Divider lines, in Microsoft Word, are something special. Here are a few tidbits that may help you use them.
The Basics
To insert a divider line in Microsoft Word, press Enter to start a new line, type three dashes and press Enter again. You’ll have a horizontal line across your document. It looks really good, if you want to separate important parts of your text, say on a résumé or menu:
Controlling This Behavior
Typing 3 dashes to make a line may or may not be something you want. And your word processing software may or may not do this automatically. Here’s where to find and adjust this automatic formatting:
Microsoft Word: Click File, go to Options. Click Proofing, then Autocorrect Options… On the tab called AutoFormat As You Type, find the checkbox for “Border Lines”.
LibreOffice Writer: Click Tools, AutoCorrect, AutoCorrect Options… On the tab called Options, find the checkbox for Apply Border.
If you have a check in this box, then three typed dashes automagically change to a divider line. If you clear this box, then you may type 3 dashes without any change.
Special Note for Dealing with Divider Lines
If you use divider lines, you may find that they don’t respect the regular rules for editing a document. Try to remove a divider line, and you’ll find that a backspace or delete keypress just moves the line around.
This is because that line is not a typographical character. It does not live on the text layer of the document. It resides on the formatting layer, and you can’t reach it by using backspace or delete. Word considers this special line to be a “border”.
In Microsoft Word, if you create a divider line and wish to get rid of it, click your cursor to be immediately above the line. On the Home ribbon, go to the Paragraph section and use the drop-down on the last button to select No Border.
In LibreOffice Writer, if you create a divider line and wish to get rid of it, click your cursor to be immediately above the line. Click Format, then Paragraph. Go to the Borders tab and click the first tiny box next to Presets. Click OK to return to the document.