In vim's visual mode (type "v"), how do I select multiple lines?

Question

What are the shortcuts that I need to know, to make it snap snap?

Right now, all I do it the up/down arrow...it's noobish.

Solution 1

Same as normal mode; use <n>G to go to a specific line.

Also, ShiftV.

Solution 2

{ and } are very handy motions, they go respectively to the beginning or end of a paragraph.

Use v then } and you've selected all the paragraph until the end in two key strokes.

Alternatively you can use text-objects.

Basically,
vip selects the current paragraph,
vis selects the current sentence,
etc

See :help text-objects for more

Solution 3

Same as normal mode; use <n> plus one movement operator:

• G to go to line n
• j to go down n lines
• k to go up n lines
• w to go right n words

etc. see :help motion and get familiar with that.

Comments

[Ton van den Heuvel]

Start by using k and j to go up and down.

[Alex]

Why should I use j/k to go up down?

[Sasha Chedygov]

Because then you can keep your fingers on the home row.

[user5249203]

The second <key>j</key> should be a <key>k</key>