abbreviations:

M-x  meta key (escape key) + key
C-x  cntl key + key


terminology:

key binding - key used to invoke a function
Emacs is programmable, so the key bindings below are just defaults

point - current location of cursor


how to start & stop:

emacs filename
emacs -nw filename   if you need it to avoid invoking XWindows

C-x C-s    save & continue
C-x C-c    exit, w/ prompt for save

C-g        cancel a cmd (may need twice in some circumstances)


arrow keys & labeled keys (pageup, etc.) shd all work
if they don't, set your options

so you might not need:
M-<        top of document
M->        bottom of document
C-a        left edge of line
C-e        right edge of line

you certainly don't need:
C-f        forward one char
C-b        back one char

but these are useful:
C-d       delete char under cursor
backspace deletes char before cursor
  if this gives you help, need to update something
M-f       forward one word
M-b       back one word
M-d       delete word

C-k       delete to end of line
C-k       deletes line if it is empty
C-k C-k   so this deletes a non-empty line

C-x u     undo
C-8 <cmd> repeat <cmd> 8 times
e.g. C-8 C-k   delete next 4 lines

C-s xyz   incremental search for xyz, forward from point to eof
C-s       repeat search (need C-s C-s if intervening cmds
C-r xyz   incremental search for xyz, backwards from point to beginning

to search special chars:
C-q       to quote a char
C-q C-j   eol char


C-@       set mark (use C-shift-space on some machines)
C-w       delete from mark to point into the buffer ("wipe")
C-y       paste buffer ("yank back")
M-w       copy into buffer instead of deleting
note:     C-k also updates the buffer (different from Word)


M-x <cmd> issue a cmd that doesn't have a key binding
M-x replace-string  replace all from point to eof
M-x query-replace   ... asks for each one
M-x insert-file     merge in contents of file
  /~/filename to get correct dir & filename



M-\       delete spaces from point until next non-blank char
  esp. useful at beginning of line
M-q       reflow from point until end of para (blank line)
  useful in writing doc