Lines Between Text Columns in Word: Add or Remove

In Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, add a vertical line between text columns by opening Layout > Columns > More Columns, selecting two or more columns, and checking Line between. To remove it, return to the same dialog and clear the checkbox; the setting applies to the relevant section or selected text, not to every column layout automatically.

What the line-between setting does

Word calls the divider a line between columns. It is a vertical rule placed in the space separating columns of flowing text. The rule helps readers distinguish one column from the next, especially in newsletters, brochures, programs, and other pages with compact layouts. It is a layout feature, not a character typed into the document and not a border around a paragraph.

Columns made with Word’s column layout behave like newspaper columns: text fills one column and continues into the next according to the document’s flow. The line is associated with that column layout. It does not divide the page into independent boxes, and it does not force each column to contain the same amount of text. If there is only one column, there is no gap to mark, so enabling the option will not create a visible divider.

This distinction matters because a vertical line can also be drawn with a shape, or created as a table border. Those methods can look similar, but they behave differently when text changes. The built-in line-between option stays with the column arrangement, while a manually drawn line may need repositioning after edits.

Add a line between columns in Word

For a new two-column section, place the insertion point where the layout should begin. If only part of an existing document should use columns, select that text first. Then use the following steps in Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows:

Open the Layout tab on the ribbon.
Select Columns, then choose More Columns to open the Columns dialog.
Choose a layout with at least two columns, such as Two, or set the number in the Number of columns box.
Check Line between.
Review Apply to, choose the intended scope, and select OK.

When text is selected, Word may offer to apply the formatting to the selected text and may insert section breaks around it so that the surrounding content can keep its existing layout. If the document already contains sections, check the scope before confirming: choosing the whole document can change layouts beyond the page you meant to adjust.

In Word for Mac, the equivalent controls are generally on Layout > Columns > More Columns; choose a multi-column layout and enable Line between in the dialog. Ribbon labels or dialog placement can vary slightly by release. Word for the web has fewer advanced page-layout controls than the desktop apps, so use Word for Windows or Mac if the line-between checkbox is unavailable.

Choose where the divider should appear

The most important choice is often not the line itself but the range of pages it affects. Word uses sections to give different parts of a document different layouts. A document can have a one-column introduction, a two-column article, and a one-column closing section, for example. The line-between option belongs to the column formatting for the section in which it is enabled.

The Apply to control in the Columns dialog determines the scope. Depending on the document and selection, choices can include the whole document, this section, or selected text. Read the wording presented in the dialog rather than assuming the setting affects only the current page. A page is not necessarily a separate section: without a section break, column formatting may continue onto later pages.

To start a new column layout while keeping the next part of the document independent, insert a section break. Place the cursor where the change should start, then use Layout > Breaks > Continuous for a section break that continues on the same page. A next-page section break is more appropriate when the new layout should begin on a fresh page. Turn on formatting marks with Home > Show/Hide ¶ if you need to see section breaks while troubleshooting. A continuous break can affect where text flows, so review the pages around it after changing the layout.

Adjust column width and spacing

The divider sits in the gap between columns, so the width and spacing choices affect how the page looks. In the Columns dialog, Equal column width makes the columns the same width. Clear that option if you want to set individual widths and spacing where Word allows it. A narrow gap can make the line feel crowded against the text; a wider gap gives the divider more visual breathing room.

For instance, a two-column event program might use equal columns with a modest gap so readers can scan the schedule. A page with a narrow sidebar and a wider article column may need unequal widths instead. The line is still positioned between the columns, but the overall balance depends on the page margins, column widths, and gap. Make changes in the dialog, then inspect the page at normal reading size as well as in print preview.

Word’s built-in divider is intended as a straightforward separator. The Columns dialog does not provide the same detailed controls as a shape for choosing a custom stroke color, thickness, or dash pattern. If exact visual styling is essential, a shape or a table may offer more control, but those alternatives require additional care when the text reflows.

Why the line may not appear

If you checked Line between but cannot see a rule, confirm that the content is actually formatted into two or more columns. A single-column layout has no column gap. Also make sure you changed the section containing the text you are viewing, rather than a neighboring section or the entire document by mistake.

Other useful checks include:

Look for a section boundary. Turn on paragraph marks and inspect the start and end of the affected text. Different sections can have different column settings.
Reopen More Columns. Check the selected number of columns, the Line between checkbox, and the Apply to choice.
Check the gap. Extremely narrow spacing can make a thin rule hard to distinguish from nearby text or page content.
Inspect the correct view. Use Print Layout and zoom in. A rule can be difficult to judge in a small window or a simplified view.
Check output separately. Review Print Preview or export a PDF if the concern is how the page will look when shared or printed.

If the line appears in the wrong place or continues farther than intended, look first for section boundaries and the scope of the column formatting. Deleting a section break can make adjacent sections adopt the same formatting, so do not remove one casually. If you need to change the layout, adjust the relevant section and inspect nearby pages rather than trying to fix the symptom with extra blank lines.

Built-in divider, shape, or table?

Use Word’s built-in line-between setting when the document has ordinary flowing columns and you want a simple divider that follows those columns. It is usually the most maintainable choice for a newsletter-style page because edits to the text do not require moving a separate line object into position.

A shape is useful when you need precise control over the line’s length, position, color, or weight. However, a shape can move as paragraphs are added or removed. Its wrapping and anchoring settings affect how it relates to text, so inspect it after edits and when exporting or printing. A shape can also be harder to maintain if the column content changes frequently.

A table can work when each column needs to hold independent content, such as a comparison of two products, and you want a border between cells. It is not the same as newspaper-style text flow: typing at the bottom of one table cell does not automatically continue into the next cell as normal column text does. Table borders may also affect accessibility and editing, so use a table for genuinely tabular information rather than as a shortcut for every two-column page.

Printing, sharing, and readability

A divider is a visual aid, not a substitute for clear headings, spacing, or sensible reading order. Keep the rule subtle enough that it separates the columns without competing with the text. Very narrow columns can create awkward line breaks, while a heavy divider can dominate a page. Check the design at the size readers will use, particularly if the document will be printed or viewed on a phone.

Before sharing a finished file, review it in Print Layout and use Print Preview or save a PDF copy to check page breaks, column flow, and the rule’s appearance. A PDF is useful when recipients need a stable visual layout, though it is less convenient to edit than a Word document. If the Word file remains the working copy, keep it as well as the PDF so that later text changes can be made in the source document.

For a document intended to be read with assistive technology, use headings and a logical text order rather than relying on the vertical line to communicate structure. Columns can affect how readers follow content, and a decorative divider has no wording that explains its purpose. If the page has a required reading sequence, verify that the content order remains understandable when read without its visual layout.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a line between only two columns?
Yes. Set the relevant section to two columns in Layout > Columns > More Columns, check Line between, and apply the change to the intended section or selected text. The option separates the columns in that column layout.

Can I change the line’s color or thickness?
The built-in line-between control is a basic divider and does not offer the same direct color and stroke controls as a drawn shape. For a custom appearance, use a shape, but check its position and wrapping after editing the text.

Why does the divider stop before the bottom of the page?
Column text does not always fill the full page height. The divider belongs to the column layout, so its visible extent can reflect the content area rather than looking like a full-page border. Check Print Layout and Preview before deciding that it is missing or broken.

Does the line-between setting create separate text boxes?
No. Word’s columns are part of a flowing section layout. Text can continue from one column into another. Separate text boxes or table cells behave differently and do not automatically provide the same continuous flow.

How do I remove a line between columns?
Place the cursor in the affected section, open Layout > Columns > More Columns, clear Line between, confirm that Apply to targets the intended area, and select OK.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

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Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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