macOS 13+ · $0.99 one-time · 7-day free trial
Terminal-style delete shortcuts, everywhere on your Mac
You have Ctrl+W, Ctrl+U, and Ctrl+K in your terminal — but nowhere else on macOS. WordEraser brings those deletion shortcuts to every app, so your muscle memory finally works system-wide.
Free 7-day full trial. No account required. Private by design.
Ctrl+W deleting words in Mail, Notes, Slack, and your browser.
The keys are in your fingers. macOS just won't listen.
Every Unix shell lets you delete a word with Ctrl+W, clear a line with Ctrl+U, and erase to the end with Ctrl+K. Step outside the terminal and those keys do nothing — or worse, close your tab. WordEraser fixes that inconsistency in one install.
Watch the 60-second tour
Four shortcuts. Every app.
The exact deletion bindings you already know from the terminal — now working in Mail, Slack, Safari, Notes, code editors, and beyond.
Delete word backward
Erase the word to the left of your cursor — exactly like in your terminal.
Delete to line start
Wipe everything from the cursor back to the beginning of the line.
Delete to line end
Clear everything from the cursor to the end of the line.
Delete word forward
Erase the word to the right of your cursor without leaving the keyboard.
Private by design
WordEraser processes keystrokes only in memory to remap the specific shortcut keys into delete commands. It never logs, stores, or transmits anything you type. The only network calls it makes are optional license validation and update checks (which send just the app and OS version).
One price. Forever.
No subscription. No upsells. Free updates.
- ✓ All four deletion shortcuts, system-wide
- ✓ 7-day full-feature free trial
- ✓ A single license key, not device-locked
- ✓ 14-day no-questions refund
Loved by terminal users, Vim refugees, and keyboard-first Mac power users. ★★★★★
Frequently asked questions
How do I get Ctrl+W to delete a word on my Mac?
macOS doesn't map Ctrl+W to delete-word outside the terminal. WordEraser adds it system-wide: install the app, grant Accessibility permission, and Ctrl+W deletes the previous word in any text field — Mail, Notes, Slack, your browser, anywhere.
Is there a delete-word shortcut on macOS?
By default macOS uses Option+Delete to delete a word backward, but nothing for Ctrl+W, Ctrl+U, or Ctrl+K the way Unix shells do. WordEraser adds the full set of terminal-style deletion shortcuts everywhere.
Can I use terminal keybindings everywhere on my Mac?
Yes. WordEraser remaps Ctrl+W (delete word back), Ctrl+U (delete to line start), Ctrl+K (delete to line end), and Alt+D (delete word forward) into real delete commands in every app, so your terminal muscle memory works system-wide.
Does WordEraser add Emacs keybindings to macOS?
macOS already supports some Emacs-style readline bindings (Ctrl+A, Ctrl+E, Ctrl+K) in Cocoa text views, but coverage is inconsistent and Ctrl+W/Ctrl+U are missing. WordEraser fills the gaps so the deletion bindings behave consistently across apps.
Does WordEraser record or send my keystrokes?
No. WordEraser processes keystrokes only in memory to remap the specific shortcut keys into delete commands. It never logs, stores, or transmits what you type. The only network calls it makes are optional license validation and Sparkle update checks (which send just the app/OS version).
How much does WordEraser cost?
$0.99 one-time. No subscription, no in-app purchases. You get a free 7-day full-feature trial first, then a single license key unlocks the app forever.
Why does WordEraser need Accessibility permission?
Remapping keys system-wide requires a macOS Accessibility event tap — the same mechanism used by text-expansion and window-management tools. Grant it under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility. No keystrokes are recorded.
Does WordEraser work in every app?
It works in standard macOS text fields across the vast majority of apps. A few apps with custom text engines may handle keys differently; if a shortcut doesn't fire somewhere, email support@markstudios.com and we'll take a look.
Get your terminal keys back
Install WordEraser, grant Accessibility, and start deleting words the way you already know how — in every app.
Questions? Visit support.