How to Strike Through Text in Excel
As one of the most popular spreadsheet programs in the world, Microsoft Excel offers a variety of formatting options to make your data more organized and visually appealing. One commonly used feature is the ability to strike through text. Strikethrough in Excel is a formatting tool used to cross out cells or text within a cell to denote changes or to show that the data is no longer relevant. In this blog post, we will cover all the steps necessary to apply strikethrough formatting to your Excel spreadsheet.
What is strikethrough in Excel?
If you’re not familiar with the term, strikethrough is a text formatting option that allows you to add a line through cells or text within a cell. This is useful when you want to indicate that some data is no longer valid, or when you want to show that a change has been made to a particular cell.
How to strike through text in Excel on Windows
Here’s how you can apply strikethrough formatting in Excel on a Windows computer:
Step 1: Select the cell or range of cells containing the text you want to strikethrough
Click and drag your mouse over the cells containing the text you want to cross out. If you want to apply strikethrough to just a portion of the text within a cell, double-click the cell to enter edit mode, highlight the text, right-click on it, and select “Format Cells.”
Step 2: Go to the “Font” tab in the formatting options
You can either right-click on the selected cells and choose “Format Cells” or go to the “Home” tab in the ribbon and click the small arrow button in the bottom right corner of the “Font” section.
Step 3: Check the “Strikethrough” box
In the “Format Cells” dialog box, click on the “Font” tab, and check the “Strikethrough” box.
Step 4: Click on the “OK” button
Once you have selected the “Strikethrough” option, click the “OK” button to apply the formatting to your selected cells.
How to strike through text in Excel on Mac
The process for applying strikethrough formatting in Excel on a Mac is similar, but with a few slight differences:
Step 1: Select the cell or range of cells containing the text you want to strikethrough
Click and drag your mouse over the cells containing the text you want to cross out. If you want to apply strikethrough to just a portion of the text within a cell, double-click the cell to enter edit mode, highlight the text, right-click on it, and select “Format Cells.”
Step 2: Go to the “Font” section in the formatting options
Click on the “Home” tab in the ribbon, and choose the “Font” section in Excel menu at the top of the screen.
Step 3: Select “Strikethrough”
Click on the strikethrough icon to add a line through the text. You can also use the keyboard shortcut “Command + Shift + X.”
Now you know how to apply strikethrough formatting in Excel on both Windows and Mac. Whether you’re using it to indicate obsolete information or to highlight changes, strikethrough can be a valuable tool when working with data in Excel.
Other Formatting Options in Excel
While strikethrough is a commonly used text formatting option, there are several other formatting options available in Excel that can help you make your data easier to read and understand. Some popular options include:
- Bold: Use this option to make text standout.
- Italicize: Use this option to add emphasis or convey a different tone to your text.
- Underline: Use this option to emphasize text, or to indicate a hyperlink.
- Change font size: Use this option to increase or decrease the size of text for readability and organization.
Using formatting options like these can help you to make your data more visually appealing, and easier to read and understand, in Excel.
When to Use Strikethrough?
Strikethrough formatting is useful in many ways when working with Excel spreadsheets. Here are some situations where you might want to use strikethrough:
- **Recording changes:**If you’re tracking changes in your spreadsheet over time, use strikethrough to indicate data that is no longer applicable or accurate.
- Controlled documents: If you use spreadsheets and want them to act as controlled documents, with an assigned owner and signoff, you can use strike through to indicate that changes need approval before accounting for them in financial statements.
- Labeling completed tasks: If you have a spreadsheet that tracks tasks that need to be completed, use strikethrough to indicate that a task has been completed. This can help you to keep track of what’s been done and what still needs to be accomplished.
Strikethrough is an easy and effective way to communicate changes and keep your spreadsheets organized and up to date.
FAQ Section
Here are some frequently asked questions and answers regarding how to strike through text in Excel:
Can I apply strikethrough to a specific part of the text within a cell?
Yes, you can apply strikethrough to a specific part of the text within a cell. Double-click the cell to enter edit mode, highlight the text, right-click on it, and select “Format Cells.” Then, check the “Strikethrough” box under the “Font” tab.
What is the keyboard shortcut for strikethrough in Excel on Windows?
The keyboard shortcut for strikethrough in Excel on Windows is “Control + 5.”
What is the keyboard shortcut for strikethrough in Excel on Mac?
The keyboard shortcut for strikethrough in Excel on Mac is “Command + Shift + X.”
Can I undo strikethrough in Excel?
Yes, you can undo strikethrough in Excel by highlighting the cells that contain the strikethrough text, selecting the “Font” tab in the formatting options, and unchecking the “Strikethrough” box.
Can I apply strikethrough to cells that contain formulas?
Yes, you can apply strikethrough to cells that contain formulas. The strikethrough formatting does not affect the formula inside the cell.
