You should check out abbrev mode. It allows you to setup abbreviations (hence `abbrev') that will be expanded for you on the fly as you type. Check the emacs (or xemacs) info file (C-h i m emacs RET) for the section titled `Abbrevs'.

ORA has several emacs related books you might want to check out, such as these:

In reply to Re: Learning Emacs by Fletch
in thread Learning Emacs by artist

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