Erasing Table Lines

One of the neat things you can do with Word is to draw tables using the tools provided by the program. With you table created, you can easily erase any of the lines that make up your table. The result is a table that looks just the way you want it. To erase table lines, follow these steps if you are using a version of Word prior to Word 2007:

1. Create your table as you normally would.
2. Choose the Toolbars option from the View menu, and make sure Tables and Borders is selected from the resulting submenu.
3. Click on the Eraser tool on the toolbar. This is the one just to the right of the tool that looks like a pencil.
4. Click and drag to select the table lines you want to erase.
5. Click on the Eraser tool again (on the toolbar) or press the Esc key. This turns off the Eraser tool.
6. Close the Tables and Borders toolbar when finished.

If you are using Word 2007, follow these steps, instead:

1. Create your table as you normally would.
2. Make sure the insertion point is somewhere within the table.
3. Display the Design tab of the ribbon. (This tab is visible only when the insertion point is within the table.)
4. Click on the Eraser tool, in the Draw Borders group.
5. Click and drag to select the table lines you want to erase.
6. Click on the Eraser tool again or press the Esc key. This turns off the Eraser tool.

You should note that when you erase a line that is a common border between two cells, the two cells are merged. If you try to erase an exterior line from a cell (one that does not border another cell), then the visible table border is removed, but the cell still remains.