diff --git a/autoload/nuwiki/commands.vim b/autoload/nuwiki/commands.vim
index 881f42d..ff0cfaa 100644
--- a/autoload/nuwiki/commands.vim
+++ b/autoload/nuwiki/commands.vim
@@ -855,10 +855,14 @@ function! nuwiki#commands#table_move_right() abort
         \ }]
   call s:exec('nuwiki.table.moveColumn', l:args)
 endfunction
-" `:VimwikiColorize {color}` — pure-VimL wrap as inline span tag,
-" matching vimwiki's `<span style="color:%c">%s</span>` template.
+" `:VimwikiColorize {color}` — wrap text in an inline colour span, matching
+" vimwiki's `<span style="color:%c">%s</span>` template. Wraps the visual
+" selection when invoked with a range (`:'<,'>VimwikiColorize` / the `x`-mode
+" <Leader>wc mapping), otherwise the word under the cursor.
+"   a:1 = colour (empty → prompt); a:2 = range count (>0 → use the selection).
 function! nuwiki#commands#colorize(...) abort
   let l:color = a:0 >= 1 ? a:1 : ''
+  let l:visual = a:0 >= 2 && a:2 > 0
   if l:color ==# ''
     let l:color = input('Colour: ')
   endif
@@ -867,6 +871,28 @@ function! nuwiki#commands#colorize(...) abort
   endif
   let l:open_tag = '<span style="color:' . l:color . '">'
   let l:close_tag = '</span>'
+
+  if l:visual
+    let l:sp = getpos("'<")
+    let l:ep = getpos("'>")
+    if l:sp[1] > 0 && l:sp[1] == l:ep[1]
+      let l:line = getline(l:sp[1])
+      let l:sc = l:sp[2]
+      let l:ec = l:ep[2]
+      if l:ec > strlen(l:line)
+        let l:ec = strlen(l:line)
+      endif
+      if l:ec >= l:sc
+        let l:new = strpart(l:line, 0, l:sc - 1)
+              \ . l:open_tag . strpart(l:line, l:sc - 1, l:ec - l:sc + 1) . l:close_tag
+              \ . strpart(l:line, l:ec)
+        call setline(l:sp[1], l:new)
+        return
+      endif
+    endif
+    " Multi-line or empty selection: fall through to the cword.
+  endif
+
   let l:line = getline('.')
   let l:col = col('.')
   " Word boundaries around cursor (1-based).
diff --git a/development/tests/test-keymaps-vim.vim b/development/tests/test-keymaps-vim.vim
index 5f63144..18ba507 100644
--- a/development/tests/test-keymaps-vim.vim
+++ b/development/tests/test-keymaps-vim.vim
@@ -477,6 +477,44 @@ call s:record(
       \ 'ext=' . get(get(s:wl, 1, {}), 'ext', ''))
 unlet g:nuwiki_wikis
 
+" ===== Colorize (cword, visual selection, ranged command) =====
+" The command is -nargs=1 -range: normal invocation wraps the cword; a visual
+" range (`:'<,'>VimwikiColorize` / the x-mode <Leader>wc map) wraps the
+" selection. Run these while still on the vimwiki buffer (the buffer-local
+" command must be defined).
+call s:set_buf(['word here'])
+call cursor(1, 1)
+silent VimwikiColorize red
+call s:record(
+      \ getline(1) ==# '<span style="color:red">word</span> here' ? 1 : 0,
+      \ 'colorize.command_wraps_cword',
+      \ 'got ' . string(getline(1)))
+
+" Visual selection → wraps the selection (visual flag passed explicitly).
+call s:set_buf(['one two three'])
+call cursor(1, 5)
+call feedkeys("viw\<Esc>", 'tx')
+call nuwiki#commands#colorize('blue', 2)
+call s:record(
+      \ getline(1) ==# 'one <span style="color:blue">two</span> three' ? 1 : 0,
+      \ 'colorize.visual_wraps_selection',
+      \ 'got ' . string(getline(1)))
+
+" Ranged command must not raise E481 and wraps the selection.
+call s:set_buf(['alpha beta gamma'])
+call cursor(1, 8)
+call feedkeys("viw\<Esc>", 'tx')
+let s:cz_err = ''
+try
+  silent '<,'>VimwikiColorize green
+catch
+  let s:cz_err = v:exception
+endtry
+call s:record(
+      \ s:cz_err ==# '' && getline(1) ==# 'alpha <span style="color:green">beta</span> gamma' ? 1 : 0,
+      \ 'colorize.ranged_command_no_error',
+      \ 'err=' . s:cz_err . ' got ' . string(getline(1)))
+
 " ===== Follow-link resolves + opens in the current window (regression) =====
 " follow_link_or_create() must resolve the definition itself and `:edit` the
 " target in the CURRENT window — including a page that does not exist yet
diff --git a/development/tests/test-keymaps.lua b/development/tests/test-keymaps.lua
index af3fbce..0aaca16 100644
--- a/development/tests/test-keymaps.lua
+++ b/development/tests/test-keymaps.lua
@@ -761,6 +761,18 @@ vim.defer_fn(function()
       error('visual colorize did not wrap selection: ' .. got)
     end
   end)
+  -- Invoking the command with a range (`:'<,'>VimwikiColorize`, as Vim builds
+  -- it when you select then type the command) must not error (-range) and
+  -- wraps the selection.
+  tobj_case('cmd.Colorize_range_wraps_selection', function()
+    set_buf({ 'pick this word' })
+    vim.cmd('normal! 0wviw\27') -- select 'this'
+    vim.cmd("'<,'>VimwikiColorize orange")
+    local got = vim.api.nvim_get_current_line()
+    if got ~= 'pick <span style="color:orange">this</span> word' then
+      error('ranged command did not wrap selection: ' .. got)
+    end
+  end)
 
   -- ===== Wiki picker (config-driven, no LSP) =====
   -- The picker must build its list from config so it works from any buffer
diff --git a/development/vimwiki-gap.md b/development/vimwiki-gap.md
index 76245d5..a2e27ec 100644
--- a/development/vimwiki-gap.md
+++ b/development/vimwiki-gap.md
@@ -129,11 +129,17 @@ fix site.
   bug: `colorize()` inferred visual-vs-normal from `vim.fn.visualmode()`, which
   returns the *last* session visual mode with stale `'<`/`'>` marks — so the
   normal-mode command wrapped a leftover selection instead of the cword.
-  `colorize(color, visual)` now takes an explicit `visual` flag passed only by
-  the `x`-mode `<Leader>wc` mapping (`lua/nuwiki/keymaps.lua`); the command and
-  normal mapping always wrap the cword. Covered by `cmd.VimwikiColorize_uses_arg`,
-  `cmd.Colorize_ignores_stale_visual_selection`, and
-  `colorize.visual_wraps_selection` in `development/tests/test-keymaps.lua`.
+  `colorize(color, visual)` now takes an explicit `visual` flag; the command and
+  normal mapping always wrap the cword. Third bug: the commands were not
+  `-range`, so selecting text and running `:VimwikiColorize` (which Vim turns
+  into `:'<,'>VimwikiColorize`) raised `E481: No range allowed`. All four
+  command defs are now `-range` and pass the range to the handler — a ranged
+  (visual) invocation wraps the `'<`/`'>` selection on both clients; the
+  `x`-mode `<Leader>wc` mapping passes the visual flag directly. Covered by
+  `cmd.VimwikiColorize_uses_arg`, `cmd.Colorize_ignores_stale_visual_selection`,
+  `colorize.visual_wraps_selection`, `cmd.Colorize_range_wraps_selection` in
+  `test-keymaps.lua` and `colorize.{command_wraps_cword,visual_wraps_selection,
+  ranged_command_no_error}` in `test-keymaps-vim.vim`.
 - [ ] **`VimwikiTableMoveColumn{Left,Right}` dispatch to different backing names
   per client** — Vim branch → `table_move_left/right`; Neovim branch →
   `table_move_column_left/right`. Harmless today (each name exists in its own
diff --git a/ftplugin/vimwiki.vim b/ftplugin/vimwiki.vim
index f483a19..ec79ad5 100644
--- a/ftplugin/vimwiki.vim
+++ b/ftplugin/vimwiki.vim
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ if !has('nvim')
   command! -buffer -nargs=1 VimwikiTable             call nuwiki#commands#table_insert()
   command! -buffer        VimwikiTableMoveColumnLeft  call nuwiki#commands#table_move_left()
   command! -buffer        VimwikiTableMoveColumnRight call nuwiki#commands#table_move_right()
-  command! -buffer -nargs=1 VimwikiColorize          call nuwiki#commands#colorize(<q-args>)
+  command! -buffer -nargs=1 -range VimwikiColorize   call nuwiki#commands#colorize(<q-args>, <range>)
   command! -buffer        VimwikiPasteLink           call nuwiki#commands#paste_link()
   command! -buffer        VimwikiPasteUrl            call nuwiki#commands#paste_url()
   command! -buffer        VimwikiCatUrl              call nuwiki#commands#cat_url()
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ if !has('nvim')
   command! -buffer -nargs=1 NuwikiTable               call nuwiki#commands#table_insert()
   command! -buffer        NuwikiTableMoveColumnLeft    call nuwiki#commands#table_move_left()
   command! -buffer        NuwikiTableMoveColumnRight   call nuwiki#commands#table_move_right()
-  command! -buffer -nargs=1 NuwikiColorize            call nuwiki#commands#colorize(<q-args>)
+  command! -buffer -nargs=1 -range NuwikiColorize     call nuwiki#commands#colorize(<q-args>, <range>)
   command! -buffer        NuwikiPasteLink              call nuwiki#commands#paste_link()
   command! -buffer        NuwikiPasteUrl               call nuwiki#commands#paste_url()
   command! -buffer        NuwikiCatUrl                 call nuwiki#commands#cat_url()
@@ -216,7 +216,7 @@ if !has('nvim')
       nnoremap <silent><buffer> <Leader>wd :call nuwiki#commands#delete_file()<CR>
       nnoremap <silent><buffer> <Leader>wr :call nuwiki#commands#rename_file()<CR>
       nnoremap <silent><buffer> <Leader>wc :call nuwiki#commands#colorize('')<CR>
-      xnoremap <silent><buffer> <Leader>wc :<C-u>call nuwiki#commands#colorize('')<CR>
+      xnoremap <silent><buffer> <Leader>wc :<C-u>call nuwiki#commands#colorize('', 2)<CR>
     endif
 
     " Diary nav
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ command! -buffer -nargs=? VimwikiGenerateTags      lua require('nuwiki.commands'
 command! -buffer -nargs=1 VimwikiTable             lua require('nuwiki.commands').table_insert()
 command! -buffer        VimwikiTableMoveColumnLeft  lua require('nuwiki.commands').table_move_column_left()
 command! -buffer        VimwikiTableMoveColumnRight lua require('nuwiki.commands').table_move_column_right()
-command! -buffer -nargs=1 VimwikiColorize          lua require('nuwiki.commands').colorize(<q-args>)
+command! -buffer -nargs=1 -range VimwikiColorize   lua require('nuwiki.commands').colorize(<q-args>, <range> > 0)
 command! -buffer        VimwikiPasteLink           lua require('nuwiki.commands').paste_link()
 command! -buffer        VimwikiPasteUrl            lua require('nuwiki.commands').paste_url()
 command! -buffer        VimwikiCatUrl              lua require('nuwiki.commands').cat_url()
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ command! -buffer        NuwikiTableAlign             lua require('nuwiki.command
 command! -buffer -nargs=1 NuwikiTable               lua require('nuwiki.commands').table_insert()
 command! -buffer        NuwikiTableMoveColumnLeft    lua require('nuwiki.commands').table_move_column_left()
 command! -buffer        NuwikiTableMoveColumnRight   lua require('nuwiki.commands').table_move_column_right()
-command! -buffer -nargs=1 NuwikiColorize            lua require('nuwiki.commands').colorize(<q-args>)
+command! -buffer -nargs=1 -range NuwikiColorize     lua require('nuwiki.commands').colorize(<q-args>, <range> > 0)
 command! -buffer        NuwikiPasteLink              lua require('nuwiki.commands').paste_link()
 command! -buffer        NuwikiPasteUrl               lua require('nuwiki.commands').paste_url()
 command! -buffer        NuwikiCatUrl                 lua require('nuwiki.commands').cat_url()
diff --git a/lua/nuwiki/commands.lua b/lua/nuwiki/commands.lua
index 1a159c4..233a292 100644
--- a/lua/nuwiki/commands.lua
+++ b/lua/nuwiki/commands.lua
@@ -951,9 +951,11 @@ end
 --- the template is `<span style="color:%c">%s</span>` with `%c`
 --- replaced by the user-supplied colour and `%s` by the wrapped text.
 --- Pure-Lua; no server roundtrip needed.
+-- Read the last visual selection from the `'<`/`'>` marks. Only meaningful
+-- when the caller knows it's acting on a selection (colorize's `visual` flag);
+-- we deliberately don't gate on vim.fn.visualmode() here since that reflects
+-- session state, not whether the marks are the selection we want right now.
 local function visual_selection_range()
-  local mode = vim.fn.visualmode()
-  if mode == '' then return nil end
   local s = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_mark(0, '<')
   local e = vim.api.nvim_buf_get_mark(0, '>')
   if s[1] == 0 or e[1] == 0 then return nil end