How to break a line in vim in normal mode?

49
votes

I would like to break a line (at the location of the cursor) in to two lines without leaving normal mode (entering insert or command-line mode). Is this possible?

I currently get to the location I want and hit 'i' to enter insert mode, 'enter' to break the line in two, then 'esc' to return to normal mode.

I am not trying to set a maximum line length or do any syntax or anything like that. I just want to break one line into two lines without leaving normal mode. 'J' joins the line the cursor is on to the line below it, which is handy. I want the opposite -- to break one line into two with a single command.

8
vimmacvim

8 Answers

44
votes

Try this:

:nnoremap <NL> i<CR><ESC>

then just press Ctrl-J whenever you want to split a line.

43
votes

I don't know of a single key command, but a lot of times I do "r" then "Enter" to break a line.

"r" replaces the current character under the cursor without going into insert mode. This may not be what you want if you don't want to replace a character...

29
votes

put cursor in position and...

  r<Enter>
27
votes

Similar to other answers but doesn't replace the current character.

R<enter>

No remaps required.

3
votes

As far as I know this isn't possible without entering insert mode. You can however macro it with something like (replace Z with whatever key you want to use)

nmap Z i<cr><esc>k$

basically this maps the key 'Z' to enter insert mode 'i', insert a carriage return '<cr>', leave insert mode '<esc>', go up a line 'k' and finally go to the end of the line '$'

2
votes

Per this duplicate question: How do I insert a linebreak where the cursor is without entering into insert mode in Vim?

From within vim, type:

:map g i[Ctrl+V][Enter][Ctrl+V][Esc][Enter]

This maps the G key to macro I [Enter] [Escape]

2
votes

You can use recording.

  1. Place your cursor where you would like to insert a line break.
  2. Type qa to start recording into register a (you can use another register other than a if you want.)
  3. Then type i (switch to insert mode), Return (insert newline), escape (exit insert mode), q (ends recording.)

Now you can invoke this sequence of keys by typing @a (where a is the register number you used when you started the recording), just keep moving the cursor where you want to insert a newline and type @a.

0
votes

In normal mode, Press the character 'O' then 'Esc'. No mapping needed.