How to Insert a Dotted Line in Word

Easy ways to add a dotted line in Word

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: August 11, 2022 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to add a dotted or dashed line anywhere on a Microsoft Word document. You can use an easy keyboard shortcut to add a dotted line across the page in all desktop and mobile versions of Word. If you want a line you can further size, stylize, and position, you can use the Insert menu to add a line shape to your document, and format it in different styles.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Keyboard Shortcut

1
Open the Word document you want to edit. Find and double-click the document on your computer, or open the Word app, and select the document you want to edit.
- Alternatively, you can open a new, blank document.
- You can use this keyboard shortcut in all desktop and mobile versions of Word.
2
Click where you want to add the dotted line. You can create a dotted, horizontal line anywhere on the page.

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3
Type *** on your keyboard. This shortcut will allow you to create a dashed line across the page.
- Alternatively, you can use ---, ===, ___, ###, or ~~~ for different line styles.
4
Press ↵ Enter or ⏎ Return on your keyboard. This will create a horizontal, dotted line across the page.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Using the Insert Tool on Desktop

1
Open the Word document you want to edit. Find and double-click the document on your computer, or open the Word app, and select the document you want to edit.
- Alternatively, you can open a new, blank document.
2
Select the Insert tab on the toolbar. You can find this button above the toolbar panel at the top.
3
Select Shapes on the Insert toolbar. This button looks like a triangle, square and circle on the toolbar panel. It will open a pop-up menu of shapes.
4
Select the type of line you want to add. You can make any line dotted later.
5
Click and draw a line on the document. After selecting a line shape, use your mouse to draw a line wherever you want on the document.
- After drawing, you can click and drag the corners of the line shape, and change its size, angle, or position.
- You can click and drag the line anywhere on the document.
6
Right-click on the line. This will open your right-click options on a drop-down menu.
7
Click Format Shape on the right-click menu. This will open the formatting panel on the right-hand side.
8
Click the Dash type selector on the formatting panel. This will show your dot and dash options.
- If you don't see this option at first, click the paint bucket icon on the top-left of the "Format Shape" panel, and click Line on this menu to extend your options.
9
Select a dot or dash type. This will instantly turn your line into the selected dot or dash style.
- You can further adjust your line's Width, Transparency, and other properties here.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Using the Insert Tool on Mobile

1
Open the Word app on your phone or tablet. The Word icon looks like a blue-and-white document page. You can find it on your home screen or on the Apps tray.
2
Select the document you want to edit. This will open the document.
- Alternatively, you can create a new, blank document.
3
Tap the "Edit" icon at the top. It's on the blue toolbar at the top. This will open the editing menu in the bottom half of your screen.
- On iPhone/iPad, this button looks like a white "A" and a pencil icon on the blue toolbar.
- On Android, you may find the same icon or just a white pencil.
4
Tap the Home button. It's in the upper-left corner of the toolbar menu at the bottom. This will open your toolbar tabs.
5
Select Insert on the toolbar menu. This will open the available options.
6
Select Shape. This will open a menu with all the available shapes you can add.
7
Select the type of line you want to add. This will add the selected line to your document.
- You can add dots to your line later.
8
Drag the blue end-points of the line to adjust the line (optional). You can adjust the size and position of your line from the blue dots on both ends of the shape.
- You can also do this after adding dots to your line.
9
Tap Shape Style on the Shape menu. This will open all the available styles for your line.
10
Select a dotted style. This will turn the selected line into a dotted line. You can size and position it however you want.