This wikiHow teaches you how to insert different types of lines into a Microsoft Word document using a Windows or Mac computer.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Draw a Line in Windows
Step 1. Launch Microsoft Word
Double-click the Word app icon. It features the white "W" on a dark blue background.
If you need to insert a line into an existing document, double click on the document icon and skip the next step
Step 2. Select the Blank Document option
It is located in the upper left of the page.
Step 3. Go to the Insert tab
It is one of the tabs that make up the Word ribbon at the top of the program window.
Step 4. Press the Shapes button
It is located within the "Illustrations" group of the tab insert. A drop-down menu will appear.
Step 5. Select a line type
Inside the "Lines" section you can see the list of all the line templates available in Word.
Step 6. Draw the line you want
Drag the mouse cursor to the area of the document where you want to insert the chosen line.
After drawing it, you can move the line simply by dragging it with the mouse. You also have the option to change its length and angle using the anchor points visible at the ends and center of the line
Method 2 of 3: Draw a Line on Mac
Step 1. Launch Microsoft Word
Double-click the Word app icon. It features the white "W" on a dark blue background.
If you need to insert a line into an existing document, double click on the document icon and skip the next step
Step 2. Select the Blank Document option
It is located in the upper left of the page.
Step 3. Access the Insert menu
It is located within the gray menu bar at the top of the Mac screen. A list of options will appear.
Step 4. Select the Shape… item
It is one of the options listed within the menu insert. A new pop-up window will appear.
Step 5. Access the drop-down menu
It is located at the top of the window that appeared. A list of options will be displayed.
Step 6. Choose the Lines and Connectors option
It is one of the items listed in the menu that appeared.
Step 7. Select the line pattern to use
Choose a line type (for example a straight line) from the pop-up window that appears.
Step 8. Draw the line you want
Drag the mouse cursor to the area of the document where you want to insert the chosen line.
After drawing it, you can move the line simply by dragging it with the mouse. You also have the option to change its length and angle using the anchor points visible at the ends and center of the line
Method 3 of 3: Using the Keyboard
Step 1. Understand how this method works
To insert different horizontal line patterns (which will extend across the width of the page) within a Word document you can use simple key combinations.
Step 2. Start Microsoft Word
Double-click the Word app icon. It features the white "W" on a dark blue background.
If you need to insert a line into an existing document, double click on the document icon and skip the next step
Step 3. Select the Blank Document option
It is located in the upper left of the page.
Step 4. Place the text cursor where you want to insert the line in the document
You will need to choose an empty line of text otherwise, if there is already text before or after the cursor, the line will not be displayed.
Using this method, a horizontal line will be created that will have a length equal to the width of the page. The line will automatically stop at the point where you set the left and right paper margin
Step 5. Type three consecutive dashes within the line of text where you want to insert the line
Use the memo key on the numeric keypad or the key corresponding to the dash on the keyboard.
Step 6. Press the Enter key to convert the three characters into a single horizontal line
Word will automatically convert the three symbols inserted into a horizontal line, exactly below the previous line of text.
Note: the appeared line does not occupy the space dedicated to a line of text, but will be placed within the space between two lines
Step 7. Use a different combination of characters to create lines with a different style
Using this method you have the option to create various horizontal line patterns:
- Type the text string *** and press the Enter key to create a dotted line;
- Type the text string _ (three underscores) and press the Enter key to create a bold line;
- Type the text string === and press the Enter key to create a double horizontal line;
- Type the text string ### and press the Enter key to create a triple horizontal line in which the middle one appears in bold;
- Type the text string ~~~ and press the Enter key to create a jagged line.
Step 8. Move the horizontal line by inserting a line of text before it
You can move the newly created line to the bottom of the page by placing a new line of text above it. Move to the end of the line before the line and press the Enter key.
