Intro to Text Objects

Understand i (inner) and a (around) text objects

Open companion guide

Goals

0/2
  • Understand inner vs around
  • Use ciw to change a word
Keys 0 · par 15

Instructions

  1. 1.Place cursor on "REPLACE"
  2. 2.Use ciw to change the inner word
  3. 3.Type "SUCCESS" and press Escape
Quick KeysNORMAL
h j k lMove cursor
w b eWord movement
i a oEnter insert
dDelete
yYank (copy)
pPaste
uUndo
vVisual mode
:Command mode
/Search

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Lesson Companion

Use Intro to Text Objects in real editing

This companion guide helps you complete Intro to Text Objects with fewer mistakes and better command fluency.

Quick Command Cheatsheet
  • ciw
  • inner
  • a
When to Use This Motion/Operator

Use this lesson whenever you need to target semantic units like words, quotes, or brackets with fewer keystrokes.

  • Prefer this over arrow-key micro-movements before each edit.
  • Use this pattern whenever you're working inside Text Objects tasks.
  • Reach for ciw, inner, a when this pattern appears.
Common Mistakes
  • Manually selecting text with Visual mode instead of using inner/around text objects.
  • Confusing the inner (i) and around (a) text object variants.
FAQ

How long should this lesson take?

Target completion is 45 seconds, but correctness matters more than speed at first.

Should I move to the next lesson if my score is low?

Advanced patterns take longer to feel natural, so a lower score on the first pass is normal — prioritize accuracy over speed here.