>
> From: drain <aeuster@gmail.com>
> To: Help-gnu-emacs@gnu.org
> Cc:
> Date: Wed, 1 Aug 2012 08:45:39 -0700 (PDT)
> Subject: two function requests
>
> (1) A command that deletes every instance of a certain char, e.g., "_" is
> entered and every "_" is deleted from the text. Would be very useful when
> formatting pdfs into orgs.
>

query-replace (M-%) and replace-regexp will do this for you, if you do not
enter anything in the replace string:

M-% _ <RET> <RET>


>
> (2) (forward-clause), (backward-clause) commands, which would be much more
> useful than (forward-sentence), (backward-sentence), particularly when
> formatting / reading pre-20th century literature, with its page-length
> Herman Melville sentences.
>
> I suppose a function that sets point to next comma is what I am looking
> for,
> even if I'd be stuck incrementally moving inside of lists from time to
> time.
>

Adapt forward-sentence and backward-sentence to your needs. C-h f <RET>
function-name will give you a link to the function code. Should be a fun
little project if you're new to emacs lisp (like I am!)

Dan