If you’ve ever worked with Microsoft Word, you know it’s more than just a tool for typing. It’s a robust platform with numerous formatting options to enhance your documents. One option available is the strikethrough feature. It lets users draw a line through text, signaling that it’s either meant for deletion or holds less significance. However, how do you perform this function? This guide discusses how to strikethrough in Word and offers additional tips and tricks to make the most of this feature.
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Understanding the Strikethrough Function
Strikethrough, often represented by a line drawn through the text, can serve multiple purposes:
- Editing: It highlights edited sections and marks unnecessary parts of the document.
- Task Lists: It aids in crafting to-do lists that let users cross out completed tasks.
- Emphasis or Humor: People sometimes use it to add humor or highlight points in casual writing.
How to Strikethrough in Word Using the Ribbon
The most straightforward way to apply strikethrough in Word is through the Ribbon. Follow these steps:
- Open Your Document: Launch Microsoft Word and open the document where you want to apply for strikethrough.
- Select Text: Highlight the text you wish to strikethrough.
- Navigate to the Home Tab: Click on the “Home” tab on the Ribbon at the top of the screen.
- Find the Strikethrough Button: Look for the Strikethrough button, which has an “abc” with a line through it and sits in the Font group.
- Apply Strikethrough: Click the Strikethrough button. Your selected text should now have a line through it.
That’s it! You’ve successfully applied strikethrough to your text using the Ribbon.
How to Strikethrough in Word Using Keyboard Shortcuts
If you’re someone who prefers using keyboard shortcuts, Word has you covered. Here’s how:
- Select Your Text: Highlight your desired text.
- Use the Shortcut: Hold down the “Ctrl” key (or “Cmd” key on a Mac) and press “D.” This will open the Font dialog box.
- Enable Strikethrough: Look for the “Strikethrough” option in the font dialog box and click to enable it.
- Confirm Changes: Click “OK.”
Using keyboard shortcuts can make your workflow faster and more efficient, especially if you frequently need to use the strikethrough feature.
How to Strikethrough in Word Using the Font Dialog Box
Another method to apply strikethrough is through the Font dialog box, offering more styling options like double strikethrough. Follow these steps:
- Highlight the Text: Select your desired text.
- Open Font Dialog Box: Click the small diagonal arrow at the Font group’s bottom-right corner in the Ribbon, or press “Ctrl + D” (for Windows) or “Cmd + D” (for Mac) on your keyboard.
- Choose Strikethrough: Check the box next to “Strikethrough.” For double strikethrough, check the “Double Strikethrough” box.
- Apply and Exit: Click “OK” to apply the changes and exit the dialog box.
The Font dialog box provides more flexibility, especially if you wish to use a double strikethrough.
How to Strikethrough in Word on Mac
If you’re using a Mac, the process remains similar, with minor differences in shortcuts and terminology. Here’s how:
- Select the Text: Highlight your desired text.
- Open Format Menu: Click “Format” in the top menu bar and select “Font” from the dropdown menu.
- Apply Strikethrough: In the Font dialog box, check the “Strikethrough” option.
- Confirm: Click “OK” to apply the strikethrough.
You can also use the keyboard short “Cmd + D” to open the Font dialog box quickly.
How to Strikethrough in Word Online and Mobile
If you’re using the online version of Word (Word Online) or the mobile app, the steps vary slightly due to differences in the interface.
Word Online
- Open Document: Open your document in Word Online.
- Highlight Text: Select your desired text.
- Home Tab: Navigate to the “Home” tab.
- Strikethrough Button: Click the “Strikethrough” button in the Font group.
Word Mobile
- Open Document: Open your document using the Word mobile app.
- Select Text: Tap and hold to select the text.
- Format Menu: Tap on the “Format” button that appears.
- Apply Strikethrough: Choose the “Strikethrough” option from the formatting menu.
Word Online and the mobile app offer simplified ways to enable strikethrough, making it versatile for different devices.
How to Customize Strikethrough in Word
While the default strikethrough is often enough, there may be times when you want more control over its appearance, such as changing the line color or style. Unfortunately, Word’s built-in options for strikethrough are limited, but you can use workarounds to achieve customized looks.
Using Text Effects
- Select Text: Highlight your intended text.
- Text Effects: Go to the “Home” tab and click on “Text Effects and Typography” (the icon looks like a glowing letter A).
- Line Through: Use underlining styles creatively by modifying their color and appearance to mimic custom strikethroughs.
Using Drawing Tools
- Insert Line: Go to the “Insert” tab and choose “Shapes.”
- Draw Line: Select a line shape and draw it over the text you want to strikethrough.
- Customize Line: Modify the line’s color, weight, and style to match your needs.
These methods offer some customization, though they aren’t as seamless as a built-in strikethrough tool.
Frequently Asked Questions Related to How To Strikethrough In Word
Q. What is strikethrough in Word?
A. Strikethrough is a formatting feature that puts a line through your text. It can show that text is no longer relevant or indicate a correction.
Q. How do you strikethrough text in Word using the Ribbon?
A. First, select the text you want to strikethrough. Then go to the “Home” tab on the Ribbon and click the strikethrough button, which looks like “abc” with a line through it.
Q. Can I use a keyboard shortcut to strikethrough text in Word?
A. Yes! Click “Ctrl” + “D” on your keyboard to open the Font dialog, then check the strikethrough box. Alternatively, you can use “Ctrl” + “Shift” + “X” depending on your version of Word.
Q. Is there a way to strikethrough in Word for Mac?
A. Yes! Select the text, head to the “Format” menu, choose “Font,” and check the strikethrough option. You can also use “Command” + “Shift” + “X” to strikethrough.
Q. Can you remove strikethrough from the text?
A. Absolutely! Highlight the text with the line through it, then click the button again, or use the same keyboard shortcut to switch it off.
Q. How do I strikethrough in Word online?
A. In Word Online, select the text you want to strikethrough, head to the “Home” tab, and click the strikethrough button, just like in the desktop version.
Q. What if I can’t find the strikethrough option in the Ribbon?
A. If you can’t find it, you can customize the Ribbon by right-clicking on it, choosing “Customize the Ribbon,” and adding the strikethrough button to your toolbar.
Q. Can I strikethrough part of a word in Word?
A. Yes! You can select just part of a word and apply the strikethrough formatting, and it will show a line through only that chosen portion.
Q. What if my strikethrough doesn’t look right?
A. Sometimes zooming in or out can change how text looks. Make sure you’re viewing at 100% to see the effect. You can also check for overlapping formatting.
Q. Are there any other ways to indicate deleted text besides strikethrough?
A. Yes! You can use comments, change the text color, or highlight it. Each method can help show that certain parts of your document may need attention or were removed.
Conclusion
Knowing how to strikethrough in Word is a valuable skill that can improve your document editing and formatting capabilities. By understanding the various methods available—using the Ribbon, keyboard shortcuts, or the Font dialog box—you can easily apply and customize strikethrough to suit your needs. Whether you’re working on a PC, Mac, online, or mobile, each platform offers ways to make this task simple and efficient.
With this knowledge, you can confidently strikethrough text and enhance your document’s readability and functionality. Happy editing!
