This article will teach you how to create different types of lines in Microsoft Word for Windows or Mac.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Drawing a Line in Windows
Step 1. Open Word
Double-click the Word icon, represented by a white “W” in front of a dark blue background.
If you want to draw a line in an existing document, double-click the file to open it and skip to the next step
Step 2. Click Blank Document
The option is on the upper left side of the page.
Step 3. Access the Insert tab
It's in the blue section at the top of Word.
Step 4. Click Shapes
The option is on the toolbar Insert and opens a dropdown menu.
Step 5. Choose a line shape
Click on one of the templates in the "Lines" section.
Step 6. Draw the line
Click and drag your mouse where you want to insert the line in your Word document.
You can also click and drag the line to change its position, and click the circles at the ends (or in the middle) to adjust the length and orientation
Method 2 of 3: Drawing a Line on Mac
Step 1. Open Word
Double-click the Word icon, represented by a white “W” in front of a dark blue background.
If you want to draw a line in an existing document, double-click the file to open it and skip to the next step
Step 2. Click Blank Document
The option is on the upper left side of the page.
Step 3. Access the Insert menu item
It sits at the top of your Mac screen, in a gray bar, and opens a drop-down menu.
Step 4. Click Shape…
The option is in the dropdown menu Insert and generates a new window.
Step 5. Click on the dropdown field
It is at the top of the menu that will appear on the screen and will lead to a new dropdown menu.
Step 6. Click Lines and Connectors
The option is in the middle of the dropdown menu.
Step 7. Choose a line template
Click on one of the options (such as straight line).
Step 8. Draw the line
Click and drag the mouse where you want to insert the line in the Word document.
You can also click and drag the line to change its position, and click the circles at the ends (or in the middle) to adjust the length and orientation
Method 3 of 3: Using Keyboard Shortcuts
Step 1. Understand how the process works
You can use key combinations to create different versions of the line going from one edge to another.
Step 2. Open Word
Double-click the Word icon, represented by a white “W” in front of a dark blue background.
If you want to draw a line in an existing document, double-click the file to open it and skip to the next step
Step 3. Click Blank Document
The option is on the upper left side of the page.
Step 4. Place the cursor where you want the line to appear
This only works on white lines, which have no other characters for now.
You will create a horizontal line from one edge of the page to the other. It will end up on the banks
Step 5. Enter three dashes in sequence
Use the dash key on the normal or numeric keyboard.
Step 6. Press ↵ Enter to convert the dashes to one line
This will automatically create a solid line just below the previous line of text.
The line does not take up the space of a line of text; it exists between two textual lines
Step 7. Use different characters to form different line styles
There are a few different ways to use characters:
- Type *** and press ↵ Enter to create a dotted line.
- Type ___ (three underlines) and press ↵ Enter to create a solid bold line.
- Type === and press ↵ Enter to create a double line.
- Type ### and press ↵ Enter to create a triple line, with the middle bold.
- Type ~~~ and press ↵ Enter to create a wavy line.
Step 8. Type text over a line to move it
Just enter a few characters and press ↵ Enter to take the line further down the page.