diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 71dfceb2..4aec6745 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -272,6 +272,18 @@ to a certain length:
     # Limit to the last two folders
     POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_DIR_LENGTH=2
 
+To change the way how the current working directory is truncated, just set:
+
+    # truncate whole directories
+    POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_STRATEGY="complete_directories"
+    # truncate from right, leaving the first X characters untouched
+    POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_STRATEGY="truncate_from_right"
+    # default behaviour is to truncate the middle part of the directory
+
+In each case you have to specify the length you want to shorten the directory
+to. So in some cases `POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_DIR_LENGTH` means characters, in 
+others whole directories.
+
 #### The 'time' segment
 
 By default the time is show in 'H:M:S' format. If you want to change it, 
diff --git a/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme b/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme
index 69eee6e3..3e793d7e 100644
--- a/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme
+++ b/powerlevel9k.zsh-theme
@@ -450,8 +450,19 @@ prompt_context() {
 prompt_dir() {
   local current_path='%~'
   if [[ -n "$POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_DIR_LENGTH" ]]; then
-    # shorten path to $POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_DIR_LENGTH
-    current_path="%$((POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_DIR_LENGTH+1))(c:.../:)%${POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_DIR_LENGTH}c"
+
+    case "$POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_STRATEGY" in
+      complete_directories)
+        current_path="%$((POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_DIR_LENGTH+1))(c:.../:)%${POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_DIR_LENGTH}c"
+      ;;
+      truncate_from_right)
+        current_path=$(pwd | sed -e "s,^$HOME,~," | sed -E "s/([^/]{$POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_DIR_LENGTH})[^/]+\//\1\//g")
+      ;;
+      *)
+        current_path=$(pwd | sed -e "s,^$HOME,~," | sed -E "s/([^/]{$POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_DIR_LENGTH})[^/]+([^/]{$POWERLEVEL9K_SHORTEN_DIR_LENGTH})\//\1\.\.\2\//g")
+      ;;
+    esac
+
   fi
 
   $1_prompt_segment "$0" "blue" "$DEFAULT_COLOR" "$current_path"