* mark.texi (Mark): Clarify introduction.

(Using Region, Persistent Mark): Use "active mark" instead of "active
region".

2 files changed, 46 insertions, 42 deletions

diff --git a/doc/emacs/ChangeLog b/doc/emacs/ChangeLog
index 597f285db0a..6bb459c2338 100644
--- a/doc/emacs/ChangeLog
+++ b/doc/emacs/ChangeLog
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+2009-05-28  Chong Yidong  <cyd@stupidchicken.com>
+
+        * mark.texi (Mark): Clarify introduction.
+        (Using Region, Persistent Mark): Use "active mark" instead of "active
+        region".
+
 2009-05-16  Ari Roponen  <ari.roponen@gmail.com>  (tiny change)
 
         * mule.texi (Select Input Method): Fix typo.
diff --git a/doc/emacs/mark.texi b/doc/emacs/mark.texi
index 3f72d7da64a..4d1664773ef 100644
--- a/doc/emacs/mark.texi
+++ b/doc/emacs/mark.texi
@@ -12,19 +12,17 @@
 current buffer.  To specify the text for such a command to operate on,
 you set @dfn{the mark} at one end of it, and move point to the other
 end.  The text between point and the mark is called @dfn{the region}.
-
-  If the mark is active, the region always extends between point and
-the mark, no matter which one comes earlier in the text; each time you
-move point, the region changes.  Whenever the mark is active, Emacs
-highlights the region.  You can customize the appearance of this
-highlighting by changing the @code{region} face (@pxref{Face
-Customization}).
-
-  The region persists only until you use it.  The mark is
-automatically @dfn{deactivated} after certain non-motion commands,
-including any command that changes the text in the buffer.  You can
-also explicitly deactivate the mark at any time, by typing @kbd{C-g}
-(@pxref{Quitting}).
+The region always extends between point and the mark, no matter which
+one comes earlier in the text; each time you move point, the region
+changes.
+
+  When the mark is @dfn{active}, Emacs indicates the extent of the
+region by highlighting the text within it, using the @code{region}
+face (@pxref{Face Customization}).  After certain non-motion commands,
+including any command that changes the text in the buffer, Emacs
+automatically @dfn{deactivates} the mark; this turns off the
+highlighting.  You can also explicitly deactivate the mark at any
+time, by typing @kbd{C-g} (@pxref{Quitting}).
 
 @vindex highlight-nonselected-windows
   Setting the mark in one buffer has no effect on the marks in other
@@ -222,21 +220,20 @@ Save it in a buffer or a file (@pxref{Accumulating Text}).
   Most commands that operate on the text in the region have the word
 @code{region} in their names.
 
-  Some commands have a default behavior when the region is inactive,
-but operate on the text in the region if the region is active.  For
-example, @kbd{M-$} (@code{ispell-word}) normally checks the spelling
-of the word at point, but it checks the text in the region if the
-region is active (@pxref{Spelling}).  Normally, such commands use
-their default behavior if the region is empty (i.e., if mark and point
-are at the same position).  If you want them to operate on the empty
-region, change the variable @code{use-empty-active-region} to
-@code{t}.
+  Some commands have a default behavior when the mark is inactive, but
+operate on the text in the region if the mark is active.  For example,
+@kbd{M-$} (@code{ispell-word}) normally checks the spelling of the
+word at point, but it checks the text in the region if the region is
+active (@pxref{Spelling}).  Normally, such commands use their default
+behavior if the region is empty (i.e., if mark and point are at the
+same position).  If you want them to operate on the empty region,
+change the variable @code{use-empty-active-region} to @code{t}.
 
 @cindex Delete Selection mode
 @cindex mode, Delete Selection
 @findex delete-selection-mode
   If you enable Delete Selection mode, a minor mode, then inserting
-text while the region is active causes the selected text to be deleted
+text while the mark is active causes the selected text to be deleted
 first.  This also deactivates the mark.  Many graphical applications
 follow this convention, but Emacs does not.  To toggle Delete
 Selection mode on or off, type @kbd{M-x delete-selection-mode}.
@@ -366,23 +363,23 @@ commands.
 @cindex region highlighting
 @cindex Zmacs mode
 
-  By default, the region is highlighted whenever it exists, and
-disappears once you use it or explicitly deactivate the mark.  This
-behavior is called Transient Mark mode@footnote{It is also sometimes
-called @dfn{Zmacs mode}, because the Zmacs editor on the MIT Lisp
-Machine handled the mark in a similar way.}.
+  By default, the mark is activated by setting it, and deactivated by
+most non-motion commands (including all commands that change the text
+in the buffer).  This behavior is called Transient Mark
+mode@footnote{It is also sometimes called @dfn{Zmacs mode}, because
+the Zmacs editor on the MIT Lisp Machine handled the mark in a similar
+way.}.
 
-@findex transient-mark-mode
   Turning off Transient Mark mode switches Emacs to an alternative
 mode of operation, which was the default prior to Emacs 23.  When
-Transient Mark mode is off, the mark is persistent: it is @emph{never}
-deactivated, but can be set to different locations using commands such
-as @kbd{C-@key{SPC}}.  After the first time you set the mark in a
-buffer, there is always a region in that buffer.  Emacs will not
-highlight the region, because that would be a nuisance.  As a special
-exception, the region is temporarily highlighted after it is set with
-the mouse.
+Transient Mark mode is off, the mark is @emph{never} deactivated, but
+it can be set to different locations using commands such as
+@kbd{C-@key{SPC}}.  Emacs does not highlight the region, because that
+would be a nuisance.  As a special exception, the region is
+temporarily highlighted if you set it with the mouse (@pxref{Setting
+Mark}), or with shift-selection (@pxref{Shift Selection}).
 
+@findex transient-mark-mode
   To turn off Transient Mark mode, type @kbd{M-x transient-mark-mode}.
 This command toggles the mode; you can use the same command to turn
 Transient Mark mode on again.  You can also turn off Transient Mark
@@ -412,12 +409,13 @@ Many commands that move point long distances, like @kbd{M-<} and
 @kbd{C-s}, first set the mark where point was.
 
 @item
-Some commands that ordinarily operate on the region, if one exists,
-act instead on the entire buffer.  For instance, @kbd{C-x u} normally
-reverses changes within the region if one exists; when Transient Mark
-mode is off, it acts on the entire buffer.  However, you can type
-@kbd{C-u C-x u} to make it operate on the region.  @xref{Undo}.  Other
-commands that act this way are identified in their own documentation.
+Some commands, which ordinarily operate on the region when the mark is
+active, instead act on the entire buffer.  For instance, @kbd{C-x u}
+normally reverses changes within the region if the mark is active;
+when Transient Mark mode is off, it acts on the entire buffer.
+However, you can type @kbd{C-u C-x u} to make it operate on the
+region.  @xref{Undo}.  Other commands that act this way are identified
+in their own documentation.
 @end itemize
 
   While Transient Mark mode is off, you can activate it temporarily