Microsoft Word offers several easy ways to insert horizontal or vertical lines into your documents. Lines can help visually separate sections, highlight key points, or simply add decorative elements. In this guide, you’ll learn step-by-step methods for inserting various line styles in Word on Windows, Mac, and mobile.
Insert a Horizontal Line
Horizontal lines, also called rules, are a great way to separate sections of text. Here are three quick methods to insert one:
Use the AutoFormat Shortcut
- Place your cursor where you want the line to appear
- Type three hyphens (—) and press Enter
- A horizontal line will automatically appear
You can also use equal signs (===) or asterisks (***) instead of hyphens.
Apply a Bottom Border
- Put your cursor where you want the line
- Go to Home > Paragraph > Borders > Bottom Border
- A horizontal border line will appear
Insert a Shape Line
- Go to Insert > Shapes > Lines
- Select a line style under Lines
- Click and drag to draw a horizontal line
After inserting a line, you can customize its color, thickness, endpoints, and more by right-clicking it and choosing Format Shape.
Insert a Vertical Line
Adding vertical divider lines in Word is just as easy. Here are a few methods:
Use the Pipe Character
- Place your cursor where you want the line
- Press Shift + Backslash ()
- A vertical line will appear
Add Left or Right Borders
- Put your cursor in the desired location
- Go to Home > Paragraph > Borders
- Choose Left Border or Right Border
Insert a Shape Line
- Go to Insert > Shapes > Lines
- Select a line style
- Hold Shift while dragging to draw a straight vertical line
After insertion, right-click the line and choose Format Shape to customize its appearance.
Insert Lines on Mobile
The Word mobile app makes it simple to insert horizontal or vertical lines on the go:
- Tap the + symbol
- Choose Insert > Shapes
- Select a line style
- Drag your finger to draw a line
- Customize color, thickness, etc. by tapping the line
Tips for Using Lines Effectively
- Place lines strategically to divide sections or highlight key points
- Be consistent with line styles throughout a document
- Use thick lines sparingly to maintain readability
- Customize line color to match your theme or branding
- Experiment with dashes, arrows, brackets, and other creative lines
With this guide, you should now feel confident inserting and formatting lines in Word on any platform. Lines can take your documents from bland to beautiful in just a few clicks!
