Formatting Issues

How to Remove a Dotted Line or Paragraph Border in Microsoft Word

Camila Milosovich Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to remove an unexpected dotted horizontal line in a document that behaves like a border and cannot be selected or deleted normally.

How to Remove a Dotted Line or Paragraph Border in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Editing a document and unintentionally triggering an automatic formatting feature by typing specific characters.
Observed behavior: A full-width dotted horizontal line appears unexpectedly and cannot be highlighted, selected, or deleted using the Backspace or Delete keys.

Before you start

Verify that the line is not a drawn shape or inserted image by trying to click directly on it. If no resizing dots or handles appear when clicked, it is a paragraph border.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove the Paragraph Border via the Ribbon

This is the quickest method to remove an existing line if it was automatically generated by Word as a paragraph border.

When Word's AutoFormat feature turns your typed hyphens or asterisks into a horizontal line, it applies it as a bottom border to the paragraph just above the line.

Position your cursor

Place your blinking text cursor in the paragraph immediately above the unselectable dotted line.

Open the Borders menu

Navigate to the 'Home' tab on the Microsoft Word ribbon. In the 'Paragraph' group, locate the 'Borders' icon (resembling a square divided into four smaller squares).

Select No Border

Click the small drop-down arrow right next to the Borders icon and select 'No Border' from the list.

Remove the Paragraph Border via the Ribbon

Quick Check: Once 'No Border' is selected, the line should instantly disappear. If it remains, try placing your cursor in the paragraph directly below the line and repeating the steps.

Solution 2

Disable Automatic Border Creation in AutoFormat

Prevent these unselectable lines from appearing in the future by turning off the AutoFormat As You Type setting.

Efficient Document Formatting

Control Your Paragraph Borders Easily in WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive and seamless experience for formatting text. You get full control over your paragraphs without wrestling with stubborn auto-formatting issues.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing the stubborn dotted line.
2. Place the cursor: Click in the text area directly above the horizontal line.
3. Remove the border: Navigate to the 'Home' tab, click the 'Borders' drop-down icon in the formatting toolkit, and select 'No Border'.
4. Adjust AutoFormat: To stop future lines, go to 'Menu' > 'Options' > 'Edit' and customize your AutoFormat As You Type settings according to your preference.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx) files and formats.Intuitive Ribbon interface makes removing or adding paragraph borders simple and fast.Easily toggle AutoFormat preferences to prevent unwanted lines from appearing as you type.Lightweight, free to use, and highly efficient for everyday document editing.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a dotted line appear when I type asterisks or hyphens?

Word has a feature called 'AutoFormat As You Type'. If you type three or more hyphens, underscores, or asterisks and press Enter, Word interprets this as a shortcut to create a full-width paragraph border.

How can I select the line if it is a drawing object instead of a border?

If the line was drawn using the Shapes tool, you can simply click directly on it to reveal sizing handles, or go to the Home tab, click 'Select' (under the Editing group) > 'Select Objects', then click on the line and press the Delete key.

Can I delete a paragraph border using the Backspace key?

Sometimes you can undo the border immediately after it appears by pressing Ctrl+Z or Backspace right away. However, if the border has been there for a while, the Backspace or Delete keys will only remove the text, not the border itself.

Will disabling 'Border lines' in AutoCorrect remove the lines already in my document?

No, disabling the AutoFormat setting only prevents new automatic lines from being generated. You still must manually place your cursor near the existing lines and select 'No Border' to remove them.

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