why cant i draw a straight line or arrow in word 2013?

Anonymous
2014-01-04T08:05:17+00:00

hi

in word 2013 when I want to draw an arrow or a line it cant be straight in 180 degree in page and it is always a bit curve to up or down for example draw a rectangle and on its border line draw an arrow ( the arrow must be exactly on rectangle border line ) and you will see that the arrow is curve and is not on rectangle border.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2014-03-21T15:41:48+00:00

This is easy to recreate, but can be solved by setting the height or width to zero in the ribbon.

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  1. Suzanne S Barnhill 279.2K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2014-01-04T14:24:56+00:00

    If you press Shift while drawing the line or arrow, it will be constrained to the horizontal or vertical.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-10-20T09:12:19+00:00

    Actually Suzanne the answer's way too shorthand-succinct for most of us. Here are the steps

    • Select the object you want to straighten.
    • Go to the Drawing Tools/Format menu (now highlighted at the top of the screen)
    • Go to the Size item and set the horizontal value to zero
    • Welcome to straightville!  ;-)

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-03-04T08:38:09+00:00

    For me, I can draw a straight line arrow but on editing it "jumps over" the horizontal and vertical as I drag pass it. Holding shift just holds in place, at an angle. After editing a straight arrow, it wont ever be straight again it seems. 

    After mentioning it, everyone in my office can reproduce the problem. 

    Please, how can I turn this feature off?

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-06-10T06:49:30+00:00

    I have the same problem. I cannot draw an exactly horizontal or vertical straight line, even if I hold down the shift key when extending it.  It is as though the line is jumping to a grid, but I have the Grid turned off.

    Possible solution:

    1. Click on a drawing object.
    2. Click on Drawing Tools. Then click Format below it.
    3. Find the Align group (look right). Click the Down arrow.
    4. Find Grid Settings.
    5. Set Horizontal Spacing to 0.01" and likewise for Vertical.
    6. Under Grid Origins, check Margins.
    7. Click OK.

    You should now be able to draw a STRAIGHT line!

    Note that the Shift key seems to be contextually controlled. If you hold it down as you START to draw a line, it will come out exactly vertical or horizontal. If you then release the Shift key, then select and slant the line to say 45 degrees, then press and hold the Shift key again and try to extend the line, it will extend only in the last direction it was set to (45 degrees in this case).

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