Formatting Issues

How to Remove an Automatic Horizontal Line in Word

John Wilson Oct 7, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to remove an automatic horizontal line that appeared after typing characters like three asterisks and pressing Enter.

How to Remove an Automatic Horizontal Line in Word

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Typing a document where entering specific shortcut characters automatically creates a permanent horizontal line.
Observed behavior: Word automatically converts typed characters into a paragraph border that cannot be deleted using standard keys like Backspace or Delete.

Before you start

Place your cursor directly in the paragraph immediately above the stubborn horizontal line, as the line is actually a formatting border applied to that specific paragraph.

Solution 1Recommended

Remove the Line Using the Borders Menu

This is the most effective method because the horizontal line is technically a bottom paragraph border, not a standard text character.

Because Word treats the horizontal line as a border applied to the paragraph above it, standard text deletion methods will not work. Removing the formatting property clears the line completely.

Position the Cursor

Click inside the paragraph directly above the horizontal line you want to remove.

Open the Home Tab

Navigate to the Home tab located on the top ribbon of your Word window.

Access the Borders Menu

Locate the Paragraph group, click the drop-down arrow next to the Borders icon, and select 'No Border' from the list.

Line Removed Successfully: Selecting 'No Border' will instantly remove the horizontal line from your document.

Solution 2

Revert the Formatting Using the Undo Command

Use this quick shortcut immediately after the line appears to reverse the automatic formatting.

Efficient Word Processing

Easily Manage Formatting and Borders with WPS Writer

WPS Office offers intuitive paragraph formatting controls, allowing you to easily remove unwanted borders or disable AutoFormat features entirely to maintain complete control over your document layout.

1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open the document containing the unwanted horizontal line.
2. Locate the affected paragraph: Place your text cursor in the paragraph immediately above the horizontal line.
3. Remove the border: Go to the Home tab, find the Borders icon in the paragraph section, click the drop-down arrow, and select 'No Border'.
4. Disable automatic borders (Optional): To prevent this in the future, go to Menu > Options > Edit > AutoFormat As You Type, and uncheck 'Border lines'.

Easily remove or customize paragraph borders with a few clicksFully compatible with Microsoft Word document formats (.docx)Intuitive interface for managing AutoFormat and typography settingsFree and lightweight office suite alternative

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word create a horizontal line when I type asterisks or dashes?

Word includes a feature called 'AutoFormat As You Type' that is designed to save time. It automatically converts specific repeating sequences of characters (like three asterisks, hyphens, or underscores) followed by the Enter key into different styles of paragraph borders.

How can I stop Word from automatically creating these lines in the future?

You can permanently disable this behavior by navigating to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options. From there, select the 'AutoFormat As You Type' tab and uncheck the 'Border lines' box under the 'Apply as you type' section.

Why can't I just delete the automatic line with the Backspace key?

The line created by AutoFormat is not a standard text character. Instead, it is a formatting property (specifically, a bottom border) applied to the paragraph above it. Standard text deletion keys only remove characters, not paragraph properties.

Can I change the style or thickness of the automatic horizontal line?

Yes. Because the line is a paragraph border, you can modify it. Click inside the paragraph above the line, go to the Home tab, click the Borders drop-down menu, select 'Borders and Shading', and choose a different line style, color, or width.

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