How To Delete a Horizontal Line in Word

Lee Stanton March 22, 2022

In Microsoft Word, many features are available to help make documents easier to read or more visually appealing. Inserting a horizontal is one way to make the information stand out. However, horizontal lines do not count as a character, so deleting it is not as simple as using the “Delete” key.

Read on to learn how to delete a horizontal line from your Word document, and check out our FAQs for more line related tips

Delete a Horizontal Line in Word

For the quickest way to delete the horizontal line in your Word document, follow these steps:

Launch Word and access the document you wish to delete the horizontal line from.
From the “Ribbon,” select the “Home” tab.
In the “Paragraph” section, click the pull-down arrow beside the “Borders” icon and choose “No Border.”

How to Stop the Automatic Horizontal Line in Word

When you type three dashes and hit the “Enter” key, this creates an automatic horizontal line. If you want to disable this feature, here’s how:

Open Word.
Go to “File,” “Options,” “Proofing,” “AutoCorrect,” then “AutoFormat as you type.”
Underneath the “Apply as you type” option, uncheck “Border lines,” then “OK.”

FAQs

How do I change the color of a horizontal line in Word?

Follow these steps to change the color of a horizontal line in your Word document:

1. Open your document and select the line you wish to change. Select the first line, then long-press “CTRL” while selecting the other lines to modify several lines.

2. From the “Format” tab, select the arrow beside “Shape Outline,” then select the new color.

3. To choose a non-theme color, choose “More Outline Colors,” then select the color you want from the “Standard” tab. Or you can mix your own color using the “Custom” tab.

How do I edit a line in a Word template?

Follow these steps to alter a line in a Word template:

1. Open Word, then go to “File” and “Open.”

2. Double-click “This PC” or “Computer.”

3. Go to the “Custom Office Templates” folder beneath “My Documents.”

4. Click on your template, then “Open.”

5. Choose the “Format” tab, then select the arrow next to “Shape Outline” for options to make changes to the line.

6. Once you’re done editing the line, save the template.

How do I remove a vertical line from my document?

To remove a vertical line or column from your Word document, follow these steps:

1. Launch the document you wish to amend.

2. Select the “Layout” tab from the Ribbon.

3. From the “Page Setup,” beneath “Columns,” click on the down arrow and choose “More Columns.”

4. At “Number of columns,” enter a number or use the arrows to select one.

“No Border” to Delete Horizontal Line

Microsoft Word offers many features to help make your documents more accessible. You can insert lines, for example, to make sections of content stand out, easier to digest, or visually appealing. If you change your mind about a horizontal line and would like it removed, choosing “No Borders” via the “Paragraph” section is the easiest way.

What features do you use to help make your Word documents more interesting? Tell us in the comments section below.