diff --git a/lib/models/selection.js b/lib/models/selection.js
index 15615c8ae..810f23362 100644
--- a/lib/models/selection.js
+++ b/lib/models/selection.js
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ class Selection extends SelectionRecord {
   /**
    * Move the selection forward `n` characters.
    *
-   * @param {Number} n
+   * @param {Number} n (optional)
    * @return {Selection} selection
    */
 
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ class Selection extends SelectionRecord {
   /**
    * Move the selection backward `n` characters.
    *
-   * @param {Number} n
+   * @param {Number} n (optional)
    * @return {Selection} selection
    */
 
@@ -286,6 +286,118 @@ class Selection extends SelectionRecord {
     })
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Extend the focus point forward `n` characters.
+   *
+   * @param {Number} n (optional)
+   * @return {Selection} selection
+   */
+
+  extendForward(n = 1) {
+    if (!this.isCollapsed) {
+      throw new Error('The selection must be collapsed before extending.')
+    }
+
+    return this.merge({
+      focusOffset: this.focusOffset + n,
+      isBackward: false
+    })
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Extend the focus point backward `n` characters.
+   *
+   * @param {Number} n (optional)
+   * @return {Selection} selection
+   */
+
+  extendBackward(n = 1) {
+    if (!this.isCollapsed) {
+      throw new Error('The selection must be collapsed before extending.')
+    }
+
+    return this.merge({
+      focusOffset: this.focusOffset - n,
+      isBackward: true
+    })
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Extend the focus forward to the start of a `node`.
+   *
+   * @param {Node} node
+   * @return {Selection} selection
+   */
+
+  extendForwardToStartOf(node) {
+    if (!this.isCollapsed) {
+      throw new Error('The selection must be collapsed before extending.')
+    }
+
+    return this.merge({
+      focusKey: node.key,
+      focusOffset: 0,
+      isBackward: false
+    })
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Extend the focus backward to the start of a `node`.
+   *
+   * @param {Node} node
+   * @return {Selection} selection
+   */
+
+  extendBackwardToStartOf(node) {
+    if (!this.isCollapsed) {
+      throw new Error('The selection must be collapsed before extending.')
+    }
+
+    return this.merge({
+      focusKey: node.key,
+      focusOffset: 0,
+      isBackward: true
+    })
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Extend the focus forward to the end of a `node`.
+   *
+   * @param {Node} node
+   * @return {Selection} selection
+   */
+
+  extendForwardToEndOf(node) {
+    if (!this.isCollapsed) {
+      throw new Error('The selection must be collapsed before extending.')
+    }
+
+    return this.merge({
+      focusKey: node.key,
+      focusOffset: node.length,
+      isBackward: false
+    })
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Extend the focus backward to the end of a `node`.
+   *
+   * @param {Node} node
+   * @return {Selection} selection
+   */
+
+  extendBackwardToEndOf(node) {
+    if (!this.isCollapsed) {
+      throw new Error('The selection must be collapsed before extending.')
+    }
+
+    return this.merge({
+      focusKey: node.key,
+      focusOffset: node.length,
+      isBackward: true
+    })
+  }
+
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/lib/models/state.js b/lib/models/state.js
index 308ccdc73..2a47c289a 100644
--- a/lib/models/state.js
+++ b/lib/models/state.js
@@ -46,7 +46,9 @@ const SELECTION_LIKE_METHODS = [
   'moveToEndOf',
   'moveToRangeOf',
   'moveForward',
-  'moveBackward'
+  'moveBackward',
+  'extendForward',
+  'extendBackward'
 ]
 
 /**
@@ -196,51 +198,6 @@ class State extends StateRecord {
     return this.selection.isAtEndOf(node)
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Backspace.
-   *
-   * @return {State} state
-   */
-
-  backspace() {
-    let state = this
-
-    // When not collapsed, remove the entire selection.
-    if (!state.isCollapsed) {
-      state = state.removeRange()
-      state = state.moveToStart()
-      return state
-    }
-
-    // When already at the start of the content, there's nothing to do.
-    if (state.isAtStartOf(state)) return state
-
-    // When at start of a node, merge backwards into the previous node.
-    const { startNode } = state
-    if (state.isAtStartOf(startNode)) {
-      const { selection, startOffset } = state
-      const parent = state.getParentNode(startNode)
-      const previous = state.getPreviousNode(parent).nodes.first()
-      const range = selection.merge({
-        anchorKey: previous.key,
-        anchorOffset: previous.length,
-        focusKey: startNode.key,
-        focusOffset: 0,
-        isBackward: false
-      })
-
-      state = state.removeRange(range)
-      return state
-    }
-
-    // Otherwise, remove one character behind of the cursor.
-    const { endOffset } = state
-    const startOffset = endOffset - 1
-    state = state.removeCharacters(startNode.key, startOffset, endOffset)
-    state = state.moveBackward()
-    return state
-  }
-
   /**
    * Delete a single character.
    *
@@ -250,73 +207,260 @@ class State extends StateRecord {
   delete() {
     let state = this
 
-    // When not collapsed, remove the entire selection range.
-    if (!state.isCollapsed) {
-      state = state.removeRange()
-      state = state.moveToStart()
-      return state
-    }
+    // When collapsed, there's nothing to do.
+    if (state.isCollapsed) return state
 
-    // When already at the end of the content, there's nothing to do.
-    if (state.isAtEndOf(state)) return state
+    // Otherwise, delete and update the selection.
+    state = state.deleteAtRange(state.selection)
+    state = state.moveToStart()
+    return state
+  }
 
-    // When at end of a node, merge forwards into the next node.
-    const { startNode } = state
-    if (state.isAtEndOf(startNode)) {
-      const { selection, startOffset } = state
-      const parent = state.getParentNode(startNode)
-      const next = state.getNextNode(parent).nodes.first()
-      const range = selection.merge({
-        anchorKey: startNode.key,
-        anchorOffset: startNode.length,
-        focusKey: next.key,
-        focusOffset: 0,
-        isBackward: false
+  /**
+   * Delete everything in a `range`.
+   *
+   * @param {Selection} range
+   * @return {State} state
+   */
+
+  deleteAtRange(range) {
+    let state = this
+
+    // If the range is collapsed, there's nothing to do.
+    if (range.isCollapsed) return state
+
+    const { startKey, startOffset, endKey, endOffset } = range
+    let startNode = state.getNode(startKey)
+
+    // If the start and end nodes are the same, remove the matching characters.
+    if (startKey == endKey) {
+      let { characters } = startNode
+
+      characters = characters.filterNot((char, i) => {
+        return startOffset <= i && i < endOffset
       })
 
-      state = state.removeRange(range)
+      startNode = startNode.merge({ characters })
+      state = state.updateNode(startNode)
       return state
     }
 
-    // Otherwise, remove one character ahead of the cursor.
-    const { startOffset } = state
-    const endOffset = startOffset + 1
-    state = state.removeCharacters(startNode.key, startOffset, endOffset)
+    // Otherwise, remove the text from the first and last nodes...
+    const startRange = Selection.create({
+      anchorKey: startKey,
+      anchorOffset: startOffset,
+      focusKey: startKey,
+      focusOffset: startNode.length
+    })
 
+    const endRange = Selection.create({
+      anchorKey: endKey,
+      anchorOffset: 0,
+      focusKey: endKey,
+      focusOffset: endOffset
+    })
+
+    state = state.deleteAtRange(startRange)
+    state = state.deleteAtRange(endRange)
+
+    // Then remove any nodes in between the top-most start and end nodes...
+    let startParent = state.getParentNode(startKey)
+    let endParent = state.getParentNode(endKey)
+
+    const startGrandestParent = state.nodes.find((node) => {
+      return node == startParent || node.hasNode(startParent)
+    })
+
+    const endGrandestParent = state.nodes.find((node) => {
+      return node == endParent || node.hasNode(endParent)
+    })
+
+    const nodes = state.nodes
+      .takeUntil(node => node == startGrandestParent)
+      .set(startGrandestParent.key, startGrandestParent)
+      .concat(state.nodes.skipUntil(node => node == endGrandestParent))
+
+    state = state.merge({ nodes })
+
+    // Then bring the end text node into the start node.
+    let endText = state.getNode(endKey)
+    startParent = startParent.pushNode(endText)
+    endParent = endParent.removeNode(endText)
+    state = state.updateNode(startParent)
+    state = state.updateNode(endParent)
+    return state
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Delete backward `n` characters at the current selection.
+   *
+   * @param {Number} n (optional)
+   * @return {State} state
+   */
+
+  deleteBackward(n = 1) {
+    let state = this
+    let selection = state.selection
+
+    // Determine what the selection should be after deleting.
+    const startNode = state.startNode
+
+    if (state.isCollapsed && state.isAtStartOf(startNode)) {
+      const parent = state.getParentNode(startNode)
+      const previous = state.getPreviousNode(parent).nodes.first()
+      selection = selection.moveToEndOf(previous)
+    }
+
+    else if (state.isCollapsed && !state.isAtEndOf(state)) {
+      selection = selection.moveBackward(n)
+    }
+
+    // Delete backward and then update the selection.
+    state = state.deleteBackwardAtRange(state.selection)
+    state = state.merge({ selection })
+    return state
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Delete backward `n` characters at a `range`.
+   *
+   * @param {Selection} range
+   * @param {Number} n (optional)
+   * @return {State} state
+   */
+
+  deleteBackwardAtRange(range, n = 1) {
+    let state = this
+
+    // When collapsed at the end of the document, there's nothing to do.
+    if (range.isCollapsed && range.isAtEndOf(state)) return state
+
+    // When the range is still expanded, just do a regular delete.
+    if (range.isExpanded) return state.deleteAtRange(range)
+
+    // When at start of a text node, merge forwards into the next text node.
+    const { startKey } = range
+    const startNode = state.getNode(startKey)
+
+    if (range.isAtStartOf(startNode)) {
+      const parent = state.getParentNode(startNode)
+      const previous = state.getPreviousNode(parent).nodes.first()
+      range = range.extendBackwardToEndOf(previous)
+      state = state.deleteAtRange(range)
+      return state
+    }
+
+    // Otherwise, remove `n` characters behind of the cursor.
+    range = range.extendBackward(n)
+    state = state.deleteAtRange(range)
+    return state
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Delete forward `n` characters at the current selection.
+   *
+   * @param {Number} n (optional)
+   * @return {State} state
+   */
+
+  deleteForward(n = 1) {
+    let state = this
+    state = state.deleteForwardAtRange(state.selection)
+    return state
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Delete forward `n` characters at a `range`.
+   *
+   * @param {Selection} range
+   * @param {Number} n (optional)
+   * @return {State} state
+   */
+
+  deleteForwardAtRange(range, n = 1) {
+    let state = this
+
+    // When collapsed at the end of the document, there's nothing to do.
+    if (range.isCollapsed && range.isAtEndOf(state)) return state
+
+    // When the range is still expanded, just do a regular delete.
+    if (range.isExpanded) return state.deleteAtRange(range)
+
+    // When at end of a text node, merge forwards into the next text node.
+    const { startKey } = range
+    const startNode = state.getNode(startKey)
+
+    if (range.isAtEndOf(startNode)) {
+      const parent = state.getParentNode(startNode)
+      const next = state.getNextNode(parent).nodes.first()
+      range = range.extendForwardToStartOf(next)
+      state = state.deleteAtRange(range)
+      return state
+    }
+
+    // Otherwise, remove `n` characters ahead of the cursor.
+    range = range.extendForward(n)
+    state = state.deleteAtRange(range)
     return state
   }
 
   /**
    * Insert a `text` string at the current cursor position.
    *
-   * @param {String} text
+   * @param {String or Node or OrderedMap} data
    * @return {State} state
    */
 
-  insert(text) {
+  insert(data) {
+    let state = this
+    state = state.insertAtRange(state.selection, data)
+
+    // When the data is a string of characters...
+    if (typeof data == 'string') {
+      state = state.moveForward(data.length)
+    }
+
+    return state
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Insert `data` at a `range`.
+   *
+   * @param {Selection} range
+   * @param {String or Node or OrderedMap} data
+   * @return {State} state
+   */
+
+  insertAtRange(range, data) {
     let state = this
 
     // When still expanded, remove the current range first.
-    if (state.isExpanded) {
-      state = state.delete()
+    if (range.isExpanded) {
+      state = state.deleteAtRange(range)
+      range = range.moveToStart()
     }
 
-    // Insert text at the current cursor.
-    const ranges = [{ text }]
-    let { startNode, startOffset } = state
-    let { characters } = startNode
-    let newCharacters = convertRangesToCharacters(ranges)
-    const { size } = newCharacters
+    // When the data is a string of characters...
+    if (typeof data == 'string') {
 
-    // Splice in the new characters.
-    characters = characters.slice(0, startOffset)
-      .concat(newCharacters)
-      .concat(characters.slice(startOffset + size - 1, Infinity))
+      // Insert text at the current cursor.
+      const ranges = [{ text: data }]
+      let { startNode, startOffset } = state
+      let { characters } = startNode
+      let newCharacters = convertRangesToCharacters(ranges)
+      const { size } = newCharacters
+
+      // Splice in the new characters.
+      characters = characters.slice(0, startOffset)
+        .concat(newCharacters)
+        .concat(characters.slice(startOffset + size - 1, Infinity))
+
+      // Update the existing text node.
+      startNode = startNode.merge({ characters })
+      state = state.updateNode(startNode)
+      return state
+    }
 
-    // Update the existing text node and the selection.
-    startNode = startNode.merge({ characters })
-    state = state.updateNode(startNode)
-    state = state.moveForward(size)
     return state
   }
 
@@ -360,40 +504,45 @@ class State extends StateRecord {
 
   split() {
     let state = this
-    state = state.splitRange()
+    state = state.splitAtRange(state.selection)
 
-    const parent = state.getParentNode(state.startKey)
+    const parent = state.getParentNode(state.startNode)
     const next = state.getNextNode(parent)
     const text = next.nodes.first()
     state = state.moveToStartOf(text)
 
+    // const next = state.getNextTextNode(state.startNode)
+    // state = state.moveToStartOf(next)
+
     return state
   }
 
   /**
-   * Split the nodes at a `selection`.
+   * Split the nodes at a `range`.
    *
-   * @param {Selection} selection (optional)
+   * @param {Selection} range
    * @return {State} state
    */
 
-  splitRange(selection = this.selection) {
+  splitAtRange(range) {
     let state = this
 
-    // If there's an existing selection, remove it first.
-    if (!selection.isCollapsed) {
-      state = state.removeRange(selection)
-      selection = selection.moveToStart()
+    // If the range is expanded, remove it first.
+    if (range.isExpanded) {
+      state = state.deleteAtRange(range)
+      range = range.moveToStart()
     }
 
+    const { startKey, startOffset } = range
+    const startNode = state.getNode(startKey)
+
     // Split the text node's characters.
-    const { startNode, startOffset } = state
-    const parent = state.getParentNode(startNode)
-    const { characters , length } = startNode
+    const { characters, length } = startNode
     const firstCharacters = characters.take(startOffset)
     const secondCharacters = characters.takeLast(length - startOffset)
 
     // Create a new first node with only the first set of characters.
+    const parent = state.getParentNode(startNode)
     const firstText = startNode.set('characters', firstCharacters)
     const firstNode = parent.updateNode(firstText)
 
@@ -416,6 +565,7 @@ class State extends StateRecord {
       .set(secondNode.key, secondNode)
       .concat(afters)
 
+    // If the state is the grandparent, just merge, otherwise deep merge.
     if (grandparent == state) {
       state = state.merge({ nodes })
     } else {
@@ -426,52 +576,6 @@ class State extends StateRecord {
     return state
   }
 
-  /**
-   * Merge the nodes between `selection`.
-   *
-   * @param {Selection} selection (optional)
-   * @return {State} state
-   */
-
-  removeRange(selection = this.selection) {
-    let state = this
-
-    // If the selection is collapsed, there's nothing to do.
-    if (selection.isCollapsed) return state
-
-    // If the start and end nodes are the same, just remove the matching text.
-    const { startKey, startOffset, endKey, endOffset } = selection
-    if (startKey == endKey) {
-      return state.removeCharacters(startKey, startOffset, endOffset)
-    }
-
-    // Otherwise, remove the text from the first and last nodes...
-    let startText = state.getNode(startKey)
-    state = state.removeCharacters(startKey, startOffset, startText.length)
-    state = state.removeCharacters(endKey, 0, endOffset)
-
-    // Then remove any nodes in between the top-most start and end nodes...
-    let startNode = state.getParentNode(startKey)
-    let endNode = state.getParentNode(endKey)
-    const startParent = state.nodes.find(node => node == startNode || node.hasNode(startNode))
-    const endParent = state.nodes.find(node => node == endNode || node.hasNode(endNode))
-
-    const nodes = state.nodes
-      .takeUntil(node => node == startParent)
-      .set(startParent.key, startParent)
-      .concat(state.nodes.skipUntil(node => node == endParent))
-
-    state = state.merge({ nodes })
-
-    // Then bring the end text node into the start node.
-    let endText = state.getNode(endKey)
-    startNode = startNode.pushNode(endText)
-    endNode = endNode.removeNode(endText)
-    state = state.updateNode(startNode)
-    state = state.updateNode(endNode)
-    return state
-  }
-
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/lib/plugins/core.js b/lib/plugins/core.js
index 4c5c8e7d1..c503e6507 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/core.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/core.js
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ const CORE_PLUGIN = {
         e.preventDefault()
         return isWord(e)
           ? state.backspaceWord()
-          : state.backspace()
+          : state.deleteBackward()
       }
 
       case 'delete': {
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ const CORE_PLUGIN = {
         e.preventDefault()
         return isWord(e)
           ? state.deleteWord()
-          : state.delete()
+          : state.deleteForward()
       }
 
       case 'y': {