Microsoft Word can turn a few typed characters into arrows, smiley faces and full-width horizontal lines the moment you press Space or Enter. These MS Word shortcut keys come from two built-in features, AutoCorrect and AutoFormat As You Type, and once you know them you will never hunt through the Symbol menu for a simple arrow or divider again.
This guide lists every useful combination in one place: emoji-style faces, arrows, symbols such as © and ™, and the six line styles Word can draw. You will also learn how to remove a line you did not want, how to switch the feature on or off, and a few alternative methods such as Alt codes and the Windows emoji panel.
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What You Can Create with MS Word Shortcut Keys
The screenshot below shows three results in a blank Word document: an arrow made from –>, a double horizontal line made from ===, and a dotted line made from ***.
Horizontal Line Shortcuts in MS Word
Type the three characters at the start of an empty paragraph and press Enter. Word replaces them with a line that runs from margin to margin.
| Type this, then press Enter | Line you get | Good for |
|---|---|---|
--- |
Plain single line | Simple section breaks |
___ (three underscores) |
Thick single line | Strong dividers under headings |
=== |
Double line | Totals, letterheads, formal documents |
*** |
Dotted (broken) line | Cut lines, light separators |
~~~ |
Wavy line | Informal notes, newsletters |
### |
Triple line with a thick centre | Decorative headers |
Good to know: these lines are not drawn shapes. Word adds a bottom border to the paragraph above, which is why the line stretches between the margins and moves with the text.
How to remove a line you did not want
- Press Ctrl + Z straight after the line appears. Word undoes the automatic formatting and leaves your three characters as typed text.
- If the line is already there, click in the paragraph just above it, go to Home > Paragraph > Borders (the drop-down arrow) and choose No Border.
Other ways to add a horizontal line
If you prefer the mouse, Word offers two alternatives. Home > Paragraph > Borders > Horizontal Line inserts a grey rule that you can double-click to change its width, height and colour. Insert > Shapes > Line lets you draw a free line of any length and angle; hold Shift while dragging to keep it perfectly straight. Use the typed shortcuts for quick dividers and these menu options when you need more control over the look.
Arrow Shortcuts in MS Word
Arrows are AutoCorrect entries, so they appear after you type the characters and press Space or Enter.
| Type this | Result |
|---|---|
--> |
Right arrow → |
<-- |
Left arrow ← |
==> |
Bold right arrow |
<== |
Bold left arrow |
<=> |
Double-headed arrow ⇔ |
For up and down arrows there is no AutoCorrect entry, but two other methods work in Word:
- Unicode + Alt + X: type
2191then press Alt + X for ↑, or2193then Alt + X for ↓. The same works with2192(→) and2190(←). - Alt codes on the numeric keypad: hold Alt and type
24(↑),25(↓),26(→) or27(←). This needs a keyboard with a number pad and Num Lock switched on.
Emoji and Smiley Shortcuts
Word’s default AutoCorrect list converts three classic text faces into symbol faces:
| Type this | Result |
|---|---|
:) or :-) |
Smiling face ☺ |
:( or :-( |
Frowning face ☹ |
:| or :-| |
Neutral face |
Other faces such as a wink are not in the default list. For the full range of colour emoji, use the Windows emoji panel: press Windows key + . (full stop) or Windows key + ;, search for the emoji and click it. It inserts straight into your Word document. On a Mac, the equivalent is Control + Command + Space.
Bonus: Symbol Shortcuts
| Type this | Result |
|---|---|
(c) |
Copyright © |
(r) |
Registered ® |
(tm) |
Trademark ™ |
(e) |
Euro € |
... |
Ellipsis … |
If you need the literal text, for example “(c)” in a numbered list, press Ctrl + Z right after Word converts it.
Turn These Shortcuts On or Off
If nothing happens when you type the characters, or Word keeps changing text you wanted to keep, check these settings:
- Go to File > Options > Proofing and click AutoCorrect Options.
- On the AutoFormat As You Type tab, tick or untick Border lines to control the horizontal line shortcuts.
- On the AutoCorrect tab, tick or untick Replace text as you type to control arrows, faces and symbols. You can also delete individual entries from the list.
Create Your Own Shortcut
You can add your own AutoCorrect entry for any symbol you use often, such as a check mark:
- Insert the symbol once with Insert > Symbol > More Symbols and select it in the document.
- Open File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options. The selected symbol already appears in the With box.
- In the Replace box, type a short code you will not use by accident, for example
/tick, then click Add and OK.
From now on, typing /tick followed by Space inserts the symbol.
Best Practices
- Use lines for structure, not decoration. One divider between major sections is easier to read than a line after every paragraph.
- Prefer headings for navigation. Lines look like breaks but do not appear in the Navigation Pane or a table of contents.
- Keep emoji for informal documents. In reports, proposals and CVs, symbols such as → and ✓ usually read better than faces.
- Check shared documents. Symbol faces use the Wingdings font, so if the reader’s device lacks it they may see a letter instead of a face.
More Microsoft Word Tutorials
- 3 easy methods to create a table in MS Word
- Convert only the Word pages you need to PDF
- Convert numbers to words automatically using VBA in Word
- Transcribe a video or audio file in Microsoft Word
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I insert a horizontal line in Word with the keyboard?
Type three hyphens (---), underscores, equal signs, asterisks, tildes or hash signs on an empty line and press Enter. Each one produces a different line style.
Why does typing — not create a line?
The Border lines option is probably switched off. Turn it on under File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type.
How do I delete a line Word added automatically?
Press Ctrl + Z immediately, or put the cursor in the paragraph above the line and choose Home > Borders > No Border.
How do I type an arrow in Word?
Type --> and press Space for →, or <-- for ←. For up and down arrows, type 2191 or 2193 and press Alt + X.
Can I insert colour emoji in Word?
Yes. On Windows press Windows key + . to open the emoji panel and pick any emoji; it is inserted at the cursor.
How do I type the registered trademark symbol?
Type (r) and press Space; Word converts it to ®. Use (tm) for ™ and (c) for ©.
Wrapping Up
Three characters and a press of Enter or Space are all you need for arrows, faces, symbols and six styles of horizontal line in Microsoft Word. Open a blank document now and try ===, *** and -->, then add one custom AutoCorrect entry for the symbol you use most.
📅 Last updated: October 2026
