diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 0e16344..b218f97 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -59,14 +59,21 @@ By default, vamp loads `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/vamp/config.rb`, or `~/.config/vamp/con
 Vamp.configure do |config|
   config.plugin "plugins/greeting.rb"
   config.bind "g", "greet"
-  config.bind "<C-r>", "core.redo"
-  config.bind "<C-c>", "core.normal", mode: "insert"
+  config.bind "ctrl+r", "core.redo"
+  config.bind "shift+j", "core.join_lines"
+  config.bind "ctrl+c", "core.normal", mode: "insert"
 end
 ```
 
 Plugin paths resolve relative to the config file, not the shell's working directory. `config.bind key, target, mode: "normal"` overrides one key in `normal`, `insert`, or `command` mode; the mode defaults to `normal`. Targets are the built-in actions below or exact registered Ex/plugin command names (`"w"`, `"greet"`, etc., without `:` or arguments). Ex/plugin commands can only be bound in Normal mode.
 
-Keys are single non-control Unicode characters (case-sensitive), `<Esc>`, `<Enter>`, `<Backspace>`, `<Delete>`, `<Left>`, `<Right>`, `<Up>`, `<Down>`, `<Home>`, `<End>`, `<Tab>`, `<Space>`, or `<C-a>` through `<C-z>`. Ctrl letters are case-insensitive. Terminals share `<C-h>` with Backspace, `<C-i>` with Tab, and `<C-j>`/`<C-m>` with Enter; these names address the same binding. Key sequences and Alt/Super combinations are not supported.
+Key notation follows [Herdr's readable style](https://herdr.dev/docs/configuration/#keybindings). Literal non-control Unicode characters are case-sensitive (`n`, `J`, `+`); named keys and modifiers are case-insensitive:
+
+- Named keys: `esc`, `enter`, `backspace`, `delete`, `left`, `right`, `up`, `down`, `home`, `end`, `tab`, `space`.
+- Modifiers: `ctrl+a` through `ctrl+z`, and `shift+a` through `shift+z`. `shift+j` and `J` address the same key.
+- Named punctuation: `minus`, `comma`, `ampersand`, `plus`, `backtick`. Each addresses the same binding as its literal character.
+
+Terminals share `ctrl+h` with `backspace`, `ctrl+i` with `tab`, and `ctrl+j`/`ctrl+m` with `enter`; these names address the same binding. Only a single modifier on an ASCII letter is supported. Key sequences, prefix mode, Alt/Cmd/Super, combined modifiers, modified special keys, and Vim-style angle-bracket notation are rejected rather than silently treated as another key.
 
 | Available modes | Built-in targets |
 | --- | --- |
@@ -83,7 +90,7 @@ Adding a binding keeps the original key. Pass `nil` to disable a key, including
 Vamp.configure do |config|
   config.bind "n", "core.insert"
   config.bind "i", nil
-  config.bind "<Space>", "core.command"
+  config.bind "space", "core.command"
   config.bind ":", nil
 end
 ```
diff --git a/examples/config.rb b/examples/config.rb
index 350c430..4fabda6 100644
--- a/examples/config.rb
+++ b/examples/config.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 Vamp.configure do |config|
   config.plugin "plugins/greeting.rb"
   config.bind "g", "greet"
-  config.bind "<C-r>", "core.redo"
-  config.bind "<C-c>", "core.normal", mode: "insert"
+  config.bind "ctrl+r", "core.redo"
+  config.bind "ctrl+c", "core.normal", mode: "insert"
 end
diff --git a/src/editor.rs b/src/editor.rs
index 2f77945..a3c7677 100644
--- a/src/editor.rs
+++ b/src/editor.rs
@@ -154,42 +154,60 @@ enum Binding {
 }
 
 fn parse_key(key: &str) -> Result<Input, String> {
-    let mut chars = key.chars();
-    if let Some(ch) = chars.next()
-        && chars.next().is_none()
-        && !ch.is_control()
-    {
+    let character = |name: &str| {
+        let mut chars = name.chars();
+        chars
+            .next()
+            .filter(|ch| !ch.is_control() && chars.next().is_none())
+    };
+    // Keep literal punctuation, especially "+", usable without escaping.
+    if let Some(ch) = character(key) {
         return Ok(Input::Char(ch));
     }
-    Ok(match key {
-        "<Esc>" => Input::Escape,
-        "<Enter>" => Input::Enter,
-        "<Backspace>" => Input::Backspace,
-        "<Delete>" => Input::Delete,
-        "<Left>" => Input::Left,
-        "<Right>" => Input::Right,
-        "<Up>" => Input::Up,
-        "<Down>" => Input::Down,
-        "<Home>" => Input::Home,
-        "<End>" => Input::End,
-        "<Tab>" => Input::Char('\t'),
-        "<Space>" => Input::Char(' '),
-        _ => {
-            if let Some(control) = key
-                .strip_prefix("<C-")
-                .and_then(|key| key.strip_suffix('>'))
-            {
-                let mut chars = control.chars();
-                if let Some(ch) = chars.next()
-                    && ch.is_ascii_alphabetic()
-                    && chars.next().is_none()
-                {
-                    return Ok(control_key(ch));
-                }
+    let invalid = || format!("Invalid binding key: {key:?}");
+    let (modifier, name) = key
+        .split_once('+')
+        .map_or((None, key), |(modifier, name)| (Some(modifier), name));
+    let input = if let Some(ch) = character(name) {
+        Input::Char(ch)
+    } else {
+        [
+            ("esc", Input::Escape),
+            ("enter", Input::Enter),
+            ("backspace", Input::Backspace),
+            ("delete", Input::Delete),
+            ("left", Input::Left),
+            ("right", Input::Right),
+            ("up", Input::Up),
+            ("down", Input::Down),
+            ("home", Input::Home),
+            ("end", Input::End),
+            ("tab", Input::Char('\t')),
+            ("space", Input::Char(' ')),
+            ("minus", Input::Char('-')),
+            ("comma", Input::Char(',')),
+            ("ampersand", Input::Char('&')),
+            ("plus", Input::Char('+')),
+            ("backtick", Input::Char('`')),
+        ]
+        .into_iter()
+        .find(|(key, _)| name.eq_ignore_ascii_case(key))
+        .map(|(_, input)| input)
+        .ok_or_else(invalid)?
+    };
+    match (modifier, input) {
+        (None, input) => Ok(input),
+        (Some(modifier), Input::Char(ch)) if ch.is_ascii_alphabetic() => {
+            if modifier.eq_ignore_ascii_case("ctrl") {
+                Ok(control_key(ch))
+            } else if modifier.eq_ignore_ascii_case("shift") {
+                Ok(Input::Char(ch.to_ascii_uppercase()))
+            } else {
+                Err(invalid())
             }
-            return Err(format!("Invalid binding key: {key:?}"));
         }
-    })
+        _ => Err(invalid()),
+    }
 }
 
 fn control_key(ch: char) -> Input {
@@ -1394,6 +1412,70 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(editor.message().contains("core [core]"));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn readable_key_aliases_share_bindings_and_invalid_chords_leave_them_intact() {
+        let mut editor = editor();
+        editor.bind("normal", "shift+i", None).unwrap();
+        editor.handle(Input::Char('I'));
+        assert_eq!(editor.mode(), Mode::Normal);
+        editor
+            .bind("normal", "I", Some("core.insert".into()))
+            .unwrap();
+        editor.handle(Input::Char('I'));
+        assert_eq!(editor.mode(), Mode::Insert);
+
+        editor
+            .bind("insert", "plus", Some("core.newline".into()))
+            .unwrap();
+        editor.bind("insert", "+", None).unwrap();
+        editor.handle(Input::Char('+'));
+        type_text(&mut editor, "界");
+        assert_eq!(editor.lines(), &["界"]);
+        editor
+            .bind("insert", "plus", Some("core.newline".into()))
+            .unwrap();
+        editor.handle(Input::Char('+'));
+        assert_eq!(editor.lines(), &["界", ""]);
+
+        editor.bind("insert", "CTRL+I", None).unwrap();
+        editor.handle(Input::Char('\t'));
+        assert_eq!(editor.lines(), &["界", ""]);
+        editor
+            .bind("insert", "TAB", Some("core.newline".into()))
+            .unwrap();
+        editor.handle(Input::Ctrl('i'));
+        assert_eq!(editor.lines(), &["界", "", ""]);
+
+        editor
+            .bind("insert", "shift+j", Some("core.normal".into()))
+            .unwrap();
+        for key in [
+            "",
+            "<C-r>",
+            "<Esc>",
+            "ctrl+",
+            "+r",
+            "ctrl++r",
+            "ctrl+shift+j",
+            "shift+tab",
+            "shift+1",
+            "alt+j",
+            "cmd+j",
+            "ctrl+界",
+        ] {
+            assert!(
+                editor
+                    .bind("insert", key, Some("core.newline".into()))
+                    .is_err(),
+                "{key}"
+            );
+        }
+        editor.handle(Input::Char('J'));
+        assert_eq!(editor.mode(), Mode::Normal);
+        editor.handle(Input::Char('u'));
+        assert_eq!(editor.lines(), &[String::new()]);
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn plugin_bindings_dispatch_only_normal_mode_and_retire_with_owner() {
         let mut editor = editor();
diff --git a/src/session.rs b/src/session.rs
index 8a600f4..07d29fc 100644
--- a/src/session.rs
+++ b/src/session.rs
@@ -331,23 +331,23 @@ Vamp.configure do |config|
   config.plugin "healthy.rb"
   config.bind "n", "core.insert_first_nonblank"
   config.bind "i", nil
-  config.bind "<C-r>", "core.redo"
-  config.bind "<C-c>", "core.normal", mode: "insert"
-  config.bind "<Esc>", nil, mode: "insert"
+  config.bind "ctrl+r", "core.redo"
+  config.bind "ctrl+c", "core.normal", mode: "insert"
+  config.bind "esc", nil, mode: "insert"
   config.bind "!", "core.newline", mode: "insert"
-  config.bind "X", nil, mode: "insert"
+  config.bind "shift+x", nil, mode: "insert"
   config.bind ":", nil
-  config.bind "<Space>", "core.command"
-  config.bind "<Enter>", nil, mode: "command"
-  config.bind "<C-x>", "core.submit", mode: "command"
-  config.bind "<C-c>", "core.normal", mode: "command"
-  config.bind "<C-h>", "core.backspace", mode: "command"
+  config.bind "space", "core.command"
+  config.bind "enter", nil, mode: "command"
+  config.bind "ctrl+x", "core.submit", mode: "command"
+  config.bind "ctrl+c", "core.normal", mode: "command"
+  config.bind "ctrl+h", "core.backspace", mode: "command"
   config.bind "g", "core.undo"
   config.bind "g", "healthy"
   config.bind "n", "core.missing"
   config.bind "n", "core.undo", mode: "missing"
-  config.bind "<Unknown>", "core.undo"
-  config.bind "<C-f>", "healthy", mode: "insert"
+  config.bind "unknown", "core.undo"
+  config.bind "ctrl+f", "healthy", mode: "insert"
 end
 "#,
         );