Buzz
This article provides instructions on how to create various types of lines in Microsoft Word on Windows or Mac computers.
Steps
Draw a Line on Windows
Open Word. Click or double-click the Word program with the white "W" icon on a blue background.
- If you want to draw a line in an existing Word document, simply open that document by double-clicking and skip the next step.
Click on Blank document (New document). This option is located at the top left corner of the page.
Click on the Insert (Insert). This tab is found in the blue section at the top of the Word window.
Click on Shapes (Shapes). This option is available under the Insert toolbar. A menu will appear here.
Select a line. Under the "Lines" heading, click on one of the available lines.
Draw the line. Click and drag the mouse on the area where you want to insert the line in the Word document to perform this action.
- You can move the line by clicking and dragging it. Additionally, you can adjust the length and direction of the line by clicking and dragging the circle at one end (or in the middle) of the line.
Draw a line on Mac
Open Word. Click or double-click on the Word program with the white "W" icon on a blue background.
- If you want to draw a line in an existing Word document, just open that document by double-clicking and skip the next step.
Click on Blank document (New document). This option appears at the top left corner of the page.
Click on the Insert menu. This button is displayed in the gray toolbar at the top of the Mac screen. A menu will appear once you click here.
Click on Shape… (Shape). This is an option in the Insert menu. A window will appear on the screen after this action.
Click on the selection box. This option is located at the top of the currently visible menu. A dropdown list will appear here.
Click on Lines and Connectors (Lines and Connectors). This is an option within the visible list.
Select a line style. Click on one of the options (such as a straight line) in the displayed window.
Draw a line. Click and drag your mouse across the area where you want to insert the line in the Word document.
- You can move the line by clicking and dragging it. Additionally, you can adjust its length and direction by clicking and dragging the circle at one end (or the middle) of the line.
Use keyboard shortcuts
Learn how to perform the action. You can use key combinations to create various types of lines that extend from the left to the right margin of the Word document.
Open Word. Click or double-click the Word program with the white "W" icon on a blue background.
- If you want to draw a line in an existing Word document, simply open the document by double-clicking on it and skip the next step.
Click on Blank document (New Document). This option is located at the upper-left corner of the page.
Place the cursor where you want to insert the line. You need to position the cursor on an empty line, as this action will not work if there is content before or after the cursor on the same line.
- You will create a horizontal line that stretches from the left to the right margin of the document. This line will be within the predefined margin limits.
Type three hyphens in a row. Use the hyphen key located on the number row at the top of the keyboard, or on the numeric keypad.
Press ↵ Enter to convert the hyphens into a straight line. This action automatically creates a line directly beneath the current text.
- Note that the line won't interrupt the text; it only appears between lines of content.
Use additional characters to create different line styles. In addition to hyphens, you can use other characters to create various line types:
- Type *** and press ↵ Enter to create a dotted line.
- Type ___ (three underscores) and press ↵ Enter to create a bolder line.
- Type === and press ↵ Enter to create a pair of parallel lines.
- Type ### and press ↵ Enter to create three parallel lines with the middle line bolded.
- Type ~~~ and press ↵ Enter to create a wavy line.
Move the line by typing content directly above it. You can shift the line down by typing text just above it and pressing ↵ Enter.
- Deleting the text above the line will move the line back up.
