Strikethrough is a handy text formatting tool that draws a horizontal line through selected words or phrases, signaling edits, deletions, or completed tasks.
Whether you’re revising a document, managing a to-do list, or collaborating on a project, knowing the keyboard shortcuts for strikethrough can save time and streamline your workflow.
This guide explores the strikethrough shortcuts for popular applications like Microsoft Office, Google Docs, and more, ensuring you can apply this formatting with ease across platforms.
Why Use Strikethrough?
Strikethrough serves multiple purposes in professional and personal settings. It visually marks text as removed without deleting it, making it ideal for:
- Collaborative editing: Show proposed deletions while keeping the original text visible.
- Task management: Cross off completed items on lists for clarity.
- Proofreading: Highlight errors or outdated information without erasing them.
- Legal or academic work: Indicate changes in drafts while maintaining transparency.
Rather than navigating menus or clicking toolbar icons, keyboard shortcuts let you apply a strikethrough instantly, boosting productivity. Below, we break down the shortcuts for major platforms, including tips for Windows and Mac users.
Strikethrough Shortcuts for Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office applications—Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook—offer distinct shortcuts for strikethrough, though some variation exists between Windows and Mac systems.
Microsoft Word
- Windows: Select the text and press Alt + H + 4. This sequence activates the strikethrough button in the Home tab’s Font group. Alternatively, open the Font dialog box with Ctrl + D, then press Alt + K to toggle strikethrough, and hit Enter.
- Mac: Highlight the text and press Command + Shift + X. This applies strikethrough directly. To access the Font dialog, use Command + D, then select strikethrough manually.
Tip: You can customize Word’s shortcuts by navigating to File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Keyboard Shortcuts. Assign a unique combination like Ctrl + Alt + S for faster access. Learn more about customizing shortcuts in Microsoft’s Word support guide.
Microsoft Excel
- Windows and Mac: Select the cell(s) or text and press Ctrl + 5. This universal shortcut applies strikethrough to the entire cell content or selected text within a cell.
- Alternative: Use Ctrl + 1 (or Command + 1 on Mac) to open the Format Cells dialog, navigate to the Font tab, and check the strikethrough box.
Note: Excel Online lacks a dedicated strikethrough shortcut, requiring users to access the Format Cells menu manually. For detailed Excel formatting tips, check Microsoft’s Excel support page.
Microsoft PowerPoint
- Windows: Highlight the text and press Alt + H + 4, similar to Word’s shortcut.
- Mac: Use Command + T to open the Font dialog, then select the strikethrough option, as PowerPoint lacks a direct shortcut.
Microsoft Outlook
- Windows: In an email, select text and press Ctrl + D, then Alt + K, followed by Enter to apply strikethrough via the Font dialog.
- Mac: Use Command + T, select strikethrough, and click OK.
Strikethrough in Google Workspace
Google Docs and Sheets are popular for cloud-based collaboration, and their strikethrough shortcuts are consistent across operating systems.
Google Docs
- Windows: Select text and press Alt + Shift + 5.
- Mac: Use Command + Shift + X, which doubles as the shortcut for Google Sheets and Slides.
Pro Tip: To toggle strikethrough off, reapply the shortcut to the same text. For mobile users, Google Docs requires manual formatting via the Format > Text > Strikethrough menu, as shortcuts aren’t supported. Explore Google Docs formatting in the Google Docs support hub.
Google Sheets
- Windows: Press Alt + Shift + 5.
- Mac: Use Command + Shift + X.
These shortcuts make Google Workspace a breeze for collaborative editing, especially when tracking changes in shared documents.
Other Platforms and Applications
Strikethrough shortcuts vary across other tools, reflecting their unique interfaces and purposes.
OneNote
- Windows: Select text and press Ctrl + – (hyphen).
- Mac: Use Command + Shift + X.
WordPress
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Windows and Mac: Highlight text in the editor and press Shift + Alt + D. This is particularly useful for bloggers marking outdated content.
Discord and WhatsApp
- Discord: Wrap text with double tildes, e.g., ~~text~~, to apply strikethrough. No keyboard shortcut exists, but this markup is quick.
- WhatsApp: Use a single tilde, e.g., ~text~, at the start and end of the text.
For social media platforms like Instagram or X, strikethrough isn’t natively supported. However, tools like the Strikethrough Text Generator let you create styled text for posts or bios.
Customizing Strikethrough Shortcuts
If a platform lacks a built-in shortcut or you prefer a different key combination, many applications allow customization:
- Microsoft Word: Use the Customize Keyboard dialog (see Word section above) to assign a new shortcut. Suggested combinations include Ctrl + Shift + S or Alt + S.
- Mac Notes: Go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts > App Shortcuts, select Notes, and assign a key like Shift + Command + X. Apple’s Mac keyboard guide offers more details.
- Third-party tools: Software like AutoHotkey (Windows) or Karabiner-Elements (Mac) can remap keys for any application, creating universal strikethrough shortcuts.
When to Use Strikethrough Effectively
While strikethrough is versatile, it’s best used strategically:
- Do use it for collaborative drafts, to-do lists, or highlighting revisions.
- Avoid using it in final client-facing or legal documents, where it may appear unpolished. Instead, use tracked changes or comments, as advised by MobiSystems.
Boost Your Productivity
Mastering strikethrough shortcuts can transform how you edit and organize text, saving precious seconds with every use.
Whether you’re a student, professional, or casual user, these key combinations—Ctrl + 5 for Excel, Alt + H + 4 for Word, or Command + Shift + X for Google Docs—make formatting a breeze.
Experiment with these shortcuts in your favorite apps, and consider customizing them to fit your workflow. For more productivity tips, dive into Microsoft’s Office keyboard shortcuts guide or Google’s Workspace shortcuts overview.
