diff --git a/spec/atom/editor-spec.coffee b/spec/atom/editor-spec.coffee
index 16ef3e0fd..8e30edbf9 100644
--- a/spec/atom/editor-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/atom/editor-spec.coffee
@@ -512,20 +512,16 @@ describe "Editor", ->
       expect(editor.clipPosition(row: 1, column: -5)).toEqual(row: 1, column: 0)
 
   describe "cut, copy & paste", ->
-    describe "when a paste event is triggered", ->
-      beforeEach ->
-        atom.native.writeToPasteboard('first')
-        expect(atom.native.readFromPasteboard()).toBe 'first'
+    beforeEach ->
+      atom.native.writeToPasteboard('first')
+      expect(atom.native.readFromPasteboard()).toBe 'first'
 
-      it "pastes text into the buffer", ->
-        editor.setCursorPosition [0, 4]
-        editor.trigger "paste"
-        expect(editor.buffer.getLine(0)).toBe "var firstquicksort = function () {"
-
-        editor.getSelection().setRange new Range([1,6], [1,10])
-        editor.trigger "paste"
-        expect(editor.buffer.getLine(1)).toBe "  var first = function(items) {"
-        expect(editor.buffer.getLine(1)).toBe "  var sort = function(items) {"
+    describe "when a cut event is triggered", ->
+      it "removes the selected text from the buffer and places it on the pasteboard", ->
+        editor.getSelection().setRange new Range([0,4], [0,9])
+        editor.trigger "cut"
+        expect(editor.buffer.getLine(0)).toBe "var sort = function () {"
+        expect(atom.native.readFromPasteboard()).toBe 'quick'
 
     describe "when a copy event is triggered", ->
       it "copies selected text onto the clipboard", ->
@@ -533,3 +529,14 @@ describe "Editor", ->
         editor.trigger "copy"
         expect(atom.native.readFromPasteboard()).toBe 'quicksort'
 
+    describe "when a paste event is triggered", ->
+      it "pastes text into the buffer", ->
+        editor.setCursorPosition [0, 4]
+        editor.trigger "paste"
+        expect(editor.buffer.getLine(0)).toBe "var firstquicksort = function () {"
+
+        expect(editor.buffer.getLine(1)).toBe "  var sort = function(items) {"
+        editor.getSelection().setRange new Range([1,6], [1,10])
+        editor.trigger "paste"
+        expect(editor.buffer.getLine(1)).toBe "  var first = function(items) {"
+
diff --git a/spec/atom/selection-spec.coffee b/spec/atom/selection-spec.coffee
index 0a124bdfe..abd159662 100644
--- a/spec/atom/selection-spec.coffee
+++ b/spec/atom/selection-spec.coffee
@@ -118,6 +118,28 @@ describe "Selection", ->
       expect(selection.regions.length).toBe 3
       expect(selection.find('.selection').length).toBe 3
 
+  describe ".cut()", ->
+    beforeEach ->
+      atom.native.writeToPasteboard('first')
+      expect(atom.native.readFromPasteboard()).toBe 'first'
+
+    it "removes selected text from the buffer and places it on the clipboard", ->
+      selection.setRange new Range([0,4], [0,13])
+      selection.cut()
+      expect(atom.native.readFromPasteboard()).toBe 'quicksort'
+      expect(editor.buffer.getLine(0)).toBe "var  = function () {"
+      expect(selection.isEmpty()).toBeTruthy()
+
+      selection.setRange new Range([1,6], [3,8])
+      selection.cut()
+      expect(atom.native.readFromPasteboard()).toBe "sort = function(items) {\n    if (items.length <= 1) return items;\n    var "
+      expect(editor.buffer.getLine(1)).toBe "  var pivot = items.shift(), current, left = [], right = [];"
+
+    it "places nothing on the clipboard when there is no selection", ->
+      selection.setRange new Range([0,4], [0,4])
+      selection.copy()
+      expect(atom.native.readFromPasteboard()).toBe 'first'
+
   describe ".copy()", ->
     beforeEach ->
       atom.native.writeToPasteboard('first')
@@ -136,4 +158,3 @@ describe "Selection", ->
       selection.setRange new Range([0,4], [0,4])
       selection.copy()
       expect(atom.native.readFromPasteboard()).toBe 'first'
-
diff --git a/src/atom/editor.coffee b/src/atom/editor.coffee
index 43b282520..582d0574a 100644
--- a/src/atom/editor.coffee
+++ b/src/atom/editor.coffee
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ class Editor extends Template
         enter: 'newline'
         backspace: 'delete-left'
         delete: 'delete-right'
+        'meta-x': 'cut'
         'meta-c': 'copy'
         'meta-v': 'paste'
 
@@ -58,6 +59,7 @@ class Editor extends Template
       @on 'newline', =>  @insertNewline()
       @on 'delete-left', => @deleteLeft()
       @on 'delete-right', => @deleteRight()
+      @on 'cut', => @cutSelection()
       @on 'copy', => @copySelection()
       @on 'paste', => @paste()
 
@@ -201,6 +203,7 @@ class Editor extends Template
     insertText: (text) -> @selection.insertText(text)
     insertNewline: -> @selection.insertNewline()
 
+    cutSelection: -> @selection.cut()
     copySelection: -> @selection.copy()
     paste: -> @selection.insertText(atom.native.readFromPasteboard())
 
diff --git a/src/atom/selection.coffee b/src/atom/selection.coffee
index d34b85e05..716621daa 100644
--- a/src/atom/selection.coffee
+++ b/src/atom/selection.coffee
@@ -125,9 +125,11 @@ class Selection extends Template
     moveCursorToLineStart: ->
       @cursor.moveToLineStart()
 
+    cut: ->
+      @copy()
+      @delete()
+
     copy: ->
       return if @isEmpty()
-
       text = @editor.buffer.getTextInRange @getRange()
       atom.native.writeToPasteboard text
-