Strikethrough in Word: How to Apply and Remove It

In Microsoft Word, strikethrough draws a horizontal line through selected text to show that it has been deleted, changed, or is no longer relevant while keeping it visible. Select the text and use the Strikethrough command on the Home tab, or apply the shortcut available in your version of Word.

What strikethrough means in Word

Strikethrough is a character-formatting effect: it changes how text looks without removing the characters. For example, “old meeting time” can remain readable with a line through it while “new meeting time” appears beside it. This makes the mark useful for draft edits, shared lists, revisions, and informal status notes.

It is different from deleting text and from Track Changes. Deleting text removes it from the document unless you undo the action or restore it from another source. Track Changes records edits as revisions that a reviewer can accept or reject. Strikethrough is simply formatting; by itself, it does not record who changed the text or when.

Strikethrough may also be used to signal that a task is complete, but it is not a substitute for a clear status label when readers may not recognize the convention. In formal editing, use your organization’s style or review process so readers know whether crossed-out wording is proposed for deletion or merely marked for reference.

Apply strikethrough from the ribbon

In the desktop version of Word, the usual ribbon method is:

1. Select the word, phrase, sentence, or paragraph you want to format. To format a single word, you can usually double-click it; for a longer passage, drag across the text.
2. Open the Home tab.
3. In the Font group, select the Strikethrough button. Its icon typically shows letters with a line through them.

The line appears across the selected characters. If you click the button without selecting text, Word may apply the formatting to text entered at the insertion point, depending on the version and current selection. Check the text after applying the command, especially if you meant to format only part of a paragraph.

If the ribbon is simplified or the window is narrow, some controls may be hidden. Expand the Font controls or open the Font dialog box to find the setting. In many desktop editions, the Font dialog box is available from the small dialog launcher in the Font group; select the Strikethrough option there and confirm.

Keyboard shortcuts and Word versions

Shortcut behavior differs across Word platforms and keyboard layouts, so do not assume every shortcut works everywhere. In Word for Windows, Alt+K is commonly used to toggle strikethrough after the Font dialog box is open, but it is not a universal direct shortcut from the document. On Mac, Word’s menus and shortcut assignments can differ. The reliable way to confirm the available command is to inspect the Format or Home controls in your installed version.

Word for the web and mobile apps may offer a smaller set of formatting controls than the desktop app. Select the text, open the formatting controls, and look under font or text effects for strikethrough. If you cannot find it, try the desktop application or use the app’s command search, where available, to locate the formatting command.

For repeated work, you can assign a custom keyboard shortcut in desktop Word if your edition supports customizing commands. This is optional: the ribbon command works without changing Word’s settings, and a custom shortcut is useful only if you use strikethrough often enough to remember it.

Remove strikethrough formatting

To remove the effect, select the crossed-out text and click the Strikethrough button again. It acts as a toggle: selecting text that already has strikethrough and choosing the command turns it off. If only part of a selection has the effect, Word may apply the command according to the formatting state of the selection, so inspect the result and repeat on any remaining text if needed.

You can also open the Font dialog box and clear the Strikethrough option. If you want to remove all direct character formatting from selected text rather than just strikethrough, use Clear All Formatting on the Home tab. Be aware that this may also remove other formatting, such as bold, italics, color, or font size; it is broader than turning off one effect.

Strikethrough, Track Changes, and other marks

These features can look related, but they serve different purposes:

• Strikethrough: applies a visible line as ordinary formatting. It does not create a review record.
• Track Changes: records edits for review. Depending on the display mode, deleted text may appear crossed out, but the mark belongs to a tracked revision and can be accepted or rejected.
• Comments: add discussion alongside text without changing its formatting or deleting it.
• Highlighting: draws attention to text but does not inherently mean that it should be removed.

A frequent misconception is that strikethrough protects or preserves a deleted passage. It leaves the characters in the document, but anyone with editing access can still change or remove them, and the formatting does not provide a history. For a document that needs a review trail, turn on Track Changes before making edits instead of relying only on manual strikethrough.

Common problems and useful checks

• The command is unavailable: Confirm that you are editing the document and have selected text. A protected document or limited app interface may restrict editing or hide formatting controls.
• The whole paragraph gets crossed out: Check the selection carefully. Click in the text and select only the intended words before applying the command.
• New text is also crossed out: The insertion point may still carry strikethrough formatting. Select the affected new text and toggle the effect off, or clear its character formatting.
• The line looks different from an edit mark: Check whether Track Changes is enabled. A tracked deletion is a revision, while manually applied strikethrough is ordinary formatting.
• The mark disappears in another view: Check the document’s display mode and whether you are viewing a tracked change, a print layout, or a simplified web view. Save and reopen the file if the appearance does not refresh.

Before sharing an edited document, consider whether crossed-out text should remain in the final copy. If it is only a draft convention, remove the formatting or accept/reject tracked edits as appropriate. Formatting alone does not erase sensitive wording from a file.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I strikethrough text in Word?
Select the text, open the Home tab, and choose Strikethrough in the Font group. In some versions, the option is inside the Font dialog box.

What is the keyboard shortcut for strikethrough in Word?
Shortcut availability depends on the platform and version. In Windows desktop Word, Alt+K is commonly the key for the Strikethrough option within the Font dialog box; use the ribbon or command search if your setup differs.

How do I remove a line through text in Word?
Select the affected text and choose Strikethrough again, or clear the Strikethrough option in the Font dialog box. Avoid Clear All Formatting if you want to preserve other formatting.

Does strikethrough in Word mean Track Changes is on?
No. Strikethrough can be applied manually as formatting. Track Changes is a separate review feature, although tracked deletions may also appear with a line through them.

Can I use strikethrough in Word Online?
Word for the web provides text-formatting controls, but available commands can vary with the interface. Select the text and look in the font-formatting options; use desktop Word if the control is not available in your view.

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