5 Simple Ways to Strike Out Text in Excel

Discovering how to strike out text in Excel can significantly enhance your data presentation and management capabilities. Whether you're marking completed tasks, indicating items that are no longer relevant, or simply annotating your spreadsheets, the ability to strike through text offers a clear visual cue. Here are five simple methods to achieve this effect in Excel, ensuring your spreadsheets remain both functional and visually informative.

Method 1: Using Excel’s Font Dialog Box

The most straightforward way to strike out text in Excel is through the Font dialog box:

1. Select the cell containing the text you want to strike through.
2. Press Ctrl+1 to open the ‘Format Cells’ dialog box.
3. Navigate to the ‘Font’ tab.
4. Check the box next to ‘Strikethrough’ under the ‘Effects’ section.
5. Click ‘OK’ to apply the strikeout effect to your selected text.

💡 Note: This method applies strikethrough to the entire cell content. If you only want to strike through part of the text, you'll need to use a different approach.

Method 2: Ribbon Shortcut

For a quicker approach:

• Select the desired cell or range of cells.
• Go to the ‘Home’ tab on the Ribbon.
• Click on the ‘Font’ group settings icon or arrow to open the font options.
• Toggle on the ‘Strikethrough’ option under ‘Underline’.

Method 3: Keyboard Shortcut

If you’re a keyboard enthusiast, Excel has a shortcut for you:

• Select the cells you wish to modify.
• Press Ctrl+5 to apply strikethrough to your selection.

Method 4: Conditional Formatting

Conditional formatting can apply strikethrough dynamically based on specific criteria:

1. Highlight the range where you want the strikethrough effect.
2. Go to the ‘Home’ tab and click ‘Conditional Formatting’.
3. Select ‘New Rule’, then ‘Use a formula to determine which cells to format’.
4. Enter a formula like =$A1=“Done” if you want to strike through cells when “Done” appears in column A.
5. Click ‘Format’, navigate to the ‘Font’ tab, check ‘Strikethrough’, and apply.

📌 Note: Using conditional formatting allows you to automate the process of applying strikethrough based on data changes, making it ideal for task lists or project management.

Method 5: VBA Macro for Advanced Users

For those comfortable with coding, a VBA macro can provide a custom strikethrough feature:

Here’s a simple VBA macro to apply strikethrough:

Sub StrikeThroughText()
    Selection.Font.Strikethrough = True
End Sub

To use this:

1. Press Alt+F11 to open the VBA editor.
2. Go to 'Insert' > 'Module' to create a new module.
3. Paste the macro code into the module.
4. Close the VBA editor.
5. Run the macro by selecting the cells you wish to modify and then choosing 'Macros' from the 'Developer' tab or by pressing Alt+F8.

🔬 Note: VBA macros can automate repetitive tasks but remember to enable macros in your Excel settings to run them.

Now that you're equipped with these five methods, striking out text in Excel should be a straightforward process. From simple ribbon commands to dynamic formatting and custom VBA scripts, there's a solution for every scenario. Remember, the choice of method will depend on your specific needs and comfort level with Excel's features. Using these techniques will not only make your spreadsheets more readable but also more efficient in tracking and updating information.

Can I apply strikethrough to only part of a cell’s text?

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Unfortunately, Excel does not support applying strikethrough to only part of the text within a cell directly. You would need to split the text into separate cells or use a workaround involving formulas to mimic this effect.

Will my strikethrough text affect calculations in Excel?

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No, applying strikethrough to text does not influence the underlying value or calculations in Excel. It’s merely a visual formatting effect.

How can I undo a strikethrough in Excel?

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To undo strikethrough, you can either repeat the method used to apply it (i.e., press Ctrl+5 again) or go back to the ‘Font’ settings in the ‘Format Cells’ dialog and uncheck the ‘Strikethrough’ option.