How to Quickly Remove Stubborn Horizontal Lines in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word often auto-generates horizontal lines when you type three or more hyphens (---), equal signs (===), or similar characters followed by Enter. These lines resist simple Backspace or Delete commands, frustrating users during document editing. As Word specialists with extensive experience optimizing workflows, we've helped countless professionals tackle this issue efficiently.

Step-by-Step Guide to Remove Horizontal Lines

Follow these proven steps to eliminate the line without hassle:

1. Position your cursor directly above or on the horizontal line.
2. Go to the Home tab and locate the Paragraph group.
3. Click the dropdown arrow next to the Borders icon (it looks like a square with lines).
4. Select No Border (or Borderless in some versions).

This method works reliably across Word versions, restoring clean formatting instantly.