How to Strikethrough in Google Docs: A Comprehensive Guide

Want to obliterate words without deleting them in your Google Docs? Strikethrough is your friend. It’s a powerful visual cue, signaling deletion, revision, or perhaps even sarcasm (use with caution!). This article will arm you with all the knowledge you need to wield the strikethrough like a seasoned document warrior.

Strikethrough: The Quick and Dirty Guide

To add strikethrough in Google Docs, follow these simple steps:

1. Select the text you want to strikethrough.
2. Go to Format > Text > Strikethrough.
3. Voilà! Your text now sports a distinguished line through its center.

Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut: Alt + Shift + 5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + X (Mac). This is the champion’s method – fast and efficient!

Diving Deeper: Mastering the Strikethrough

While the basic method is straightforward, understanding nuances and alternative approaches can significantly improve your document workflow. Let’s explore.

Using the Format Menu: The Tried and True Method

As described above, the Format menu is your reliable workhorse. It’s universally accessible and always present, making it a dependable option, especially if you’re not a keyboard shortcut devotee. Remember the path: Format > Text > Strikethrough.

The Keyboard Shortcut: Speed and Efficiency

For the power users among us, the keyboard shortcut is where it’s at. Learning Alt + Shift + 5 (Windows) or Cmd + Shift + X (Mac) will save you precious seconds, which add up over time. Commit it to memory and watch your productivity soar!

Customizing Your Toolbar: Streamlining the Process

While Google Docs doesn’t offer direct toolbar customization to add a dedicated strikethrough button, there are extensions that can achieve this functionality. These extensions essentially automate the menu navigation or keyboard shortcut application, providing a one-click strikethrough solution. Search the Google Workspace Marketplace for “strikethrough” to find relevant options. Be sure to carefully vet any extension before installing it, paying attention to reviews and developer reputation.

When to Use Strikethrough: Beyond the Basics

Strikethrough isn’t just for marking deletions. Here are some other effective uses:

• Marking tasks as completed: In a collaborative document, strikethrough can visually indicate that a task has been finished.
• Showing revisions: When reviewing a document, strikethrough can highlight text that has been removed or replaced.
• Indicating uncertainty or irony: While less common in formal writing, strikethrough can add a layer of nuance to your text. Use it sparingly and with careful consideration of your audience.
• Legal Documents: Used to clearly indicate clauses or sections of a contract that have been removed or are no longer applicable. This helps maintain the document’s integrity while showing the evolution of the agreement.
• Academic Papers: Illustrate changes in thinking during the drafting process. It can be a useful tool for showing the evolution of an argument.

Removing Strikethrough: Undoing Your Actions

Realized you strikethroughed something in error? No problem. Simply:

1. Select the strikethroughed text.
2. Go to Format > Text > Strikethrough. This will toggle the strikethrough off.
3. Alternatively, use the same keyboard shortcut you used to apply the strikethrough – it works as a toggle.

Strikethrough FAQs: Your Questions Answered

Here are 12 frequently asked questions to further clarify the intricacies of strikethrough in Google Docs:

1. Can I strikethrough entire paragraphs at once?

Yes! Simply select the entire paragraph (or multiple paragraphs) and apply the strikethrough using either the Format menu or the keyboard shortcut. Google Docs is quite forgiving when it comes to formatting large chunks of text.

2. How do I strikethrough text on Google Slides or Sheets?

The process is virtually identical. In both Google Slides and Sheets, you’ll find the strikethrough option in the Format menu, usually under the “Text” or “Formatting” submenu. The keyboard shortcuts (Alt + Shift + 5 or Cmd + Shift + X) also work seamlessly across these Google Workspace applications.

3. Is there a way to make the strikethrough line thicker or a different color?

Unfortunately, Google Docs doesn’t offer built-in options to customize the appearance of the strikethrough line. It’s a fixed style. You might be able to achieve a similar effect using drawing tools or by inserting a line shape over the text, but this is a more cumbersome workaround.

4. Can I use strikethrough on mobile devices?

Yes, you can! On the Google Docs mobile app, select the text, then tap the “A” icon to open the text formatting options. You should find the strikethrough option there.

5. Why isn’t the strikethrough option showing up in the Format menu?

Double-check that you have selected text first. The strikethrough option (and other text formatting options) will be grayed out if no text is selected. If that’s not the issue, try refreshing your browser or the Google Docs app.

6. Can I strikethrough text in a table?

Absolutely. The process is the same, whether the text is within a table or in the main body of the document. Select the text in the table cell and apply the strikethrough as usual.

7. Does strikethrough affect word count?

No. Strikethrough is purely a visual formatting effect. The words remain in the document and are still counted towards the total word count.

8. Can I strikethrough text within a hyperlink?

Yes, but be cautious. Strikethroughing the entire hyperlink might make it difficult for users to click on it. Consider only strikethroughing part of the hyperlinked text if necessary.

9. Is there a way to automatically strikethrough text based on a certain condition (e.g., a date)?

This requires using Google Apps Script, which is beyond the scope of basic Google Docs functionality. You could write a script to automatically strikethrough text that meets certain criteria, but this involves coding knowledge.

10. How do I remove all strikethrough formatting from a document at once?

The easiest way is to use “Clear Formatting.” Select the entire document (Ctrl+A or Cmd+A) and then go to Format > Clear Formatting. This will remove all formatting, including strikethrough. You’ll then need to reapply any other formatting you want to keep.

11. Will strikethrough formatting be preserved when I download the document as a different file type (e.g., .docx, .pdf)?

Generally, yes. Most common file formats will preserve strikethrough formatting. However, always double-check the converted document to ensure the formatting has been accurately maintained.

12. Can I search for strikethroughed text within a Google Doc?

Unfortunately, Google Docs doesn’t offer a direct search function specifically for strikethroughed text. You’ll have to visually scan the document. Consider using a different visual cue, like highlighting, if you need to easily find specific passages.

By mastering these techniques and understanding these FAQs, you’re now well-equipped to confidently use strikethrough in Google Docs for a variety of purposes. Happy documenting!