4 files changed, 30 insertions, 11 deletions

diff --git a/etc/NEWS b/etc/NEWS
index 29568e7fd5c..e241b512b6a 100644
--- a/etc/NEWS
+++ b/etc/NEWS
@@ -2222,6 +2222,13 @@ This command, called interactively, toggles the local value of
 
 ** Miscellaneous
 
+---
+*** New utility function 'make-separator-line'.
+
+---
+*** New face 'separator-line'.
+This is used by 'make-separator-line'.
+
 +++
 *** New user option 'ignored-local-variable-values'.
 This is the opposite of 'safe-local-variable-values' -- it's an alist
diff --git a/lisp/help-fns.el b/lisp/help-fns.el
index cb248b1d009..81d7f23fe3c 100644
--- a/lisp/help-fns.el
+++ b/lisp/help-fns.el
@@ -1573,11 +1573,7 @@ current buffer and the selected frame, respectively."
             (insert doc)
             (delete-region (point)
                            (progn (skip-chars-backward " \t\n") (point)))
-            (insert "\n\n"
-                    (eval-when-compile
-                      (propertize "\n" 'face
-                                  '(:height 0.1 :inverse-video t :extend t)))
-                    "\n")
+            (insert "\n\n" (make-separator-line) "\n")
             (when name
               (insert (symbol-name symbol)
                       " is also a " name "." "\n\n"))))
diff --git a/lisp/help.el b/lisp/help.el
index 1bb1b307723..ba27fc5810f 100644
--- a/lisp/help.el
+++ b/lisp/help.el
@@ -943,12 +943,7 @@ current buffer."
           (when defn
             (when (> (length info-list) 1)
               (with-current-buffer standard-output
-                (insert "\n\n"
-                        ;; FIXME: Can't use eval-when-compile because purified
-                        ;; strings lose their text properties :-(
-                        (propertize "\n" 'face
-                                    '(:height 0.1 :inverse-video t :extend t))
-                        "\n")))
+                (insert "\n\n" (make-separator-line) "\n")))
 
             (princ brief-desc)
             (when locus
diff --git a/lisp/simple.el b/lisp/simple.el
index 6de21902210..ea3ccb388e5 100644
--- a/lisp/simple.el
+++ b/lisp/simple.el
@@ -695,6 +695,27 @@ When called from Lisp code, ARG may be a prefix string to copy."
     (indent-to col 0)
     (goto-char pos)))
 
+(defface separator-line
+  '((((type graphic)) :height 0.1 :inverse-video t)
+    (t :foreground "ForestGreen"))
+  "Face for separator lines."
+  :version "28.1"
+  :group 'text)
+
+(defun make-separator-line (&optional length)
+  "Make a string appropriate for usage as a visual separator line.
+This uses the `separator-line' face.
+
+If LENGTH is nil, use the window width."
+  (if (display-graphic-p)
+      (if length
+          (concat (propertize (make-string length ?\s) 'face 'separator-line)
+                  "\n")
+        (propertize "\n" 'face '(:inherit separator-line :extend t)))
+    (concat (propertize (make-string (or length (1- (window-width))) ?-)
+                        'face 'separator-line)
+            "\n")))
+
 (defun delete-indentation (&optional arg beg end)
   "Join this line to previous and fix up whitespace at join.
 If there is a fill prefix, delete it from the beginning of this