Here are examples of key bindings culled from the Emacs FAQ and emacswiki. Each one seems to use a slightly different notation to identify the keystroke. (global-set-key (quote [f1]) (quote help-for-help)) (global-unset-key [?\e?{] ) (global-set-key [f10] [?\C-x?\e?\e?\C-a?\C-k?\C-g]) (global-unset-key "\e[" ) (global-set-key "\C-h" 'delete-backward-char) (keyboard-translate ?\C-h ?\C-?) (global-set-key (kbd "C-V") 'somefunction) (global-set-key (kbd "") 'comment-dwim) It's maddening. I've so far been unsuccessful in getting this binding to work: (global-set-key (kbd "C-;") 'comment-indent) It seems to bind the command to the *unmodified* ';'. Isn't there a single, simple, consistent way to create key bindings that will always work? Thanks, Chap