Most of you already know that you tin chop-chop add a horizontal line to a Word document past typing 3 hyphens and pressing Enter–merely in that location'due south more. At that place are several keyboard shortcuts and a born feature that lets y'all add a predefined line that y'all tin copy, movement, camber, and delete.

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

I'k using Role 365 Give-and-take (desktop) on a Windows 10 64-bit system, but you lot can use an older version of Discussion. The browser edition doesn't support these features. There's no sit-in file; you lot won't demand one.

Encounter: Choosing your Windows seven get out strategy: Four options (Tech Pro Inquiry)

From the keyboard

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

Simply blazon the 3 characters and press Enter, and Word will convert the three characters into its respective 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. And so, click the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
  5. In the resulting dialog, check the Border lines in the Utilize section (Figure B). This setting is in the same spot in all versions only finding it in older versions is a bit different: If yous're still using 2003, cull AutoCorrect from the Tools bill of fare; 2007 users should click the Office push, and then click Word Options.

To disable this feature, uncheck the Border lines option in the Apply section. To temporarily usurp the feature, press Ctrl+z to undo the conversion. To remove the line, click the AutoCorrect Options dropdown (in the left margin) and cull Undo Border Line, as shown in Figure C. (But you must do so immediately.) Yous tin can besides use this dropdown to disable the AutoCorrect feature. If the dropdown is no longer available, click the line (it won't be apparent though; the cursor will appear to be to a higher place the line), and press Delete.

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

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

To remove the line, select information technology and press Delete. A few formatting options are bachelor; simply double-click the line to come across what's available.

To larn more almost the AutoCorrect characteristic, read Harness the ability of Word's AutoCorrect feature

Mucilaginous border problem

Give-and-take converts your set of three characters into a paragraph format. Information technology's actually a border and non a shape (which we'll discuss briefly below). If you lot enter the three hyphens straight nether a line of text, Give-and-take will attach a border to the text (paragraph). If you 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 tin can motion it and delete it.

Once a line is anchored to text as a border, you tin can't select and remove the line. How do you get rid of it? Click anywhere inside the textual paragraph and then click the Borders dropdown. Choose No Border, as shown in Figure D, and the sticky border is gone

As a Lines shape

The lines produced by the keyboard shortcuts and AutoCorrect are certainly functional, but Word can draw lines at an angle likewise using a Lines shape. You'll demand to insert a true shape and non a paragraph-formatted border.

  1. To do so, click the Insert tab and click the Shapes dropdown (in the Illustrations group).
  2. Cull a line from the Lines department and click where yous want the line to start.
  3. Drag a chip and click a 2nd time where you want the line to cease.

You can copy, move, or resize this line. To insert a straight line, hold down the Shift fundamental. Either cease bespeak can be adjusted to be higher up or below the other indicate by dragging either point up or down. The signal you aren't moving volition remain anchored to its position.

If you want both points to motion, concur down the Ctrl key while y'all move one betoken or the other. The line responds similar to a child'southward seesaw, equally though the line were centered on a fulcrum, just simply at first because you lot tin drag the point a total 360 degrees.

Stay tuned

Adding a horizontal line can provide a visual line of demarcation between two sections. Calculation a vertical line will do the same thing. In a hereafter commodity, I'll testify you how to add a vertical line to a document.

Send me your question about Office

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

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