This is already done. Install auctex and you can use shortcuts like c-c c-f
c-i if you want font to be  in italics

D.

sent from mobile phone
Dne 27.7.2011 21:19 "Pedro Costa" <psdc1978@gmail.com> napsal(a):
> Hi,
>
> I would like to italicize a word in latex in emacs automatically.
> Instead of write \textit{word}, I would like to select the "word" and
> then write M-x <my command> and it's added textit around the word. Do
> I have to create a lisp function in .emacs? How do I do that?
>
> Thanks,
>