Insert a Horizontal Line in Word With a Shortcut

To insert a horizontal line in Microsoft Word with the keyboard, start a new, empty paragraph, type three hyphens (—), and press Enter. Word turns them into a horizontal rule when its automatic border-formatting feature is enabled. This quick method works in Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows and is also available in many desktop versions for Mac; it creates a paragraph border, not a separate line shape.

What You’ll Need

Microsoft Word for Windows or Mac. The desktop app has the most complete AutoFormat controls; Word for the web may not expose the same settings.
A document with an empty paragraph where you want the line to appear. If the insertion point is in the middle of text, press Enter to make a separate paragraph first.
The Border lines option enabled in Word’s AutoFormat settings. If it is turned off, you can enable it or use the Shapes command instead.

Step-by-Step

Place the insertion point. Click at the point where the rule should go. For a clear divider between two paragraphs, click at the end of the first paragraph and press Enter to create a blank paragraph. If necessary, press Enter again so the line will be on its own paragraph rather than attached to text. Word applies this kind of line to a paragraph, so the paragraph position matters.
Check the AutoFormat setting if needed. In Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options. Open the AutoFormat As You Type tab and select Border lines. Choose OK in the AutoCorrect Options window, then choose OK again to close Word Options. If the box was already selected, leave it enabled.
Type three hyphens. At the start of the empty paragraph, type three consecutive hyphen-minus characters: ---. Do not add spaces between them. Use the regular hyphen key, not an em dash or a row of underscore characters.
Press Enter once. Word should replace the three hyphens with a thin horizontal rule at the bottom of that paragraph. The rule usually stretches across the available text width, between the page margins. The three typed hyphens are no longer ordinary text.
Continue below the line. After Word converts the characters, the insertion point will be in the next paragraph. Type your next paragraph there. If you want a little breathing room, use the paragraph spacing controls rather than adding repeated empty lines.
Confirm the result. Click near the line and check whether Word treats it as a paragraph border: it will generally move with the paragraph and span the text area. If you need a line that can be independently resized, rotated, or positioned, undo the rule and use Insert > Shapes > Line instead.

On a Mac, the three-hyphen-and-Enter technique is the same when the AutoFormat option is available. To find the setting, open Word > Preferences (called Settings in some releases), choose AutoCorrect, then look on AutoFormat As You Type for Border lines. The exact labels can vary slightly by Word release. In Word for the web, if the characters do not convert and you cannot find this setting, use the Shapes option or open the document in the desktop app.

Common Mistakes

Pressing Enter before typing the hyphens. The conversion is triggered by pressing Enter after the three hyphens. If you press Enter first, you have simply moved to another paragraph. Type the characters on the intended blank paragraph, then press Enter.
Using the wrong characters. Three underscores, equals signs, or long dash characters are not the same as three hyphens. Use the ordinary hyphen key for the dependable thin-rule method. Word may convert other repeated-character patterns into different border styles, but results depend on settings and version.
Typing the characters after text in the same paragraph. AutoFormat may not trigger if the hyphens are not at the beginning of a paragraph, and a paragraph border could appear in an unexpected place. Make a blank paragraph first and type the hyphens there.
Expecting a movable drawing object. The shortcut creates a border attached to a paragraph, not a free-floating line. Trying to drag it like a shape will not work. Use Insert > Shapes > Line when you need to control endpoints or placement.
Pressing Enter repeatedly after conversion. Extra paragraph breaks can leave large gaps around the line. Use one paragraph for the rule and adjust spacing through the Paragraph settings if the divider needs more room.

Tips

Use the line to separate sections. Place it between related blocks, such as a heading and a new section, rather than using it to imitate a table or page border. The rule follows the paragraph width and page margins.
Adjust its appearance through Borders. Click in the paragraph containing the line, then go to Home > Borders and open the Borders menu. Depending on your Word layout, the Borders button is in the Paragraph group. The menu lets you manage paragraph borders; options such as border style, color, and width can be selected before applying a border.
Remember that the border belongs to a paragraph. If you edit surrounding text or change paragraph formatting, the rule may move with that paragraph. This is useful for a divider that should stay connected to nearby content, but not ideal for a precisely positioned graphic.
Use a shape for precise layout. Choose Insert > Shapes > Line, then drag where the line should appear. Hold Shift while dragging to constrain it to a straight horizontal or vertical direction. Shapes can be formatted and positioned independently, though they may need adjustment when text or page layout changes.
Undo immediately if the wrong rule appears. Press Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac right after Word converts the characters. This normally restores the hyphens so you can edit or delete them. If you have already made many edits, use the border controls instead of undoing unrelated work.

Troubleshooting

The hyphens remain visible after Enter. First check that Border lines is selected in the AutoFormat settings described above. Also confirm that you typed three regular hyphens at the beginning of a paragraph and pressed Enter after them. If the setting is enabled but conversion still does not happen, close and reopen the document or try the same steps in a new blank document to see whether the issue is specific to that file.

The line appears in the wrong place. Undo the conversion with Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac, then click in the intended paragraph. Create an empty paragraph if needed, type the hyphens there, and press Enter. Since this is paragraph formatting, a border can appear below a paragraph that already contains text if the characters were entered in the wrong location.

The line is too close to text or leaves too much space. Click in the paragraph above or below the rule and adjust paragraph spacing from the Home tab using the Paragraph settings. Avoid using several empty paragraphs to force the spacing; those can create inconsistent gaps when the document is edited or printed.

You cannot select or drag the line. That is expected for a paragraph border. Click in its paragraph, then open the Borders menu on the Home tab to change or remove it. To remove the border, place the cursor in the paragraph that carries it and choose Home > Borders > No Border. If you need a draggable object, insert a line shape instead.

The setting is missing or the shortcut does not work in your version. Word’s available AutoFormat settings vary by platform and release, and the web app may not show the desktop controls. Use the desktop version to check the AutoFormat As You Type options, or create a line with Insert > Shapes > Line. If the ribbon is simplified, expand it or search Word’s command box for Shapes or Borders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a Ctrl keyboard shortcut for inserting a horizontal line in Word?

There is not a standard, built-in Ctrl-plus-key shortcut that inserts this paragraph rule in Word for Windows. The quickest keyboard method is to type three hyphens at the start of a paragraph and press Enter, with Border lines enabled. On Mac, use the same typing method; the undo shortcut differs, using Command+Z.

Does the three-hyphen method work on Word for Mac?

It works in many desktop releases of Word for Mac if automatic border formatting is enabled. Check Word > Preferences or Word > Settings > AutoCorrect > AutoFormat As You Type for the Border lines option. If your release does not show it or the conversion fails, insert a line from the Shapes menu.

How do I make a thicker or double line?

The three-hyphen pattern creates the usual thin rule. Some desktop Word versions recognize other repeated characters, such as underscores or equals signs, as alternate border patterns, but the result can vary with AutoFormat settings. For a predictable appearance, select the paragraph border options or draw a shape and set its line weight in the Shape Format controls.

How do I delete the line without deleting the paragraph?

Click in the paragraph immediately associated with the rule and choose Home > Borders > No Border. The border is paragraph formatting, so selecting the line as if it were text is not necessary. If it was just created, Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac is another quick option.

Can I change the line’s length?

A paragraph border normally spans the paragraph’s available width, so it is not resized by dragging. You can change paragraph indents to alter the area it spans, but that also affects paragraph layout. For a line with independent endpoints or a specific length, choose Insert > Shapes > Line and draw it to size.

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