix.stackexchange.com:

Bash has readline commands that aren't bound by default. You can find
them at reference:
http://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/html_node/Bindable-Readline-Commands.html#Bindable-Readline-Commands

Command you are looking for is called "shell-backward-kill-word". You
have to select shortcut first. Let's use Crtl+p, since it's "previous
command" - same as up arrow.

bind '"C-p": shell-backward-kill-word'

The only difference is you have to use "shell-kill-word" command instead, since you want to delete forward.

There is also a "kill-word" command with Meta+d shortcut (try Esc+d if you don't have Meta key). It will delete only one part of path at once.

share|improve this answer

edited Apr 16 at 0:55

Pablo A

4,11022 gold badges2020 silver badges4747 bronze badges

answered Apr 10 '13 at 16:04

NykakinNykakin

3,2231212 silver badges1919 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  31
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Alt-d works for me
  
  – ricab
  Jan 20 '15 at 14:24
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  8
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Generally, in the world of keyboards where Meta doesn't exist, Alt = Meta.
  
  – Nate C-K
  Mar 20 '15 at 3:49
  
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  I the world where you have many different keyboards, a convenient and fairly useful fact is that Esc as a prefix also acts as Meta.
  
  – tripleee
  Nov 30 '15 at 18:03
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  1
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  In short, add e.g. this to your $HOME/.inputrc file:"ew": shell-kill-word , that will make Alt-w forward delete a word , much like CTRL-w backwards deletes a word (and unlike Alt-d which will forward delete but stop at e.g. a / or - and other characters)
  
  – user964970
  Jul 6 '17 at 10:17
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment
 | 

I answered similar question on unix.stackexchange.com:

Bash has readline commands that aren't bound by default. You can find
them at reference:
http://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/html_node/Bindable-Readline-Commands.html#Bindable-Readline-Commands

Command you are looking for is called "shell-backward-kill-word". You
have to select shortcut first. Let's use Crtl+p, since it's "previous
command" - same as up arrow.

bind '"C-p": shell-backward-kill-word'

The only difference is you have to use "shell-kill-word" command instead, since you want to delete forward.

There is also a "kill-word" command with Meta+d shortcut (try Esc+d if you don't have Meta key). It will delete only one part of path at once.

share|improve this answer

edited Apr 16 at 0:55

Pablo A

4,11022 gold badges2020 silver badges4747 bronze badges

answered Apr 10 '13 at 16:04

NykakinNykakin

3,2231212 silver badges1919 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

edited Apr 16 at 0:55

Pablo A

4,11022 gold badges2020 silver badges4747 bronze badges

answered Apr 10 '13 at 16:04

NykakinNykakin

3,2231212 silver badges1919 bronze badges

edited Apr 16 at 0:55

Pablo A

4,11022 gold badges2020 silver badges4747 bronze badges

edited Apr 16 at 0:55

Pablo A

4,11022 gold badges2020 silver badges4747 bronze badges

answered Apr 10 '13 at 16:04

NykakinNykakin

3,2231212 silver badges1919 bronze badges

answered Apr 10 '13 at 16:04

NykakinNykakin

3,2231212 silver badges1919 bronze badges

7

Tested both the esc+d and alt/opt+d on OSX Mavericks and they work there as well.

share|improve this answer

edited Nov 30 '15 at 19:39

Gayan Weerakutti

2,2371515 silver badges3030 bronze badges

answered Nov 30 '15 at 16:24

visyoualvisyoual

8711 silver badge33 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  12
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Option + d gives me ∂ on OSX
  
  – Ivan Balashov
  Apr 16 '16 at 7:35
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  -1 OSX is not Ubuntu. Feel free to add a comment, but this is not an answer.
  
  – wjandrea
  Sep 24 '16 at 16:37
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  you have to first enable the checkbox "use option as meta key" in the terminal preferences (profiles -> keyboard tab -> checkbox)
  
  – nils petersohn
  Apr 23 '18 at 16:15
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  control + d on mac Sierra
  
  – mfink
  Aug 9 '18 at 17:42
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @IvanBalashov if you are using iterm set your let opt key as esc+ . Under Profiles >keys
  
  – tessie
  Nov 27 '18 at 13:09
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

7

Tested both the esc+d and alt/opt+d on OSX Mavericks and they work there as well.

share|improve this answer

edited Nov 30 '15 at 19:39

Gayan Weerakutti

2,2371515 silver badges3030 bronze badges

answered Nov 30 '15 at 16:24

visyoualvisyoual

8711 silver badge33 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  12
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Option + d gives me ∂ on OSX
  
  – Ivan Balashov
  Apr 16 '16 at 7:35
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  4
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  -1 OSX is not Ubuntu. Feel free to add a comment, but this is not an answer.
  
  – wjandrea
  Sep 24 '16 at 16:37
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  you have to first enable the checkbox "use option as meta key" in the terminal preferences (profiles -> keyboard tab -> checkbox)
  
  – nils petersohn
  Apr 23 '18 at 16:15
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  control + d on mac Sierra
  
  – mfink
  Aug 9 '18 at 17:42
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  2
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  @IvanBalashov if you are using iterm set your let opt key as esc+ . Under Profiles >keys
  
  – tessie
  Nov 27 '18 at 13:09
  

  
  
  
  

 | 
show 1 more comment

Tested both the esc+d and alt/opt+d on OSX Mavericks and they work there as well.

share|improve this answer

edited Nov 30 '15 at 19:39

Gayan Weerakutti

2,2371515 silver badges3030 bronze badges

answered Nov 30 '15 at 16:24

visyoualvisyoual

8711 silver badge33 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

edited Nov 30 '15 at 19:39

Gayan Weerakutti

2,2371515 silver badges3030 bronze badges

answered Nov 30 '15 at 16:24

visyoualvisyoual

8711 silver badge33 bronze badges

edited Nov 30 '15 at 19:39

Gayan Weerakutti

2,2371515 silver badges3030 bronze badges

edited Nov 30 '15 at 19:39

Gayan Weerakutti

2,2371515 silver badges3030 bronze badges

answered Nov 30 '15 at 16:24

visyoualvisyoual

8711 silver badge33 bronze badges

answered Nov 30 '15 at 16:24

visyoualvisyoual

8711 silver badge33 bronze badges