diff --git a/internal/action/actions.go b/internal/action/actions.go
index cf6d954f..05ef4e1e 100644
--- a/internal/action/actions.go
+++ b/internal/action/actions.go
@@ -1723,7 +1723,7 @@ func (h *BufPane) ToggleHelp() bool {
 	if h.Buf.Type == buffer.BTHelp {
 		h.Quit()
 	} else {
-		h.openHelp("help")
+		h.openHelp("help", true, false)
 	}
 	return true
 }
diff --git a/internal/action/command.go b/internal/action/command.go
index 5f56fcdb..9192e1dc 100644
--- a/internal/action/command.go
+++ b/internal/action/command.go
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ func (h *BufPane) ReopenCmd(args []string) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (h *BufPane) openHelp(page string) error {
+func (h *BufPane) openHelp(page string, hsplit bool, forceSplit bool) error {
 	if data, err := config.FindRuntimeFile(config.RTHelp, page).Data(); err != nil {
 		return errors.New(fmt.Sprintf("Unable to load help text for %s: %v", page, err))
 	} else {
@@ -437,10 +437,12 @@ func (h *BufPane) openHelp(page string) error {
 		helpBuffer.SetOptionNative("hltaberrors", false)
 		helpBuffer.SetOptionNative("hltrailingws", false)
 
-		if h.Buf.Type == buffer.BTHelp {
+		if h.Buf.Type == buffer.BTHelp && !forceSplit {
 			h.OpenBuffer(helpBuffer)
-		} else {
+		} else if hsplit {
 			h.HSplitBuf(helpBuffer)
+		} else {
+			h.VSplitBuf(helpBuffer)
 		}
 	}
 	return nil
@@ -450,15 +452,49 @@ func (h *BufPane) openHelp(page string) error {
 func (h *BufPane) HelpCmd(args []string) {
 	if len(args) < 1 {
 		// Open the default help if the user just typed "> help"
-		h.openHelp("help")
+		h.openHelp("help", true, false)
 	} else {
-		if config.FindRuntimeFile(config.RTHelp, args[0]) != nil {
-			err := h.openHelp(args[0])
+		var topics []string
+		hsplit := true
+		forceSplit := false
+		const errSplit = "hsplit and vsplit are not allowed at the same time"
+		for _, arg := range args {
+			switch arg {
+			case "-vsplit":
+				if forceSplit {
+					InfoBar.Error(errSplit)
+					return
+				}
+				hsplit = false
+				forceSplit = true
+			case "-hsplit":
+				if forceSplit {
+					InfoBar.Error(errSplit)
+					return
+				}
+				hsplit = true
+				forceSplit = true
+			default:
+				topics = append(topics, arg)
+			}
+		}
+
+		if len(topics) < 1 {
+			// Do the same as without arg
+			h.openHelp("help", hsplit, forceSplit)
+			return
+		}
+		if len(topics) > 1 {
+			forceSplit = true
+		}
+
+		if config.FindRuntimeFile(config.RTHelp, topics[0]) != nil {
+			err := h.openHelp(topics[0], hsplit, forceSplit)
 			if err != nil {
 				InfoBar.Error(err)
 			}
 		} else {
-			InfoBar.Error("Sorry, no help for ", args[0])
+			InfoBar.Error("Sorry, no help for ", topics[0])
 		}
 	}
 }
diff --git a/runtime/help/commands.md b/runtime/help/commands.md
index a9219901..b62a40b1 100644
--- a/runtime/help/commands.md
+++ b/runtime/help/commands.md
@@ -21,10 +21,13 @@ quotes here but these are not necessary when entering the command in micro.
    This command will modify `bindings.json` and overwrite any bindings to
    `key` that already exist.
 
-* `help ['topic']`: opens the corresponding help topic. If no topic is provided
-   opens the default help screen. Help topics are stored as `.md` files in the
-   `runtime/help` directory of the source tree, which is embedded in the final
-   binary.
+* `help ['topic'] ['flags']`: opens the corresponding help topic.
+   If no topic is provided opens the default help screen.
+   Help topics are stored as `.md` files in the `runtime/help` directory of
+   the source tree, which is embedded in the final binary.
+   The `flags` are optional.
+   * `-hsplit`: Opens the help topic in a horizontal split (default for initial split)
+   * `-vsplit`: Opens the help topic in a vertical split
 
 * `save ['filename']`: saves the current buffer. If the file is provided it
    will 'save as' the filename.