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How to Insert a Line in Word

This wikiHow teaches you how to create different kinds of lines in Microsoft Word on a Windows or Mac computer. Open Word. Click or double-click the Word app icon, which resembles a white 'W' on a dark-blue background.
Method 1 of 3:

Drawing a Line on Windows

  1. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 1How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 1
    Open Word. 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, you'll instead double-click the Word document to open it and skip the next step.
  2. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 2How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 2
    Click Blank document. It's in the upper-left side of the page.
  3. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 3How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 3
    Click the Insert tab. This tab is in the blue ribbon at the top of the Word window.
  4. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 4How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 4
    Click Shapes. It's in the Insert toolbar. A drop-down menu will appear.
  5. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 5How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 5
    Select a line shape. In the "Lines" heading, click one of the line templates.
  6. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 6How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 6
    Draw your line. Click and drag across the place in which you want to insert the line in your Word document to do so.
    1. You can move your line by clicking and dragging it. You can also adjust the line's length and orientation by clicking and dragging one of the circles on the ends (or in the middle) of the line.
Method 2 of 3:

Drawing a Line on Mac

  1. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 7How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 7
    Open Word. 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, you'll instead double-click the Word document to open it and skip the next step.
  2. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 8How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 8
    Click Blank document. It's in the upper-left side of the page.
  3. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 9How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 9
    Click the Insert menu item. This menu button is at the top of your Mac's screen in the grey menu bar. A drop-down menu will appear.
  4. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 10How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 10
    Click Shape…. It's in the Insert drop-down menu. Doing so opens a pop-up window.
  5. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 11How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 11
    Click the drop-down box. This is at the top of the pop-out menu. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu.
  6. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 12How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 12
    Click Lines and Connectors. It's in the drop-down menu.
  7. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 13How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 13
    Select a line template. Click one of the line options (e.g., a straight line) in the pop-up window.
  8. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 14How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 14
    Draw your line. Click and drag across the place in which you want to insert the line in your Word document to do so.
    1. You can move your line by clicking and dragging it. You can also adjust the line's length and orientation by clicking and dragging one of the circles on the ends (or in the middle) of the line.
Method 3 of 3:

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

  1. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 15How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 15
    Understand how this works. You can use key combinations to create different variations on a plain, horizontal line that spans your Word document from margin to margin.
  2. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 16How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 16
    Open Word. 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, you'll instead double-click the Word document to open it and skip the next step.
  3. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 17How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 17
    Click Blank document. It's in the upper-left side of the page.
  4. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 18How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 18
    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.
    1. 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.
  5. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 19How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 19
    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.
  6. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 20How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 20
    Press ↵ Enter to convert the dashes into a line. This will automatically create a solid line that will situate itself directly beneath the previous line of text.
    1. Note that the line does not occupy the space of a line of text, but instead exists between lines of text.
  7. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 21How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 21
    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:[1]
    1. Type in *** and press ↵ Enter to create a dotted line.
    2. Type in ___ (three underscores) and press ↵ Enter to create a bolder solid line.
    3. Type in === and press ↵ Enter to create a double line.
    4. Type in ### and press ↵ Enter to create a three-stripe line with a bold center stripe.
    5. Type in ~~~ and press ↵ Enter to create a squiggly line.
  8. How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 22How to Insert a Line in Word Picture 22
    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.
    1. Deleting text above the line will prompt it to move upward.
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