Add a signature line - Microsoft Support (2024)

You can create a signature line by underlining blank spaces. The best way to do this depends on whether you want to print the document or distribute it online.

Newer versionsOffice 2007

You can add a signature line to a document, add a graphic of your handwritten signature, or save a signature block as an AutoText building block.

For information on adding a digital signature, see Add or remove a digital signature in Office files.

You can underline blank spaces for a printed document by pressing the TAB key and applying the underline formatting to the tab characters.

Apply underline formatting to tab characters

  1. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click Show/Hide.

    Add a signature line - Microsoft Support (1)

    The marks that indicate spaces and tab stops are displayed.

  2. Press the TAB key.

  3. Select the tab characters that you want to underline. A tab character looks like a small arrow.

    Add a signature line - Microsoft Support (2)

  4. Do one of the following:

    • To apply a simple underline format, press CTRL+U.

    • To apply a different style of underline, on the Home tab, in the Font group, click the Font Dialog Box Launcher, click the Font tab, and then select a style from the Underline style list.

To create an underline in an online document or form, insert a table cell with the bottom border turned on. This method ensures that when someone types on the line, the line stays in place.

You can create a line on its own, or you can create a line that has introductory text, such as Signature or Date.

Create a line

  1. Click where you want to insert a blank underline.

  2. On the Insert tab, in the Tables group, click Table.

    Add a signature line - Microsoft Support (3)

  3. Click the upper-left box to insert a 1x1 table.

    To change the length of the line, move the pointer over the end of the table until it becomes a resize pointer Add a signature line - Microsoft Support (4), and then move the arrow right or left to lengthen or shorten the line.

  4. Right-click the table, click Borders and Shading, and then click the Borders tab.

  5. Under Setting, click None.

  6. Under Style, click the line type, color, and width that you want.

  7. In the diagram under Preview, click between the lower margin markers to add the bottom border. Make sure that only the bottom line is displayed.

  8. Under Apply to, click Table, and then click OK.

Note:If you prefer to view the table without the light gray gridlines that do not print, on the Layout tab, in the Table group, click Show Gridlines.

Create a line that has introductory text

  1. Click where you want to insert a blank underline.

  2. On the Insert tab, in the Tables group, click Table.

    Add a signature line - Microsoft Support (5)

  3. Click the upper-left box to insert a 2x1 table.

    To change the length of the line, move the pointer over the end of the table until it becomes a resize pointer Add a signature line - Microsoft Support (6), and then move the arrow right or left to lengthen or shorten the line.

  4. Right-click the table, click Borders and Shading, and then click the Borders tab.

  5. Under Setting, click None.

  6. Under Apply to, click Table, and then click OK.

  7. Right-click the cell where you want to add the underline, click Borders and Shading again, and then click the Borders tab.

  8. Under Style, click the line type, color, and width that you want.

  9. In the diagram under Preview, click between the lower margin markers to add the bottom border. Make sure that only the bottom line is displayed.

  10. Under Apply to, click Cell.

  11. Type the introductory text that you want in the cell that doesn't display the line.

Note:If you prefer to view the table without the light gray gridlines that do not print, on the Layout tab, in the Table group, click Show Gridlines.

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First, you need to create an image of your signature. You can write it on a piece of paper, scan the page, and then crop the image file that your scanner creates Save the image in one of the common image file formats, such as .bmp, .gif, .jpg, or .png.

Important:Because of the numerous scanners, digital cameras, and other devices available to consumers, we cannot offer instructions on using these devices. For information, see the manufacturer’s manual or Web site.

After you have your image file, you can add it to a document, by clicking the Insert tab, clicking Picture, and then inserting the image of your signature. However, you might want to add other information, such as your typed name, below the image. To do that, you can create a reusable AutoText entry that contains both the image of your signature and the typed information. For more information, see Use Quick Parts and AutoText in Word.

You can save a signature block as an AutoText entry so that it’s readily available in the AutoText building block gallery.

  1. In Word, type the signature block that you want to save. Or, insert the image of your signature and type the additional information that you want to include.

  2. Select the signature block.

  3. On the Insert tab, in the Text group, click Quick Parts, and then click Save Selection to Quick Part Gallery.

  4. In the Create New Building Block dialog box, type a name for your signature block.

  5. In the Gallery list, click AutoText.

  6. Click OK.

To insert your signature block, click the Insert tab, click Quick Parts, click AutoText, and then click your signature block.

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You can underline blank spaces by pressing SHIFT+HYPHEN (-), but it is difficult to line up the underlines— if you are creating a fill-in form, for example. Also, if the AutoFormat option for changing underscore characters into border lines is turned on, pressing SHIFT+HYPHEN (-) three or more times in a row will result in a line that extends the width of the paragraph, which may not be what you want.

A better way to underline blank spaces for a printed document is to use the TAB key and apply the underline formatting to the tab characters.

  1. On the Home tab, in the Paragraph group, click Show/Hide.

    Add a signature line - Microsoft Support (7)

    The marks that indicate spaces and tab stops are displayed.

  2. Press the TAB key.

  3. Select the tab characters that you want to underline. A tab character looks like a small arrow.

    Add a signature line - Microsoft Support (8)

  4. Do one of the following:

    • To apply a simple underline format, press CTRL+U.

    • To apply a different style of underline, on the Home tab, in the Font group, click the Font Dialog Box Launcher, click the Font tab, and then select a style from the Underline style list.

Top of Page

To create an underline in an online document or form, insert a table cell with the bottom border turned on. This method ensures that when someone types on the line, the line stays in place.

You can create a line on its own, or you can create a line that has introductory text, such as Signature or Date.

Create a line

  1. Click where you want to insert a blank underline.

  2. On the Insert tab, in the Tables group, click Table.

    Add a signature line - Microsoft Support (9)

  3. Click the upper-left box to insert a 1x1 table.

    To change the length of the line, move the pointer over the end of the table until it becomes a resize pointer Add a signature line - Microsoft Support (10), and then move the arrow right or left to lengthen or shorten the line.

  4. Right-click the table, click Borders and Shading, and then click the Borders tab.

  5. Under Setting, click None.

  6. Under Style, click the line type, color, and width that you want.

  7. In the diagram under Preview, click between the lower margin markers to add the bottom border. Make sure that only the bottom line is displayed.

  8. Under Apply to, click Table, and then click OK.

Note:If you prefer to view the table without the light gray gridlines that do not print, on the Layout tab, in the Table group, click Show Gridlines.

Create a line that has introductory text

  1. Click where you want to insert a blank underline.

  2. On the Insert tab, in the Tables group, click Table.

    Add a signature line - Microsoft Support (11)

  3. Click the upper-left box to insert a 2x1 table.

    To change the length of the line, move the pointer over the end of the table until it becomes a resize pointer Add a signature line - Microsoft Support (12), and then move the arrow right or left to lengthen or shorten the line.

  4. Right-click the table, click Borders and Shading, and then click the Borders tab.

  5. Under Setting, click None.

  6. Under Apply to, click Table, and then click OK.

  7. Right-click the cell where you want to add the underline, click Borders and Shading again, and then click the Borders tab.

  8. Under Style, click the line type, color, and width that you want.

  9. In the diagram under Preview, click between the lower margin markers to add the bottom border. Make sure that only the bottom line is displayed.

  10. Under Apply to, click Cell.

  11. Type the introductory text that you want in the cell that doesn't display the line.

Note:If you prefer to view the table without the light gray gridlines that do not print, on the Layout tab, in the Table group, click Show Gridlines.

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Add a signature line - Microsoft Support (2024)

FAQs

Add a signature line - Microsoft Support? ›

To add a digital signature, open your Microsoft Word document and click where you'd like to add your signature line. From the Word ribbon, select the Insert tab and then click Signature Line in the Text group. A Signature Setup pop-up box appears. Enter your information in the text fields and click OK.

How do I add a signature line? ›

To add a digital signature, open your Microsoft Word document and click where you'd like to add your signature line. From the Word ribbon, select the Insert tab and then click Signature Line in the Text group. A Signature Setup pop-up box appears. Enter your information in the text fields and click OK.

Where is Microsoft signature line? ›

In the document or worksheet, place your pointer where you want to create a signature line. On the Insert tab, in the Text group, click the Signature Line list, and then click Microsoft Office Signature Line.

How do I add a signature line in Outlook? ›

Create your signature and choose when Outlook adds a signature to your messages
  1. Open a new email message.
  2. On the Message menu, select Signature > Signatures. ...
  3. Under Select signature to edit, choose New, and in the New Signature dialog box, type a name for the signature.
  4. Under Edit signature, compose your signature.

What is the shortcut for signature line? ›

To create a new signature, press Alt+N, and then press Enter. The New Signature dialog box opens. Type a name for the signature. When you're done, press Enter.

Where is signature in Office 365? ›

  1. Step 1 Once you have logged into your Office 365 Account (Outlook), click FILE in the top menu. Note: Multiple signatures for one email account are not supported. ...
  2. Step 3 Click Mail. Step 4 Click Signature. ...
  3. Step 5 Click New -The New Signature Box will appear, type your First and Last Name, then his OK.

Why does my Microsoft Word not have signature line? ›

Then, go to the top menu bar and select “Insert.” The drop-down menu will list many types of items that you can insert. Select “Signature Line” and then “Add Signature Services.” The signature line will appear. Some versions of Word have no option for a signature line.

Can you draw a signature in Word? ›

Use the Draw Tool to Sign the Word Document

If you don't have an image of your signature, you can use Word's Draw tab to create your signature using your mouse or touchpad. Place your cursor on the spot in your document where you want your signature. Go to Draw On Windows, and select Drawing Canvas in the ribbon.

How do I insert a line on either side of a word in Word? ›

How to insert a horizontal line in Word using the ribbon
  1. Place your cursor where you want to insert the line.
  2. In the "Home" tab, select the "Borders" button.
  3. Select "Horizontal line" from the drop-down menu. ...
  4. Double-click the line to edit the line's appearance. ...
  5. Click "OK" when you're done altering the line.
Jul 31, 2023

How do I add a signature line to a PDF? ›

Follow the steps below to add a signature block to PDF documents:
  1. Open the PDF with Adobe Acrobat.
  2. Select Tools at the top left of the screen.
  3. In the Forms & Signature sections, choose Prepare Form.
  4. Select Start.
  5. Choose the Add a Signature block icon from the tools ribbon.

How do I add a solid line to my email signature? ›

(1) In the Select Signature to edit section, select the specified signature you will add a horizontal line; (2) In the Edit signature section, put the cursor where you will add a horizontal line, and press the Ctrl + V to paste the horizontal line; (3) Click the OK button.

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