Shortcut Key to Insert a Line in Word: Quick Guide

To insert a horizontal line in Microsoft Word, type three hyphens (---) on a blank line and press Enter; Word turns them into a line when AutoFormat As You Type is enabled. There is no single dedicated keyboard shortcut for every kind of line, so the right method depends on whether you mean a horizontal rule, a drawn line, or a line break.

What “Insert a Line” Can Mean

People use “line” to describe several different things in a document. The distinction matters because Word treats each one differently: a horizontal divider is not the same as a line of text, and neither is the same as a line break.

Horizontal line: A divider that runs across the page or text area, often used between sections.
Line break: A new line within the same paragraph, useful for addresses, poems, or short labels.
Drawn line: A shape you place and format yourself, such as a line that connects two boxes in a diagram.
Blank writing line: A visible rule intended for someone to write on, which may be made with a border, a shape, or a table.

For the common request to add a horizontal divider, the three-hyphen method is the quickest option. For a new line without starting a new paragraph, use the line-break shortcut instead.

The Fastest Method: Three Hyphens and Enter

In Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, click at the start of an empty paragraph, type three hyphens in a row, then press Enter. Word replaces the hyphens with a horizontal rule that usually spans the width of the text area. The same AutoFormat sequence is available in many current Mac editions of Word when the relevant setting is on.

Place the cursor in a blank paragraph where the divider should go.
Type three hyphens, with no spaces between them.
Press Enter once to trigger the formatting.

This is a keyboard sequence rather than a special key combination: you do not hold down Ctrl, Alt, or another modifier while pressing a letter. If Word leaves the three hyphens as typed, the AutoFormat feature may be disabled, or the cursor may not have been in a suitable paragraph. The methods below let you insert a line without relying on that automatic conversion.

Insert a Line from the Word Ribbon

To add a horizontal rule from the ribbon in Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, place the cursor in the paragraph where you want the line. Go to Home > Paragraph > Borders, open the Borders menu using its arrow, and choose Horizontal Line if that command is listed. This is useful when AutoFormat is off or when you prefer a menu command to typing punctuation.

Another option is a line shape. Choose Insert > Shapes > Lines, select the straight-line option, then drag in the document to draw it. Hold Shift while dragging to constrain the line to a straight horizontal or vertical direction in versions that support that behavior. A shape is more flexible than an automatic rule: you can position it, resize it, and change its appearance. It can also be more fiddly, because its placement and text wrapping may need adjustment.

Ribbon labels and available commands can vary slightly by Word version and window size. If you do not see Horizontal Line in the Borders menu, a bottom paragraph border or a line shape can provide a similar visual result.

Use Shift+Enter for a Line Break

If you meant “go to the next line” rather than “draw a divider,” press Shift+Enter. In Word for Windows and Mac, this inserts a manual line break within the current paragraph. It moves the following text to the next line without starting a new paragraph, so it does not add the same paragraph spacing or paragraph-level formatting that pressing Enter may introduce.

For example, an address can be kept as one paragraph while each part appears on its own line:

Jordan Lee
18 River Street
Springfield

Press Enter between lines if each one should be a separate paragraph—for example, when you want to apply paragraph spacing or a different paragraph style. Use Shift+Enter when the lines belong together and should share paragraph formatting. Neither shortcut creates a visible horizontal divider.

Horizontal Rule, Border, or Shape?

These options may look alike, but they behave differently when you edit the document. The three-hyphen AutoFormat result is generally a paragraph border, not a free-floating drawing object. It is associated with the paragraph above it, so changing that paragraph or its border settings can affect the line. A drawn line is a shape that can be moved and formatted independently, though it may shift as surrounding text changes.

A paragraph border is often the best choice for a simple section divider in a report or letter. It stays aligned with the text area and is less likely than a shape to overlap text. A shape is more appropriate when the line must start or end at a precise position, connect to other objects, or use a particular angle or visual style. For a writing form, consider whether a bottom border or a table cell will keep the blank line in place as people type; a freely drawn shape may not behave as expected when text is added.

Before choosing, consider what will happen when the document is edited or printed. A line that looks right on one page can move or wrap differently if margins, font sizes, or page orientation change. Paragraph borders and shapes can both be formatted, but their controls and anchoring behavior are not interchangeable.

Format or Remove the Line

A horizontal rule made through AutoFormat follows paragraph border formatting. To change it, put the cursor in the paragraph associated with the rule and open Home > Paragraph > Borders. Depending on the result you want, choose a border style or open Borders and Shading to adjust options such as line style, color, or width. The exact controls can differ between Windows and Mac editions.

To remove a paragraph border, place the cursor in the paragraph next to the line and use the Borders menu to select No Border. If the line is a drawn shape, click its edge to select it and press Delete. If it is a row of hyphens that has not converted, delete the characters like ordinary text. If clicking the line selects an object with sizing handles, it is a shape; if it behaves like a paragraph format, look in the Borders menu.

Be careful when clearing borders: a paragraph may have more than one border, and selecting No Border can remove other borders from that paragraph as well. If you need to preserve a box or side border, inspect the border settings before applying a broad change.

Why the Three-Hyphen Shortcut May Not Work

Word’s conversion depends on AutoFormat As You Type. In Windows desktop Word, open File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options, select the AutoFormat As You Type tab, and check whether Border lines is enabled. On a Mac, look under Word > Preferences (or Word > Settings in some releases) and then AutoCorrect or AutoFormat As You Type. The exact label and location vary by version.

Also check the typing context. Word is most likely to convert three hyphens when they are typed in an otherwise empty paragraph and followed by Enter. If you typed them after words, included spaces, or pressed a different key, the automatic rule may not trigger. If the setting is enabled and the sequence still does not convert, use the Borders menu or insert a shape instead; those approaches do not depend on the AutoFormat trigger.

Sometimes the conversion happens, but the resulting line is unexpected or difficult to select. That is usually a clue that Word applied paragraph formatting rather than inserting a shape. Use the Borders menu to adjust or remove it, rather than trying to drag it like an object.

Windows, Mac, and Word for the Web

The three-hyphen-and-Enter sequence and Shift+Enter are the key practical shortcuts for many Word users. On Mac, use the same typed sequence for AutoFormat when the feature is enabled; Shift+Enter inserts a manual line break there too. There is no universal Ctrl-based shortcut that inserts every kind of horizontal line in Word, and Mac keyboards use Command for many app shortcuts but do not turn this task into one standard Command combination.

Ribbon and settings names can differ between desktop Word for Windows, desktop Word for Mac, and Word for the web. If the web version does not show the same border or AutoCorrect controls, use the commands it provides or open the document in the desktop app for more formatting options. The key question remains whether you need a paragraph divider, a line break, or a movable shape.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the shortcut key to insert a horizontal line in Word?
There is no single dedicated key combination. Type three hyphens (---) in a blank paragraph and press Enter to let AutoFormat create a horizontal line.

How do I insert a line break without starting a new paragraph?
Press Shift+Enter. This moves the cursor to the next line while keeping the text within the same paragraph.

Why does typing three hyphens not make a line?
Check that you typed them in a blank paragraph and pressed Enter. If Word still leaves the hyphens as text, turn on Border lines under AutoFormat As You Type, or use the Borders menu or a line shape.

How do I delete a horizontal line in Word?
If it is a paragraph border, put the cursor in the associated paragraph and choose No Border from Home > Paragraph > Borders. If it is a shape, select its edge and press Delete.

Can I draw a line instead of using the automatic rule?
Yes. Choose Insert > Shapes > Lines, select the straight-line shape, and drag to place it. Use a shape when you need independent control over position or appearance.

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

More in How-to basics

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

Spotted an error in this guide? Let us know.