You can easily underline text in Hotmail (now known as Outlook.com) by highlighting the desired text and using a keyboard shortcut or the formatting toolbar available during email composition.
Underlining Text in Hotmail (Outlook.com) Emails
When composing an email, whether it's a new message, a reply, or a forward, you have several options to format your text, including underlining. This helps emphasize key points or draw attention to specific words.
Using Keyboard Shortcuts
The quickest way to underline text is by using a keyboard shortcut, which is a common practice across many applications.
- Select the text: While composing your email, use your mouse to highlight the specific piece of text you wish to underline.
- Apply underline formatting: Press
Ctrl + Uon a Windows computer orCmd + Uon a Mac. The selected text will immediately appear underlined.
This method is efficient for users who prefer keyboard navigation or need to format text quickly.
Using the Formatting Toolbar
For those who prefer a visual approach, the formatting toolbar within the Hotmail (Outlook.com) compose window offers a straightforward way to underline text.
- Open the compose window: Start a new email, reply to a message, or forward an email in Outlook.com.
- Type your text: Enter the content of your message.
- Highlight the text: Select the portion of your text that you want to underline.
- Locate the 'U' icon: In the formatting toolbar (usually found at the bottom of the compose window or sometimes above it), look for an icon that resembles a capital 'U' with a line underneath it.
- Click to underline: Click on this 'U' icon. Your selected text will now be underlined.
This toolbar also typically includes options for applying bold (B) and italic (I) formatting.
Quick Reference for Text Formatting
Here's a handy table summarizing common text formatting options in Outlook.com emails:
| Formatting | Keyboard Shortcut (Windows) | Keyboard Shortcut (Mac) | Toolbar Icon | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bold | Ctrl + B |
Cmd + B |
B | Emphasize important words |
| Italic | Ctrl + I |
Cmd + I |
I | Highlight titles, foreign words, or stress |
| Underline | Ctrl + U |
Cmd + U |
U | Draw attention to key phrases |
Tips for Effective Underlining
While underlining can be useful, consider these tips for best practices:
- Avoid over-usage: Use underlining sparingly to maintain its impact. Too much underlined text can make your email harder to read.
- Context matters: Underline text to signify importance, but remember that hyperlinks are typically underlined by default. Avoid underlining non-link text that might be confused with a clickable link.
- Combine with other formatting: Sometimes, using bold and underline together can create even stronger emphasis for critical information.
Where to Access Your Emails (Hotmail/Outlook.com)
Hotmail accounts have transitioned to Outlook.com. You can access your emails and utilize these formatting features by logging into the official platform:
