diff --git a/README b/README
index b1512dd..17c334c 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -23,10 +23,14 @@ You can use the following command to open/edit the scratch buffer:
 
       :Scratch
 
-To open the scratch buffer in a new split window, use the following command:
+To open the scratch buffer in a new horizontal split window, use the following command:
 
       :Sscratch
 
+To open the scratch buffer in a new vertical split window, use the following command:
+
+      :Vscratch
+
 When you close the scratch buffer window, the buffer will retain the
 contents. You can again edit the scratch buffer by openeing it using one of
 the above commands. There is no need to save the scatch buffer.
diff --git a/plugin/scratch.vim b/plugin/scratch.vim
index 05b9018..1c938a8 100644
--- a/plugin/scratch.vim
+++ b/plugin/scratch.vim
@@ -53,8 +53,9 @@ let ScratchBufferName = "__Scratch__"
 
 " ScratchBufferOpen
 " Open the scratch buffer
-function! s:ScratchBufferOpen(new_win)
+function! s:ScratchBufferOpen(new_win,vertical_split)
     let split_win = a:new_win
+    let vertical_split = a:vertical_split
 
     " If the current buffer is modified then open the scratch buffer in a new
     " window
@@ -67,7 +68,11 @@ function! s:ScratchBufferOpen(new_win)
     if scr_bufnum == -1
         " open a new scratch buffer
         if split_win
-            exe "new " . g:ScratchBufferName
+            if vertical_split
+                exe "vnew " . g:ScratchBufferName
+            else
+                exe "new " . g:ScratchBufferName
+            endif
         else
             exe "edit " . g:ScratchBufferName
         endif
@@ -84,7 +89,11 @@ function! s:ScratchBufferOpen(new_win)
         else
             " Create a new scratch buffer
             if split_win
-                exe "split +buffer" . scr_bufnum
+                if vertical_split
+                    exe "vsplit +buffer" . scr_bufnum
+                else
+                    exe "split +buffer" . scr_bufnum
+                endif
             else
                 exe "buffer " . scr_bufnum
             endif
@@ -104,7 +113,8 @@ endfunction
 autocmd BufNewFile __Scratch__ call s:ScratchMarkBuffer()
 
 " Command to edit the scratch buffer in the current window
-command! -nargs=0 Scratch call s:ScratchBufferOpen(0)
-" Command to open the scratch buffer in a new split window
-command! -nargs=0 Sscratch call s:ScratchBufferOpen(1)
-
+command! -nargs=0 Scratch call s:ScratchBufferOpen(0,0)
+" Command to open the scratch buffer in a new horizontal split window
+command! -nargs=0 Sscratch call s:ScratchBufferOpen(1,0)
+" Command to open the scratch buffer in a new vertical split window
+command! -nargs=0 Vscratch call s:ScratchBufferOpen(1,1)