diff --git a/examples/layout.py b/examples/layout.py
index a2ced2e27..1e94dac00 100644
--- a/examples/layout.py
+++ b/examples/layout.py
@@ -23,9 +23,7 @@
     Layout(size=10, name="footer"),
 )
 
-layout["main"].split(
-    Layout(name="side"), Layout(name="body", ratio=2), direction="horizontal"
-)
+layout["main"].split_row(Layout(name="side"), Layout(name="body", ratio=2))
 
 layout["side"].split(Layout(), Layout())
 
diff --git a/rich/layout.py b/rich/layout.py
index 7079137a9..c8aab23b5 100644
--- a/rich/layout.py
+++ b/rich/layout.py
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@ class LayoutRender(NamedTuple):
 
 RegionMap = Dict["Layout", Region]
 RenderMap = Dict["Layout", LayoutRender]
-Direction = Literal["horizontal", "vertical"]
 
 
 class LayoutError(Exception):