vim mapping only works with noremap -
i naively wrote this: " fast saving , closing current buffer without closing windows displaying " buffer nmap <leader>wq :w!<cr>:bclose<cr> but not work though there nothing overwriting this: n ,wq :w!<cr>:bclose<cr> " result of `map ,wq` it work though following: nnoremap <leader>wq :w!<cr>:bclose<cr> i feel missing pretty basic here. link full conf: https://github.com/adriengiboire/dotfiles/blob/master/.vimrc it's still messy reworking :) i tested , far can tell breaking because of mapping: nnoremap : ; i believe @ runtime turns map into ;w!<cr>;bclose<cr> the noremap form prevents ,wq mapping mapping characters within it, not translate : ; otherwise. kind of thing noremap exists avoid problems with. the rule follow in general use noremap forms unless know specific reason should not , because there many cases 1 cause problems , hard debug. wiki ...