Vim automatically inserts a comment when I start a new line from a commented out line, because I have set formatoptions=tcroql. For example (cursor is *): // this is a comment* and after hitting <Enter> (insert mode) or o (normal mode) i am left with: // this is a comment // * This feature is very handy when writing long multi-line comments, but often I just want a single line comment. Now if I want to end the comment series I have several options: hit <Esc>S hit <BS> three times Both of these afford three keystrokes, taken together with the <Enter> this means four keystrokes for a new line, which I think is too much. Ideally, I would like to just hit <Enter> a second time to be left with: // this is a comment * It is important that the solution will also work with different indentation levels, i.e. int main(void) { // this is a comment* } hit <Enter> int main(void) { // this is a comment // * } hit <Enter> int main(void) { // this is a comment * } I think I have seen this feature in some text editor a few years ago but I do not recall which one it was. Is anyone aware of a solution that will do this for me in Vim? Pointers in the right direction on how to roll my own solution are also very welcome.