diff --git a/helix-core/src/selection.rs b/helix-core/src/selection.rs
index 9413fead8..555148642 100644
--- a/helix-core/src/selection.rs
+++ b/helix-core/src/selection.rs
@@ -258,6 +258,35 @@ impl Selection {
 
 // TODO: checkSelection -> check if valid for doc length
 
+pub fn select_on_matches(
+    text: &RopeSlice,
+    selections: &Selection,
+    regex: &crate::regex::Regex,
+) -> Selection {
+    let mut result = SmallVec::with_capacity(selections.ranges().len());
+
+    for sel in selections.ranges() {
+        // TODO: can't avoid occasional allocations since Regex can't operate on chunks yet
+        let fragment = sel.fragment(&text);
+
+        let mut sel_start = sel.from();
+        let sel_end = sel.to();
+
+        let mut start_byte = text.char_to_byte(sel_start);
+
+        for mat in regex.find_iter(&fragment) {
+            // TODO: retain range direction
+
+            let start = text.byte_to_char(start_byte + mat.start());
+            let end = text.byte_to_char(start_byte + mat.end());
+            result.push(Range::new(start, end - 1));
+        }
+    }
+
+    // TODO: figure out a new primary index
+    Selection::new(result, 0)
+}
+
 // TODO: support to split on capture #N instead of whole match
 pub fn split_on_matches(
     text: &RopeSlice,
diff --git a/helix-term/src/commands.rs b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
index 4a461239d..ff8704d8e 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/commands.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/commands.rs
@@ -282,6 +282,19 @@ pub fn extend_line_down(cx: &mut Context) {
     doc.set_selection(selection);
 }
 
+pub fn select_regex(cx: &mut Context) {
+    let prompt = ui::regex_prompt(cx, "select:".to_string(), |doc, regex| {
+        let text = &doc.text().slice(..);
+        let selection = selection::select_on_matches(text, doc.selection(), &regex);
+        doc.set_selection(selection);
+    });
+    cx.callback = Some(Box::new(
+        move |compositor: &mut Compositor, editor: &mut Editor| {
+            compositor.push(Box::new(prompt));
+        },
+    ));
+}
+
 pub fn split_selection(cx: &mut Context) {
     // TODO: this needs to store initial selection state, revert on esc, confirm on enter
     // needs to also call the callback function per input change, not just final time.
@@ -298,38 +311,11 @@ pub fn split_selection(cx: &mut Context) {
 
     let snapshot = cx.doc().state.clone();
 
-    let prompt = Prompt::new(
-        "split:".to_string(),
-        |input: &str| Vec::new(), // this is fine because Vec::new() doesn't allocate
-        move |editor: &mut Editor, input: &str, event: PromptEvent| {
-            match event {
-                PromptEvent::Abort => {
-                    // revert state
-                    let doc = &mut editor.view_mut().doc;
-                    doc.state = snapshot.clone();
-                }
-                PromptEvent::Validate => {
-                    //
-                }
-                PromptEvent::Update => {
-                    match Regex::new(input) {
-                        Ok(regex) => {
-                            let doc = &mut editor.view_mut().doc;
-
-                            // revert state to what it was before the last update
-                            doc.state = snapshot.clone();
-
-                            let text = &doc.text().slice(..);
-                            let selection =
-                                selection::split_on_matches(text, doc.selection(), &regex);
-                            doc.set_selection(selection);
-                        }
-                        Err(_err) => (), // TODO: mark command line as error
-                    }
-                }
-            }
-        },
-    );
+    let prompt = ui::regex_prompt(cx, "split:".to_string(), |doc, regex| {
+        let text = &doc.text().slice(..);
+        let selection = selection::split_on_matches(text, doc.selection(), &regex);
+        doc.set_selection(selection);
+    });
 
     cx.callback = Some(Box::new(
         move |compositor: &mut Compositor, editor: &mut Editor| {
diff --git a/helix-term/src/keymap.rs b/helix-term/src/keymap.rs
index 440a3efb5..a27abf09c 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/keymap.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/keymap.rs
@@ -121,14 +121,14 @@ macro_rules! ctrl {
     };
 }
 
-// macro_rules! alt {
-//     ($ch:expr) => {
-//         Key {
-//             code: KeyCode::Char($ch),
-//             modifiers: Modifiers::ALT,
-//         }
-//     };
-// }
+macro_rules! alt {
+    ($ch:expr) => {
+        Key {
+            code: KeyCode::Char($ch),
+            modifiers: Modifiers::ALT,
+        }
+    };
+}
 
 pub fn default() -> Keymaps {
     hashmap!(
@@ -159,7 +159,8 @@ pub fn default() -> Keymaps {
                 vec![key!('o')] => commands::open_below,
                 vec![key!('d')] => commands::delete_selection,
                 vec![key!('c')] => commands::change_selection,
-                vec![key!('s')] => commands::split_selection_on_newline,
+                vec![key!('s')] => commands::select_regex,
+                vec![alt!('s')] => commands::split_selection_on_newline,
                 vec![shift!('S')] => commands::split_selection,
                 vec![key!(';')] => commands::collapse_selection,
                 // TODO should be alt(;)
diff --git a/helix-term/src/ui/mod.rs b/helix-term/src/ui/mod.rs
index 5ef967b08..bd40b249d 100644
--- a/helix-term/src/ui/mod.rs
+++ b/helix-term/src/ui/mod.rs
@@ -9,12 +9,53 @@ pub use prompt::{Prompt, PromptEvent};
 pub use tui::layout::Rect;
 pub use tui::style::{Color, Modifier, Style};
 
+use helix_core::regex::Regex;
+use helix_view::{Document, Editor};
+
 // TODO: temp
 #[inline(always)]
 pub fn text_color() -> Style {
     Style::default().fg(Color::Rgb(219, 191, 239)) // lilac
 }
 
+pub fn regex_prompt(
+    cx: &mut crate::commands::Context,
+    prompt: String,
+    fun: impl Fn(&mut Document, Regex) + 'static,
+) -> Prompt {
+    let snapshot = cx.doc().state.clone();
+
+    Prompt::new(
+        prompt,
+        |input: &str| Vec::new(), // this is fine because Vec::new() doesn't allocate
+        move |editor: &mut Editor, input: &str, event: PromptEvent| {
+            match event {
+                PromptEvent::Abort => {
+                    // revert state
+                    let doc = &mut editor.view_mut().doc;
+                    doc.state = snapshot.clone();
+                }
+                PromptEvent::Validate => {
+                    //
+                }
+                PromptEvent::Update => {
+                    match Regex::new(input) {
+                        Ok(regex) => {
+                            let doc = &mut editor.view_mut().doc;
+
+                            // revert state to what it was before the last update
+                            doc.state = snapshot.clone();
+
+                            fun(doc, regex);
+                        }
+                        Err(_err) => (), // TODO: mark command line as error
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        },
+    )
+}
+
 use std::path::{Path, PathBuf};
 pub fn file_picker(root: &str, ex: &'static smol::Executor) -> Picker<PathBuf> {
     use ignore::Walk;