To draw a straight line anywhere in a Microsoft Word document, choose Insert > Shapes > Line, then drag across the page. Hold Shift while dragging to keep it exactly horizontal or vertical. If you want a full-width divider between paragraphs, a paragraph border may be easier to maintain.
Draw a line shape
- Click in the document near where you want the line.
- Choose Insert > Shapes and select the plain line from the Lines gallery.
- Click and drag from the starting point to the ending point. Hold Shift for a horizontal or vertical line.
- Release the mouse. Select the line and drag an endpoint to adjust its length or angle.
- With the line selected, use Shape Format > Shape Outline to change its color, weight, dash pattern, or arrowhead.
These steps follow Microsoft’s line-shape instructions. A line shape can be moved and resized independently of the text.
Add a full-width horizontal divider instead
In Word for Windows, type three hyphens on a line by themselves and press Enter. Word’s AutoFormat feature can turn them into a horizontal paragraph border. That line belongs to the paragraph, rather than being a movable shape. Use Home > Borders to change or remove it. Microsoft’s horizontal-line guide explains the border method. Our horizontal line guide covers this related task.
Other line styles you can type
The same AutoFormat feature recognizes other characters. Type three of them on an empty line and press Enter:
| Type | Line you get |
|---|---|
| — | Thin single line |
| ___ (underscores) | Thick single line |
| === | Double line |
| *** | Dotted line |
| ~~~ | Wavy line |
| ### | Triple line with a thicker center |
Each one is a paragraph border, so you change or remove it through Home > Borders. If you create one by accident, press Ctrl+Z right away to get the characters back.
- Click on an empty line where the line should go.
- Click the arrow next to Home > Borders.
- Choose Horizontal Line.
This inserts a graphic line across the page. Double-click it to open Format Horizontal Line, where you can change its width, height, color, and alignment. To remove it, click it once and press Delete.
If typing three hyphens doesn’t make a line
Make sure the hyphens are alone on their own line and that you pressed Enter. Then check that the feature is turned on:
- Click File > Options > Proofing.
- Click AutoCorrect Options and open the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
- Check Border lines and click OK.
That divider is really a paragraph border, so you can restyle, move or remove it the same way you would a bottom border in Word.
Move or remove a drawn line
Click the shape itself to select it. Drag it to a new place or press Delete to remove it. If the line is hard to select, use Home > Select > Selection Pane in desktop Word and choose the line object there. If a line appeared after typing characters and pressing Enter, it may be a paragraph border; place the cursor in that paragraph and use the Borders menu instead.
Common questions
How do I make the line perfectly straight?
Hold Shift while drawing to constrain the line horizontally or vertically. For a full-width divider, consider a paragraph border.
Why will Delete not remove my horizontal line?
The line may be a bottom border on a paragraph, created by AutoFormat. Use Home > Borders > No Border for the affected paragraph.
Can I make the line dashed?
Yes. Select a drawn line and choose a dash style under Shape Format > Shape Outline.
Matt has been writing about Microsoft Windows and other Microsoft products since the days of Windows XP. He spends much of his time writing for sites like WindowBrain.com