To separate paragraphs in a document or to delimit sections of text, you can create different types of lines in Microsoft Word. This is possible on the version of the program for Windows or for Mac.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Draw a line with Word for Windows
Step 1. Open Word
To open Word, click or double-click the "W" shaped icon on a dark blue background.
If you want to draw a horizontal line in an existing Word document, double click on the document in question and go to the next step
Step 2. Click Blank Document
This option is at the top left of the page.
Step 3. Go to the Insert tab
The tab Insertion is located in the blue ribbon at the top of the Word window.
Step 4. Select Shapes
This option is in the toolbar Insertion and opens a drop-down menu.
Step 5. Choose a line shape
In the header Lines, click on one of the available line models.
Step 6. Draw your line
Click and drag the cursor to where you want to insert the line in the Word document.
You can move the line by clicking and dragging it in the Word document. You can also change its length and orientation by clicking and dragging any of the circles at its ends (or center)
Method 2 of 3: Draw a line in Word for Mac
Step 1. Open Word
Click or double-click the Word application icon that looks like a white "W" on a dark blue background.
If you want to draw a line in an existing Word document, double click on the document in question first to open it and then go to the next step
Step 2. Click Blank Document
The option Blank document is at the top left of the page.
Step 3. Open the Insert menu
This menu is located in the gray menu bar at the top of your Mac screen. Click on it to open a drop-down menu.
Step 4. Select Shape
Form is in the drop-down menu and opens a pop-up window.
Step 5. Click the drop-down field
In the pop-up window, click the drop-down field to display a menu.
Step 6. Choose Lines and Connectors
This option is in the drop-down menu.
Step 7. Select a line template
Click on one of the line templates available in the pop-up window (for example a straight line).
Step 8. Draw your line
Click and drag the cursor to where you want to insert the line in your Word document.
If you want to move your line, click on it and drag it to the desired location. If you want to adjust the length and orientation of the line, click and drag one of the circles at its end (or center)
Method 3 of 3: Use keyboard shortcuts
Step 1. Know how it works
You can use key combinations to create different types of horizontal lines that cross your Word document from margin to margin.
Step 2. Open Word
Click or double-click the "W" shaped icon on a dark blue background to open the Word application.
If you want to draw a line in an existing Word document first open the document by double clicking on it and then go to the next step
Step 3. Click Blank Document
This option is at the top left of the page.
Step 4. Place your cursor where you want to draw a line
You must be on a blank line, because it won't work if there is text before or after the cursor.
This trick creates a horizontal line that runs from one edge of the page to the other. The line will stop at the margins you set
Step 5. Type 3 dashes
Use the hyphen key on the top row of numbers on the keyboard or on the numeric keypad.
Step 6. Press Enter
The dashes will automatically be converted to a solid line which will appear directly below the previous line of text.
Note that the line does not occupy the space of a line of text, but rather appears between 2 lines of text
Step 7. Draw different types of lines
You can create different types of lines using characters other than the hyphen.
- Type *** then press Enter to create a dotted line.
- Type ___ (3 underscores) then press Enter to create a solid bold line.
- Type === then press Enter to create a double line.
- Type ### then press Enter to create a line consisting of 3 stripes with the middle stripe in bold.
- Type ~~~ then press Enter to create a twisted line.
Step 8. Move the line
You can automatically move the line down by typing text above it and then pressing Enter.