Surround: add, replace and delete pairs

So far match mode has only selected. It also edits — specifically, it edits the pairs themselves. Three commands cover it, and each one takes the pair character as its last key:

• ms — surround the current selection with a pair: ms" wraps it in double quotes, ms( in parentheses, and so on
• mr — replace the closest surrounding pair with another: mr"' turns "text" into 'text'
• md — delete the closest surrounding pair, keeping what was inside: md( turns (text) into text

ms works on whatever is selected, so pair it with a selection first — miw to wrap a word, x to wrap a line, or any selection from the last few steps. mr and md don’t need a selection at all; they look outward from the cursor for the pair you name, so the cursor just needs to be somewhere inside it.

In most editors, changing a string’s quote style means deleting and retyping at both ends. Here it’s three keys.

Try it in the editor. Each line below wants a different surround command — work through the checklist.