How to Insert a Line in Word

This updated guide examines How to Insert a Line in Word and organizes the essential facts, background, and practical takeaways in clear American English.

Method 1

Drawing a Line on Windows

1. Open Word. 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, you'll instead double-click the Word document to open it and skip the next step.
2. ClickBlank document. It's in the upper-left side of the page.
3. Click theInserttab. This tab is in the blue ribbon at the top of the Word window.
4. ClickShapes. It's in the Insert toolbar. A drop-down menu will appear.
5. Select a line shape. In the "Lines" heading, click one of the line templates.
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.
   • 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

Drawing a Line on Mac

1. Open Word. 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, you'll instead double-click the Word document to open it and skip the next step.
2. ClickBlank document. It's in the upper-left side of the page.
3. Click theInsertmenu 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. ClickShape…. It's in the Insert drop-down menu. Doing so opens a pop-up window.
5. Click the drop-down box. This is at the top of the pop-out menu. Clicking it prompts a drop-down menu.
6. ClickLines and Connectors. It's in the drop-down menu.
7. Select a line template. Click one of the line options (e.g., a straight line) in the pop-up window.
8. Draw your line. Click and drag across the place in which you want to insert the line in your Word document to do so.
   • 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

Using Keyboard Shortcuts

1. 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. Open Word. 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, you'll instead double-click the Word document to open it and skip the next step.
3. ClickBlank document. It's in the upper-left side of the page.
4. 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.
5. 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. Press?Enterto convert the dashes into a line. This 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.
7. 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]XResearch source}
   • Type in***and press?Enterto create a dotted line.
   • Type in___(three underscores) and press?Enterto create a bolder solid line.
   • Type in===and press?Enterto create a double line.
   • Type in###and press?Enterto create a three-stripe line with a bold center stripe.
   • Type in~~~and press?Enterto create a squiggly line.
8. 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.