Why You Need to Know How to Strikethrough Text
You’re finalizing a project plan in Google Docs and need to show which tasks are completed. You’re editing a shared grocery list and want to mark off items you’ve already bought. Or perhaps you’re a student peer-reviewing an essay and want to visually suggest text for removal without deleting it. In each of these common scenarios, the strikethrough formatting tool is your best friend.
Strikethrough is that horizontal line drawn through the middle of your text. It’s a simple visual cue with powerful uses, from tracking progress and suggesting edits to marking deprecated information. While it’s a standard feature in word processors, the specific steps in Google Docs can be elusive if you don’t use it daily.
This guide provides the complete, step-by-step methods to apply strikethrough in Google Docs across all devices. We’ll also cover how to remove it, use it effectively, and troubleshoot common issues, ensuring you can manage your documents with clarity and efficiency.
Understanding the Strikethrough Tool
Before diving into the steps, it helps to know what you’re working with. Strikethrough is a character-level formatting option, similar to making text bold or italic. It doesn’t delete the text; it merely changes its appearance by adding a line through it.
The primary purpose is visual communication. In collaborative documents, it allows contributors to see what changes are being proposed. In personal lists, it provides a satisfying way to track completion. Google Docs makes this formatting accessible through several intuitive paths.
Where to Find the Strikethrough Command
Unlike the bold (B) or italic (I) buttons that are always visible on the toolbar, the strikethrough button is tucked inside a menu. This is the main reason users sometimes struggle to locate it. The command itself is consistently labeled “Strikethrough” across all interfaces.
Google Docs offers multiple ways to execute any command: through the main menu, the format menu, a right-click context menu, and keyboard shortcuts. The method you choose depends on your workflow preference and whether you’re using a keyboard or a touchscreen.
The Standard Method: Using the Format Menu
This is the most straightforward method for new users or those who prefer navigating with a mouse. Follow these steps precisely.
First, open your Google Docs document and navigate to the text you want to modify. Use your cursor to select the specific words, sentences, or paragraphs. You can click and drag, or double-click to select a word.
With your text highlighted, look at the top menu bar of your browser window. Click on the word “Format”. A dropdown menu will appear. Move your cursor down this menu to the item labeled “Text”. Another submenu will fly out to the side.
In this “Text” submenu, look for the option that says “Strikethrough”. It is usually represented by a “T” with a line through it. Click on this option. The moment you click, the horizontal line will instantly appear through your selected text.
To confirm the formatting is applied, simply click anywhere else in your document to deselect the text. The strikethrough will remain. This method works identically on the desktop web version of Google Docs across Windows, Mac, ChromeOS, and Linux.
The Fastest Method: Keyboard Shortcuts
For power users who want to speed up their editing, keyboard shortcuts are essential. They allow you to apply formatting without taking your hands off the keyboard.
The universal keyboard shortcut for strikethrough in Google Docs is Alt+Shift+5 on Windows and ChromeOS. On a Mac, the shortcut is Command+Shift+X. It’s important to use the “X” key, not the hyphen or minus key.
Here is the exact sequence. Select your desired text using the keyboard (Shift+Arrow keys) or mouse. Once the text is highlighted, press and hold the modifier keys (Alt and Shift on Windows, Command and Shift on Mac), then press the number 5 or the X key. Release all keys.
The formatting is applied immediately. This shortcut also works as a toggle. If you select text that already has a strikethrough and press the same shortcut, it will remove the line. Memorizing this one shortcut can save you significant time during heavy editing sessions.
Using the Toolbar Shortcut Menu
Another quick access point is the toolbar’s “More formats” button. This is useful if you use strikethrough often but don’t want to memorize the keyboard shortcut.
After selecting your text, look at the main toolbar directly below the document title. You’ll see common buttons like Bold, Italic, and Underline. At the far right of this set of formatting buttons, there is an icon that looks like a letter “A” with a horizontal line under it. This is the “More formats” button.
Click this button. A small dropdown panel will appear. In this panel, you will see the “Strikethrough” option, again symbolized by a “T” with a line through it. Click it to apply the formatting to your selected text. This method condenses two menu clicks into one, making it slightly faster than the full Format menu path.
How to Strikethrough on Mobile Devices
Editing on a smartphone or tablet follows a different interface. The process is still simple but uses touch gestures.
Open the Google Docs app on your iOS or Android device and open your document. To select text, double-tap on a word. Handles will appear at the start and end of the selection. Drag these handles to adjust which text is highlighted.
Once text is selected, a context menu will pop up above it. Tap on the rightmost icon in this menu, which looks like a letter “A” with a pencil. This is the “Format” button. This opens the formatting panel at the bottom of your screen.
In this panel, swipe through the tabs at the top until you find the “Text” tab. Tap it. Scroll down through the text formatting options. You will find the “Strikethrough” option. Tap the toggle switch next to it to turn it on. The line will appear on your selected text instantly. Tap anywhere outside the panel to close it and see your change.
Removing a Strikethrough
Removing the line is just as important as adding it. The process is essentially the reverse of application and uses the same tools.
Select the text that has the strikethrough formatting. You can use any selection method you prefer. Once the text is highlighted, you have several removal options.
You can go to Format > Text > Strikethrough again. Since the option acts as a toggle, clicking it while the text is formatted will remove the line. You can click the “More formats” toolbar button and click the “Strikethrough” option to toggle it off.
The most efficient way is to use the same keyboard shortcut: Alt+Shift+5 (Windows) or Command+Shift+X (Mac). Applying the shortcut to already-stricken text will revert it to normal. On mobile, simply select the text, open the format panel, and toggle the “Strikethrough” switch off.
Using Clear Formatting
If the text has multiple types of formatting you want to strip away all at once, use the “Clear formatting” command. This resets the text to the document’s default plain style.
Select the text. On the desktop, click Format > Clear formatting, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+\ (Windows) or Command+\ (Mac). On mobile, find the “Clear formatting” option in the format panel. This will remove strikethrough, bold, italics, color changes, and font size adjustments in one action, leaving only plain text.
Practical Uses and Best Practices
Knowing how to apply the formatting is one thing; using it effectively is another. Strikethrough is a powerful tool for document management when used intentionally.
In collaborative editing and suggestion mode, it’s a polite way to propose deletions. Instead of erasing a colleague’s work, you strike it through. They can then review your suggestion and choose to accept or reject the change, preserving a history of the decision-making process.
For task lists, project plans, or checklists within a document, strikethrough provides visual progress tracking. It’s more satisfying than deleting items and allows you to review what you’ve accomplished at the end of a project.
It can also be used to mark outdated information temporarily. For example, in a document listing software versions or event details, you can strike through old info and add the new details beside it, maintaining context for readers about what changed.
When Not to Use Strikethrough
Avoid using strikethrough for stylistic emphasis in formal documents, as it can look unprofessional and is traditionally associated with removal. It is also not a secure method for redacting sensitive information; the underlying text is still fully readable and copyable. For true redaction, you must replace the text with black bars or remove it entirely.
In long paragraphs, excessive strikethrough can make text very difficult to read. Use it sparingly on large blocks of text. For suggesting major rewrites, consider using Google Docs’ built-in “Suggesting” mode or adding comments instead.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Sometimes the strikethrough command doesn’t seem to work. Here are solutions to frequent problems.
If you apply strikethrough and nothing happens, first ensure you have correctly selected the text. The selection might be too short or might have slipped. Click and drag again to be certain the text is highlighted. Also, check if you are in “Viewing” mode. You cannot edit formatting in “Viewing” or “Suggesting” mode unless you are the suggester. Switch to “Editing” mode via the button in the top-right corner.
If the keyboard shortcut isn’t working, check for system conflicts. Some browser extensions or operating system shortcuts can override Google Docs. Try using the menu method instead. Also, ensure you are using the correct shortcut for your operating system, as listed earlier.
On mobile, if the format panel doesn’t show the strikethrough option, make sure you have tapped the “Text” tab and not the “Paragraph” or “Cell” tab. Scroll down within the “Text” tab, as the option is not always immediately visible.
Formatting That Won’t Go Away
If you clear formatting but the line remains, the strikethrough might be part of a custom style. Highlight the text and go to Format > Paragraph styles > Normal text (or the relevant style) to reapply the base document style, which should clear any persistent, unusual formatting.
Another possibility is that the text was pasted from another source with hard-coded formatting. Use Paste special (Ctrl+Shift+V or Command+Shift+V) to paste text as plain text in the future to avoid this issue. For existing text, try pasting it into a plain text editor like Notepad first, then copying and repasting it into Docs.
Beyond Basic Strikethrough
While Google Docs doesn’t offer double strikethrough or different colored lines natively, you can simulate advanced effects for specific needs.
To create a visual effect similar to a double line, you can apply a regular strikethrough and then underline the same text. This places a line above and through the text, which can serve as a stronger marker.
For emphasis alongside the strike, you can combine formatting. Applying strikethrough and bold or italics can draw extra attention to a proposed change. You can also change the text color to gray while it’s struck through to further de-emphasize it, making the document easier to parse visually.
Remember, the goal is clear communication. Choose formatting combinations that enhance readability for your team or for your future self, avoiding overly complex styling that becomes distracting.
Mastering Document Editing
Learning to strikethrough text efficiently is a small but significant step in mastering Google Docs. It unlocks better collaboration, clearer task management, and more precise editing. The key is to integrate the method that fits your workflow, whether it’s the keyboard shortcut for speed or the menu for certainty.
Start by practicing on a dummy document. Try all the methods: select text and use the Format menu, then the toolbar button, then the keyboard shortcut. See which one feels most natural. Pay attention to the toggle behavior, applying and removing the line several times to build muscle memory.
Incorporate strikethrough into your next real document. Use it to mark completed items on a list or to suggest a deletion in a shared report. This practical application will solidify the skill. Over time, this simple line through your text will become an indispensable part of your digital toolkit, helping you work smarter and communicate more effectively in every document you create.
