1. A computer-implemented method for selecting text comprising the steps of: in response to receiving a selection command from an input device, selecting a range of text within a document and entering a text selection mode; applying a text selection indicator to the selected text; displaying handle elements at start and end points of the selected text; responsive to operator interaction with the handle elements, altering an amount of text subject to the selection; editing the selected text and maintaining the applied text selection indicator during the editing of the selected text; storing a representation of the selection in a selection history stored on a computer-readable storage medium including a specific number of previous selections; displaying on a display device a list containing the previous selections in the selection history and a graphical representation indicating the status of each previous selection in the selection history, wherein the graphical representation indicating the status of each previous selection in the selection history is updated to reflect changes of the text within the document; merging multiple previous selections into a single selection if the multiple previous selections contain overlapping text; and terminating the text selection mode in response to a predetermined command from the input device; wherein an amount of the selected text remains selected after a user interacts with an unselected portion of text.