How to Draw Lines in Microsoft Word

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

This wikiHow teaches you how to draw inside of a Microsoft Word document. You can do this on both Windows and Mac versions of Word.

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. Double-click the Word icon, which resembles a white "W" on a dark-blue background. [1]
    • If you want to draw on an existing document, double-click the document instead, then skip the next step.
  2. It's in the upper-left side of the window. Doing so will open a brand-new document. [2]
    • If you're on a Mac, a new, blank document will likely load by default. If so, skip this step.
    Advertisement
  3. This option is in the left side of the blue ribbon that's at the top of the Word window. Clicking it causes a toolbar to display below the blue ribbon. [3]
    • If you're on a Mac, make sure you click Insert in the blue ribbon and not in the menu bar.
  4. It's in the "Illustrations" section of the Insert toolbar. Clicking Shapes prompts a drop-down menu. [4]
  5. In the "Lines" heading, select a line type from the drop-down menu by clicking on it.
    • You can select a pre-determined line by clicking one of the straight line icons or select the "freeform line" by clicking on the squiggly line icon on the far-right under the "Lines" heading.
  6. Click and drag to draw, then release the mouse button to cement the shape. [5]
    • You can click and drag the line around after it's cemented.
    • To delete a line, click it to select it and then press the Delete key.
  7. To add another line once the one you created is cemented, simply select a line template from the Shapes menu and repeat the drawing process. [6]
    8. Advertisement

Community Q&A

Search
Add New Question
  • Question
    How do I keep the line horizontal? I only want to place a short line for a signing position.
    Community Answer
    If you're talking about keeping a line level while drawing it, press and hold the shift key while you draw the line.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 17 Helpful 30
  • Question
    How do I draw lines on a phone?
    Community Answer
    With Word 2016 for iPhone you would click on the three dots on the right over the keyboard. Then on the left (where it says "Home"), go to "Insert." Then choose "Shapes" and the line you want.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 9 Helpful 5
  • Question
    Can I draw several lines without going back and forth to the insert shapes drop-down?
    Community Answer
    Draw one line, then copy that line and paste it. Modify as/if you wish, then again paste, and so on.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 18 Helpful 8
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Name
      Please provide your name and last initial
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
      Advertisement

      Warnings

      Advertisement

      You Might Also Like

      2 Quick Ways to Insert a Table in a Microsoft Word Document
      4 Quick Ways to Create a 3D Object in Microsoft Word
      Easily Add Page Numbers to a Word Document on Any Platform
      How to
      Add Check Boxes to Word: 10 Simple Steps
      How to
      Remove a Blank Page in Word
      3 Simple Ways to Insert a Hyperlink in Microsoft Word
      How to
      Add Backgrounds in Microsoft Word: Watermarks, Images, & Colors
      3 Easy Ways to Delete a Horizontal Line in a Word Document
      How to
      Print Avery Labels in Microsoft Word on PC or Mac
      How to
      Create and Edit the Table of Contents in Word
      How to
      Remove the 'Read Only' Status on MS Word Documents
      How to
      Add a Horizontal Line in Microsoft Word
      Easily Format Word Docs from Scratch or Using Templates
      How to
      Insert Equations in Microsoft Word
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-a-document-28508ada-9a3c-4333-a17b-cb29723eb64c
      2. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/create-a-document-28508ada-9a3c-4333-a17b-cb29723eb64c
      3. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-shapes-0e492bb4-3f91-43b5-803f-dd0998e0eb89
      4. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-shapes-0e492bb4-3f91-43b5-803f-dd0998e0eb89
      5. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/draw-or-edit-a-freeform-shape-44d7bb9d-c05c-4e1c-a486-e35fc322299b
      6. ↑ https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/add-a-drawing-to-a-document-348a8390-c32e-43d0-942c-b20ad11dea6f

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open a new Microsoft Word document .
      2. Click Insert
      3. Click Shapes
      4. Click a line type .
      5. Click and drag your cursor over your document.

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 575,549 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement