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Key Takeaways

  • Word: Alt+H+4 (Windows), Command+Shift+X (Mac).
  • Excel: Ctrl+5 (Windows and Mac).
  • PowerPoint: Alt+H+4 (Windows). On Mac, press Command+T, select "Strikethrough," and click "OK."
  • Outlook: Ctrl+D then Alt+K then Enter (Windows). On Mac, press Command+T, select "Strikethrough," and click "OK."
  • Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Gmail: Alt+Shift+5 (Windows), Command+Shift+X (Mac).

Applying the strikethrough effect (which adds a line crossing your text) in popular apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Google's online office suite, and Gmail is as easy as pressing a key combination. Let us show you what those keyboard shortcuts are for the Windows and Mac computers.

Use Strikethrough in MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook

If you're looking to apply the strikethrough effect in your Word document on a Windows PC, simply select your text in the document and press Alt+H+4. (You don't have to press all these keys at once; it's okay to press one after another.). On a Mac, you'll press Command+Shift+X.

Press Alt+H+4.

If you're an Excel user on Windows or Mac, you'll strikethrough your text by first selecting your text and then pressing Ctrl+5. The shortcut is the same for both Windows and Mac machines.

Press Ctrl+5.

In PowerPoint's Windows version, you'll apply the strikethrough effect by first highlighting your text and then pressing Alt+H+4. On a Mac, you'll press Command+T, then choose "Strikethrough" and select "OK."

In Outlook's Windows version, you'll select your text and press Ctrl+D followed by Alt+K and Enter. On a Mac, you'll press Command+T, choose "Strikethrough," and select "OK."

Related: How to Strikethrough in Microsoft Excel

Strikethrough Text in Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides

If you're a user of Google's online office suite, which includes Docs, Sheets, and Slides, use the following shortcuts to strikethrough your text.

If you're a Windows user, access your Docs, Sheets, or Slides file. Then, select the text to strikethrough and press Alt+Shift+5.

Press Alt+Shift+5.

On a Mac, you'll access your file, select the text to strikethrough, and press Command+Shift+X.

Press Command+Shift+X.
Apple

And that's it.

Apply Strikethrough in Gmail on the Web

Adding a line crossing your text in your Gmail emails is also easy.

To do that, access your email, highlight the text to strikethrough, and press Alt+Shift+5 (Windows) or Command+Shift+X (Mac).

Strikethrough text in Gmail.

Gmail will strikethrough your highlighted text.

And that's how you cancel out parts of your text in your favorite apps. Enjoy!

Related: How to Strikethrough in Microsoft Outlook