How to Manually Create a Line Break in Microsoft Word

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Learn how to add a new line break in MS Word with this user-friendly guide

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: June 26, 2025 Fact Checked

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• Using a Keyboard Shortcut
|
• Inserting a Horizontal Line
|
• Q&A

|Show more |Show less

Line breaks end a current line and lets you continue the text on another line. These are useful for separating paragraphs from each other without the space registering as an empty line that can have characters on it. Here's how to insert a line break in Microsoft Word.

Things You Should Know

• To insert a line break in Microsoft Word, click a space in the document. Hold "Shift" and press "Enter".
• Holding "Shift" removes any gaps created by pressing "Enter" alone.
• To insert a visible horizontal line, enter three dashes (-) and press "Enter".

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using a Keyboard Shortcut

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1. 
   1
   Click or tap where you want a line break. You should see the blinking cursor in the line.

   • If you don't have a Word document open, open one now.
   • Microsoft Word is available to install for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android.
2. 
   2
   Press ⇧ Shift+↵ Enter. This keyboard shortcut will enter a line break.

   • If you're using a mobile device, Shift usually looks like an up-arrow.
   • A line break ends the current line and continues onto the next. Holding Shift removes any gaps created by pressing Enter alone.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Inserting a Horizontal Line

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1. 
   1
   Enable AutoCorrect. By default, this should already be enabled. If it's disabled, do the following:

   • Click File.
   • Click Options.
   • Click Proofing.
   • Click AutoCorrect Options.
   • Check the box for Border Lines.
   • Click Apply.
2. 
   2
   Click or tap where you want a line break. You should see the blinking cursor in the line.

   • Use this method to insert a solid, dotted, or stylized line to separate other lines of text.
3. 
   3
   Type ---+↵ Enter. This is three dashes followed by the Enter key. This converts the dashes into a solid line. AutoCorrect will automatically create a solid line directly beneath the previous line of text.

   • You can also use different characters for different line styles:
     • Thin line: Three hyphens (-).
     • Thick line: Three underscores (_).
     • Double line: Three equal signs (=).
     • Dotted line: Three asterisk (*).
     • Triple line: Three pound signs (#).
     • Squiggly line: Three tildes (~).
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Community Q&A

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• Question

  What is the difference between a line break and a paragraph break

  

  Community Answer

  The line break, which is done by hitting shift and enter, is a smaller break to just hop in a new line. A paragraph break, however, makes a bigger space and looks more like a new section.

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