Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Selecting a Line of Text.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 19, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365
If you are new to Word, coming from using a different type of word processor, you probably noticed that there is no command in Word to delete a line of text. You might view this as an oversight, but it really isn't. Once you learn a very simple technique, you'll find it very easy to delete a line (or more) of text.
Move the mouse pointer to the left of the line of text you want to select. Don't move the mouse pointer into the style area (if you have the style area displayed), but just to the left of the left margin. The mouse pointer turns into an arrow pointing up and right. Click once on the left mouse button, and the entire line of text is selected. If you want, you can hold down the mouse button while the mouse pointer is pointing up and to the right, and you can select multiple lines of text by dragging up or down.
Once you've selected the line (or lines), you are then able to do any other editing function on that selection, including deleting it (by pressing Del or Ctrl+X).
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (117) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Selecting a Line of Text.
The First and Last Word on Word! Bestselling For Dummies author Dan Gookin puts his usual fun and friendly candor back to work to show you how to navigate Word 2019. Spend more time working and less time trying to figure it all out! Check out Word 2019 For Dummies today!
Word provides access to a wide variety of characters either from the keyboard or from the Symbol dialog box. Up and above ...
Discover MoreIf you need to get rid of a lot of paragraphs in a document, it's easy to do as long as the document relies on styles for ...
Discover MoreSeeing where every space is within a document can be very helpful in polishing your editing. Here's how to make those ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here:
Comments