Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Office 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: Adding Vertical Lines Between Columns.

Adding Vertical Lines between Columns

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated May 9, 2019)

5

As you already know, Word allows you to add columns to your page layout. As part of your page layout, you may decide to add vertical lines between each column on your page. To do this, follow these steps:

  1. Position the insertion point at the beginning of the material you want to appear in columns.
  2. Display the Page Layout (Layout if you are using Word 2016 or a later version) tab of the ribbon.
  3. Click the Columns tool and then click More Columns. Word displays the Columns dialog box. (See Figure 1.)

    4. Figure 1. The Columns dialog box.

  4. Specify the number of columns desired, as you normally would.
  5. In the Apply To box, select This Point Forward. This causes Word to apply columns beginning where the insertion point is located.
  6. Click on the Line Between check box. (The check box is available only if you choose two or more columns.)
  7. Click on OK.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8877) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Word in Office 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Adding Vertical Lines Between Columns.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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Comments

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What is three more than 5?

2015-10-31 20:19:36

Jessica

This didn't work!

2014-03-13 14:27:48

Janet Dolan

the info you provided was NO DIFFERENT than providied free in word. Cancel my subscription.

2014-01-13 15:04:18

Phawnda Moore

Have Word 2011 and until recently the line between the columns worked. Now it doesn't. I'm checking 2 columns, checking rule between and it seems to appear as I hover over the space between the columns, then vanishes. Do you know how to fix this? Thanks.

2013-10-19 08:49:25

awyatt

Actually, it shows how to add the vertical line -- you do it on the same dialog box where you specify how many columns you want. (If you already have columns specified, display the dialog box again and specify, as well, that you want the line.)

-Allen

2013-10-19 07:01:35

Gordon Oldham

Hi - this shows how to enter new columns, NOT how to apply vertical line between columns!

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