How to Double Underline in Microsoft Word

Underlining text is a standard way to emphasize a word or indicate a hyperlink. However, in legal documents, accounting spreadsheets, or formal academic papers, a single underline isn’t always enough. You might need a double underline to indicate a grand total or to strongly emphasize a critical heading.

Microsoft Word makes it very easy to apply a double underline to any text, and there are two quick ways to do it.

Method 1: Using the Ribbon Menu

The most visual way to apply a double underline is by using the standard Font tools on the Word ribbon.

1. Open your document and highlight the text you want to double underline.
2. Look at the ribbon at the top of the screen and make sure you are on the Home tab.
3. Locate the Font group. You will see the standard Bold (B), Italic (I), and Underline (U) buttons.
4. Do not click the ‘U’ button directly. Instead, click the small downward-pointing arrow right next to the ‘U’.
5. A drop-down menu will appear showing various underline styles. Click the double line option (it is usually the second option in the list).

The text will instantly be double underlined. If you want to change the color of the underline, you can click that same downward arrow again, select “Underline Color,” and choose a new shade.

Method 2: Using a Keyboard Shortcut

If you format documents frequently, using the mouse slows you down. Fortunately, Word has a built-in keyboard shortcut specifically for double underlining.

1. Highlight the text you want to format.
2. On a Windows PC, press Ctrl + Shift + D simultaneously.
3. On a Mac, press Command (Cmd) + Shift + D simultaneously.

The double underline will be applied instantly. If you want to remove it, simply leave the text highlighted and press the exact same keyboard shortcut again to toggle it off.

How to Double Underline Blank Spaces

Sometimes you need to create a blank line for someone to sign their name, and you want that line to be double underlined. If you just press the Spacebar and try to underline it, Word often ignores the blank spaces.

To fix this:

1. Press the Tab key to create a wide space, rather than using the Spacebar.
2. Highlight the blank tab space you just created.
3. Apply the double underline using either the ribbon or the keyboard shortcut described above.