WHS Library  » Technology/Tutorials » Create line in Word

Inserting a Line from Margin to Margin:

1. Click your cursor in the empty space on your document where you want the line to be (or press the return key).

2. At the top of the screen, find the Border icon in the formatting toolbar. If the formatting toolbar is not there, from the menu bar click View - Toolbars - Formatting.

4. A line will be inserted at the location of the curser within the margins of the document.

Inserting a Dotted Line from Margin to Margin:

1. You will actually be inserting a dotted bottom border. You need to create space under this border so you can continue typing under the dotted line.

Click the cursor in the empty space on your document where you want the dotted line to be (or press the return key). Press the up arrow key on your keyboard at least one time.

2. From the menu bar, click Format - Borders and Shading.

3. In the borders and shading window, be sure the Borders tab is selected. Under Style, chooose the kind of line you would like to insert.

4. On the right side of the window, under Preview, click the squares to de-select all but the second square. Only the square with the line on the bottom should be gray. Click OK.

5. A dotted line will be inserted at the location of the cursor within the margins of the document.

Drawing a Line:

1. At the top or the side of the screen, find the line tool in the drawing toolbar. If the drawing toolbar is not there, from the menu bar click View - Toolbars - Drawing.

2. Your cursor will now look like a plus (+) sign. Click on your document in the spot where you want the line to start and drag acrosss the document with your mouse to the place where you want the line to end.

NOTE: If you want a perfectly straight line, hold down the SHIFT key on the keyboard while you draw the line.

3. If you want a dotted line, click on the down arrow next to Dashed in the Colors, Weights, and Fills tab of the Formatting Palette and choose a line style. If the Formatting Palette is not there, from the menu bar click View - Formatting Palette
OR Click the Draw button on the drawing toolbar then drag over and down to Dash Style.

Positioning/Sizing a Line:

1. To Position a drawn line at a specific place on the page, click on the line (mouse must look like a hand) to select it (small white boxes will appear on each end). To select multiple drawn lines, hold the shift key as you click each line.

2. Click the Draw button on the drawing toolbar then drag over to Format AutoShape.

3. In the Format AutoShape window, be sure the Layout tab is selected at the top. Click the Advanced button in the lower right corner.

4. In the Advanced Layout window, be sure the Picture Position tab is selected at the top. Select the horizontal and/or vertical alignment options to be applied to the line(s). Click OK.

**note: A line can be moved in small increments by pressing the option key and using the arrow keys on the keyboard.

5. To set the width of the line(s), click the Size tab at the top of the Format AutoShape window. Type a number in the box next to Width, or use the up/down arrows to select a size (in inches). Click OK.