Adding Automatic Lines

Beginning with Word 95, the folks at Microsoft added a helpful little feature that allows you to add lines in your documents, without removing your fingers from the keyboard. All you need to do is start at the left margin of a new line, type at least three characters, and then press ENTER. The result is a line based on the characters you typed. You can use the following characters:

• Type three dashes and you get a single line.
• Type thee underlines and you get a bold single line.
• Type three equal signs and you get a double line.
• Type three asterisks and you get a heavy dotted line.
• Type three tildes (~) and you get a wavy single line.
• Type three pound signs (#) and you get a heavy line bordered by two thin lines.

You can actually type more than three of each character, if you desire. Word doesn't care that much--the only requirement is that there is at least three of them, and they begin at the left margin. What Word does is to add a border of the specified type to the bottom of the paragraph. If you want to later delete the line, the only way to do so is to remove the paragraph, or choose Borders and Shading from the Format menu.

If you can't automatically add lines on your system, follow these steps if you are using Word 97 or a later version:

1. Choose AutoCorrect from the Tools menu. Word displays the AutoCorrect dialog box.
2. Make sure the AutoFormat As You Type tab is selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
3. Make sure the Borders check box is checked.
4. Click on OK.

If you are using Word 95, follow these steps:

1. Choose Options from the Tools menu. Word displays the Options dialog box.
2. Make sure the AutoFormat tab is selected.
3. Make sure the AutoFormat As You Type radio button is selected. (Click here to see a related figure.)
4. Make sure the Borders check box is checked.
5. Click on OK.