How to Do Strikethrough in Excel?

What is Strikethrough in Excel?

Before we dive into the various ways to apply strikethrough in Excel, let’s answer a fundamental question: What exactly is strikethrough? In simple terms, strikethrough is a horizontal line that runs through the center of the text. It indicates that the text is no longer relevant, completed, or needs to be revised — but you still want it visible for reference.

This formatting feature is frequently used in task lists, where completed items are crossed off, or in editing documents where changes are visible but not deleted. So, how do you apply it in Excel? Let’s explore.

 Applying Strikethrough via Font Settings:

One of the most straightforward methods to add a strikethrough in Excel is through the font settings. This method allows you to manually apply the formatting to specific cells or ranges.

 Steps:

1. Select the cell(s) where you want to apply the strikethrough.
2. Right-click the selected cell(s) and choose “Format Cells…” from the context menu.
3. In the dialog box, navigate to the “Font” tab.
4. Under Effects, check the “Strikethrough” box.
5. Click OK, and the strikethrough formatting will be applied.

This method is simple, yet effective when you only need to occasionally mark items as completed or irrelevant. It gives you the flexibility to use it as needed without setting up any advanced rules.

 Using Excel Strikethrough Keyboard Shortcut (Ctrl + 5):

If speed is your game, then the keyboard shortcut for strikethrough is what you need. Excel offers a quick and easy way to apply and remove strikethrough with just a few keystrokes.

 Steps:

1. Select the cell or text you want to strikethrough.
2. Press Ctrl + 5 on Windows or Command + Shift + X on Mac.
3. The selected text will immediately display a strikethrough line.

This shortcut is perfect for users who frequently toggle between strikethrough and non-strikethrough formatting. And here’s a pro tip: You can use the shortcut again to remove the strikethrough!

 Undoing Strikethrough Using the Same Shortcut:

Did you apply the strikethrough by accident or change your mind? No worries! Simply press Ctrl + 5 again, and the text will revert to its original format.

 Add Strikethrough to Quick Access Toolbar (QAT):

For those who love to customize their Excel interface, adding the strikethrough option to your Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) is a great move. This feature lets you access strikethrough formatting with a single click, instead of navigating through menus or memorizing shortcuts.

 Steps:

1. Click on the small dropdown arrow at the right end of the Quick Access Toolbar.
2. From the dropdown, choose “More Commands…”.
3. In the Excel Options dialog box, set “Choose commands from” to All Commands.
4. Scroll down the list and select Strikethrough.
5. Click the Add button to add it to your toolbar.
6. Click OK to save the changes.

Now, the strikethrough icon will be readily available on your toolbar. Just highlight the cells you want to modify, click the strikethrough icon, and Excel will do the rest.

Conditional Formatting for Automated Strikethrough:

If you’re looking to automate the strikethrough process, then Conditional Formatting is your best bet. This method applies formatting based on specific rules or conditions, allowing you to automatically strike through completed tasks or entries when certain criteria are met.

 Steps:

1. Select the cells where you want to apply the conditional strikethrough.
2. Go to the Home tab and click Conditional Formatting in the Styles group.
3. From the dropdown, choose New Rule.
4. In the New Formatting Rule dialog, choose “Use a formula to determine which cells to format.”
5. Enter a formula that evaluates to TRUE for the cells you want to format. For example, =$C6=”done” if you are marking tasks as completed.
6. Click Format, navigate to the Font tab, and check the Strikethrough box.
7. Click OK to close the Format Cells dialog, then click OK again to apply the rule.

 Pro Tip:

You can also combine strikethrough with other formatting, such as changing the font color to grey, to visually distinguish completed tasks even more effectively.

 Using Checkboxes to Automate Strikethrough in Excel:

For task management, checkboxes are a dynamic and interactive solution. You can use Excel’s checkbox feature to create a to-do list where selecting a checkbox automatically applies a strikethrough to the corresponding task.

 Steps:

1. Go to the Developer tab. If you don’t see the Developer tab, you’ll need to enable it by going to File > Options > Customize Ribbon and checking Developer.
2. Click Insert, and choose Checkbox from the Form Controls.
3. Draw the checkbox in a cell next to your task list.
4. Right-click the checkbox, choose Format Control, and link it to a cell (which can be hidden if needed).
5. Use conditional formatting to apply strikethrough based on the checkbox’s status. For example, if the linked cell shows TRUE, apply strikethrough formatting to the task.

 Why Use This Method?

This method is especially useful for project tracking, where tasks can be marked as completed with a single click. Additionally, you can use Excel’s FILTER function to create a “Left to Complete” list, showing only the tasks that haven’t been checked off yet.

FAQs:

1. How do I undo strikethrough in Excel?

Simply reapply the strikethrough formatting by using the Ctrl + 5 shortcut or by unchecking the Strikethrough option in the Format Cells dialog box.

2. Can I apply strikethrough to part of the text in a cell?

Yes, but only if you’re working in the formula bar or in edit mode. Select the text within the cell, right-click, and choose Format Cells to apply the strikethrough.

3. Can strikethrough be used with other formatting options?

Absolutely! You can combine strikethrough with other text effects like bold, italics, and color changes to further emphasize certain data.

4. Is there a way to automatically strikethrough multiple cells?

Yes, using Conditional Formatting allows you to apply strikethrough to multiple cells based on specific conditions (e.g., if a task is marked as complete).

5. How do I add strikethrough to the Excel ribbon?

You can customize the ribbon by going to File > Options > Customize Ribbon and adding the Strikethrough command to your desired tab.

Conclusion:

Mastering strikethrough in Excel can significantly improve how you manage tasks, projects, and data revisions. Whether you prefer using shortcuts for speed or want to automate the process with conditional formatting and checkboxes, Excel provides multiple ways to make strikethrough work for you. Now that you’ve learned these techniques, go ahead and streamline your workflow with a simple yet powerful tool!