How To Insert a Vertical Line in Google Docs [Easy Ways]

Inserting a vertical line in your Google Docs document can make it more readable and engaging. Vertical lines can break up walls of text, create columns for easy reading, and highlight important sections. They are particularly useful in newsletters, resumes, and reports to enhance the overall presentation.

So, how can you insert a vertical line in Google Docs?

The quickest method is utilizing the “Drawing” tool under the “Insert” tab. Simply draw a vertical line, customize its appearance, and save it to insert into your document.

Read on to explore the different ways on how to insert a vertical line in Google Docs.

How To Insert a Vertical Line in Google Docs Using the Drawing Tool

The Google Docs Drawing tool lets you put shapes, text boxes, and various types of lines in your document, including vertical lines. To make a vertical line on Google Docs using the Drawing tool, follow the steps below:

1. Open your Google Docs document.
2. Click the “Insert” menu.
3. Select “Drawing” > “New” from the drop-down menu.

4. Hover over the “Line” icon in the toolbar in the drawing tool.
5. Click the downward arrow beside the line tool and select the “line” option.

6. Position the cursor on the canvas where you want to start the vertical line.
7. Hold “Shift” and drag your mouse downward. This automatically draws the line.
8. Release the cursor to finalize the vertical line.
9. If you want to adjust the line thickness, use the “Line weight” option in the toolbar. This is represented with horizontal line buttons next to the “Line color.”

10. To change the line color, click on the vertical line to select it. Then click the “Line color” option in the toolbar. Select a predefined color or click on “Custom” to choose a custom color.

11. You can also modify the line style (dotted or dashed) using the “Line dash” option in the toolbar.

12. Once satisfied with the line you’ve made, click the “Save and Close” button in the Drawing tool.

13. The vertical line will be inserted into your Google Docs document at the desired location.

That’s it! You have successfully added a vertical line to your Google Docs file. If you want to create a vertical line in Google Docs while organizing your text into columns, please refer to our second method.

How To Insert a Vertical Line in Google Docs by Dividing Text Columns

If you want to create columns in your Google Docs file and separate them with vertical lines, here’s what you can do:

1. Open your Google Docs document.
2. Highlight the text you want to organize in columns
3. Click on the “Format” tab in the top menu.
4. Select “Columns” > “More option” from the drop-down menu.

5. Choose the number of columns you want to divide your document into (e.g., 2, 3, or more).
6. Check the “Line Between Columns” option. You can also adjust the spacing between the columns. In our example, we set it to the standard 0.5-inch spacing.
7. Click on “Apply.” Now, your text is organized into columns with a 0.5-inch spacing between them, separated by vertical lines.

How To Insert a Vertical Line in Google Docs Using a Keyboard Shortcut

If you want to add a vertical line to highlight a portion of your document or for aesthetic purposes, you can follow this method:

1. Position your mouse cursor where you want to place the vertical line.
2. While holding the “Shift” key on your keyboard, click the “vertical line” key (|). The vertical line button is typically located below the “Backspace” button.

How To Insert a Vertical Line in Google Docs Using Table Border

You can also use tables in Google Docs to create vertical lines in your document. By adjusting the format of the table borders, you can generate vertical lines.

The advantage of using table borders to create vertical lines is that they automatically extend in length as you type more text in the document. This means you can type freely without manually adjusting the length of the vertical line.

To create a vertical line in Google Docs using table borders, follow the steps below:

1. Open your Google Docs document.
2. Click the “Insert” menu.
3. Choose “Table” and select the desired number of rows and columns by dragging your mouse.

4. Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and select all the table borders except the ones you want to keep in the document.

5. Click on “Border Width” in the menu at the top and set it to 0 pt.

That’s it! You now have a vertical line that automatically adjusts its length to match your text. As you type more text, the vertical line will lengthen accordingly.

How To Add a Horizontal Line in Google Docs

Now that you know how to make a vertical line in Google Docs, it’s natural to ask how to add horizontal lines.

Inserting a horizontal line in your document is pretty simple. Here are the steps that you should follow:

1. Open your Google Docs document.
2. Place your cursor at the location in the document where you want to insert the horizontal line.
3. Click on the “Insert” tab in the top menu.
4. Select “Horizontal line” from the drop-down menu.

5. A horizontal line will be inserted into your document at the cursor’s position.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is It Possible to Insert a Vertical Line in Google Docs by Copying One from Microsoft Word or the Web?

Yes, inserting a vertical line in Google Docs by copying one from Microsoft Word or the web is possible. However, it may be challenging to adjust or modify the formatting of the copied line since it originated from a different source.

What Is the Shortcut to Insert a Horizontal Line in Google Docs?

The keyboard shortcut to insert a horizontal line in Google Docs on Windows is “Alt + I,” then press “R”, and “Command + Option + I,” then press “R” on Mac.

Another way to insert a horizontal line in Google Docs is by selecting the “Insert” menu in the toolbar and then clicking “Horizontal Line.” This method will automatically insert a horizontal line into your Google Docs file.

Final Thoughts

Adding a vertical line in Google Docs can be achieved through various methods, allowing you to enhance your documents’ visual appeal and organization. While Google Docs does not have a built-in feature specifically designed for vertical lines, the workarounds in how to insert vertical lines in Google Docs can help you achieve this effect.

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