How to enter the horizontal line 1910–2019 in word or WPS?

Entering a horizontal line spanning the years 1910–2019 in a word processor like Microsoft Word or WPS Office is a straightforward task that combines the use of an en dash for the date range with the application of a bottom border to create the visual line. The core mechanism involves treating the date range not as a single graphic object but as a text element with a specific paragraph format. You would first type the date range using the correct typographical character, which is the en dash (–), not a hyphen (-). In both Word and WPS, you can insert an en dash via the Insert > Symbol menu or by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + NumPad - (minus) in Word or a similar function in WPS. The text "1910–2019" is then followed by a paragraph break.

The creation of the horizontal line itself is achieved by applying a bottom border to that paragraph. You would select the paragraph containing the date range, navigate to the Borders and Shading or Paragraph Borders function—typically found in the Home tab under the paragraph group's borders icon—and apply a bottom border only. This action draws a line directly beneath the text, extending from the left to the right margin of that paragraph. A critical nuance for achieving a clean, professional appearance is to adjust the paragraph's spacing. Specifically, you should reduce the spacing after the paragraph to a minimal value (e.g., 0 pt or 6 pt) and potentially increase the spacing before it. This ensures the line sits close to the text above it, creating the visual association of an underline for the date range, rather than appearing as a separator for a new section below.

For precise control over the line's appearance, both applications offer customization within the border settings. You can modify the line's style (solid, dotted, double), weight (thickness), and color. This is essential for matching specific document styles or for emphasizing the temporal span in a graphical way. An alternative, though less elegant, method is to use the automatic formatting feature where typing three hyphens and pressing Enter generates a full-width horizontal line. However, this creates a standalone graphic element that is difficult to position precisely relative to the text and offers limited styling control, making the border method the superior and more stable choice for integrated text-and-line formatting.

The primary implication of using the border method is that it creates a semantically linked unit: the date range and its underline move together as a single paragraph element during editing, maintaining layout integrity. This approach is far more reliable than attempting to insert a separate line shape or drawing, which can easily become misaligned with text flow. The key to success lies in mastering the paragraph formatting settings—particularly spacing—to achieve the intended tight visual coupling between the text "1910–2019" and the horizontal rule beneath it, ensuring the final output appears as a single, cohesive design element denoting a historical timeline.