Most of you already know that you can apace add a horizontal line to a Word certificate by typing three hyphens and pressing Enter–just there'due south more than. There are several keyboard shortcuts and a built-in characteristic that lets yous add a predefined line that you lot can copy, move, slant, and delete.

In this article, I'll evidence you lot how to insert lines using both methods.

I'm using Office 365 Word (desktop) on a Windows 10 64-fleck system, but you tin use an older version of Discussion. The browser edition doesn't support these features. At that place'due south no demonstration file; you won't need i.

SEE: Choosing your Windows vii exit strategy: Four options (Tech Pro Research)

From the keyboard

Other than the three hyphens shortcut there are five others, for a total of 6 keyboard shortcuts for displaying a horizontal line in a Give-and-take document, as shown in Figure A.

Only type the three characters and press Enter, and Word will convert the three characters into its corresponding line. This magic is made possible by the AutoCorrect feature.

  1. To access this feature, click the File tab and click Options.
  2. In the left pane, click Proofing.
  3. To the right, click the AutoCorrect Options button.
  4. Then, click the AutoFormat Equally You Type tab.
  5. In the resulting dialog, cheque the Border lines in the Use department (Figure B). This setting is in the aforementioned spot in all versions but finding it in older versions is a flake different: If you're still using 2003, choose AutoCorrect from the Tools menu; 2007 users should click the Role button, and then click Word Options.

To disable this feature, uncheck the Border lines choice in the Apply section. To temporarily usurp the characteristic, press Ctrl+z to undo the conversion. To remove the line, click the AutoCorrect Options dropdown (in the left margin) and choose Undo Border Line, equally shown in Figure C. (But you lot must do so immediately.) You tin also use this dropdown to disable the AutoCorrect characteristic. If the dropdown is no longer bachelor, click the line (information technology won't exist apparent though; the cursor will appear to be in a higher place the line), and press Delete.

If y'all make up one's mind to disable the option, you can apace insert a horizontal line as follows:

  1. Place your cursor where y'all want to insert the line.
  2. Click the Home tab and and then click the dropdown pointer for the Borders option in the Paragraph group.
  3. From the resulting list, select Horizontal Line.

To remove the line, select it and press Delete. A few formatting options are available; merely double-click the line to see what's available.

To learn more about the AutoCorrect characteristic, read Harness the power of Word's AutoCorrect feature

Sticky border trouble

Give-and-take converts your set of three characters into a paragraph format. It'due south actually a border and not a shape (which we'll discuss briefly beneath). If y'all enter the iii hyphens directly nether a line of text, Word will attach a border to the text (paragraph). If you lot move the text, the line goes with information technology. If at that place's a blank line betwixt the text and the hyphen-generated line, the line stands alone. You can motion it and delete information technology.

In one case a line is anchored to text every bit a border, you can't select and remove the line. How do yous get rid of it? Click anywhere inside the textual paragraph and then click the Borders dropdown. Choose No Border, equally shown in Figure D, and the viscid border is gone

Every bit a Lines shape

The lines produced by the keyboard shortcuts and AutoCorrect are certainly functional, but Word can depict lines at an angle too using a Lines shape. Y'all'll demand to insert a true shape and not a paragraph-formatted border.

  1. To practice then, click the Insert tab and click the Shapes dropdown (in the Illustrations grouping).
  2. Choose a line from the Lines section and click where y'all want the line to beginning.
  3. Drag a fleck and click a second time where you want the line to end.

You lot can copy, move, or resize this line. To insert a straight line, agree downwardly the Shift cardinal. Either end point can be adjusted to be above or below the other point past dragging either indicate upwardly or downwardly. The point yous aren't moving will remain anchored to its position.

If y'all want both points to motility, hold down the Ctrl cardinal while yous motion one point or the other. The line responds similar to a kid's seesaw, as though the line were centered on a fulcrum, but merely at beginning because you can drag the point a total 360 degrees.

Stay tuned

Adding a horizontal line tin provide a visual line of demarcation between ii sections. Adding a vertical line will practice the same affair. In a future article, I'll show you lot how to add a vertical line to a document.

Send me your question about Office

I reply readers' questions when I can, but there's no guarantee. Don't send files unless requested; initial requests for assist that go far with attached files will exist deleted unread. You can send screenshots of your data to help clarify your question. When contacting me, be as specific as possible. For example, "Please troubleshoot my workbook and fix what'due south wrong" probably won't go a response, simply "Can you lot tell me why this formula isn't returning the expected results?" might. Please mention the app and version that you lot're using. I'grand not reimbursed by TechRepublic for my time or expertise when helping readers, nor do I ask for a fee from readers I assistance. You lot can contact me at susansalesharkins@gmail.com.

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