Emacs can split lines automatically when they become too long, if you
turn on a special minor mode called @dfn{Auto Fill} mode.
-@xref{Filling}, for how to use Auto Fill mode.
+@xref{Filling}, for how to use Auto Fill mode and other modes for
+@dfn{filling} text.
If you prefer to have text characters replace (overwrite) existing
text rather than shove it to the right, you can enable Overwrite mode,
characters in the ``empty'' columns, just before the @samp{\}
character that indicates continuation.
- Sometimes it is nice to have Emacs insert newlines automatically when
-a line gets too long. Continuation on the screen does not do that. Use
-Auto Fill mode (@pxref{Filling}) if that's what you want.
+ Continued lines can be rather difficult to read, since each line is
+typically broken in the middle of a word. You can have Emacs insert a
+newline automatically when a line gets too long, by using Auto Fill
+mode. Another approach, intermediate between continued lines and Auto
+Fill mode, is Long Lines mode, which ensures that wrapping only occurs
+in the spaces between words. @xref{Filling}.
@cindex truncation
@cindex line truncation, and fringes
- As an alternative to continuation, Emacs can display long lines by
-@dfn{truncation}. This means that all the characters that do not fit
-in the width of the screen or window do not appear at all. @samp{$}
-in the last column or a small straight arrow in the fringe to the
-right of the window indicates a truncated line.
+ Emacs can also display long lines by @dfn{truncation}. This means
+that all the characters that do not fit in the width of the screen or
+window do not appear at all. @samp{$} in the last column or a small
+straight arrow in the fringe to the right of the window indicates a
+truncated line.
@xref{Display Custom}, for more information about line truncation,
and other variables that affect how text is displayed.