Formatting Issues

How to Remove Dotted Lines Around Block Quotes in Word

Maira Mehtab Sep 24, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to remove unexpected dotted lines that appear around indented paragraphs or block quotes.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Typing repeated characters followed by Enter, or applying paragraph indentation for block quotes.
Observed behavior: Dotted lines automatically appear as a border around the paragraph and persist even when indentation changes.

Before you start

Click inside the affected paragraph to verify if the dotted lines are paragraph borders rather than manually drawn line shapes before modifying style settings.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable AutoFormat Border Lines

Prevent Word from automatically generating paragraph borders when you type repeated characters at the beginning of a line.

Often, Word's AutoFormat feature misinterprets three consecutive characters (such as asterisks or hyphens) as a command to insert a paragraph border. Disabling this specific AutoFormat option will prevent these unwanted dotted lines from appearing in the future.

Access AutoCorrect Options

Go to the Tools menu at the top of the application window and select AutoCorrect Options from the drop-down list.

Navigate to AutoFormat Settings

Click on the AutoFormat As You Type tab located at the top of the dialog box.

Disable Border Lines

Locate the 'Apply as you type' section and clear the checkbox next to 'Border lines'.

Save Changes

Click OK to save your preferences and stop automatic border creation.

Removing Existing Borders: To remove a dotted line that is already in your document, select the paragraph, navigate to the Home tab, click the Borders dropdown icon, and select 'No Border'.

Solution 2

Modify the Block Quote Style Formatting

Adjust your custom or built-in Block Quote style to ensure no borders are applied when styling text.

Seamless Word Processing

Format Block Quotes Easily with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface for managing paragraph styles, formatting block quotes, and giving you full control over automatic borders without unexpected layout changes.

1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing the unwanted dotted lines.
2. Select the Text: Highlight the block quote or paragraph surrounded by the dotted lines.
3. Remove the Border: Go to the Home tab, find the Borders icon in the Paragraph section, and click 'No Border'.
4. Disable Automatic Lines: To prevent this in the future, click Menu > Options > Edit, and uncheck the automatic border formatting settings.

Easily customize and remove paragraph borders and shading with a single click.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word document formats (.doc and .docx).Clear, user-friendly options for managing AutoFormat as you type settings.Free, lightweight, and fast word processing alternative.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do dotted lines appear when I press Enter in Word?

This happens due to the AutoFormat feature. When you type three or more specific characters (like hyphens or asterisks) and press Enter, the software automatically converts them into a solid or dotted paragraph border.

Can I remove a dotted line without changing my overall AutoFormat settings?

Yes. You can simply highlight the affected text, navigate to the Home tab, click on the Borders dropdown menu within the Paragraph group, and choose 'No Border' to remove it from that specific section.

Are paragraph borders different from drawn line shapes?

Yes. Paragraph borders are formatting rules attached directly to the text, meaning they move and adjust with your paragraphs. Drawn lines or shapes are independent objects that float on the page and can be clicked and dragged separately.

Document & File Issues