Excel Guide

How to Cross Out Text in Excel

Strikethrough is a text style option that draws a line through the middle of the text. It's commonly used to mark items as done, to show changes, or to highlight obsolete data in a spreadsheet.

Crossing out text in Excel, often referred to as "strikethrough," is a useful formatting tool that can help you visually indicate that an item or task has been completed or is no longer relevant without actually removing the text. This guide will show you several ways to apply strikethrough formatting in Excel, enabling you to manage your tasks and data more effectively.

How to Apply Strikethrough in Excel?

Using the Format Cells Dialog

This method gives you access to the strikethrough option along with other formatting choices.

Step 1: Select the cell or range of cells where you want to apply the strikethrough.
Step 2: Right-click on the selected area and choose Format Cells from the context menu, or press Ctrl + 1 to open the Format Cells dialog box quickly.
Step 3: In the Format Cells dialog, go to the Font tab.
Step 4: Check the box next to Strikethrough under Effects.
Step 5: Click OK. The strikethrough will be applied to the text in the selected cells.

Using the Ribbon

For quick access, you can use the Ribbon toolbar to apply strikethrough.

Step 1: Highlight the cells where you want to add strikethrough.
Step 2: Go to the Home tab on the Ribbon.
Step 3: In the Font group, you will find the strikethrough button (it looks like a letter with a line through it). Click this button to toggle strikethrough on or off for the selected text.

Keyboard Shortcut

If you prefer using keyboard shortcuts for efficiency, there’s a direct shortcut for strikethrough in Excel.

Step 1: Select the text or cell where you want to apply strikethrough.
Step 2: Press Ctrl + 5. This will apply or remove strikethrough on the selected text immediately.

Tips for Using Strikethrough Effectively

Visual Clarity: Use strikethrough sparingly to maintain the readability of your spreadsheet. Overusing it can make the data look cluttered.

Combine Formatting: Consider combining strikethrough with other formatting options like color changes or font adjustments to make the status of the text even clearer.

Undo Quickly: If you apply strikethrough accidentally, you can quickly undo it by pressing Ctrl + Z or by toggling the strikethrough button again.

Applying strikethrough in Excel is straightforward and can be a powerful way to communicate changes and updates within your spreadsheets. By following these steps, you can effectively manage and display your data in a way that's visually informative and easily understandable.