How to Strikethrough in Word (Windows & Mac)

Looking to strikethrough in Word — whether you’re using Windows or Mac? Strikethrough is a formatting feature that places a horizontal line through your text, commonly used to show something has been deleted, completed, or changed — without removing it entirely.

For example, you might use strikethrough to:

• Mark a task as done in a checklist
• Edit a sentence while leaving the original visible
• Add humor correct yourself subtly in writing

In Word, strikethrough formatting can be applied to single words, full sentences, or entire paragraphs. It’s useful for collaboration, proofreading, editing, and even casual note-taking — and it’s just a click (or shortcut) away.

In this complete guide, you’ll learn:

• How to apply and remove strikethrough using the ribbon
• The keyboard shortcuts for Windows and Mac
• How to use double strikethrough
• How to add strikethrough to the Quick Access Toolbar
• And what to do if strikethrough isn’t working

Whether you’re formatting a checklist, revising a document, or just crossing something out for clarity, this guide will show you exactly how to cross out text in Word with ease.

Let’s get started.

How to Apply Strikethrough Using the Ribbon (Windows & Mac)

The easiest way to apply strikethrough formatting in Word is by using the Strikethrough button on the ribbon. This method works the same on both Windows and Mac.

✅ Steps to Apply Strikethrough:

1. Open your Word document.
2. Select the text you want to cross out.
3. Go to the Home tab on the ribbon.
4. In the Font group, click the Strikethrough icon (it looks like abc with a line through it).

Once you click the button, a horizontal line will appear through your selected text.

🔄 How to Remove Strikethrough:

To remove the formatting, simply:

• Select the same text again
• Click the Strikethrough icon once more to toggle it off

💡 Tip: You can also highlight multiple sections of text and apply strikethrough all at once.

This method is fast, visual, and doesn’t require memorizing any shortcuts — perfect for quick edits and task lists.

Strikethrough Keyboard Shortcuts in Word (Windows & Mac)

If you prefer using your keyboard to format text quickly, Microsoft Word provides several ways to apply strikethrough without clicking on the ribbon. While Word doesn’t offer a default single-key shortcut for strikethrough on Windows, there are reliable workarounds.

✅ Strikethrough Shortcut for Windows (Using Font Dialog)

1. Select the text you want to strike through.
2. Press Ctrl + D to open the Font dialog box.
3. Press Alt + K to toggle strikethrough.
4. Press Enter to apply the change.

💡 This works in most versions of Word including 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365.

✅ Strikethrough Shortcut for Mac

On Mac, Microsoft Word includes a direct shortcut:

• Command (⌘) + Shift + X

This instantly applies or removes strikethrough on the selected text.

🔁 Bonus Tip: Assign a Custom Shortcut (Windows)

If you want a one-key strikethrough shortcut:

1. Go to File > Options > Customize Ribbon
2. Click Customize… next to Keyboard shortcuts
3. In the Categories list, select Home Tab
4. In the Commands list, find and select Strikethrough
5. Assign a new shortcut (e.g., Ctrl + Alt + S) and click Assign

Now you can apply strikethrough without opening the Font dialog again.

How to Use Double Strikethrough in Word

While the standard strikethrough puts a single line through your text, Word also includes a double strikethrough option — placing two horizontal lines through the selected text. This feature isn’t on the ribbon by default, but you can easily apply it through the Font dialog box.

✅ Steps to Apply Double Strikethrough (Windows & Mac)

1. Select the text you want to format.
2. Press Ctrl + D (Windows) or Command + D (Mac) to open the Font dialog box.
3. In the dialog, check the box for Double strikethrough.
4. Click OK.

Your selected text will now have two horizontal lines through it instead of one.

🔄 How to Remove Double Strikethrough

• Select the text again
• Reopen the Font dialog
• Uncheck Double strikethrough
• Click OK

💡 Note: Double strikethrough is only available through the Font dialog, not through the ribbon or shortcuts.

This formatting is ideal for:

• Heavily marked text during editing
• Emphasizing multiple layers of revision
• Visually distinguishing types of changes

How to Add Strikethrough to the Quick Access Toolbar in Word

If you use strikethrough regularly, adding it to the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) can save you time by making it accessible from any tab — no need to switch back to the Home tab each time.

The QAT appears at the very top of the Word window, just above or below the ribbon, depending on your settings.

✅ Steps to Add Strikethrough to the Toolbar:

1. Go to the Home tab on the ribbon.
2. Right-click on the Strikethrough icon in the Font group.
3. Select “Add to Quick Access Toolbar” from the context menu.

That’s it! The strikethrough button will now appear at the top of Word, and you can click it anytime — no matter which tab you’re on.

🧠 Bonus Tip: Customize the QAT Further

To move or organize buttons on the toolbar:

1. Click the dropdown arrow at the end of the QAT.
2. Choose “More Commands…”
3. From here, you can:
   • Reorder items
   • Remove unnecessary buttons
   • Add other useful formatting tools like Superscript, Subscript, or Track Changes

💡 You can also place the QAT below the ribbon for easier reach by selecting “Show Below the Ribbon” from the same dropdown.

How to Use Strikethrough with Styles and Templates in Word

If you frequently use strikethrough — for things like checklists, edited drafts, or templates — applying it manually each time can be tedious. Instead, you can build it into a style so you can apply it instantly with one click.

This is also helpful when creating Word templates or documents that need consistent formatting.

✅ Steps to Create a Custom Style with Strikethrough:

1. Select a piece of text you’ve formatted with strikethrough (or manually apply it first).
2. Go to the Home tab.
3. In the Styles group, click the dropdown arrow to open the full Styles panel.
4. Click Create a Style (or New Style in some versions).
5. Name your style (e.g., “Strikethrough Style”).
6. Click Modify… if needed, then:
   • Click Format > Font
   • Check the Strikethrough or Double Strikethrough box
   • Set other preferences (color, bold, size)
7. Click OK to save.

Now your new style will appear in the Styles gallery, and you can apply it to any text with a single click.

🧠 Bonus: Save the Style to a Template

If you want to reuse the strikethrough style in future documents:

• Save your Word file as a template (.dotx).
• Next time you create a document from that template, your style will already be available.

💡 This is especially useful for building fillable checklists, instructional materials, or workflows that involve marking text as completed or revised.

How to Use Strikethrough in Lists and Tables in Word

Strikethrough works just as well in lists and tables as it does in regular text — and it can be especially helpful for visualizing progress, revisions, or task completion inside structured content.

✅ Applying Strikethrough in Bullet and Numbered Lists

1. Select the item(s) in your list that you want to cross out.
2. Use the Strikethrough button on the ribbon or your preferred keyboard shortcut.
3. Only the selected text will be affected — the bullet or number remains unchanged.

🧠 This is ideal for marking completed tasks in checklists while still showing what was originally on the list.

✅ Applying Strikethrough in Tables

You can also strikethrough text in individual table cells — useful for marking outdated content, completed items, or tracking revisions in tabular data.

Example use cases:

• Cancelled orders in a tracking sheet
• Outdated contact info in a client table
• Reviewed draft status in a writing workflow

Strikethrough can be applied to:

• Part of a cell’s text
• The entire cell content
• Multiple cells at once (select them and use the shortcut or ribbon button)

💡 Tip: Strikethrough formatting works best with left-aligned text in lists and tables to keep it visually clean.

Troubleshooting: Strikethrough Not Working in Word?

If the strikethrough option is grayed out, doesn’t apply properly, or isn’t showing any effect, don’t worry — the issue is usually easy to fix.

Here are some common causes and solutions:

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✅ 1. You’re in Read-Only or Protected Mode

If the document is locked or view-only, Word may disable formatting options like strikethrough.

Fix:

• Click Enable Editing at the top of the document
• If the file is protected (e.g., downloaded from the internet), right-click the file > Properties > check Unblock

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✅ 2. You’re Working in a Header, Footer, or Field Code

Some text in headers/footers or auto-generated fields (like page numbers) may not allow direct formatting.

Fix:

• Try applying strikethrough outside of those areas, or convert the field to plain text

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✅ 3. Using a Non-Compatible Font or Style

Some fonts or styles may override or block strikethrough visibility — especially in older templates or imported documents.

Fix:

• Try switching to a standard font like Calibri or Times New Roman
• Clear formatting (Ctrl + Space) and reapply strikethrough

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✅ 4. Shortcut Not Working on Mac?

If Command + Shift + X isn’t working:

• Make sure you’re using a compatible version of Word (2016 or later)
• Go to System Preferences > Keyboard > Shortcuts to check for conflicts

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✅ 5. Track Changes Mode Conflicts

When Track Changes is turned on, Word uses built-in markup for deletions, which may override strikethrough formatting.

Fix:

• Turn off Track Changes temporarily to use visual strikethrough manually
• Or use the Track Changes deletion styling settings (via Review > Track Changes > Change Tracking Options)

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Once you fix the issue, try selecting your text again and using the Strikethrough button or shortcut.

Conclusion

Strikethrough formatting in Microsoft Word is a simple yet powerful way to cross out text without deleting it. Whether you’re marking a completed task, revising a sentence, or adding visual clarity to your content, knowing how to apply (and remove) strikethrough gives you more control over your document.

Here’s what you learned in this guide:

• How to apply strikethrough using the ribbon or keyboard shortcuts
• How to use double strikethrough for extra emphasis
• How to customize your experience by adding strikethrough to the Quick Access Toolbar
• How to apply strikethrough inside lists and tables
• How to build it into styles or templates
• And what to do when strikethrough isn’t working

Whether you’re using Word on Windows or Mac, you now have all the tools you need to strikethrough like a pro.