If a line in Microsoft Word moves when you type, it is usually the wrong kind of object: underscores are ordinary text, and an automatic horizontal rule is a paragraph border. For a stable blank to print, underline a tab character; for a line someone will type on, use a table cell with a bottom border.
These instructions apply to Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016.
Choose the right type of line
| What you need | Best Word method | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A blank line for printing | Underline a tab character | Creates a blank without a row of underscore characters. |
| A line someone will type on | Use a table cell with a bottom border | The border stays attached to the cell as text is entered. |
| A label followed by a fill-in line | Use a two-column table and border only the second cell | The label and writable area remain aligned. |
Method 1: Make a stable blank line with an underlined tab
Use this for printed forms, signature blanks, dates, names, or other spaces where someone will write after printing.
- On the Home tab, select Show/Hide ¶ to display formatting marks.
- Place the cursor where the blank should begin and press Tab. The tab appears as a small arrow when formatting marks are on.
- Select the tab character itself, not just the paragraph mark.
- Press Ctrl+U, or choose Home > Underline.
- Select Show/Hide ¶ again if you want to hide the formatting marks.
This underlines the tab character rather than inserting underscore characters, making it a better choice for a printed blank.
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Make the line longer or shorter
The tab uses the paragraph’s tab settings. To set a particular length, set a tab stop before inserting and underlining the tab:
- Select the paragraph.
- On the Home tab, select the small arrow in the Paragraph group to open paragraph settings.
- Select Tabs.
- Enter a tab-stop position, select Set, then select OK.
- Insert and underline the tab character.
To extend the underline to the right indent, use a right tab stop and place an underlined tab at the end of the paragraph. Turn on Show/Hide ¶ to confirm the tab is present and underlined.
Change the underline style
Select the underlined tab and press Ctrl+D to open the Font dialog box. Under Underline style, choose a style and select OK. You can also open the dialog using the small diagonal arrow in the Font group on the Home tab.
Method 2: Make a line someone can type on with a table cell
Use a table cell for an online form or a document someone will complete in Word. Its bottom border stays attached to the cell as text is entered.
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- Place the cursor where the line should appear.
- Select Insert > Table, then choose the upper-left box to insert a 1×1 table.
- Click inside the table and select Table Design > Borders > Borders and Shading.
- Under Setting, select None to remove existing borders.
- Under Style, choose the line type, color, and width.
- In Preview, select only the bottom border between the lower margin markers, then select OK.
Click in the cell and type. The text will sit on the line, which remains the cell’s bottom border.
Resize the writable line
Point at the table’s right edge until the pointer changes to a resize pointer, then drag the edge left or right.
Word may show light-gray table gridlines while you edit. These are nonprinting guides. To show or hide them, select the table and choose Table Layout > View Gridlines.
Method 3: Put a label beside the line
For an entry such as Name: followed by a line, use a two-column table to keep the label and line aligned.
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- Select Insert > Table and choose a 2×1 table.
- Type the label in the left cell.
- Select the table and open Table Design > Borders > Borders and Shading.
- Choose Setting: None and set Apply to to Table to remove the table borders.
- Select the right cell and open Borders and Shading.
- Choose the line style, color, and width. In Preview, enable only the bottom border and set Apply to to Cell.
Adjust the column boundary to control the line’s length. The label cell has no bottom border.
Why underscores and automatic horizontal lines cause problems
Rows of underscores
Press Shift+Hyphen (-) to type underscore characters. They may be acceptable for a quick note, but they are ordinary text: adding or deleting text changes the sequence, and underscores can be difficult to align for a form.
When the relevant AutoFormat setting is enabled, Word can convert three or more underscores followed by Enter into a paragraph border. That is a full-width rule, not a row of underlined characters.
Automatic horizontal lines
Word’s automatic horizontal-line feature creates an empty paragraph with a bottom border, not a drawing object. It is useful as a divider, but it is not a writable line; if text wraps in that paragraph, the paragraph grows and its bottom border moves down.
If Word creates a line you did not want, press Backspace immediately to cancel the conversion.
Fix common line problems
| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| The line moves down when text wraps. | It is a paragraph bottom border. | Replace it with a table-cell bottom border. |
| The line changes or disappears when typing. | It is made from underscore characters. | Use a 1×1 table with only its bottom border enabled. |
| Underscores become a full-width rule. | Word’s AutoFormat converted them into a border. | Press Backspace immediately, or disable Border Lines. |
| Gray lines appear around the table. | Nonprinting table gridlines are visible. | Choose Table Layout > View Gridlines to hide them. |
| The tab underline is too short. | The tab stop is too close, or the tab is not underlined. | Show formatting marks, select the tab arrow, and set a farther tab stop. |
| Unexpected top or side borders remain. | Other borders are still enabled. | Choose Setting: None, then enable only the bottom edge in Preview. |
Stop Word from creating automatic horizontal lines
If Word repeatedly turns typed characters into rules, disable the relevant AutoFormat option:
- Select File > Options.
- Choose Proofing, then select AutoCorrect Options.
- Open AutoFormat As You Type.
- Clear Border Lines.
- Select OK, then select OK again.
What should I use for a signature?
For a simple printed signature blank, underline a tab. For a signature area someone will complete in Word, use a table cell with a bottom border. A Microsoft Word signature line inserted as a specialized signature object is a separate feature intended for digital signing.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.FAQ
How do I type on a line in Word without it moving?
Insert a 1×1 table, remove all borders, and apply only a bottom border. Type inside the cell; the border stays attached as text changes.
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Turn on Home > Show/Hide ¶, press Tab, select the tab character, and press Ctrl+U. This underlines the tab instead of creating a row of underscores.
Why does my Word line move down when I type?
It may be a paragraph bottom border. When text wraps, the paragraph grows and the border moves with its bottom edge. Use a table-cell bottom border for a writable line.
Why does Word turn underscores into a horizontal line?
AutoFormat As You Type can convert three or more underscore characters followed by Enter into a paragraph border. Press Backspace immediately to undo it, or clear Border Lines under File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type.
Do Word table gridlines print?
No. The light-gray gridlines are nonprinting editing guides; actual table borders do print.
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Bottom line
Use Ctrl+U on a tab character for a printed blank and a 1×1 table with only its bottom border for a line someone will type on. For a label and line, use a borderless 2×1 table and apply the bottom border only to the second cell. These methods avoid the movement, changing characters, and accidental rules caused by underscores and paragraph borders.
See Microsoft’s guides to underlining text or spaces, adding a signature line, and inserting a horizontal line.
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