1. A method for selecting text comprising the steps of, in an application display: in response to a selection command, selecting a range of text within a document; applying a text selection indicator to the selected text; displaying handle elements at start and end points of the selected text; and responsive to operator interaction with the handle elements, altering an amount of text subject to the selection; wherein an amount of the selected text remains selected after a user interacts with an unselected portion of text.