Line position in word

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You can add horizontal lines, sometimes called horizontal rules, to a document or email message to help separate sections of text and add visual appeal. 

By default, Word and Outlook have a three-character shortcuts that inserts a full-width horizontal rule in your document or message. The appearance of that rule—thinner, thicker, double-line, dotted, wavy—depends on which shortcut you use, as illustrated in the image below. 

If this automatic line feature doesn’t suit you, you can turn off this feature in Word or turn it off in Outlook.

If you want to draw a line for illustration purposes, see Draw a line in Word or Outlook instead.

Insert a horizontal line by typing a few characters

The fastest way to add a horizontal line or rule is to use the AutoFormat feature. When you type certain characters three times in their own paragraph and then press Enter, those characters instantly become a full-width horizontal line.

  1. Place the cursor where you want to insert the horizontal line.

  2. Type three of the characters illustrated below, and then press Enter.

    Table of lines that typing certain characters 3 times create

    The line is inserted for the full width of the page. When inserted into a column, the line is inserted to match the width of the column. To add text above the line, put your cursor where you want the text and begin typing.

Format the horizontal line after you create it

The shortcut described above creates an empty paragraph with a bottom border. You can change the look of that border line by using the Borders options:

  1. In Word, on the Home tab of the ribbon, select the down arrow next to The Borders button let you add or remove borders from the current selection. Borders.

    In Outlook, on the Format Text tab of the ribbon, select the down arrow next to The Borders button let you add or remove borders from the current selection. Borders.

  2. At the bottom of the menu, select Borders and Shading.

  3. In the dialog, you can change the line’s style (solid, dotted, wavy, double, and so on), color, or width as you see fit. 

  4. When you’re done formatting the line, select OK. Then, on the ribbon, select the  The Borders button lets you apply a border style to the current selection.Borders button to apply your changes. 

Word: Turn off the automatic line feature

To prevent Word or Outlook from automatically inserting a horizontal line when you type the three shortcut characters, do the following:

  1. On the ribbon, select File > Options.

  2. In the dialog box, select Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type. 

  3. Clear the Border Lines option.

  4. Select OK.

Outlook: Turn off the automatic line feature

  1. On the ribbon, select File > Options.

  2. In the dialog box, select the Mail tab, then select Editor Options.  

  3. On the Proofing tab, select AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type. 

  4. Under Apply as you type, clear the Border Lines option.

  5. Select OK.

Want to draw a line?

See Draw a line in Word or Outlook.

See Also

Add a border to some text

Draw shapes

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A user-friendly guide to making different types of lines in Microsoft Word


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  • Using Shapes to Draw a Line
  • |

  • Using Borders to Add a Line
  • |

  • Using Keyboard Shortcuts
  • |

  • Using the Mobile App
  • |

  • Q&A
  • |

  • Tips

Do you want to create a horizontal line in your resumé or other Microsoft Word document? If you want to customize the color and format of the line, you can use the Shapes tool. If you need to make a quick, basic line, you can use the keyboard shortcut. While you can use the keyboard shortcut on Windows and Mac, you cannot use it on the mobile app. This wikiHow will show you how to insert different lines in Microsoft Word on your Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android device.

Things You Should Know

  • On desktop, go to the Insert tab. Click Shapes, then select a line. Click and drag across the document to create a line.
  • To customize the line, double-click it. Click Shape Outline to change the color.
  • On mobile, click the three dots. Tap Home and select Insert. Tap Shapes to select a line. Tap and drag across the document to create a line.
  1. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 1

    1

    Open Microsoft Word on your Windows or Mac computer. Click or double-click the Word app icon, which resembles a white «W» on a dark-blue background.

    • If you want to draw a line in an existing Word document, double-click the Word document to open it and skip the next step.
    • You’ll need a subscription to use Office 365.
  2. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 2

    2

    Click Blank document. It’s in the upper-left side of the page.

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  3. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 3

    3

    Click the Insert tab. This tab is in the blue ribbon at the top of the Word window, between Home and Draw.

  4. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 4

    4

    Click Shapes. It’s in the Insert toolbar, next to the icon of an overlapping circle and square.

    • A drop-down menu will appear.
  5. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 5

    5

    Select a line shape. In the «Lines» heading, click one of the line templates. You can choose a line, line arrow, double line arrow, and more.

  6. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 6

    6

    Draw your line. Click and drag across the document to create your line.

    • If you need to adjust the line’s length and orientation, click the left or right circle. Drag it left or right to adjust the length, or drag it up and down to adjust the orientation.
    • To move the line, double-click and drag it to the desired position.
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  1. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 7

    1

    Open Microsoft Word on your Windows or Mac computer. Click or double-click the Word app icon, which resembles a white «W» on a dark-blue background.

    • If you want to draw a line in an existing Word document, double-click the Word document to open it and skip the next step.
  2. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 2

    2

    Click Blank document. It’s in the upper-left side of the page.

  3. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 9

    3

    Click the Home tab. This tab is in the blue ribbon at the top of the Word window, between File and Insert.

    • You may already be on this tab by default.
  4. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 10

    4

    Click the «Borders» arrow. This is next to the icon of the dotted square with a solid bottom line.

    • A drop-down menu will open.
  5. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 11

    5

    Click Horizontal Line. This will be towards the bottom, above Draw Table.

    • A horizontal line will be added.
  6. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 12

    6

    Format your line. Double-click the line; a dialogue box will appear.

    • To change the line thickness, use the up and down arrow below Height. The higher the number, the thicker the line will be.
    • To change the color, click the color box underneath Color. Select your desired color.
    • Click OK to save and apply your changes.
    • To move the line, double-click and drag it to the desired position.
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  1. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 13

    1

    Open Microsoft Word on your Windows or Mac computer. Click or double-click the Word app icon, which resembles a white «W» on a dark-blue background.[1]

    • If you want to draw a line in an existing Word document, double-click the Word document to open it and skip the next step.
  2. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 17

    2

    Click Blank document. It’s in the upper-left side of the page.

  3. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 18

    3

    Place your cursor where you want your line to appear. You’ll need to be on a blank line, as this won’t work if there is text before or after your cursor on the same line.

    • You’ll be creating a horizontal line that spans from one edge of your page to the other. The line will stop at your set margins.
    • If you want to make the line span the whole page, you’ll need to change your document margins.
  4. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 19

    4

    Type three dashes in a row. Use your dash key on the number row at the top of your keyboard, or on the numeric pad.

  5. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 20

    5

    Press Enter to convert the dashes into a line. AutoCorrect will automatically create a solid line that will situate itself directly beneath the previous line of text.

    • Note that the line does not occupy the space of a line of text, but instead exists between lines of text.
    • If you do not have AutoCorrect enabled, do so by clicking File → Options → Proofing → AutoCorrect Options…. This will open a new window.
      • Make sure the Border Lines box is checked. This can be found underneath Apply as you type.
      • If you want to turn off AutoCorrect, uncheck the boxes.
  6. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 21

    6

    Use different characters for different line styles. There are a variety of different lines that you can create by using characters other than the dash:[2]

    • Thin line: Three hyphens (-).
    • Thick line: Three underscores (_).
    • Double line: Three equal signs (=).
    • Dotted line: Three asterisk (*).
    • Triple line: Three pound signs (#).
    • Squiggly line: Three tildes (~).
  7. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 22

    7

    Move the line by entering text above it. You can prompt the line to move down by typing text above it and then pressing Enter.

    • Deleting text above the line will prompt it to move upward.
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  1. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 20

    1

    Open a document in the Microsoft Word app. This looks like a blue notebook next to a W.

    • Microsoft Word is available for iOS in the App Store and for Android in the Google Play Store.
    • Tap Blank document to open a new document or tap a file to open an existing document.
  2. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 21

    2

    Tap ••• . This can be found above the keyboard, to the right.

    • If you don’t see your keyboard, tap the document to bring it up.
    • A new menu will open.
  3. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 22

    3

    Tap Home. This will be to the left of the formatting window.

    • A drop-down menu will open.
  4. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 23

    4

    Tap Insert. You’ll see a list of all objects you can insert.

  5. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 24

    5

    Tap Shapes. This is next to the icon of an overlapping circle and square.

  6. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 25

    6

    Select a line shape. In the «Lines» heading, tap one of the line templates. You can choose a line, line arrow, double line arrow, and more.

  7. Image titled Insert a Line in Word Step 26

    7

    Draw your line. Tap and drag across the document to create your line.

    • Use two fingers to pinch and zoom out to view the entire document.
    • If you need to adjust the line’s length and orientation, tap the left or right circle. Drag it left or right to adjust the length, or drag it up and down to adjust the orientation.
    • To move the line, tap and drag it to the desired position.
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Add New Question

  • Question

    How do I view all available symbols in Microsoft Word?

    Community Answer

    Click «Insert» and then click «Symbols» and you should be shown a box with all of the symbols in it.

  • Question

    How do I add a line on the first page, and no lines on the second?

    Community Answer

    Click «Insert» and then click «Symbols» and you should be shown a box with all of the symbols in it.

  • Question

    How do I change the color of the line?

    Community Answer

    In the paragraph section, open the drop-down menu on the «Borders» button. At the very bottom is a «Borders and Shading» option. In that option, change the color of the bottom border to your specified color. Click the «Borders» button.

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About This Article

Article SummaryX

1. Click Insert.
2. Click Shapes.
3. Select a line template.
4. Click and drag across your Microsoft Word document to draw the line.

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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,043,531 times.

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Featured - How to Insert a Horizontal or Vertical Line in Microsoft Word

Contents

  • 1 How to Use AutoFormat to Insert a Line in Word
  • 2 How to Use the Horizontal Line Tool to Draw a Line in Word
  • 3 How to Insert a Horizontal or Vertical Line in Word
  • 4 How to Draw a Line in Word with the Shapes Tool
  • 5 How to Make a Vertical Line in Word and Separate Text into Columns
  • 6 Insert a Vertical Line in Word Using a Bar Tab
  • 7 How to Insert a Horizontal Line in Word Online
  • 8 Extra: How to Draw in Word
  • 9 Extra: How to Add a Page Border in Microsoft Word

Vertical and Horizontal lines have many uses in a document. They can help to split up content, draw the eye to a particular place, or just provide visual flavor. In this guide, we’re going to show you how to insert a line in Word using a variety of methods that often have slightly different outcomes.

Vertical and horizontal lines in Word are useful

For example, you can add lines to a Word document by using symbols on your keyboard, the table tool, borders, shapes, drawing tools, or tabs.

Typically, you’ll find that it’s harder to make a vertical line in Word than a horizontal one, but it’s still very much possible. You can even have the vertical line automatically split your text into two columns, which is useful if you’re making a newspaper or leaflet.

We’ll show you this and more below:

How to Use AutoFormat to Insert a Line in Word

One of the easiest ways to insert a horizontal line in Word is by taking advantage of the symbols on your keyboard and Word’s AutoFormat capabilities. The software will automatically turn certain symbols into a continuous line when you string them together:

  1. Type three hyphens, equals, asterisk, underline, tilde, or hash symbols and press Enter

    Word will draw a line across your page automatically, stopping the margins. You can remove the line at any time by adjusting the “Borders” section of the “Home” tab.

    Windows 11 - Word - Enter Horizontal Lines

How to Use the Horizontal Line Tool to Draw a Line in Word

It’s tucked away, but Microsoft Word has a dedicated horizontal line tool that you can use to quickly add a horizontal line across your document. Here’s where to find it:

  1. Open the Home ribbon and press “Paragraph > Border icon > Horizontal line”

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Paragraph - Border - Horizontal Line

  2. The horizontal line will appear wherever you placed your cursor

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Paragraph - Border - Horizontal Line - Result

  3. Double-click the line to adjust its width, thickness, and color, then press “OK”

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Paragraph - Border - Horizontal Line - Format

One of the methods we showed so far to create horizontal lines in Word made indirect use of the border feature. If we use the border tool directly, however, we can insert a vertical line in Word, too. Here’s how:

  1. For horizontal lines: Place your cursor and insert a bottom border

    After placing your cursor where you want the line across the page, open the “Home” tab of your ribbon, click the border icon, then press “Bottom Border”.

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Bottom Border

  2. The line will appear wherever you placed your cursor

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Bottom Border - Result

  3. For vertical lines: insert a left or right border

    You can add a vertical line in Word at the left or right edge of your document. Bear in mind that this can only be a maximum of 31px from the edge of your page. If you’d like it further away or in the center, use one of the methods below instead.

    Select your text, open the “Home” tab of your ribbon, then press the border icon, followed by “Left Border” and/or “Right Border”.

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Bottom Border - Left Border

  4. The vertical line will follow your text down the page

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Bottom Border - Left Border - Result

  5. Press “Home > Border icon > Borders and Shading…” to adjust its style

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Border - Borders & Shadings

  6. Choose the line type, color, and width of your vertical line, then press “OK”

    You can also press the “Options” button to change the spacing of your border.

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Border - Borders & Shadings - Format

  7. Check how the style looks in your document

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Border - Borders & Shadings - Format - Result

  8. Press “Home > Border icon > No Border” to remove the line

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Border - No Border

  9. Your line will no longer show on your document

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Border - No Border - Result

How to Draw a Line in Word with the Shapes Tool

If you want complete freedom over where you add lines to a Word document, the shapes tool is your friend. It’ll let you draw anywhere on your document and even have options to allow you to shift text to make space for it. This is you’d use it:

  1. Open the “Insert” tab of your ribbon and press “Shapes > Lines > Line”

    Windows 11 - Word - Insert - Shapes - Line

  2. Click and drag your cursor across the page to draw a line

    Windows 11 - Word - Insert - Shapes - Line - Draw

  3. Change your formatting in the “Shape Format” tab with the line selected

    You can also press the icon next to the line to change how the text interacts with your shape.

    Windows 11 - Word - Insert - Shapes - Line - Shape Format

  4. Right-click your line and press “Format Shape…” for more options

    Windows 11 - Word - Insert - Shapes - Line - Format Shape

  5. Change the line formatting options to your liking

    The line will update instantly on your page as you make the changes.

    Windows 11 - Word - Insert - Shapes - Line - Format Shape

How to Make a Vertical Line in Word and Separate Text into Columns

If you’re making a newspaper or leaflet, it may be beneficial to separate your text into multiple columns with a vertical line between them. With a few clicks, it’s completely possible to do this in Word.

  1. Select your text, open the “Layout” tab, then press “Columns > Two”

    Windows 11 - Word - Layout - Columns - Two

  2. Click on a column and press “Columns > More Columns…” in the “Layout” tab

    Windows 11 - Word - Layout - Columns - More Columns

  3. Check the “Line between” box and press “OK”

    Windows 11 - Word - Layout - Columns - More Columns - Line Between - Accept

  4. Word will place a line between your columns for visual clarity

    Windows 11 - Word - Layout - Columns - More Columns - Line Between - Result

Insert a Vertical Line in Word Using a Bar Tab

Bar tabs aren’t just a way to streamline your alcohol purchases. In Microsoft Word, they act as a line you can place at any point along your ruler. They’re very much hidden away, though, so you’ll want to follow along to see how to use them:

  1. Select your paragraph, open the “Home” tab and press the “Paragraph Settings” icon in the “Paragraph” section of the ribbon

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Paragraph

  2. Press the “Tabs…” button in the bottom-left of the “Paragraph” pop-out

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Paragraph - Tabs

  3. Set your tab stop position, tick “Bar” in the “Alignment” section, and press ” Set > OK” 

    The Tab stop position determines the position at which Word will place the vertical line on your page. You can set negative values here to place the line outside of your page margins.

    Check the ruler of your document so you can get an accurate measurement.

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Paragraph - Tabs - Tab Stop Position - Bar - Set - Accept

  4. Word will add the vertical line to your document

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Paragraph - Tabs - Tab Stop Position - Bar - Set - Accept - Result

  5. Remove the line by opening paragraph settings and pressing the “Clear” button in the “Tabs” section

    Windows 11 - Word - Home - Paragraph - Tabs - - Bar - Clear - Acceptt

How to Insert a Horizontal Line in Word Online

Word Online’s features are significantly pared back compared to the desktop app, but you can still insert a horizontal line with a bit of creativity. We like to use the table and drawing features:

  1. Open the “Insert” tab of the ribbon and press “Table > 1×1 Table”

    Windows 11 - Online Word - Insert - Table - 1x1

  2. Press the dropdown next to the “Table Styles” section of the ribbon

    Windows 11 - Online Word - Insert - Table - 1x1 - Table Styles

  3. Select the first option under “List Tables”

    Windows 11 - Online Word - Insert - Table - 1x1 - Table Styles - List Table

  4. Press “Change Colors” and choose a color for your line

    Windows 11 - Online Word - Insert - Horizontal Line - Clange Color

  5. OR: Press the “Drawing” button in the “Insert” tab

    Windows 11 - Online Word - Insert - Drawing

  6. Press the “Shapes” button in the drawing preview and select the “Line” tool

    Windows 11 - Online Word - Insert - Drawing - Shapes - Line

  7. Click and drag to make your line

    Windows 11 - Online Word - Insert - Drawing - Shapes - Line

  8. Adjust the line as necessary using the handles on the edges

    Windows 11 - Online Word - Insert - Drawing - Shapes - Line - Result

  9. Press the three dots in the toolbar and choose color, weight, and style options for your line

    Windows 11 - Online Word - Insert - Drawing - Shapes - Line - Format

  10. Press “Save and Close”

    Windows 11 - Online Word - Insert - Drawing - Shapes - Line - Format - Save & Close

  11. Your horizontal line will now appear in your document

    Windows 11 - Online Word - Insert - Drawing - Shapes - Line - Format - Result

If you’d like to go further than just basic lines, follow our how to draw in Microsoft Word guide. It’ll walk you through adding various preset shapes and drawing freehand.

Featured - How to draw in word

If you’re looking to add horizontal and vertical lines around the entire perimeter of your document, check out our how to add a page border guide instead. It’ll get you where you need to be in a few short minutes.

Lines are an essential design element. In Microsoft Word, a horizontal or vertical line can divide a document and guide the flow of the text. You can insert a line in Word and format it differently to change a humble line into something more appealing.

It’s so simple, after all. But if you don’t know all the ways to do it, then this primer on how to insert a line in Word is for you.

How Do You Insert a Straight Line in Word With the Keyboard?

Did you know that you can quickly add a line in Word by typing a few characters? Word’s AutoFormat feature types stuff for you as you type it. You may have already seen it in action when it creates automatic bulleted lists.

You can insert not only a straight line but also add lines with different designs. Here’s how it works:

  1. Place the cursor in the spot where you would like to start your horizontal line.
  2. Then, type three characters for any possible line styles you see in the screenshot below—press Enter. For example, to draw a dotted line, type *** and press Enter.

Different types of AutoFormatted Lines in Word

As you will see, you will get six variations of the standard horizontal line.

  • Plain single line with three hyphens (—)
  • Broken or dotted line with three asterisks (***)
  • Plain double line with three equal signs (===)
  • Bold single line with three underline symbols (___)
  • Triple line with a thick center with Three number signs (###)
  • Wavy line with three tildes (~~~)

The line takes up the entire width of the page. When added inside a column, the line is inserted to match the width of the column. If you want to add text above or below the line, put your cursor where you want the text and begin typing.

You will also notice a tiny AutoCorrect Options button pop up next to the line. This is a shortcut that allows you to undo the automatic line when you don’t need it, stop them altogether, or dive into the AutoFormat options dialog.

AutoFormat Button in Microsoft Word

You can turn off these lines permanently from the AutoFormat options dialog.

Go to AutoFormat As You Type tab > Apply as you type section > uncheck Border lines.

Insert a Horizontal Line From the Ribbon

If you find AutoCorrect annoying and disabled the option, there’s another quick way to add a horizontal line.

1. Place your cursor where you want to insert the line.

2. Go to the Home tab and then click the dropdown arrow for the Borders option in the Paragraph group.

3. Select Horizontal Line from the menu.

Insert horizontal line in Microsoft Word

4. To tweak the look of this horizontal line, double-click the line. The Format Horizontal Line dialog box enables you to modify the width, height, color, and alignment of the line.

Format Horizontal Line dialog box in Word

5. To resize a line, select the line with a double click and then drag any of the resizing points to change the length or width.

6. To remove the line, select it and press Delete on your keyboard.

Use Borders to Add Horizontal and Vertical Lines

The Borders option in the Paragraph group also gives you another way to insert a top or bottom border that resembles a horizontal line in the document.

1. Click on the paragraph of text where you want the line to appear.

2. Got to Home and the Paragraph group. Click on the Border button. The Bottom border is usually the default. This places a line below the selected text on the page, or the paragraph if you haven’t selected any text.

Screenshot of Word's Border and Shading button

3. For other options (like a vertical border), you can click on the tiny dropdown arrow on the Borders button to access a list of options.

Adding a Vertical Border in Word

4. To change the look of any border, click on Borders and ShadiThen, use Use the dialog to adjust the border’s style, color, and width.

5. Deleting this horizontal line in your Word document may not be obvious but it easy enough.

Use Shapes to Insert a Horizontal or Vertical Line in Word

The Shapes menu contains several line options. These line shapes come with one crucial difference—you can draw them at different angles. Then, after you draw the line, you can customize the color and appearance to make decorative horizontal or vertical lines even in the middle of a Word document.

1. Position the cursor where you want to insert a line.

2. Go to Insert > Illustrations group > Shapes dropdown arrow.

3. In the Lines group, choose the shape of the line.

Screenshot of Lines shapes in Word

4. Click and drag across the document with the mouse pressed till the endpoint. (Tip: Hold down the Shift key to insert a straight line that is either horizontal or vertical)

5. Keep the line selected to customize the appearance of the line with the Shape Format tab on the Ribbon.

Shape Effects and Styles for a straight line in Word

6. Go to the Shape Styles tab, change the color, use a different line style, or apply effects.

7. You can also right-click on the line and choose Format Shape from the context menu to open more options for changing the look.

How to Add a Vertical Line and Separate Text into Columns

Text arranged into columns is a basic layout technique. For example, you can separate text blocks into multiple columns and insert a vertical line between them.

1. Select the text.

2. Go to Ribbon > Layout > (Page Setup group) Columns. Click on the dropdown and select the number of columns you want.

Change layout to columns in Word

3. The text is now arranged into columns. Click on any column and go to Layout > Columns > More Columns.

4. In the Columns dialog box, check the Line Between box and click OK.

Adding Vertical lines between columns

Note that you can also change the number of columns and the spacing between them from this dialog.

How to Use a Bar Tab to Insert a Vertical Line

Tab stops in Word help align lines and paragraphs. The bar tab, on the other hand, doesn’t set a tab. Instead, it. It inserts a vertical line and demarcates your paragraph into columns.

1. Select the paragraph where you want to add the vertical line.

2. Go to Ribbon > Home. In the Paragraph group click the tiny arrow to open the Paragraph Settings.

Paragraph Settings in Word

3. Click the Tabs button at the bottom of the dialog.

4. In the Tab stop position box, enter the position where you want the vertical line to appear. You can use the ruler at the top of the screen to gauge a value to enter.

5. Click the Bar button in the Alignment section. Click on Set and OK.

As you can see, I have set it to «-0.2» to make it appear just to the left of the first paragraph. To delete the vertical line, delete the bar tab.

Using a bar tab for a vertical line in Word

Also: Want to make blank lines where the reader can fill in some information? You can use tabs to quickly create empty lines in forms with Microsoft Word.

How to Insert a Graphic for Creative Lines in Word

Using pictures for horizontal and vertical lines can be a creative workaround. But use them with care and avoid overusing them in a document as a stretched or condensed image can end up looking back on paper or the screen.

A graphic can be used as a straight line horizontally and vertically. Here’s how:

  1. Go to Ribbon > Insert > Picture.
    Inserting Stock Images
  2. Choose one of the image sources from the dropdown. For instance, select This device to upload a line graphic you created in another program.
  3. The screenshot below sources an illustration from Stock Images. The anchor points around the image help compress and stretch the image to something that resembles a straight line. Use the rotation handle to flip the graphic for a vertical line.
    A graphic as a line in Word

You can use these pseudo-lines as separators or as parts of the header or footer of your document. Use the Graphics Format toolbar on the Ribbon to format this illustration with Graphics Fill, Graphics Outline, and Graphics Effects.

Draw a Line in Your Word Document

Horizontal lines are more obvious and familiar. But adding vertical lines at the right place can boost the visual appeal of your content. Lines aren’t mere decorations… they can lead your eye to the most critical part of a document when used with subtlety.

Think about lines and use these methods the next time you sit down to write a professional report with Microsoft Word.

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Use these three methods to quickly insert a line in your document

Updated on December 4, 2020

What to Know

  • AutoFormat: Type the three characters for the desired line style > Enter.
  • Horizontal Line tool: In Home tab, select Borders drop-down menu > Horizontal Line.
  • Shapes menu: Go to Insert > Shapes. In Lines group, select and drag a line shape across the page.

This article covers three ways to insert horizontal lines in Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, and Word 2010.

Use AutoFormat to Insert a Line in Word

You can quickly insert a line into a Word document with the AutoFormat feature. To create a line, place the cursor in the location that you’d like to insert it, type the three characters for the desired line style, then press Enter.

To create the different types of lines, press the associated keys on the keyboard:

  • Plain single line: Three hyphens (—)
  • Plain double line: Three equal signs (===)
  • Broken or dotted line: Three asterisks (***)
  • Bold single line: Three underline symbols (___)
  • Wavy line: Three tildes (~~~)
  • Triple line with a thick center: Three number signs (###)

Here’s what each of these line types looks like in Word:

Use the Horizontal Line Tool to Insert a Line in Word

To insert a line into a Word document using the built-in Horizontal Line tool:

  1. Place the cursor where you want to insert a line.

  2. Go to the Home tab.

    By default, the Home tab is selected when you open a new or existing Word document.

  3. In the Paragraph group, select the Borders drop-down arrow and choose Horizontal Line.

  4. To change the look of the line, double-click the line in the document.

  5. In the Format Horizontal Line dialog box, modify the width, height, color, and alignment of the line.

Use the Shapes Menu to Insert a Line in Word

A third way to add a line to a Word document is to draw it on the page. The Shapes menu contains several line options, including lines with arrow points on one or both ends. After you draw the line, customize the color and appearance.

  1. Place the cursor in the spot where you want to insert a line.

  2. Go to the Insert tab.

  3. In the Illustrations group, select the Shapes drop-down arrow.

  4. In the Lines group, choose a line shape.

  5. In the Word document, drag across the location where you want the line to appear.

  6. To change the look of the line, select the line to enable the Shape Format tab. (Some versions of Word call this Format.)

  7. Go to the Shape Format tab and change the color, use a different line style, or apply effects.

FAQ

  • How do I change line spacing in Word?

    To fix spacing in Word, highlight the text whose spacing you want to change and select the Home tab. Next to Paragraph, select the down arrow to expand the options. In the Spacing section, set the amount of space before and after line breaks or choose a preset line-spacing option.

  • How do I add a signature line in Word?

    To insert a signature line in Word, go to the Insert tab and select Signature Line. Selecting few or no options leaves a blank line, and a signature line will appear in the document.

  • How do I add line numbers in Word?

    To add line numbers in Word, go to Layout > Page Setup > Line Numbers and choose Continuous, Restart Each Page or Restart Each Section > Line Numbering Options.

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