Delete the middle paragraph and the gap it leaves behind: move into it with 3j, select “a paragraph” with vap, then d.
The first paragraph earns its place. It stays exactly where it is. This middle paragraph is pure filler. It rambles without adding anything. Nobody will miss it when it's gone. The final paragraph sticks the landing.
Canonical solution: 3j vap d · target: 5 keystrokes — the fewest that solve it (every keypress counts).
Paragraphs are blank-line-delimited. ip is the paragraph text only; ap includes the trailing blank line, so deleting it doesn't leave a double gap. Target counts 3j dap (5); vap d is one key longer but shows the selection.
| Keys | What it does |
|---|---|
| dap | delete the paragraph + trailing blank line |
| dip | delete the paragraph text only |
| vap | select it first, then decide |
| { / } | jump to previous / next paragraph boundary |
Reading about keystrokes doesn't build keystrokes. Try this in a real vim buffer right now — the “Stanza surgery” mission takes about a minute.
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