I found it confusing that slime-symbol-at-point doesn't really return the symbol at point. An example: (defun install-package (source system packagename)... Placing the point on the first "i" in the function name and pressing C-c C-d returns the decription for defun, not install-package. The following fixes it, but I keep scratching my head to understand why the (skip-syntax-backward "-") was originally there -- I can't find a purpose for it. --J. diff -c /home/jwr/Mail/.software/slime/slime.el /home/jwr/Mail/.software/slime/slime.el.original --- /home/jwr/Mail/.software/slime/slime.el 2004-02-25 03:48:33.000000000 -0800 +++ /home/jwr/Mail/.software/slime/slime.el.original 2004-02-25 03:48:33.000000000 -0800 @@ -769,7 +769,6 @@ (defun slime-symbol-at-point () "Return the symbol at point, otherwise nil." (save-excursion - (skip-syntax-backward "-") (let ((string (thing-at-point 'symbol))) (if string (intern (substring-no-properties string)) nil))))