Lines are a basic design element. In Microsoft Word, a horizontal or vertical line can carve up a document and guide the flow of the text. You can insert a line in Word and format it in different ways to alter a humble line into something more than appealing.

It'due south so uncomplicated later all. But if yous don't know all the means to do it, then this primer on how to insert a line in Word is for you lot.

The Quick Way: How to Insert a Line in Word With the Keyboard

Did you know that you lot tin can quickly add together a line in Word past typing a few characters? Give-and-take's AutoFormat feature types stuff for you as you type information technology. You may have already seen it in action when it creates automatic bulleted lists.

You lot can not merely insert a line but also add together lines with different designs. Hither's how it works:

Place the cursor in the spot where you would like to start your horizontal line.

Then, type three characters for whatever of the possible line styles you see in the screenshot beneath. Press Enter.

For example, to draw a dotted line, type *** and press Enter.

Different types of AutoFormatted Lines in Word

Equally you lot volition see, y'all will get half-dozen variations of the standard horizontal line.

  • Plainly unmarried line with iii hyphens (---)
  • Broken or dotted line with 3 asterisks (***)
  • Manifestly double line with 3 equal signs (===)
  • Bold single line with three underline symbols (___)
  • Triple line with a thick heart with 3 number signs (###)
  • Wavy line with three tildes (~~~)

The line takes up the entire width of the folio. When added inside a cavalcade, the line is inserted to lucifer the width of the column. If you lot want to add text higher up or beneath the line, put your cursor where yous want the text and begin typing.

You volition too notice a tiny AutoCorrect Options button popular 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 birthday, or dive into the AutoFormat options dialog.

AutoFormat Button in Microsoft Word

Y'all can turn off these lines permanently from the AutoFormat options dialog.

Go to AutoFormat Equally Y'all Type tab > Apply as you type section > uncheck Border lines.

Insert a Horizontal Line From the Ribbon

If y'all find AutoCorrect annoying and disabled the selection, there's some other quick way to add a horizontal line.

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

2. Go to the Domicile tab so click the dropdown arrow for the Borders option in the Paragraph grouping.

iii. Select Horizontal Line from the menu.

Insert horizontal line in Microsoft Word

iv. To tweak the expect of this horizontal line, double-click the line. The Format Horizontal Line dialog box enables you lot 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 whatever 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 some other style to insert a meridian 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 Edge button. The Bottom border is usually the default. This places a line below the text you accept selected on the page or the paragraph if yous haven't selected any text.

Screenshot of Word's Border and Shading button

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

Adding a Vertical Border in Word

4. To alter the wait of any border, click on Borders and Shading. Utilize the dialog to suit the style, color, and width of the border.

5. Deleting this horizontal line in your Word certificate may not exist obvious but information technology like shooting fish in a barrel enough.

Utilise Shapes to Insert a Horizontal or Vertical Line in Discussion

The Shapes carte du jour contains several line options. These line shapes come with one important difference---y'all can draw them at dissimilar angles. And then, afterwards you depict the line, you can customize the color and appearance to make decorative horizontal or vertical lines even in the middle of a Give-and-take document.

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

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

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

Screenshot of Lines shapes in Word

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

5. Keep the line selected to customize the advent 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 and alter the colour, utilize a different line style, or apply effects.

seven. Y'all can also correct-click on the line and choose Format Shape from the context menu to open up more options for changing the expect.

How to Add a Vertical Line and Separate Text into Columns

Text arranged into columns is a basic layout technique. You tin separate whatever cake of text into multiple columns and as well insert a vertical line betwixt them.

1. Select the text.

ii. Get 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.

iv. In the Columns dialog box, cheque the Line Between box and click OK.

Adding Vertical lines between columns

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

How to Apply 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 cease. It inserts a vertical line and demarcates your paragraph into columns.

i. Select the paragraph where you want to add together the vertical line.

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

Paragraph Settings in Word

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

4. In the Tab finish position box, enter the position where you desire the vertical line to appear. Y'all can employ the ruler at the peak of the screen to gauge a value to enter.

5. Click the Bar button in the Alignment department. Click on Ready and OK.

Equally yous can see, I take gear up it to "-0.two" to go far appear merely 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

Too: Want to brand blank lines where the reader can fill in some information? You lot tin apply tabs to quickly create empty lines in forms with Microsoft Give-and-take.

Draw a Line in Your Discussion Certificate

Horizontal lines are more obvious and common. But adding vertical lines at the correct identify tin boost the visual appeal of your content. Lines aren't mere decorations... they tin can lead your eye to the well-nigh important part of a document when used with subtlety.

Think near lines and utilize these methods the next fourth dimension you sit down to write a professional person report with Microsoft Discussion.

How to Create Professional Reports and Documents in Microsoft Word

This guide examines the elements of a professional person report and reviews the structuring, styling, and finalizing of your document in Microsoft Word.

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Saikat Basu (1521 Articles Published)

Saikat Basu is the Deputy Editor for Internet, Windows, and Productivity. After removing the grime of an MBA and a ten year long marketing career, he is now passionate near helping others improve their storytelling skills. He looks out for the missing Oxford comma and hates bad screenshots. Simply Photography, Photoshop, and Productivity ideas soothe his soul.

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