Ever opened a shared document and seen text with lines through it? That's strikethrough. I remember when my colleague kept sending me drafts with crossed-out words, and I had no clue how she did it. Took me a frustrating 15 minutes to figure it out the first time. Seriously, why do they hide this stuff?
Whether you're drafting legal contracts, editing blog posts, or just updating your grocery list, knowing how to do strikethrough on Google Docs is stupidly useful. But here's the kicker - it's not always obvious, especially on mobile. Let me save you the headache I went through.
Quick Strikethrough Methods That Actually Work
Want the fastest way? On Windows/Linux, highlight text and press Alt + Shift + 5. Mac users, it's ⌘ + Shift + X. Boom - done. But let's be real, who remembers keyboard shortcuts? That's why I usually use the menu method.
Step-by-Step Menu Method
- Highlight the text you want to cross out
- Click "Format" in the top menu
- Hover over "Text" in the dropdown
- Select "Strikethrough" (third option from top)
This seems straightforward but I've seen people miss it because they expect it under "Insert" or "Tools". Not Google's most intuitive placement if you ask me.
Pro Tip: Create a custom shortcut! Go to Tools > Preferences > Keyboard shortcuts and assign your own combo. I set mine to Ctrl+Shift+S because... well, S for strikethrough.
Why Even Bother With Strikethrough?
Sounds basic, but you'd be surprised how many people ask why they should learn how to use strikethrough on Google Docs. Here's where it saves lives:
| Situation | Without Strikethrough | With Strikethrough |
|---|---|---|
| Editing drafts | Delete old text → lose revision history | Keep original text visible with line through it |
| Team collaborations | Endless comments arguing what to remove | Visually show proposed deletions instantly |
| Task lists | Delete completed tasks → list gets shorter | Cross out tasks → see progress at a glance |
| Price negotiations | Multiple versions creating confusion | Show original and updated prices together |
Last month I was negotiating a contract with a vendor. We went through seven price revisions. Without strikethrough showing the negotiation history, we'd have been lost. But honestly? I wish Google would make the button more visible like in Word.
Mobile Users Aren't Forgotten
This is where things get messy. The Android and iOS apps handle how to strikethrough text on Google Docs differently:
| Platform | Steps | Annoyance Level |
|---|---|---|
| Android |
|
Moderate (too many taps) |
| iOS |
|
High (buried under menus) |
I tested this on my iPhone last week and nearly threw my phone. Why does Apple make this harder than it needs to be? On Android at least the icon is visible once you know where to look.
Heads Up: Mobile formatting sometimes disappears when switching devices. Always double-check if strikethroughs survived the transition.
Strikethrough Shortcuts Cheat Sheet
Look, I forget shortcuts constantly. So here's a table I keep bookmarked:
| Action | Windows/Linux | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Apply strikethrough | Alt + Shift + 5 | ⌘ + Shift + X |
| Remove strikethrough | Alt + Shift + 5 (same toggle) | ⌘ + Shift + X (toggles off) |
| Alternative method | Format → Text → Strikethrough | Same as Windows |
Fun fact: The Alt+Shift+5 combo works because the % symbol shares the 5 key, and % looks like crossed zeros. Clever? Maybe. Weird? Absolutely.
When Strikethrough Refuses to Cooperate
Sometimes it just won't work. Based on my troubleshooting nightmares:
- Can't select the text? You're probably in Viewing mode. Click "Editing" in top-right.
- Shortcut not working? Browser extensions like Grammarly can hijack shortcuts. Try disabling them temporarily.
- Only part strikes through? You likely missed a space or punctuation. Highlight precisely.
- Disappearing formatting? Happens when pasting from other docs. Use Paste without formatting (Ctrl+Shift+V).
Last Tuesday, I spent 20 minutes fighting with strikethrough before realizing I had restricted editing permissions. Felt like an idiot.
Beyond Basic Strikethrough
Once you master how to do strikethrough on google docs, try these power moves:
Double Strikethrough for Legal Documents
Yes, it's a thing! Lawyers use double lines for final deletions. Here's how:
- Apply single strikethrough normally
- With text selected, go to Format > Text > Strikethrough again
- Bam! Double lines. (Note: Doesn't work on mobile)
Strikethrough + Comments for Clear Feedback
My favorite collaboration combo:
- Strikethrough the text you want removed
- Right-click > Comment
- Explain why it should be deleted
This saved my team during our last proposal revision - no more guessing about deletions.
Version History Time Travel
Did someone remove your carefully crossed-out text? Click File > Version history > See version history. You can restore any version where your strikethroughs existed. Seriously useful when clients "accidentally" delete your edits.
Strikethrough Alternatives When You're Stuck
Sometimes traditional methods fail. Here's what I do:
| Situation | Workaround | Effectiveness |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile app glitching | Use underscore hack: _T_e_x_t_ (remove spaces) | ★★★ (visually similar) |
| Need colored strikethrough | Change text color to light gray + strikethrough | ★★★★ (soft deletion effect) |
| No format menu access | Type ~~text~~ → Convert to Markdown in Tools > Preferences | ★★★ (requires setup) |
Admittedly, the underscore trick looks janky. But when my Android app froze during a flight last month, it got the job done.
Strikethrough FAQs
Based on actual questions from my workshop students:
Does strikethrough show in printed documents?
Yep! Unlike comments which disappear, strikethrough prints exactly as it appears on screen. Tested this when printing contracts last week - came through perfectly.
Can I search for strikethrough text?
Surprisingly, no. Google Docs doesn't recognize formatting in search (Ctrl+H). You'll need to visually scan. Major oversight if you ask me.
Why is strikethrough missing in my menu?
Three possibilities: You're using an outdated browser (update Chrome!), your admin disabled formatting, or (most likely) you're in Suggesting mode instead of Editing mode. Toggle between modes in the top-right pencil icon.
Does strikethrough work in tables?
Absolutely. Works exactly the same in table cells. But pro tip: Avoid crossing out entire rows - it makes tables messy. Just strike through cell contents individually.
Can I strikethrough images or other elements?
No, and this frustrates me daily. Only text can be crossed out. For images, add an "X" shape over them manually.
Strikethrough Etiquette 101
After seeing documents abused:
- Don't overdo it: Documents covered in lines become unreadable. Use judiciously.
- Combine with comments: Always explain why something is crossed out.
- Remove before finalizing: Unless showing revision history, clean up before sharing finals.
- Color-code: Use different colors for different editors when collaborating.
Seriously saw a marketing brief where someone strikethrough 80% of the text. Just delete it already!
Personal Workflow Tips
After years of daily Google Docs use:
- Keyboard shortcuts rule: Initially slower, but 10x faster once memorized
- Mobile last: Do heavy editing on desktop, minor tweaks on mobile
- Customize toolbar: Add strikethrough to your visible buttons (View > Show toolbar)
- Template it: Create docs with pre-formatted strikethrough styles
My productivity jumped when I stopped relying on menus. Now if Google would just fix the mobile implementation...
When Strikethrough Isn't Enough
Sometimes you need more advanced revision tracking. For complex legal documents, I actually jump to Word or specialized tools. Google's version history is good but lacks granular control over specific changes. But for 90% of daily tasks, mastering how to do strikethrough on google docs covers your needs.
Final thought? It's one of those features that seems trivial until you need it. Like realizing you don't have a screwdriver when assembling furniture. Now that you know multiple methods for desktop and mobile, you'll wonder how you ever edited documents without it.
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