How to Put Horizontal Lines in Word

To put a horizontal line in Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows, type --- in an otherwise empty paragraph and press Enter. Word converts the three hyphens into a bottom border spanning the available paragraph width. You can also apply a paragraph border manually or draw a line shape.

Choose a paragraph border for a text divider, a shape for a line you draw to length, or a table cell border for a blank someone will type into. Unless a method names a different version, the desktop instructions apply to Word for Microsoft 365 and Word 2024 on the specified platform.

Insert a line with three characters

On Windows, place the cursor in an otherwise empty paragraph, type ---, then press Enter. This creates a thin single line. Its width follows the available paragraph or column width because the result is a paragraph bottom border.

For other styles, type ___ for a thick single line, === for a double line, or *** for a dotted line. Use ### for a triple line or ~~~ for a wavy line. Each sequence needs an otherwise empty paragraph followed by Enter.

Inside a column, the border spans the available column width. If you need that layout first, create two columns in Word before inserting your divider. To cancel an automatic line immediately after creating it, press Backspace to restore the characters.

Fix automatic borders and remove unwanted lines

If the characters remain as text after you press Enter, check the automatic border setting in Windows Word. Open File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type. Check Border Lines, select OK, and repeat the shortcut in an empty paragraph.

To stop punctuation from becoming lines, return to the same setting and uncheck Border Lines. Select OK to save the change. You can still apply a border manually when you need one.

To remove an existing paragraph-border line on Windows, place the cursor immediately above it. Open Home, select the arrow beside Borders and Shading, and choose No Border. For a selectable drawn line or connector, select the object and press Delete.

Add and style a paragraph border

On Windows or Mac, select the paragraph where you want the line. Open Home > Borders and choose Bottom Border or Top Border. To add horizontal borders between several selected paragraphs, choose Inside Horizontal Border.

For more control, open Borders > Borders and Shading. Choose Style, Color, and Width, then set Apply to to Paragraph. In Preview, retain the horizontal edge you want, then select OK.

To format an automatically created border on Windows, open Home > Paragraph > Borders > Borders and Shading. Change Style, Color, or Width, then select OK. Select Borders again to apply the formatting.

Windows Word also offers a dedicated Horizontal Line object. Position the cursor, open Home > Borders, and select Horizontal Line. This command inserts a different object from the paragraph border created by Bottom Border.

Draw a straight or custom line

On Windows, open Insert > Shapes and choose the straight line under Lines. Hold Shift while dragging horizontally to constrain its direction. With the line selected, open Shape Format > Shape Outline to change its color, thickness, dashes, or arrowheads.

On Mac, open Insert > Shapes, choose a line, then click in the document and drag to draw it. Select the line and use Shape Format to change its appearance.

To draw several lines in Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, open Insert > Shapes, right-click the line shape, and select Lock Drawing Mode. Drag to draw each line, holding Shift to constrain its direction. Press Esc when you finish.

For a custom divider on Windows, you can first select Insert > Shapes > New Drawing Canvas. A canvas is optional for ordinary lines but useful for grouping drawings or connecting shapes. Under Lines in the shape gallery, choose Freeform or Scribble, draw your divider, and double-click to finish.

Make a blank line for typing or printing

For a printed blank or signature line on Windows, select Home > Show/Hide ¶. Press Tab one or more times, select the resulting tab characters, and press Ctrl + U. To choose another underline style, open the Font dialog launcher on Home and choose Underline style.

For a line that stays in place while someone types, use a table cell's bottom border. On Windows, open Insert > Table and insert one cell. Resize the table to the required line length, then open Table Design > Borders > Borders and Shading.

Under Setting, select None, then choose Style, Color, and Width. Activate only the bottom edge in Preview and select OK. Use a second cell when a label needs to sit beside the line, or create a fillable form in Word when your document needs additional input controls.

For a short line made from text characters on Windows, repeatedly press Shift + Hyphen on a keyboard layout where that combination types an underscore. Three or more underscores can become a paragraph border when you finish the paragraph. Disable Border Lines first if you want to retain the characters.

Create a line with tab leaders

A tab leader fills the space up to a tab stop with a solid, dotted, or dashed line. On Windows, open Layout, select the Paragraph dialog launcher, and choose Tabs. Enter a tab-stop position, choose Alignment, and select the desired sample under Leader. Select Set, then OK, and press Tab to produce the leader.

On Mac, open Format > Tabs and select the tab stop. Choose Alignment, select a sample under Leader, and select OK. Press Tab to create the line.

In Word for the web, open Layout, select the Paragraph dialog launcher, and choose Tab Stop Options. Enter a tab-stop position, choose Alignment, and select a sample under Leader. Select Set, then OK, and press Tab.

Place lines in headers and along page edges

To repeat a divider through a header or footer on Windows or Mac, open Insert > Header > Edit Header or Insert > Footer > Edit Footer. Apply a paragraph border or insert a line shape in that area using the corresponding steps above. Select Close Header and Footer when you finish.

The line's repetition follows your document's section and header or footer settings. If the layout also needs numbering, you can add page numbers in Word while arranging those areas.

For a horizontal page edge on Windows or Mac, open Design > Page Borders and choose Style, Color, and Width. In Preview, turn off unwanted edges, leaving the top or bottom line, then choose the scope under Apply to. Use Options to adjust placement and select OK. Page borders apply by section rather than acting as dividers within body text.

Draw a freehand ink line

In Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, select View > Print Layout, then open Draw and select a pen. Adjust Thickness and Color from the pen's menu, then draw horizontally with your mouse, finger, or stylus. If you need to display the tab, open File > Options > Customize Ribbon, select Draw, and select OK.

In Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac, Word 2024 for Mac, or Word for iPad, iPhone, or Android, open Draw and select a pen. Draw your line using the available pointer, touch, or pen input. Ink controls vary by device.

Automate line insertion with VBA

If you already work with VBA in desktop Word, you can insert a horizontal-line object from a Word VBA procedure with the following statement. Omitting its optional range argument places the line above the current selection.

ActiveDocument.InlineShapes.AddHorizontalLineStandard

You can also enable automatic borders through VBA by setting Options.AutoFormatAsYouTypeApplyBorders = True. To disable them, set Options.AutoFormatAsYouTypeApplyBorders = False. This changes Word's application option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you use a decorative image as a divider?

You can apply Word's picture insertion tools to an image containing a decorative divider. In Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024, open Insert > Pictures > This Device on Windows, or Insert > Pictures > Picture from File on Mac, select the image, and select Insert. In Word for the web, paste or drag the image into the document. Resize the inserted picture using its handles.

Can Copilot generate a decorative divider?

If your Windows Word installation offers image generation and you have the required Copilot entitlement, open Insert > Pictures > Generate an Image. Describe the divider image you want in the Copilot chat pane. Using this feature for a divider is an application of its image-generation tools, producing artwork rather than a native horizontal rule.

How do you insert a signing placeholder?

In Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, position the cursor, open Insert, and select Add a Signature Line in Text. Complete the relevant fields in Signature Setup. Optionally select Allow the signer to add comments in the Sign dialog box or Show sign date in signature line, then select OK.

Can you save a signature block containing a line for later use?

In Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows, select the existing signature block and open Insert > Quick Parts > Save Selection to Quick Part Gallery. Name it, select AutoText under Gallery, and select OK. To reuse it, open Insert > Quick Parts > AutoText and choose the saved block.

How do you draw a line with a Mac trackpad?

In Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac with a built-in or connected trackpad, open Draw and switch Draw with Trackpad to On. Move the drawing window with two fingers and draw a horizontal stroke with one finger. For precise positioning, hold Command, position your finger, pause until the circle becomes a dot, then draw. Press any key to leave precision-draw mode.