How to Vim: Insert Thing at Point in Command Mode

Most Vim users probably know that they can use Ctrl-R to insert the contents of registers, while typing some command. For instance - you can insert the clipboard contents with Ctrl-R +.

Fewer people probably know that while typing a command you can use Ctrl-R to insert the object under the cursor. There are several objects supported by this:

• CTRL-F - the Filename under the cursor
• CTRL-P - the Filename under the cursor, expanded with path as in gf
• CTRL-W - the Word under the cursor
• CTRL-A - the WORD under the cursor
• CTRL-L - the line under the cursor

When incsearch is set the cursor position at the end of the currently displayed match is used. With CTRL-W the part of the word that was already typed is not inserted again.

I find those keybindings handy when doing commands like:

• :%s/current/substitute/g
• / (search)
• :vimgrep

For me Ctrl-R Ctrl-W is the most commonly used keybinding, but all of them have their uses from time to time.

As usual you can find much more on the topic in Vim’s user manual. Try :help c_CTRL-R and see where this takes you.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope some of you will find some of those commands useful.