To add 10 empty lines below the cursor in normal mode, type 10o or to add them above the cursor type 10O. Here is an alternative method that allows you to easily insert or delete blank lines above or below the current line. Your cursor position is not changed, and you stay in normal mode. Put the following mappings in your vimrc: " Ctrl-j/k deletes blank line below/above, and Alt-j/k inserts. nnoremap m`:silent +g/\m^\s*$/d``:noh nnoremap m`:silent -g/\m^\s*$/d``:noh nnoremap :set pastem`o``:set nopaste nnoremap :set pastem`O``:set nopaste