These functions for parsing words use the syntax table to decide
whether a given character is part of a word. @xref{Syntax Tables}.
-@deffn Command forward-word count
+@deffn Command forward-word &optional count
This function moves point forward @var{count} words (or backward if
@var{count} is negative). ``Moving one word'' means moving until point
crosses a word-constituent character and then encounters a
this function ignores field boundaries.
In an interactive call, @var{count} is specified by the numeric prefix
-argument.
+argument. If @var{count} is omitted or @code{nil}, it defaults to 1.
@end deffn
-@deffn Command backward-word count
+@deffn Command backward-word &optional count
This function is just like @code{forward-word}, except that it moves
backward until encountering the front of a word, rather than forward.
-
-In an interactive call, @var{count} is set to the numeric prefix
-argument.
-
-@c [Now optimized by compiler.]
-@c This function is rarely used in programs, as it is more efficient to
-@c call @code{forward-word} with a negative argument.
@end deffn
@defvar words-include-escapes