Near of you already know that you tin speedily add a horizontal line to a Discussion document by typing three hyphens and pressing Enter–just there's more. There are several keyboard shortcuts and a built-in characteristic that lets you add a predefined line that you lot can re-create, motility, slant, and delete.

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

I'm using Office 365 Word (desktop) on a Windows 10 64-bit organization, simply you can use an older version of Word. The browser edition doesn't support these features. There'south no demonstration file; yous won't demand one.

Encounter: Choosing your Windows 7 exit strategy: Four options (Tech Pro Research)

From the keyboard

Other than the iii hyphens shortcut at that place are five others, for a full of six keyboard shortcuts for displaying a horizontal line in a Word document, as shown in Figure A.

Merely blazon the 3 characters and press Enter, and Word will convert the iii characters into its respective line. This magic is fabricated 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 push button.
  4. Then, click the AutoFormat Equally You lot Type tab.
  5. In the resulting dialog, check the Border lines in the Employ section (Effigy B). This setting is in the same spot in all versions simply finding it in older versions is a scrap different: If you're still using 2003, choose AutoCorrect from the Tools menu; 2007 users should click the Office button, and so click Word Options.

To disable this feature, uncheck the Edge lines selection in the Employ 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 choose Undo Border Line, as shown in Effigy C. (Simply you must do so immediately.) You can besides utilise this dropdown to disable the AutoCorrect feature. If the dropdown is no longer bachelor, click the line (it won't be credible though; the cursor volition appear to exist above the line), and press Delete.

If yous decide to disable the choice, you can quickly insert a horizontal line equally follows:

  1. Place your cursor where you want to insert the line.
  2. Click the Habitation tab 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; simply double-click the line to see what's bachelor.

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

Sticky border trouble

Discussion converts your set of iii characters into a paragraph format. It's actually a border and not a shape (which we'll discuss briefly below). If you enter the iii hyphens directly under a line of text, Word will adhere a border to the text (paragraph). If you move the text, the line goes with it. If there's a blank line between the text and the hyphen-generated line, the line stands alone. You tin can move it and delete information technology.

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

Equally a Lines shape

The lines produced by the keyboard shortcuts and AutoCorrect are certainly functional, but Word tin can draw lines at an bending too using a Lines shape. You'll need to insert a true shape and not a paragraph-formatted border.

  1. To do so, click the Insert tab and click the Shapes dropdown (in the Illustrations group).
  2. Choose a line from the Lines department and click where yous want the line to start.
  3. Drag a bit and click a second time where y'all want the line to terminate.

You tin can copy, move, or resize this line. To insert a direct line, hold down the Shift central. Either end betoken can exist adjusted to be in a higher place or beneath the other point by dragging either betoken up or down. The point you lot aren't moving will remain anchored to its position.

If y'all want both points to move, hold downwards the Ctrl primal while yous move one point or the other. The line responds similar to a child's seesaw, as though the line were centered on a fulcrum, but merely at showtime because you tin drag the point a total 360 degrees.

Stay tuned

Calculation a horizontal line can provide a visual line of demarcation between two sections. Adding a vertical line volition do the same thing. In a future article, I'll show you how to add together a vertical line to a document.

Send me your question about Part

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

Come across also

  • How to combine Excel VLOOKUP() and PivotTable for unproblematic solutions (TechRepublic)
  • How to utilize conditional fields in a Word post merge (TechRepublic)
  • Function Q&A: Collapsible heading and delay transport settings aren't a cure all, but information technology'south close (TechRepublic)
  • How to document Word AutoText and AutoCorrect entries (TechRepublic)
  • How to certificate Word keyboard commands (TechRepublic)
  • x free alternatives to Microsoft Discussion and Excel (TechRepublic download)
  • Microsoft Office 365 for business: Everything you need to know (ZDNet)
  • The 10 most important iPhone apps of all time (Download.com)
  • Information technology takes work to go along your data private online. These apps can assist (CNET)
  • Programming languages and developer career resources coverage (TechRepublic on Flipboard)