Strikethrough Text Shortcuts in Microsoft Word

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Using strikethrough in Microsoft Word is a great way to show that some text is no longer relevant or needs to be ignored, without completely deleting it. This is super useful when you’re collaborating with others or keeping track of changes in your document. There are several ways to do it, and each way has its own perks.

Method 1: Custom Keyboard Shortcut

Creating a custom shortcut is the most efficient way for frequent use of strikethrough formatting. Here’s how to set it up:

1. Go to the “File” tab in the top-left corner of your Word window.
   
2. Click on “Options” at the bottom of the left sidebar to open the Word Options dialog box.
   
   
3. In the Word Options window, select “Customize Ribbon” from the left-hand menu.
   
   
4. At the bottom of the window, click the “Customize…” button next to “Keyboard shortcuts”.
   
   
5. In the Customize Keyboard dialog box, under “Categories,” select “Home Tab.” Then, under “Commands,” scroll down and select “Strikethrough.”
   
   
6. Click into the “Press new shortcut key” field, and press the keyboard shortcut you want to use (for example, Ctrl + Alt + S). Make sure it’s a shortcut that isn’t already used for something else.
   
   
7. Click “Assign” to set the shortcut, then click “Close” to exit the dialog boxes.

Now, you can use your custom shortcut to quickly strikethrough selected text.

Method 2: Ribbon Guide Shortcuts

This is another fast way to add strikethrough formatting without using your mouse.

1. Select the text you want to strikethrough.
2. Press the keys Alt, then H, and then 4 sequentially. This will quickly apply the strikethrough formatting using Word’s built-in ribbon shortcuts.
   
   

This method is quick and keeps your hands on the keyboard.

Method 3: Font Dialog Box

If you prefer a more visual approach, here’s how to use the Font dialog box:

1. Highlight the text that you want to strikethrough.
2. Press Ctrl + D to open the Font dialog box. You can also get there by clicking the small arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Font group on the Home tab.
   
   
3. In the Font dialog box, check the “Strikethrough” option under the Effects section. Click “OK” or press Enter to apply it.
   
   

Add Double Strikethrough

You can also add a double strikethrough using the Font dialog box:

1. Select the text you want to apply double strikethrough to.
2. Open the Font dialog box by pressing Ctrl + D.
3. In the dialog box, check the “Double strikethrough” option under the Effects section. Click “OK” or press Enter to apply it.
   
   

The text will now have two lines through it, to emphasize removal.

Method 4: Strikethrough Button on the Ribbon

This is a very straightforward way to apply strikethrough using the mouse.

1. Select the text you wish to strikethrough.
2. In the “Home” tab, find the Font group. Click the “Strikethrough” button (it looks like ab or abc with a line through it) to apply the formatting.
   
   

This is an easy way for those who like to use the mouse.

Method 5: Quick Access Toolbar

You can also add the strikethrough button to your Quick Access Toolbar for easy access.

1. Click the down arrow on the right side of the Quick Access Toolbar (at the very top of the Word window).
   
   
2. Select “More Commands…” from the dropdown menu to open the Word Options dialog box.
3. In the Word Options window, under “Choose commands from,” select “All Commands” from the dropdown menu.
   
   
4. Scroll through the list of commands, select “Strikethrough,” and click the “Add >>” button to add it to the Quick Access Toolbar.
   
   
5. Click “OK” to save changes.

The strikethrough command will now be available on your Quick Access Toolbar.

Method 6: Using Shapes to Draw a Line

If you need to strike through a large section of text or want a more customized look, you can draw a line.

1. Go to the “Insert” tab in the Ribbon.
2. Click on the “Shapes” dropdown in the Illustrations group, and select the “Line” shape under the Lines section.
   
   
3. Draw a line over the text by clicking and dragging your mouse.
   
   

You can change the line’s look:

4. Select the line.
5. In the “Shape Format” tab, click on “Shape Outline” to change the color, weight, or style.
   
   

This method is great for visual emphasis or unique situations.

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These methods make adding strikethrough formatting in Microsoft Word easy, helping with your document editing and collaboration.