One of the best ways to better organize your Word document and improve its readability is by using lines.
Whether you’re working on a resume, an instructional guide, or a blog post, using lines can help you dictate the flow, enhance attention to detail, and make the project eye-pleasing.
Looking to learn more about writing horizontal lines in Word and all associated tips and tricks? This guide contains everything you need to know on the topic, so without further ado, let’s get into it.
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Method 1: Using The Built-In Borders Tool In Word
The most sophisticated way of adding borders and lines in Word is by using the built-in tool dedicated to those tasks.
Follow the procedures below to learn how.
- Open a blank Word document. It’s the best way to try the feature out and learn without breaking something within a document you’ve worked on.
- In the top-bar horizontal menu, click Home. Then, under the Paragraph section, click the arrow pointing down next to the Borders icon, as shown in the image below.
- Choose Horizontal Line from the list of available options on the menu. A line will immediately appear in your document.
- Double-click the line with your mouse cursor to open the customization menu.
- Modify the values to create the perfect line that suits your document type. You can change the width, height, color, and alignment.
- When done, save the changes by pressing the OK button. The modified line will appear in your document.
You can repeat these steps anytime you require fresh straight lines in your paper.
Method 2: Using Word Keyboard Shortcuts
This is a quicker method of adding a horizontal line in your Word document, and not many users know about it.
It requires the user to activate a keyboard shortcut based on the type of line they want in their document.
There are six different line types you can create using the Word line keyboard shortcuts.
- Using three Hyphens “~~~”
- Using three Equal Signs “===”
- Using three Underlines “___”
- Using three Asterisks “***”
- Using three Number Signs “###”
- Using three Tildes “~~~”
To use this method, all you need to do is type in one of the six different character types three times, and then press the Enter key on your keyboard to initiate the command.
For example, === and Enter will result in the “equal signs” line.
### and Enter will result in the “number signs” line, etc.
The image below displays how all lines look.
This is a much quicker method you can use “on the fly” without wasting too much time, but it doesn’t allow for detailed customization as Method #1.
It is however very useful when you need to separate content and don’t care about the looks of the line as it serves a purely functional purpose.
Method 3: Manually Drawing A Line In Word
The third method, and one that’s probably used the least, is the one requiring the use of the Shape Drawing feature in Word.
When it comes to horizontal lines, we suggest the alternative two methods as they’re simply more accurate, allow more personalization, and are considerably quicker as well. However, for drawing other shapes, this is the best approach.
Still, if you’re willing to learn how to create a line in Word using the Shapes feature, follow the steps below:
- Open a Word document on your PC.
- In the top-bar horizontal menu, click Insert and then expand the Shapes menu.
- Choose Line from the list of available shapes.
- Left-click the area where you want the line to start, then drag your mouse to the point where you want the line to end, and release your left mouse button. The line will show up in your document.
Tip: If you can’t get the line to “snap” while drawing it, hold the Tilt button on your keyboard, and it will be much easier to make it straight.
You can also use this function for other shapes, so feel free to customize your word document with more than just horizontal lines.
Why Do I need Horizontal Lines In My Word Document?
There are many benefits to learning how to add horizontal lines to your document.
They are great for dividing content into separate categories, making everything much clearer and easier to read.
When working on a job application or a resume for example, it’s much better to use lines and split the content to make the document more easily “scannable” by the eye.
If the job application requires you to possess a specific set of Word skills, implementing lines through different methods will only put an accent on your expertise with the software.
Lines are also used for decorative purposes. They don’t need to have any functionality, but they can make a CV or a personal portfolio look much more professional and better overall.
Conclusion
Using Horizontal lines in Word has many benefits, and since learning this skill is simple, we recommend it to anyone looking to improve their workflow in this software.
Hopefully, the three different methods of adding lines in Word will help you learn how to do it with ease the next time you’re working on an important document.
