How to Draw Lines in Microsoft Word

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: December 12, 2023 Fact Checked

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

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1
Open Microsoft Word. Double-click the Word icon, which resembles a white "W" on a dark-blue background.^{[1]
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- If you want to draw on an existing document, double-click the document instead, then skip the next step.
2
Click Blank document. It's in the upper-left side of the window. Doing so will open a brand-new document.^{[2]
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- If you're on a Mac, a new, blank document will likely load by default. If so, skip this step.
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3
Click the Insert tab. 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]
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- If you're on a Mac, make sure you click Insert in the blue ribbon and not in the menu bar.
It's in the "Illustrations" section of the Insert toolbar. Clicking Shapes prompts a drop-down menu.^{[4]
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5
Select a line option from the drop-down menu. 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
Draw a line in your document. Click and drag to draw, then release the mouse button to cement the shape.^{[5]
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- 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.
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]
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Community Q&A

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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.

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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.

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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.

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