diff --git a/vim/colors/monotonous.vim b/vim/colors/monotonous.vim
index 41a8425..a84446c 100644
--- a/vim/colors/monotonous.vim
+++ b/vim/colors/monotonous.vim
@@ -1,14 +1,5 @@
-if !exists('g:monotonous_light')
-  g:monotonous_light=0
-endif
 
-if g:monotonous_light == 1
-  set background=light
-else
-  set background=dark
-endif
-
-" highlight clear
+highlight clear
 
 if exists('syntax_on')
   syntax reset
@@ -16,61 +7,11 @@ endif
 
 let g:colors_name = 'monotonous'
 
-" clear highlights used below - needed or not?
-"{{{
-hi clear ColorColumn
-hi clear CursorLine
-hi clear Directory
-hi clear DiffAdd
-hi clear DiffChange
-hi clear DiffDelete
-hi clear DiffText
-hi clear EndOfBuffer
-hi clear ErrorMsg
-hi clear Error
-hi clear VertSplit
-hi clear Folded
-hi clear FoldColumn
-hi clear SignColumn
-hi clear IncSearch
-hi clear LineNr
-hi clear CursorLineNr
-hi clear MatchParen
-hi clear ModeMsg
-hi clear MoreMsg
-hi clear NonText
-hi clear Pmenu
-hi clear PmenuSel
-hi clear Question
-hi clear QuickFixLine
-hi clear Search
-hi clear SpecialKey
-hi clear SpellBad
-hi clear SpellCap
-hi clear TabLine
-hi clear TabLineFill
-hi clear TabLineSel
-hi clear Title
-hi clear Visual
-hi clear WarningMsg
-hi clear WildMenu
-
-hi clear Identifier
-"}}}
-
 if has('gui_running')
-"{{{
-  if g:monotonous_light == 1
-    hi! Normal	              guifg=#555555 ctermbg=none guibg=#000000
-  else
-    hi! Normal	              guifg=#555555 ctermbg=none guibg=#000000
-  endif
+  "{{{
+  hi! Normal	              guifg=#555555 ctermbg=none guibg=#000000
 else
-  if g:monotonous_light == 1
-    hi! Normal	              guifg=#555555 ctermbg=none guibg=NONE
-  else
-    hi! Normal	              guifg=#555555 ctermbg=none guibg=NONE
-  endif
+  hi! Normal	              guifg=#555555 ctermbg=none guibg=NONE
 endif
 "}}}
 
@@ -88,8 +29,8 @@ hi! DiffChange						guifg=#777777 guibg=#101010 gui=NONE
 hi! DiffDelete						guifg=#333333 guibg=#200000 gui=NONE
 hi! DiffText							guifg=#cccccc guibg=#101010 gui=NONE 
 hi! EndOfBuffer					  guifg=#121212 guibg=NONE
-hi! ErrorMsg	            guifg=#ff0000
-hi! VertSplit						  guifg=#090909 guibg=#090909
+hi! ErrorMsg	            guifg=#ff0000 guibg=NONE term=none cterm=none gui=NONE
+hi! VertSplit						  guifg=#090909 guibg=#090909 term=none cterm=none gui=NONE
 hi! Folded								guifg=#666666 guibg=NONE cterm=none gui=NONE
 hi! FoldColumn						guifg=#262626 guibg=#111111
 hi! SignColumn						guifg=#eeeeee guibg=NONE
@@ -114,7 +55,7 @@ hi! SpellCap		          guifg=#550000 guibg=#220000
 " SpellLocal
 " SpellRare
 hi! TabLine              guifg=#555555 guibg=#111111 gui=italic
-hi! TabLineFill          guifg=#eeeeee guibg=#111111 gui=italic
+hi! TabLineFill          guifg=#eeeeee guibg=#111111 gui=italic term=none cterm=none gui=NONE
 hi! TabLineSel           guifg=#777777 guibg=#111111 gui=italic
 hi! TabLineNoise         guifg=#444444 guibg=#111111 gui=italic
 hi! Title                guifg=#a8a8a8 guibg=NONE cterm=bold gui=bold