How Do You Cross Out Text in Excel

Mastering the Art of Strikethrough in Excel

Excel, the powerhouse of data manipulation and analysis, offers a plethora of features to enhance the presentation and readability of data. Among these features is the ability to cross out text, commonly known as the strikethrough effect. This visual cue can be invaluable for marking tasks as complete, indicating removal without actual deletion, or simply drawing attention to changes. In this article, we’ll dive deep into the various methods of applying strikethrough in Excel, ensuring that you can do so with ease and efficiency.

Understanding Strikethrough in Excel

Strikethrough in Excel is a font effect that allows users to draw a line through cell text. It’s a form of text formatting that can be applied to individual characters, words, or entire cells. This feature is particularly useful for tasks such as to-do lists, inventory management, or any scenario where you need to mark information as obsolete or completed without removing it from the record.

When to Use Strikethrough

• Task Management: Cross out completed tasks in a checklist.
• Editing Documents: Indicate text that needs to be removed or has been replaced.
• Financial Records: Mark invoices or items as paid or canceled.
• Inventory Control: Identify items that have been sold or are no longer available.

Applying Strikethrough Using Excel’s Ribbon

The most straightforward method to apply strikethrough in Excel is through the Ribbon, which is the toolbar at the top of the Excel window. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Select the cell or range of cells where you want to apply the strikethrough.
2. Go to the Home tab on the Ribbon.
3. In the Font group, click on the small arrow at the bottom-right corner to open the Format Cells dialog box.
4. Under the Font tab, you will find the Strikethrough checkbox. Check it.
5. Click OK to apply the strikethrough effect.

Alternatively, you can use the following keyboard shortcut after selecting the text:

Ctrl + 5

This will toggle the strikethrough effect on and off for the selected cells.

Strikethrough with Excel’s Context Menu

For those who prefer right-clicking, the context menu in Excel also provides a quick way to strike out text:

1. Select the cells you wish to format.
2. Right-click on the selected area to bring up the context menu.
3. Choose Format Cells from the menu.
4. In the Format Cells dialog box, under the Font tab, check the Strikethrough option.
5. Click OK to apply.

Using Conditional Formatting for Dynamic Strikethrough

Conditional formatting in Excel allows you to apply strikethrough dynamically based on certain conditions. This means that the strikethrough effect can be automatically applied to cells when they meet specified criteria. Here’s an example of how to set this up:

1. Select the range of cells you want to format conditionally.
2. Go to the Home tab and click on Conditional Formatting.
3. Choose New Rule from the dropdown menu.
4. Select Use a formula to determine which cells to format.
5. In the formula box, enter the condition that will trigger the strikethrough. For example, to apply strikethrough to cells that contain the word “Done”, you would use:

   =A1="Done"

6. Click on the Format button, go to the Font tab, and check the Strikethrough option.
7. Click OK twice to apply the rule.

Now, whenever a cell in the selected range meets the condition, it will automatically have the strikethrough effect applied.

Strikethrough Shortcuts and Quick Access Toolbar

For those who rely heavily on keyboard shortcuts or want even faster access to strikethrough, customizing the Quick Access Toolbar can be a game-changer:

Adding Strikethrough to the Quick Access Toolbar

1. Click on the small downward arrow at the end of the Quick Access Toolbar, usually located above or below the Ribbon.
2. Select More Commands from the dropdown menu.
3. In the Excel Options dialog box, choose All Commands from the dropdown list.
4. Scroll down and select Strikethrough, then click the Add >> button to move it to the toolbar.
5. Click OK to save your changes.

Once added, you can click the strikethrough icon in the Quick Access Toolbar to apply or remove the effect from selected cells.

Keyboard Shortcut for Quick Access Toolbar

If you’ve added strikethrough to your Quick Access Toolbar, you can use the Alt key followed by the position number of the strikethrough command to activate it. For instance, if it’s the first command on the toolbar, you would press:

Alt + 1

This will apply strikethrough to the selected cells.

Advanced Strikethrough Techniques with VBA

For those who are comfortable with Excel’s programming language, Visual Basic for Applications (VBA), creating a macro to apply strikethrough can streamline the process even further. Here’s a simple VBA code snippet that you can use:

Sub ApplyStrikethrough()
    Selection.Font.Strikethrough = Not Selection.Font.Strikethrough
End Sub

To implement this macro:

1. Press Alt + F11 to open the VBA editor.
2. Go to Insert > Module to create a new module.
3. Paste the code snippet into the module window.
4. Press F5 to run the macro and apply strikethrough to the selected cells.

You can also assign this macro to a button on the Ribbon or Quick Access Toolbar for even quicker access.

FAQ Section

Can I apply strikethrough to partial text within a cell?

Yes, you can apply strikethrough to part of the text within a cell by double-clicking the cell to enter edit mode, highlighting the specific text, and then applying the strikethrough formatting.

Is there a way to remove strikethrough from multiple cells at once?

Yes, you can select multiple cells and use any of the methods mentioned above to remove the strikethrough effect from all selected cells simultaneously.

Can conditional formatting be used to apply strikethrough based on other cell values?

Yes, you can set up a conditional formatting rule that references other cells. For example, if you want to apply strikethrough to cell A1 when B1 is greater than 10, the formula would be:

=B1>10

Does strikethrough affect the data in the cell for calculations or sorting?

No, strikethrough is purely a visual effect and does not impact the underlying data or its behavior in calculations, sorting, or filtering.

Can I use strikethrough in Excel Online or Excel for mobile devices?

Yes, strikethrough is available in Excel Online and the Excel mobile apps. The steps to apply it are similar to those in the desktop version, though the interface may differ slightly.

Conclusion

Strikethrough in Excel is a versatile tool that can enhance your data management and presentation. Whether you’re using it for simple task lists or complex dynamic formatting, Excel provides multiple ways to apply and customize this effect. By mastering the methods outlined in this article, you’ll be able to efficiently cross out text in Excel and make your spreadsheets more informative and visually appealing.

Remember that while strikethrough is a powerful feature, it’s just one of many in Excel’s extensive toolkit. Combining strikethrough with other formatting options and features can help you create truly professional and effective spreadsheets. So go ahead, experiment with strikethrough, and see how it can improve your Excel experience!