Excel Strikethrough How-To

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Want to mark through text in Excel? It’s great for showing edits or completed items. Excel doesn’t have a strikethrough button right there on the toolbar, but here are several ways to do it.

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut

The quickest way to strikethrough is with a keyboard shortcut.

1. Select the cell or text you want to strikethrough.

2. Press Ctrl+5 on your keyboard. Boom! Line through the text.

Note: Use the number keys at the top of your keyboard, not the number pad. If you just want to strike through part of a cell’s text, double-click the cell, highlight the text you want to change, and hit Ctrl+5.

Method 2: Quick Access Toolbar Button

You can add a strikethrough button to the Quick Access Toolbar for super-fast access.

1. Click the down arrow at the top-left of Excel and select “More Commands…”.

2. In the dialog, choose “Commands Not in the Ribbon” from the dropdown.

3. Scroll to “Strikethrough,” select it, and click “Add.”

4. You can use the arrow buttons to change the strikethrough button’s placement. Click “OK” when you’re happy.

Now you have a strikethrough button at the top of your screen!

Just select the text and click the button to apply the formatting.

Method 3: Format Cells Dialog

The Format Cells dialog gives you lots of control over formatting.

1. Select the cell(s) you want to format.

2. Right-click and choose “Format Cells…” or use Ctrl+1.

3. In the “Font” tab, check the “Strikethrough” box under “Effects,” and click “OK.”

Your text will now have a line through it.

Method 4: Ribbon Button

You can also add a strikethrough button directly to the ribbon itself.

1. Right-click anywhere on the ribbon and select “Customize the Ribbon…”.

2. Select the tab you want to add it to (like “Home”) and click “New Group.”

3. Click “Rename” to name your new group (e.g., “My Formats”) and click “OK”.

4. From “Choose commands from”, select “Commands Not in the Ribbon” and scroll to find “Strikethrough”.

5. Click “Add” to put “Strikethrough” into your new group. Use the arrows to move it, then click “OK”.

You now have a strikethrough button right on your ribbon!

Select the cells and use your custom button.

Method 5: Conditional Formatting

Conditional formatting can automatically apply strikethrough based on criteria. For example, mark items as done.

1. Say you have a list in column A and status in column B. Select the items in column A.

2. Go to “Home,” “Conditional Formatting,” and click “New Rule…”

3. Choose “Use a formula to determine which cells to format,” and enter this formula:

=$B2="Watched"

4. Click “Format…” Select “Strikethrough” in the “Font” tab. Click “OK” twice.

Now, when the status says “Watched” in column B, the corresponding item in column A will be struck-through.

These are different ways to use the strikethrough in Excel. Choose what you prefer!