$ I want to be able to tab from the start of one word to the next in this line, but how?
usually if I paste something in the input line then want to change something in the start or middle, I have to press the left arrow for a long time, is there a faster way to do this?
Use option ⌥+→ and option ⌥+←. You will be able to step by one word.
Update:
You can also go to start of the line using control+A or to end of the line using control+E
If you check Preferences > Settings > Keyboard > Use option as meta key, you can also use ⌥B and ⌥F (and ⌥⌫ will delete a word backward).
Terminal's default settings also affect programs like vim and nano where M-f doesn't go a word forward. I have deleted them and added this to ~/.inputrc:
"\e\e[C": forward-word
"\e\e[D": backward-word
This would also make ⌥⌦ delete a word forward:
"\e(": kill-word
Press ESC then b or ESC then f to go back and forward respectively.
