Have you ever needed to indicate that a task is done or a sentence should be removed, but deleting it entirely feels too… permanent? Sometimes, you want to leave a trace of what used to be there. That is where the strikethrough comes in. It is the digital equivalent of drawing a bright red line through a sentence on a printed page. It shows that the content is no longer active or relevant, but the history is kept visible for reference.
Most people only know how to find the strikethrough button in a formatting menu, but clicking around consumes valuable time. If you are editing a long document or managing a complex project, moving your hand to the mouse every thirty seconds will break your momentum. Learning the strikeout keyboard shortcut is the secret weapon you didn’t even realize you needed. It keeps your hands on the keys and your workflow uninterrupted.
Whether you are a writer refining a draft, a developer annotating code, or a project manager checking off deliverables, this formatting tool is a must-have. This guide explains in detail how to carry out this command on both Windows and macOS, as well as in certain popular applications like Microsoft Word, Excel, and Google Docs.
What is Strikethrough and Why Use It?
Let’s start by understanding what this formatting style really is before going into the specific key combinations. Strikethrough is a font effect that puts a line horizontally through the center of the text. The text still can be read, but the line is like a visual cue that the text was canceled, completed, or discarded.
However, if the text is not needed, why leave it there? Why don’t you just use backspace? The value of the strikethrough goes way beyond simple deletion.
The Psychology of Editing
Deleting someone else’s texts in collaborative writing may feel like an aggressive or confusing gesture. When you edit a document for a colleague, a simple paragraph removal will make them wonder about the contents of the deleted part. You can use the strikeout keyboard shortcut to cross out a text saying, “I think we should cut this,” without actually destroying the original thought. In a way, it saves the context of the edit, and the original author can witness the evolution of the document.
The Satisfaction of Project Management
There is something raw and primal about ticking off things on a physical to-do list. It is a visual representation of progress. Going digital, you lose that visible progress, as once you delete the completed task, it simply disappears. Applying a strikethrough, however, you can look back at the end of the day and see a list of conquered tasks visually. It is a record of your productivity that you can really see.
Tone and Humor in Informal Writing
Today, especially in social media and casual blogging, the purpose of strikethrough has been expanded to that of an ironic tool. It gives a writer the ability to express two things at the same time: what they “should” say and what they really mean. Writing, “I am mildly obsessed with this new show,” is typical of a conversational, humorous tone, which cannot be conveyed by plain text. It is a way to self-correct on stage for a comedic effect.
The Universal Need for Speed: Keyboard Shortcuts
It is common for productivity experts to mention “flow state,” that mental condition when the work seems so effortless and fast. Getting out of the flow will happen immediately if you have to stop typing, take a mouse, go to a ribbon menu, look for an icon to click, click it, and finally, return your hands to the keyboard.
Learning keyboard shortcuts is more than just a tool for saving a few seconds; it is about cutting down the amount of friction. If you are able to format text at the speed of your thoughts, the tool will no longer be a barrier but a natural extension of your mind. The strikeout keyboard shortcut is a small trick that, once you become aware of it, you will naturally find yourself using it repeatedly.
Windows: The Strikeout Keyboard Shortcut
Windows users often get divided experiences because different Microsoft apps treat shortcuts in a different way. Unlike “Bold” (Ctrl + B) or “Italic” (Ctrl + I), there is no single universal default for strikethrough across the Windows ecosystem. The major applications are handled as follows.
Microsoft Word and Outlook
When it comes to this particular command, Microsoft Word is unexpectedly complicated. There isn’t a straightforward two-key combination available by default.
The Ribbon Method (Alt + H + 4). You can use key tips to get to the Home tab on the ribbon.
- Press Alt. Letters will appear over the menu options.
- Press H to select the Home tab.
- Press 4. This is typically the key tip for the strikethrough button. Note: The series of steps presses the button for you, so the mouse is not necessary.
The Font Dialog Method (Ctrl + D). If you favor old-fashioned dialog boxes:
- Select the text you want to strike through.
- Press Ctrl + D to bring up the Font dialog box.
- Press Alt + K to tick the “Strikethrough” option.
- Press Enter.
This seems to be such an effort for just one line. The instructions later in this chapter give you tips on how to customize Word so that the strikeout keyboard shortcut becomes super fast.
Microsoft Excel
The difference between Word and Excel is that Excel is much more power-user-friendly in this aspect. It possesses a native shortcut that is very straightforward to execute.
- Shortcut: Ctrl + 5
Simply put, hold Control and press the number 5 key (it is the one that is usually above letters, not one on the number pad). You toggle the formatting between off and on. It is specific to Excel, and after memorizing it, you will figure out how to be incredibly fast at managing lists in spreadsheets.
Microsoft PowerPoint
PowerPoint typically makes you access the font dialog box, similar to the secondary method in Word.
- Shortcut: Ctrl + T (Opens Font Dialog) -> Alt + K (Select Strikethrough) -> Enter.
macOS: The Strikeout Keyboard Shortcut
Apple users are more likely to have a uniform experience across apps because macOS usually standardizes text editing commands at the system level.
System-Wide and Apple Notes
When Apple Notes, TextEdit, or many other native Mac applications are used, the shortcut remains standard.
- Shortcut: Cmd + Shift + X
The mnemonic device is simple: “X” marks the spot, or “X” crosses it out.
Microsoft Word for Mac
The good news is that Word for Mac is often more forgiving and therefore better in terms of this particular command as compared to its Windows counterpart. It generally adopts the system-standard shortcut.
- Shortcut: Cmd + Shift + X
What makes the transition between writing an email and a formal document effortless for Mac users is this.
Excel for Mac
Excel for Mac is somewhat unpredictable. It mostly supports the Windows-style shortcut, but you should verify it with your particular version.
- Shortcut: Cmd + Shift + X OR Ctrl + 5
Google Docs: Strikethrough in the Cloud
With the advent of browser-based work, Google Docs has become the standard for collaboration. Because it operates inside a web browser (like Chrome or Edge), it is not always feasible for it to use the same keys as a desktop app, as those keys might already be used for browser functions.
Windows Users
- Shortcut: Alt + Shift + 5
Notice the resemblance to Excel’s “Ctrl + 5”. To avoid conflicts, Google adds the “Shift” and replaces “Ctrl” with “Alt”.
Mac Users
- Shortcut: Cmd + Shift + X
Google Docs on Mac happily uses the same shortcut as the rest of the macOS system, it is pretty straightforward for Apple users to adjust to the cloud.
The Menu Alternative
If you ever forget the combination, you can always resort to the top menu:
- Format > Text > Strikethrough
Other Applications and Contexts
Marking up things with a cross is not limited to word processors. Below is how you can deal with it in other popular tools.
Microsoft OneNote
OneNote is a digital notebook that is used for writing down lists and brainstorming.
- Shortcut: Ctrl + – (Hyphen) This is perhaps the most intuitive shortcut. You are essentially adding a “minus” sign or a horizontal dash through your text.
Slack, Discord, and Markdown
Communication applications like Slack and Discord, as well as the platform Reddit, use a system known as Markdown. It is not a “shortcut” as we normally think of one, involving the simultaneous holding down of multiple keys. Rather, it is a syntax you type.
- Syntax: ~~text goes here~~If you surround the text that you want to be striked through with double tildes (which are located next to the 1 key), it will be displayed as crossed out after you press the send button.
Customizing Your Experience
If you are a Windows user who is annoyed by the lack of a simple strikeout keyboard shortcut in Microsoft Word, you don’t have to limit yourself to the default settings. You can generate your own. This will change the game for you in terms of productivity.
How to Create a Custom Shortcut in Word
If you want to assign a command a humble key combo that is only two simple keys (like Alt + S), then:
- Launch Microsoft Word.
- File > Options.
- Left sidebar: click Customize Ribbon.
- Next to “Keyboard shortcuts” near the bottom of the window, click the Customize… button.
- In the “Categories” box, scroll down and select Home Tab.
- Right side, “Commands” box, scroll down until you find Strikethrough.
- Click in the Press new shortcut key box.
- Hit the keys you want to use. Alt + S is perfect since it is seldom used and “S” stands for Strikethrough.
- Hit Assign, then Close.
From now on, when you press your custom combo, Word will immediately cross out the text. You have thus effectively fixed a bug in the software and adjusted it to your own work process.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Sometimes, it may happen that the combination of keys you press doesn’t produce the expected result. Read below to find out the most common reasons behind the failure of your strikeout keyboard shortcut.
Shortcut Conflicts
In case you press the shortcut and a different program opens or you notice that your screen flickers, be aware that another application might be taking focus away from you. A classic example could be a graphics card software (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce Experience) that frequently uses Alt + Z or similar combos for its overlays. If you have customized your shortcuts, double-check that you didn’t choose a combination that is already taken by a global system hotkey.
The Number Pad Problem
If a certain shortcut like Excel’s Ctrl + 5 is concerned, and you are using the Number Pad on the right side of your keyboard, it might either not work at all (in this case, Num Lock should be turned on), or it will behave as a different command without your knowledge. On the other hand, the keyboard row that contains letters above should be used for shortcuts involving numbers.
Getting Stuck in Formatting
Strikethrough is a switch that you can toggle on and off. Following a situation where you type a word, cross it out, and continue to type, your newly typed words will also be crossed out. The solution is very simple – you just have to press the strikeout keyboard shortcut one more time, which will shut off the formatting, and then you can type as usual.
Best Practices for Using Strikethrough
Being able to strike everything out doesn’t mean that you should. Below there are some suggestions regarding professionalism and overall readability of your documents:
Don’t Overdo It. If you decide to cross three whole paragraphs, it becomes visually chaotic and a tough read. Large text sections should preferably be deleted or saved as “discarded ideas” rather than being struck through. Strikethrough, in fact, is more of a surgical tool for words, phrases, or sentences.
Accessibility Awareness: If you publish and use strikethrough on documents or websites that many people will see, be cautious. Screen reading software for visually impaired individuals is inconsistent when it comes to interpreting text formats. Some screen readers may announce “strikethrough start” and “strikethrough end,” while others read the text as usual, which makes the listener wonder whether the information is correct. To avoid confusion, especially in critical situations, you may either insert the text “[DELETED]” at these points or completely remove the content.
Professionalism and Track Changes. Manual strikethrough is not considered the norm for drafting a legal contract or a formal manuscript. You’d better make use of the ‘Track Changes’ of ‘Suggesting’ mode in Google Docs. They enable changes that delete text to be automatically formatted as strikethrough, but the recipients get to decide whether to accept or reject the changes as they’re presented cleanly. The only times when manual strikethrough can be preferred are personal annotations, to-do lists, and less formal work sessions.
FAQs
1. Is there a universal keyboard shortcut for strikethrough?
No. Shortcuts vary depending on the operating system and application. For example, Excel on Windows commonly uses Ctrl + 5, while many macOS apps use Cmd + Shift + X.
2. Why doesn’t Microsoft Word (Windows) have a simple default shortcut?
Word on Windows relies on ribbon key tips or dialog boxes instead of a single shortcut by default. However, you can easily create a custom keyboard shortcut to speed up your workflow.
3. What is the strikethrough shortcut in Google Docs?
On Windows, the common shortcut is Alt + Shift + 5. On Mac, it’s usually Cmd + Shift + X.
4. What should I do if the shortcut isn’t working?
Check for shortcut conflicts with other programs, make sure you’re using the correct number keys (not the numpad if unsupported), and confirm your app version supports that shortcut.
5. Is it professional to use manual strikethrough in formal documents?
In formal or legal documents, it’s better to use Track Changes or Suggesting Mode rather than manual strikethrough to keep edits clear and organized.
6. Is there a strikethrough shortcut on mobile devices?
Most mobile keyboards don’t have a direct shortcut. You usually need to use the formatting menu within apps like Notes or Pages.
7. What’s the difference between deleting text and using strikethrough?
Deleting removes the text completely, while strikethrough keeps it visible but marked as completed, canceled, or no longer relevant.
Conclusion
Strikethrough may seem like a simple formatting feature, but it’s actually a powerful tool for productivity, collaboration, and clear communication. It helps preserve editing history, visually track completed tasks, and even add tone or humor in informal writing. Relying on menus can slow you down, but learning the right keyboard shortcuts for your platform keeps your workflow smooth and efficient. Whether you work on Windows, macOS, or in cloud tools like Google Docs, mastering strikethrough shortcuts can significantly improve your editing speed and overall productivity. With a little practice, it quickly becomes a natural and valuable part of your daily workflow.
