diff --git a/crates/editor/src/element.rs b/crates/editor/src/element.rs
index 87b8001b38e4e712c0296d986bc7b3b395c30296..489f6f0a408f8e885c22b10abc9371ddd7e1312e 100644
--- a/crates/editor/src/element.rs
+++ b/crates/editor/src/element.rs
@@ -69,9 +69,14 @@ impl EditorElement {
         }
 
         let snapshot = self.snapshot(cx.app);
-        let position = paint.point_for_position(&snapshot, layout, position);
+        let (position, overshoot) = paint.point_for_position(&snapshot, layout, position);
 
-        if shift {
+        if shift && alt {
+            cx.dispatch_action(Select(SelectPhase::BeginColumnar {
+                position,
+                overshoot,
+            }));
+        } else if shift {
             cx.dispatch_action(Select(SelectPhase::Extend {
                 position,
                 click_count,
@@ -136,10 +141,11 @@ impl EditorElement {
             let font_cache = cx.font_cache.clone();
             let text_layout_cache = cx.text_layout_cache.clone();
             let snapshot = self.snapshot(cx.app);
-            let position = paint.point_for_position(&snapshot, layout, position);
+            let (position, overshoot) = paint.point_for_position(&snapshot, layout, position);
 
             cx.dispatch_action(Select(SelectPhase::Update {
                 position,
+                overshoot,
                 scroll_position: (snapshot.scroll_position() + scroll_delta).clamp(
                     Vector2F::zero(),
                     layout.scroll_max(&font_cache, &text_layout_cache),
@@ -685,6 +691,7 @@ impl Element for EditorElement {
         let text_width = size.x() - gutter_width;
         let text_offset = vec2f(-style.text.descent(cx.font_cache), 0.);
         let em_width = style.text.em_width(cx.font_cache);
+        let em_advance = style.text.em_advance(cx.font_cache);
         let overscroll = vec2f(em_width, 0.);
         let wrap_width = text_width - text_offset.x() - overscroll.x() - em_width;
         let snapshot = self.update_view(cx.app, |view, cx| {
@@ -784,6 +791,7 @@ impl Element for EditorElement {
             block_layouts,
             line_height,
             em_width,
+            em_advance,
             selections,
             max_visible_line_width,
         };
@@ -912,6 +920,7 @@ pub struct LayoutState {
     block_layouts: Vec<(Range<u32>, BlockStyle)>,
     line_height: f32,
     em_width: f32,
+    em_advance: f32,
     selections: HashMap<ReplicaId, Vec<Range<DisplayPoint>>>,
     overscroll: Vector2F,
     text_offset: Vector2F,
@@ -980,7 +989,7 @@ impl PaintState {
         snapshot: &Snapshot,
         layout: &LayoutState,
         position: Vector2F,
-    ) -> DisplayPoint {
+    ) -> (DisplayPoint, u32) {
         let scroll_position = snapshot.scroll_position();
         let position = position - self.text_bounds.origin();
         let y = position.y().max(0.0).min(layout.size.y());
@@ -992,12 +1001,13 @@ impl PaintState {
         let column = if x >= 0.0 {
             line.index_for_x(x)
                 .map(|ix| ix as u32)
-                .unwrap_or(snapshot.line_len(row))
+                .unwrap_or_else(|| snapshot.line_len(row))
         } else {
             0
         };
+        let overshoot = (0f32.max(x - line.width()) / layout.em_advance) as u32;
 
-        DisplayPoint::new(row, column)
+        (DisplayPoint::new(row, column), overshoot)
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/editor/src/lib.rs b/crates/editor/src/lib.rs
index 0c84de1d964ddd6c32ccc6b58dcdc9b88198f5e5..056703f523aee0c3515de4aa83333f424bc73059 100644
--- a/crates/editor/src/lib.rs
+++ b/crates/editor/src/lib.rs
@@ -282,12 +282,17 @@ pub enum SelectPhase {
         add: bool,
         click_count: usize,
     },
+    BeginColumnar {
+        position: DisplayPoint,
+        overshoot: u32,
+    },
     Extend {
         position: DisplayPoint,
         click_count: usize,
     },
     Update {
         position: DisplayPoint,
+        overshoot: u32,
         scroll_position: Vector2F,
     },
     End,
@@ -320,6 +325,7 @@ pub struct Editor {
     display_map: ModelHandle<DisplayMap>,
     selection_set_id: SelectionSetId,
     pending_selection: Option<PendingSelection>,
+    columnar_selection_tail: Option<Anchor>,
     next_selection_id: usize,
     add_selections_state: Option<AddSelectionsState>,
     autoclose_stack: Vec<BracketPairState>,
@@ -453,6 +459,7 @@ impl Editor {
             display_map,
             selection_set_id,
             pending_selection: None,
+            columnar_selection_tail: None,
             next_selection_id,
             add_selections_state: None,
             autoclose_stack: Default::default(),
@@ -656,14 +663,19 @@ impl Editor {
                 add,
                 click_count,
             } => self.begin_selection(*position, *add, *click_count, cx),
+            SelectPhase::BeginColumnar {
+                position,
+                overshoot,
+            } => self.begin_columnar_selection(*position, *overshoot, cx),
             SelectPhase::Extend {
                 position,
                 click_count,
             } => self.extend_selection(*position, *click_count, cx),
             SelectPhase::Update {
                 position,
+                overshoot,
                 scroll_position,
-            } => self.update_selection(*position, *scroll_position, cx),
+            } => self.update_selection(*position, *overshoot, *scroll_position, cx),
             SelectPhase::End => self.end_selection(cx),
         }
     }
@@ -774,14 +786,45 @@ impl Editor {
         cx.notify();
     }
 
+    fn begin_columnar_selection(
+        &mut self,
+        position: DisplayPoint,
+        overshoot: u32,
+        cx: &mut ViewContext<Self>,
+    ) {
+        if !self.focused {
+            cx.focus_self();
+            cx.emit(Event::Activate);
+        }
+
+        let display_map = self.display_map.update(cx, |map, cx| map.snapshot(cx));
+        let buffer = self.buffer.read(cx);
+
+        let tail = self.newest_selection::<Point>(cx).tail();
+        self.columnar_selection_tail = Some(buffer.anchor_before(tail));
+
+        self.select_columns(
+            tail.to_display_point(&display_map),
+            position,
+            overshoot,
+            &display_map,
+            cx,
+        );
+    }
+
     fn update_selection(
         &mut self,
         position: DisplayPoint,
+        overshoot: u32,
         scroll_position: Vector2F,
         cx: &mut ViewContext<Self>,
     ) {
         let display_map = self.display_map.update(cx, |map, cx| map.snapshot(cx));
-        if let Some(PendingSelection { selection, mode }) = self.pending_selection.as_mut() {
+
+        if let Some(tail) = self.columnar_selection_tail.as_ref() {
+            let tail = tail.to_display_point(&display_map);
+            self.select_columns(tail, position, overshoot, &display_map, cx);
+        } else if let Some(PendingSelection { selection, mode }) = self.pending_selection.as_mut() {
             let buffer = self.buffer.read(cx);
             let head;
             let tail;
@@ -861,14 +904,55 @@ impl Editor {
     }
 
     fn end_selection(&mut self, cx: &mut ViewContext<Self>) {
+        self.columnar_selection_tail.take();
         if self.pending_selection.is_some() {
             let selections = self.selections::<usize>(cx).collect::<Vec<_>>();
             self.update_selections(selections, false, cx);
         }
     }
 
+    fn select_columns(
+        &mut self,
+        tail: DisplayPoint,
+        head: DisplayPoint,
+        overshoot: u32,
+        display_map: &DisplayMapSnapshot,
+        cx: &mut ViewContext<Self>,
+    ) {
+        let start_row = cmp::min(tail.row(), head.row());
+        let end_row = cmp::max(tail.row(), head.row());
+        let start_column = cmp::min(tail.column(), head.column() + overshoot);
+        let end_column = cmp::max(tail.column(), head.column() + overshoot);
+        let reversed = start_column < tail.column();
+
+        let selections = (start_row..=end_row)
+            .filter_map(|row| {
+                if start_column <= display_map.line_len(row) && !display_map.is_block_line(row) {
+                    let start = display_map
+                        .clip_point(DisplayPoint::new(row, start_column), Bias::Left)
+                        .to_point(&display_map);
+                    let end = display_map
+                        .clip_point(DisplayPoint::new(row, end_column), Bias::Right)
+                        .to_point(&display_map);
+                    Some(Selection {
+                        id: post_inc(&mut self.next_selection_id),
+                        start,
+                        end,
+                        reversed,
+                        goal: SelectionGoal::None,
+                    })
+                } else {
+                    None
+                }
+            })
+            .collect::<Vec<_>>();
+
+        self.update_selections(selections, false, cx);
+        cx.notify();
+    }
+
     pub fn is_selecting(&self) -> bool {
-        self.pending_selection.is_some()
+        self.pending_selection.is_some() || self.columnar_selection_tail.is_some()
     }
 
     pub fn cancel(&mut self, _: &Cancel, cx: &mut ViewContext<Self>) {
@@ -3483,7 +3567,7 @@ mod tests {
         );
 
         editor.update(cx, |view, cx| {
-            view.update_selection(DisplayPoint::new(3, 3), Vector2F::zero(), cx);
+            view.update_selection(DisplayPoint::new(3, 3), 0, Vector2F::zero(), cx);
         });
 
         assert_eq!(
@@ -3492,7 +3576,7 @@ mod tests {
         );
 
         editor.update(cx, |view, cx| {
-            view.update_selection(DisplayPoint::new(1, 1), Vector2F::zero(), cx);
+            view.update_selection(DisplayPoint::new(1, 1), 0, Vector2F::zero(), cx);
         });
 
         assert_eq!(
@@ -3502,7 +3586,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         editor.update(cx, |view, cx| {
             view.end_selection(cx);
-            view.update_selection(DisplayPoint::new(3, 3), Vector2F::zero(), cx);
+            view.update_selection(DisplayPoint::new(3, 3), 0, Vector2F::zero(), cx);
         });
 
         assert_eq!(
@@ -3512,7 +3596,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         editor.update(cx, |view, cx| {
             view.begin_selection(DisplayPoint::new(3, 3), true, 1, cx);
-            view.update_selection(DisplayPoint::new(0, 0), Vector2F::zero(), cx);
+            view.update_selection(DisplayPoint::new(0, 0), 0, Vector2F::zero(), cx);
         });
 
         assert_eq!(
@@ -3548,7 +3632,7 @@ mod tests {
         });
 
         view.update(cx, |view, cx| {
-            view.update_selection(DisplayPoint::new(3, 3), Vector2F::zero(), cx);
+            view.update_selection(DisplayPoint::new(3, 3), 0, Vector2F::zero(), cx);
             assert_eq!(
                 view.selection_ranges(cx),
                 [DisplayPoint::new(2, 2)..DisplayPoint::new(3, 3)]
@@ -3557,7 +3641,7 @@ mod tests {
 
         view.update(cx, |view, cx| {
             view.cancel(&Cancel, cx);
-            view.update_selection(DisplayPoint::new(1, 1), Vector2F::zero(), cx);
+            view.update_selection(DisplayPoint::new(1, 1), 0, Vector2F::zero(), cx);
             assert_eq!(
                 view.selection_ranges(cx),
                 [DisplayPoint::new(2, 2)..DisplayPoint::new(3, 3)]
@@ -3573,11 +3657,11 @@ mod tests {
 
         view.update(cx, |view, cx| {
             view.begin_selection(DisplayPoint::new(3, 4), false, 1, cx);
-            view.update_selection(DisplayPoint::new(1, 1), Vector2F::zero(), cx);
+            view.update_selection(DisplayPoint::new(1, 1), 0, Vector2F::zero(), cx);
             view.end_selection(cx);
 
             view.begin_selection(DisplayPoint::new(0, 1), true, 1, cx);
-            view.update_selection(DisplayPoint::new(0, 3), Vector2F::zero(), cx);
+            view.update_selection(DisplayPoint::new(0, 3), 0, Vector2F::zero(), cx);
             view.end_selection(cx);
             assert_eq!(
                 view.selection_ranges(cx),
diff --git a/crates/gpui/src/font_cache.rs b/crates/gpui/src/font_cache.rs
index 0509ecd437d134bd05f3f3c22cf9063286ae1140..8a6ae62ff9ff52182e1321830d8e9f99c0405662 100644
--- a/crates/gpui/src/font_cache.rs
+++ b/crates/gpui/src/font_cache.rs
@@ -157,6 +157,17 @@ impl FontCache {
         bounds.width() * self.em_scale(font_id, font_size)
     }
 
+    pub fn em_advance(&self, font_id: FontId, font_size: f32) -> f32 {
+        let glyph_id;
+        let advance;
+        {
+            let state = self.0.read();
+            glyph_id = state.fonts.glyph_for_char(font_id, 'm').unwrap();
+            advance = state.fonts.advance(font_id, glyph_id).unwrap();
+        }
+        advance.x() * self.em_scale(font_id, font_size)
+    }
+
     pub fn line_height(&self, font_id: FontId, font_size: f32) -> f32 {
         let height = self.metric(font_id, |m| m.bounding_box.height());
         (height * self.em_scale(font_id, font_size)).ceil()
diff --git a/crates/gpui/src/fonts.rs b/crates/gpui/src/fonts.rs
index 3dbfd660344faabcb8352b9f8fe22f6c36f779a3..6509360a626a9e8342afa1adbb90c9cedee327ce 100644
--- a/crates/gpui/src/fonts.rs
+++ b/crates/gpui/src/fonts.rs
@@ -151,6 +151,10 @@ impl TextStyle {
         font_cache.em_width(self.font_id, self.font_size)
     }
 
+    pub fn em_advance(&self, font_cache: &FontCache) -> f32 {
+        font_cache.em_advance(self.font_id, self.font_size)
+    }
+
     pub fn descent(&self, font_cache: &FontCache) -> f32 {
         font_cache.metric(self.font_id, |m| m.descent) * self.em_scale(font_cache)
     }
diff --git a/crates/gpui/src/platform.rs b/crates/gpui/src/platform.rs
index 7a55916043f3d0a60e8e3c71260bdaf68aa88c8e..0e1bb3fca97f9861a1caa8eaa6d07df62a54f1c1 100644
--- a/crates/gpui/src/platform.rs
+++ b/crates/gpui/src/platform.rs
@@ -148,6 +148,7 @@ pub trait FontSystem: Send + Sync {
     ) -> anyhow::Result<FontId>;
     fn font_metrics(&self, font_id: FontId) -> FontMetrics;
     fn typographic_bounds(&self, font_id: FontId, glyph_id: GlyphId) -> anyhow::Result<RectF>;
+    fn advance(&self, font_id: FontId, glyph_id: GlyphId) -> anyhow::Result<Vector2F>;
     fn glyph_for_char(&self, font_id: FontId, ch: char) -> Option<GlyphId>;
     fn rasterize_glyph(
         &self,
diff --git a/crates/gpui/src/platform/mac/fonts.rs b/crates/gpui/src/platform/mac/fonts.rs
index c7f03689ee677bb017bcd42224e182c84f9b2bf2..2453660abc92a2d3fe84b31634f7f6461006afdf 100644
--- a/crates/gpui/src/platform/mac/fonts.rs
+++ b/crates/gpui/src/platform/mac/fonts.rs
@@ -69,6 +69,10 @@ impl platform::FontSystem for FontSystem {
         self.0.read().typographic_bounds(font_id, glyph_id)
     }
 
+    fn advance(&self, font_id: FontId, glyph_id: GlyphId) -> anyhow::Result<Vector2F> {
+        self.0.read().advance(font_id, glyph_id)
+    }
+
     fn glyph_for_char(&self, font_id: FontId, ch: char) -> Option<GlyphId> {
         self.0.read().glyph_for_char(font_id, ch)
     }
@@ -137,6 +141,10 @@ impl FontSystemState {
         Ok(self.fonts[font_id.0].typographic_bounds(glyph_id)?)
     }
 
+    fn advance(&self, font_id: FontId, glyph_id: GlyphId) -> anyhow::Result<Vector2F> {
+        Ok(self.fonts[font_id.0].advance(glyph_id)?)
+    }
+
     fn glyph_for_char(&self, font_id: FontId, ch: char) -> Option<GlyphId> {
         self.fonts[font_id.0].glyph_for_char(ch)
     }