How to Strikethrough Text in Google Docs: A Step-by-Step Guide

Strikethrough text is a simple yet powerful formatting tool in Google Docs. Whether you’re collaborating on a project, tracking tasks, or revising a draft, knowing how to cross out text efficiently can streamline your workflow. In this guide, we’ll explore multiple methods to apply strikethrough, advanced tips, troubleshooting fixes, and creative applications.

What Is Strikethrough?

Strikethrough is a typographical feature that adds a horizontal line through text. It’s commonly used to:

Show edits or deletions without permanently removing content.
Mark completed items in to-do lists.
Add humorous or ironic annotations in informal documents.

Why Use Strikethrough in Google Docs?

Collaboration: Highlight changes during peer reviews or team edits.
Productivity: Visually track progress in checklists or project plans.
Clarity: Preserve original ideas while indicating updates in drafts.

Basic Strikethrough Methods

Method 1: Using the Format Menu

Highlight the text you want to strikethrough.
Navigate to the top menu and click Format > Text > Strikethrough.

Quick Tip: The line will appear instantly, and the text will remain editable.

![Screenshot Description: The “Format” menu with “Strikethrough” highlighted. Imagine a dropdown menu under “Text” with the option visible.]

Method 2: Keyboard Shortcuts

For Windows/ChromeOS Users:

Press Alt + Shift + 5 (Alt key + Shift key + the “5” key).

For Mac Users:

Press ⌘ (Command) + Shift + X.

Troubleshooting Shortcuts:

If this doesn’t work, check for browser extensions (e.g., Grammarly) that might override shortcuts.
Use Google Chrome for optimal compatibility with Google Docs features.

Advanced Techniques

Strikethrough on Mobile (Android/iOS)

Android:

Open the Google Docs app.
Tap the Edit icon (pencil symbol).
Highlight text, then tap the Format icon (uppercase “A” with lines).
Choose Strikethrough from the menu.

iOS:

Follow the same steps as Android, but note that the UI may place the Format icon in a slightly different location.

Limitations:

Mobile apps lack some desktop features, like custom shortcut adjustments.

Using Add-Ons for Custom Strikethrough Styles

Enhance your formatting with third-party tools:

Install Add-Ons:

Go to Extensions > Add-ons > Get add-ons.
Search for tools like “Advanced Font Settings” or “Stylish Text” for unique line styles (e.g., double strikethrough, colored lines).

Copy-Paste Strikethrough Text:

Text copied from other platforms (e.g., Word or email) will retain strikethrough formatting in Google Docs.

Practical Applications

Collaborative Editing

Use strikethrough to:
Suggest deletions in shared documents.
Compare draft versions without losing context.

Example:

Original: “We should host the event on Friday.”
Edited: “We should host the event on ~~Friday~~ Saturday.”

Personal Productivity Hacks

Create dynamic checklists:

  ✅ Buy groceries  
  ~~☐ Pay bills~~ [Task completed]  
  ☐ Schedule meeting

Academic/Professional Use

Revise essays or reports while preserving original wording for reference.
Mark outdated information in manuals or guides.

Troubleshooting

Issue: Strikethrough isn’t working.

Fix 1: Switch to Google Chrome.
Fix 2: Disable conflicting browser extensions (right-click the extension icon and select “Remove”).
Fix 3: Update the Google Docs app on mobile devices.

Undoing Strikethrough:

Reapply the same method (e.g., press the shortcut again) or use Ctrl + Z (Windows) / ⌘ + Z (Mac) to undo.

Alternatives to Strikethrough

Highlighting: Emphasize text with colors via the Text Color toolbar icon.

Manual Line Insertion:

Type hyphens (---) and press Enter to create a horizontal line.
Use Insert > Drawing > Line for custom placement (less efficient for text).

Conclusion

Mastering strikethrough in Google Docs boosts collaboration, productivity, and document clarity. Whether you’re using shortcuts, mobile apps, or add-ons, this guide equips you to edit smarter. Experiment with different methods and combine strikethrough with other formatting tools—like highlighting or comments—to maximize efficiency.

Additional Resources

This article balances step-by-step instructions with real-world examples, ensuring readers can apply these techniques immediately. Let me know if you’d like to refine specific sections further! ✨

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