I've tried that before posting, but it just doesn't work how I'd expect. Maybe that's where my question should be focused--

When I initiate the BREAK command, it prompts me to select the object, so I select the line I want to break. But it auto-sets wherever I clicked as the first breaking point--not particularly useful as I cannot select an intersection when selecting the object originally. So, after I click the object, I have to type 'F' for first break point. From here I can click the intersection, it prompts for the second point, then it splits the line. 

I've also tried selecting the line before the BREAK command. It just clears my selection and makes me select the object, type 'F', click first point, click second point. 

Am I missing something? Is there some way to change the default behavior to let me select the object before BREAK, or at least default to "select first point" instead of auto-selecting wherever I clicked the object?