GNU Emacs Lisp Reference Manual

27.2.2: Motion by Words

These functions for parsing words use the syntax table to decide whether a given character is part of a word. See Syntax Tables.

Command: forward-word count

This function moves point forward count words (or backward if count is negative). Normally it returns t. If this motion encounters the beginning or end of the buffer, or the limits of the accessible portion when narrowing is in effect, point stops there and the value is nil.

In an interactive call, count is set to the numeric prefix argument.

Command: backward-word count

This function is just like forward-word, except that it moves backward until encountering the front of a word, rather than forward.

In an interactive call, count is set to the numeric prefix argument.

This function is rarely used in programs, as it is more efficient to call forward-word with a negative argument.

Variable: words-include-escapes

This variable affects the behavior of forward-word and everything that uses it. If it is non-nil, then characters in the ``escape'' and ``character quote'' syntax classes count as part of words. Otherwise, they do not.