diff --git a/vimrc b/vimrc
index 66769b9..0d9189a 100644
--- a/vimrc
+++ b/vimrc
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ set hidden
 set bg=dark
 " set number
 set nonumber
-set autoindent
+set hlsearch " highlight searches
 
 " set width of the fold column to create a margin
 set foldcolumn=2
@@ -187,18 +187,23 @@ set colorcolumn=100
 
 set foldmethod=manual
 
+" indents and margins
+
+set autoindent
+filetype plugin indent on   " file type based indentation
+
 syntax on
-" tabs
 "set tabstop=2      " leave at default
 set expandtab       " tab inserts 'softtabstop' number of spaces
 " set following with autocommands to override filetype plugin indent
-au Filetype * let &l:softtabstop=2   " 
-au Filetype * let &l:shiftwidth=2    " affects what happens with >>,<<,== and automatic indentation	
+au Filetype * set softtabstop=2   " 
+au Filetype * set tabstop=2   " 
+au Filetype * set shiftwidth=2    " affects what happens with >>,<<,== and automatic indentation	
 set shiftround      " round indent to multiples of shiftwidth
 set autoindent      " copy indent from current line over to new line
 set mouse=a
 
-filetype plugin indent on   " file type based indentation
+set listchars=eol:¬,tab:->,trail:~,extends:>,precedes:<,space:·
 
 " rewrapping set to 80
 set tw=180
@@ -207,9 +212,9 @@ set fo=cq
 " disable wrapping based on terminal size
 set wm=0
 
-set t_Co=8
-set t_Sf=<Esc>[3%p1%dm
-set t_Sb=<Esc>[4%p1%dm
+set t_Co=255            " number of colours
+set t_Sf=<Esc>[3%p1%dm  " foreground colour
+set t_Sb=<Esc>[4%p1%dm  " background coloru
 
 nnoremap <F2> :set invpaste paste?<CR>
 set pastetoggle=<F2>