Use AutoFormat to Insert a Line in Word
You can quickly insert a line into a Word document with the AutoFormat feature. To create a line, place the cursor in the location that you’d like to insert it, type the three characters for the desired line style, then press Enter.
To create the different types of lines, press the associated keys on the keyboard:
Plain single line: Three hyphens (—)Plain double line: Three equal signs (===)Broken or dotted line: Three asterisks (***)Bold single line: Three underline symbols (___)Wavy line: Three tildes (~~~)Triple line with a thick center: Three number signs (###)
Here’s what each of these line types looks like in Word:
Use the Horizontal Line Tool to Insert a Line in Word
To insert a line into a Word document using the built-in Horizontal Line tool:
Place the cursor where you want to insert a line. Go to the Home tab. By default, the Home tab is selected when you open a new or existing Word document. In the Paragraph group, select the Borders drop-down arrow and choose Horizontal Line. To change the look of the line, double-click the line in the document. In the Format Horizontal Line dialog box, modify the width, height, color, and alignment of the line.
Use the Shapes Menu to Insert a Line in Word
A third way to add a line to a Word document is to draw it on the page. The Shapes menu contains several line options, including lines with arrow points on one or both ends. After you draw the line, customize the color and appearance.
Place the cursor in the spot where you want to insert a line. Go to the Insert tab. In the Illustrations group, select the Shapes drop-down arrow. In the Lines group, choose a line shape. In the Word document, drag across the location where you want the line to appear. To change the look of the line, select the line to enable the Shape Format tab. (Some versions of Word call this Format. ) Go to the Shape Format tab and change the color, use a different line style, or apply effects.
