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.
-
Select the cell or text you want to strikethrough.
-
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.
- Click the down arrow at the top-left of Excel and select “More Commands…”.
- In the dialog, choose “Commands Not in the Ribbon” from the dropdown.
- Scroll to “Strikethrough,” select it, and click “Add.”
- 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.
-
Select the cell(s) you want to format.
-
Right-click and choose “Format Cells…” or use
Ctrl+1
.
- 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.
- Right-click anywhere on the ribbon and select “Customize the Ribbon…”.
- Select the tab you want to add it to (like “Home”) and click “New Group.”
- Click “Rename” to name your new group (e.g., “My Formats”) and click “OK”.
- From “Choose commands from”, select “Commands Not in the Ribbon” and scroll to find “Strikethrough”.
- 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.
- Say you have a list in column A and status in column B. Select the items in column A.
- Go to “Home,” “Conditional Formatting,” and click “New Rule…”
- Choose “Use a formula to determine which cells to format,” and enter this formula:
=$B2="Watched"
- 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!