An apparatus and method of editing text in a mobile terminal include a display unit, configured to display a text display area, a touch sensitive keypad display area, at least one text character in the text display area, and a cursor in the text display area; and at least one processor, configured to detect a first gesture in a touch input in the touch sensitive keypad display area, and control moving, upon detecting the first gesture, the cursor in the text display area, according to the touch input in the touch sensitive keypad display area. The first gesture includes a touch of a point in the touch sensitive keypad display area where no key is displayed.