How to Strikethrough Text in Excel

If you are looking to make precise edits to your spreadsheet, strikethrough text is a feature that can make your life easier, especially when you need to delete text without losing the information altogether. This feature is particularly useful when you need to make a correction or indicate that a particular cell or column requires changes during review. With Excel’s strikethrough feature, you can easily maintain the integrity of your data while also editing it. This article provides a quick and simple guide to help you learn how to create strikethrough text in Excel.

What is strikethrough in Excel?

If you wish to edit a document in Excel, then strikethrough is a powerful feature for you. When applied, strikethrough places a line through the center of any text in a cell. This feature indicates that the information may need to be deleted without losing the underlying data entirely. This tool is very useful when you are reviewing a spreadsheet or when you are sharing data with others. It makes it easy to highlight the information that needs to be changed or updated.

Step-by-step guide to strikethrough text in Excel

Step 1: Open your Excel Spreadsheet

The first step when it comes to applying strikethrough formatting to text in your Excel sheet is to open the sheet. Navigate to the cell where you want to add strikethrough formatting.

Step 2: Select the Cell with Text that you want to strikethrough

Select the cell or the range of cells that contain the text you want to strikethrough. You can do this by clicking on the cell or dragging your mouse over the cells you want to select.

Step 3: Click on the Font Group Tab under Home

The next thing to do is to click on the ‘Home’ tab at the top of the Excel window. This will bring up the Home tab ribbon. Below this, you will find the font group tab, which is where you can select the ‘strikethrough’ option from.

Step 4: Click on Strikethrough

Once you have selected the font group tab, navigate to the ‘Font’ section where you will see the ‘Strikethrough’ option. Click on it to apply strikethrough formatting to your text.

Step 5: Check the Results

After you have selected the Strikethrough option, take a moment to check the results. You should now see the strikethrough formatting over the text that you have selected. If you don’t see it, go back and double-check to ensure that you have followed the previous steps correctly.

In Conclusion

Excel’s Strikethrough tool is an excellent way to make precise edits to your spreadsheet while also maintaining its integrity. It is an essential feature that you need to know how to use if you wish to be an advanced Excel user. The steps outlined in this article provide a quick and easy guide to help you learn how to create strikethrough text in Excel. Use this feature when you need to keep track of any changes that need to be made to your data, and you will find your Excel documents much clearer and more manageable.

Tips for Using Strikethrough in Excel

Now that you know how to use strikethrough formatting in Excel, here are a few tips to help you use it more effectively:

Use Colors to Enhance Formatting

If you want to make your strikethrough text more eye-catching, you can use colors. When you apply a color to your strikethrough text, it will help it stand out and draw attention. You can use colors to indicate whether a cell needs to be deleted, updated, or reviewed.

How to Make Shortcut Keys for Strikethrough

Excel has a lot of shortcut keys that can help you work more efficiently. If you use strikethrough formatting frequently, you can create a shortcut key to apply it quickly. To create a shortcut key for strikethrough formatting, go to ‘File’ > ‘Options’ > ‘Customize Ribbon’ > ‘Keyboard Shortcuts’. In the ‘Categories’ box, select ‘Home Tab’ and then select ‘Strikethrough’ option from the ‘Commands’ box. Assign a new shortcut key, and you’re done!

Common Errors to Avoid When Using Strikethrough

While using the strikethrough feature in Excel, there are a few common mistakes to look out for. One of the most common errors is forgetting to select the correct font group tab for the strikethrough formatting. You should also ensure that you select the correct cells before you apply the strikethrough formatting.

In Conclusion

Overall, strikethrough formatting is a useful tool in Excel that allows you to make precise edits to your spreadsheet while maintaining its integrity. It is simple to use, and with the tips outlined in this article, you can use it more effectively. You can now use strikethrough formatting to make your Excel sheets more organized, clear and easy to read.

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about strikethrough in Excel:

Can I use strikethrough formatting to add text to my spreadsheet?

No, strikethrough formatting is used to add a line through text that is already in your spreadsheet. If you need to add new text to your spreadsheet, you can simply type it into the cell.

How do I remove strikethrough formatting from a cell?

If you need to remove strikethrough formatting from a specific cell, you can click on the ‘Home’ tab and then select ‘Strikethrough’ from the font group tab to remove the strikethrough. Alternatively, you can select the cell, click on the ‘Format Cells’ option, navigate to the ‘Font’ tab, and deselect the ‘Strikethrough’ option.

Can I use strikethrough formatting in a formula?

No, strikethrough formatting is used solely for formatting text in cells. It cannot be used within formulas in Excel.

Can I change the thickness of strikethrough lines in Excel?

Excel does not have a built-in option to change the thickness of strikethrough lines. However, this can be achieved by adding a border underneath the text in the cell. Go to ‘Home’ > ‘Font’ > ‘Bottom Border’. This will give you control over the thickness of the line.

Can I undo strikethrough formatting?

Yes, if you accidentally apply strikethrough formatting to your text, you can easily undo it by clicking on the ‘Home’ tab and then selecting the ‘Strikethrough’ option again, which will remove the formatting.