Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. 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 September 6, 2017)

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 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, and 2013. 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. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Using Dot Leaders in a Paragraph

Adding dot leaders to your text is easy through the application of tab stops. This tip explains the steps you need to ...

Discover More

Adding the Set Print Area Tool

Spend a lot of time defining print areas in your workbooks? You might benefit by adding a Set Print Area tool that makes ...

Discover More

Displaying the Selected Cell's Address

Need to know the address of the cell that is currently selected? The function and macro highlighted in this tip will come ...

Discover More

Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Jumping between Columns

Need to jump from one column to another on a page? You can use the handy shortcut keys described in this tip.

Discover More

Disappearing Column Formatting

Two things go into making your documents look just right: content and formatting. If the formatting seems to disappear on ...

Discover More

Determining a Column Width

When laying out your document, you may wonder what width you should use for your text. An old typographers trick may help ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is two less 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!

This Site

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.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.

Links and Sharing
OUR COMPANY
OUR PRODUCTS
OUR AUTHORS
OUR SITES
 

Copyright © 2019 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.