GNU Emacs Manual - Init Syntax

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### Init File Syntax

The ``.emacs'` file contains one or more Lisp function call expressions. Each of these consists of a function name followed by arguments, all surrounded by parentheses. For example, `(setq fill-column 60)` calls the function `setq` to set the variable `fill-column` (see section Filling Text) to 60.

The second argument to `setq` is an expression for the new value of the variable. This can be a constant, a variable, or a function call expression. In ``.emacs'`, constants are used most of the time. They can be:

Numbers:
  Numbers are written in decimal, with an optional initial minus sign.
Strings:
  Lisp string syntax is the same as C string syntax with a few extra features. Use a double-quote character to begin and end a string constant. In a string, you can include newlines and special characters literally. But often it is cleaner to use backslash sequences for them: ``\n'` for newline, ``\b'` for backspace, ``\r'` for carriage return, ``\t'` for tab, ``\f'` for formfeed (control-L), ``\e'` for escape, ``\\'` for a backslash, ``\"'` for a double-quote, or ``\ooo'` for the character whose octal code is ooo. Backslash and double-quote are the only characters for which backslash sequences are mandatory. ``\C-'` can be used as a prefix for a control character, as in ``\C-s'` for ASCII control-S, and ``\M-'` can be used as a prefix for a Meta character, as in ``\M-a'` for `Meta-A` or ``\M-\C-a'` for `Control-Meta-A`.
Characters:
  Lisp character constant syntax consists of a ``?'` followed by either a character or an escape sequence starting with ``\'`. Examples: `?x`, `?\n`, `?\"`, `?\)`. Note that strings and characters are not interchangeable in Lisp; some contexts require one and some contexts require the other.
True:
  `t` stands for `true'.
False:
  `nil` stands for `false'.
Other Lisp objects:
  Write a single-quote (') followed by the Lisp object you want.

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