Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Word 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Word, click here: Drawing a Curve.

Drawing a Curve

by Allen Wyatt
(last updated February 25, 2021)

If you want to insert a curved line in your Word document, you can do so by following these steps:

Make sure the Drawing toolbar is displayed.
Click on AutoShapes. Word displays a menu of different shape categories.
Click on the Lines option. Word displays a palette of different types of lines you can insert.
Click on the Curve option. (It is the one at the bottom left corner of the palette.)
Click at the point in your document where you want the curve to begin.
Click at each point where you want the line to curve.
When you reach the place where you want the curve to end, double-click.

To get exactly the curve you want may take a bit of practice on your part. Once a curve is placed in your document, it is treated the same as any other graphic image.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (695) applies to Microsoft Word 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Word (Word 2007 and later) here: Drawing a Curve.

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. Learn more about Allen...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Setting Table Values to Three Decimal Places

If you import information into a document from another program, the values you import may not be exactly to your liking. ...

Discover More

Shortcut for AutoCorrect Dialog Box

There is no built-in keyboard shortcut that will display the AutoCorrect dialog box. This doesn't mean that there aren't ...

Discover More

Allowing Passive Voice in Writing

When you have Word do grammar checking on your document, it typically marks everything it considers wrong with the way ...

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 (menu)

Using AutoShape Connectors

If you add AutoShapes to the drawing canvas, you can use connector lines between those shapes. Here's how to add them to ...

Discover More

Inserting Multiple Drawing Objects

If you need to add more than one particular drawing object to your document, you can do it most easily by "tearing off" ...

Discover More

Displaying the AutoShapes Menu

AutoShapes are very useful for adding common drawing shapes to your document. You can make the AutoShapes easier to ...

Discover More

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

View most recent newsletter.

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}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) 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.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is one minus 1?

2016-10-20 19:28:34

allen@sharonparq.com

Shane: Word cannot do that, nor is there a way to do it using macros.

Sorry!

-Allen

2016-10-20 18:31:23

Shane

Hello, I use word for making scale drawings. I am quite good at it. Have made an outline of a speaker I would like to build. I have chosen an eggish shape. It is made up of a straight line in the front and two different arcs for the sides with a shorter straight line as the back. I would like to be able to calculate the area of this shape. Do you know if work is capable of providing the area of a given shape?

This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the menu interface (Word 97, Word 2000, Word 2002, or Word 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.