On a terminal that supports colors, Emacs has the ability to
highlight the current region. But normally it does not. Why not?
- Once you have set the mark in a buffer, there is @emph{always} a
-region in that buffer. This is because every command that sets the
-mark also activates it, and nothing ever deactivates it. Highlighting
-the region all the time would be a nuisance. So normally Emacs
-highlights the region only immediately after you have selected one
-with the mouse.
+ In the normal mode of use, every command that sets the mark also
+activates it, and nothing ever deactivates it. Thus, once you have
+set the mark in a buffer, there is @emph{always} a region in that
+buffer. Highlighting the region all the time would be a nuisance. So
+normally Emacs highlights the region only immediately after you have
+selected one with the mouse.
If you want region highlighting, you can use Transient Mark mode.
-This is a more rigid mode of operation in which the region always
-``lasts'' only until you use it; you explicitly must set up a region
-for each command that uses one. In Transient Mark mode, most of the
-time there is no region; therefore, highlighting the region when it
-exists is useful and not annoying. When Transient Mark mode is
-enabled, Emacs always highlights the region whenever there is a
-region.
+This is a more rigid mode of operation in which the region ``lasts''
+only until you use it; operating on the region text deactivates the
+mark, so there is no region any more. Therefore, you must explicitly
+set up a region for each command that uses one.
+
+ When Transient Mark mode is enabled, Emacs highlights the region,
+whenever there is a region. In Transient Mark mode, most of the time
+there is no region; therefore, highlighting the region when it exists
+is useful and not annoying.
@findex transient-mark-mode
To enable Transient Mark mode, type @kbd{M-x transient-mark-mode}.