Org Mode: Cutting the current list item (including nested lists) with a speed command

Mar 29, 2025| emacs, org

Defining shortcuts in org-speed-commands is handy because you can use these single-key shortcuts at the beginning of a subtree. With a little modification, they'll also work at the beginning of list items.

(defun my-org-use-speed-commands-for-headings-and-lists ()
  "Activate speed commands on list items too."
  (or (and (looking-at org-outline-regexp) (looking-back "^\**" nil))
      (save-excursion (and (looking-at (org-item-re)) (looking-back "^[ \t]*" nil)))))
(setq org-use-speed-commands 'my-org-use-speed-commands-for-headings-and-lists)

I want k to be an org-speed-commands that cuts the current subtree or list item. This is handy when I'm cleaning up the Mastodon toots in my weekly review or getting rid of outline items that I no longer need. By default, k is mapped to org-cut-subtree, but it's easy to override.

(defun my-org-cut-subtree-or-list-item (&optional n)
  "Cut current subtree or list item."
  (cond
   ((and (looking-at org-outline-regexp) (looking-back "^\**" nil))
    (org-cut-subtree n))
   ((looking-at (org-item-re))
    (kill-region (org-beginning-of-item) (org-end-of-item)))))
(with-eval-after-load 'org
  (setf (alist-get "k" org-speed-commands nil nil #'string=)
        #'my-org-cut-subtree-or-list-item))

So now, if I put my cursor before "1." below and press k:

- this
  1. is a
    - nested
  2. list
- with levels

it will turn into:

this
1. list
with levels

You can find out a little more about Org Mode speed commands in the Org manual: (info "(org) Speed Keys").

This is part of my Emacs configuration.

View org source for this post

You can e-mail me at sacha@sachachua.com.