Abstract: Tapping gestures for selecting text on a device having a touch-sensitive screen are disclosed. A single tap gesture causes a portion of a character string to be selected. A double tap gesture causes the entire character string to be selected. A tap and hold gesture causes the device to enter a cursor mode wherein the placement of a cursor relative to the characters in the character string can be adjusted. In text selection mode, a finger can be used to move the cursor from a cursor start position to a cursor end position to select text therebetween.