How To Insert A Line In Word [Quick Guide]

Lines are basic design elements that enhance reading. Typing characters to form a line to break up sections of a document is certainly time-consuming. Rather than using the keyboard to draw lines, you can insert a line in Word and format it in different ways to make it more appealing. You do need to know how to add a line in Word, if you don’t then here’s how to insert a line in word.

???? JOIN OUR TELEGRAM COMMUNITY

Use AutoFormat to Insert a Line In Word

The easiest and the quickest way to insert a line into a Word document is with the AutoFormat feature. To make use of it, place the cursor in the location that you would like to insert the line, type the desired characters for the variations of the standard horizontal line, then press Enter.

To create varied style, press the associated keys on the keyboard:

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

ALSO READ: 7 Easy Ways to Remove Activate Windows Watermark

Use the Horizontal Line Tool to Insert a Line in Word

If you don’t want to follow the common stride, Microsoft Word gives you an option to insert a line into Word document using the built-in Horizontal Line tool. Here’s how to;

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 Borders to Insert a Line in Word

Other than the Horizontal Line tool, you can use the Borders option in the Paragraph group, which 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 text you have selected on the page or the paragraph if you haven’t selected any text.
   
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.
   
4. To change the look of any border, click on Borders and Shading. Use the dialog to adjust the style, color, and width of the border.

ALSO READ: 3 Ways To Easily Combine PDF Files For Free

Use the Shapes Menu to Insert a Line in Word

A fourth way to add a line to a Word document is to draw it on the page. The Shapes menu contains several line options, which include lines with arrow points on one or both ends. After you draw the line, you can also 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.

Adding lines at the right places can lead the eyes to the most important part of the document. Well, AutoFormat and Horizontal lines are a more obvious and common way to insert a line in Word. But adding Borders at the right place can boost the visual appeal of your content.